How to Close Social Media Accounts After a Death

Most major platforms offer two options for handling a deceased person's account:

• Memorialization: The account stays visible but is marked as a memorial. Friends can still visit the profile and share memories. No one can log in. This is a good option if the profile has sentimental value — years of photos, conversations, and memories that friends and family may want to revisit.
• Deletion: The account and all its content are permanently removed. This is the right choice if the account has no sentimental value, if the deceased would have preferred it, or if you are concerned about privacy.

There is no wrong answer, and you do not need to decide immediately. Most platforms will keep the account as-is indefinitely until you take action. If you are not sure, start with memorialization — you can always delete later, but you cannot undo a deletion.

Meta owns both platforms and handles them through the same process.

Facebook

• To memorialize: Submit a memorialization request at facebook.com/help/contact/305593649477238. You will need to provide a link to the profile and proof of death (obituary link, death certificate, or news article). A "legacy contact" (if the person designated one) can manage the memorialized profile — adding a pinned post, responding to friend requests, and updating the profile photo.
• To delete: If the person set up a legacy contact and chose "delete after death," the legacy contact can request deletion. Otherwise, an immediate family member can submit a special request to Facebook with proof of death and proof of relationship.

Instagram

• To memorialize: Submit a request at help.instagram.com using the memorialization form. Provide the username and proof of death. Memorialized accounts show "Remembering" before the username.
• To delete: An immediate family member can request removal by providing the death certificate, proof of the relationship, and the deceased's birth certificate.

Processing time: Meta typically processes these requests within 5-30 days. You may need to follow up if you do not hear back.

Google's Inactive Account Manager lets users pre-set what happens to their account. If the deceased set this up, the process may already be automated. If not:

• To request data or deletion: Use Google's process for deceased users at support.google.com/accounts/troubleshooter/6357590. Google may provide account data to verified family members or close the account.
• You will need: Your ID, the deceased's death certificate, and documentation of your relationship. Google may also request the deceased's Gmail address and email headers from the account.
• Important: Google accounts often control far more than email — YouTube channels, Google Photos libraries, Google Drive documents, Google Voice numbers, and Android phone backups. Think carefully about what data you want to preserve before requesting deletion.

Most people don't know: You can download a complete copy of all Google account data (emails, photos, documents, everything) using Google Takeout before the account is deleted. Request this first, then delete.

X (formerly Twitter)

• Submit a deactivation request through X's privacy form. An immediate family member or authorized estate representative can request account deactivation. You will need the deceased's username, a copy of your ID, a copy of the death certificate, and a notarized statement.
• X does not offer memorialization — only full deactivation.

LinkedIn

• Submit a request at linkedin.com/help/linkedin/ask/ts-rdmlp. You need the deceased's LinkedIn profile URL and a link to an obituary or death certificate. LinkedIn will remove the profile.
• LinkedIn does not offer memorialization.

TikTok

• Contact TikTok through their support form or email legal@tiktok.com. Provide the username, death certificate, and proof of relationship. TikTok will deactivate the account.

Other Platforms

• Snapchat: Contact support; accounts can be deleted with proof of death.
• Pinterest: Email care@pinterest.com with the death certificate and account information.
• Reddit: Contact Reddit's privacy team; account deletion requires a death certificate and proof of relationship.
• Apple ID / iCloud: Apple requires a court order (not just a death certificate) to access a deceased person's account or data, unless a Digital Legacy contact was set up. This is one of the most restrictive policies of any major company.

• Do not rush this. Social media accounts are not going anywhere. Handle financial and legal matters first; social media can wait weeks or months without any consequences.
• Screenshot or save anything important first. Once an account is deleted, photos, messages, and conversations are gone permanently. Download data archives from each platform before requesting deletion.
• Check for two-factor authentication. If the deceased's phone number or email is linked to two-factor authentication on other accounts (banking, investments, etc.), you may need to maintain those accounts temporarily until you have transferred access to financial accounts.
• Watch for automated posts. Some platforms have scheduled posts or birthday reminders that can surface unexpectedly. Memorialization typically prevents automated activity, but deletion is the only guarantee.
• Change passwords rather than deleting if you need temporary access. If you know the deceased's passwords and need to access accounts for information (photos, messages with financial details, etc.), change the password to something secure and preserve access until you have what you need.