Why label DNA matches?
A match list quickly grows into hundreds or thousands of names. Labels let you mark matches directly on the platform with your own categories, so you can find them again later without searching through the whole list.
Creating and applying a label
Select a match with its checkbox, open the label menu and choose "Create new label". Give the label a name and a colour, then save it. Tick the label and click "Apply" to attach it to the selected match or matches. One match can carry several labels at once, and when multiple matches are selected you can add or remove labels for all of them in one step. Labels can be edited or deleted via the pencil and bin icons; deleting a label removes it from every match it was applied to.
Filtering matches by label
Use the "Filters" button on the matches page, choose the "Labels" option, select one or more labels and click "Apply". This shows only the matches carrying that label, without scrolling through the rest of the list.
Useful ways to organize labels
Common approaches include separating paternal from maternal matches, marking a cluster around one specific ancestor, flagging priority (for example "important" or "to investigate"), grouping by location or family branch, noting an estimated relationship degree, and tracking your own review status (to review, reviewed, contact wanted). Feel free to combine several labels per match, as long as the system stays clear to you.
On other platforms too
This explanation follows MyHeritage's labeling feature, but the same underlying idea - sorting matches into recognizable categories yourself - works just as well with the notes, groups or tags offered by other DNA platforms.
Source
This explanation is based on MyHeritage's own help article about labeling DNA matches.
Read the MyHeritage help article →