What Happens to a Facebook or Instagram Account After Someone Dies

For many families, a loved one’s Facebook or Instagram profile becomes a place where friends gather, and also a place that can cause pain, confusion, or risk. Meta, which runs both, offers two choices: memorialize the account or remove it. This guide explains the difference and who can ask.

A note on sources: Meta’s help pages weren’t available for us to read directly, so the details below come from reproductions of Meta’s own text and from news summaries. Steps and menu names change, so use the current forms on Meta’s help pages.

What is a memorialized account?

A memorialized account stays up as a place for friends and family to share memories. The word “Remembering” appears next to the person’s name. No one can log in to a memorialized account. On Instagram, Meta says it tries to prevent references to memorialized accounts from appearing in ways that may upset friends and family, and takes steps to protect the person’s privacy by securing the account.

How do I memorialize an account?

Anyone can ask. Meta uses a request form (a “memorialization request”) and requires proof of death. For Instagram, Meta’s text says that could be a link to an obituary or news article; for Facebook, news summaries list an obituary, death certificate, or memorial card. Meta can’t provide login information for a memorialized account.

Can the account be removed instead?

Yes, but this is more restricted than memorialization. Meta’s request form says it requires verification that you are an immediate family member or executor for account removal or special requests. For Instagram, Meta’s text lists proof that may include the person’s birth certificate, death certificate, or proof of authority under local law that you are the lawful representative of the person or the estate.

There is one important rule on Facebook. According to Meta’s form text, if there is a legacy contact on the account:

• Only the legacy contact can request removal of the profile
• Anyone else can still report the account for memorialization, and it will remain memorialized unless the legacy contact requests removal

What is a legacy contact?

A legacy contact is someone a Facebook user chooses to look after the account once it’s memorialized. According to Meta’s Help Center text (a 2020 copy), a legacy contact can:

• Write a pinned post for the profile, for example to share a final message or information about a memorial service
• Update the profile picture and cover photo
• Request removal of the account
• Download a copy of what the person shared on Facebook, if the person turned that option on

A legacy contact can’t:

• Log in to the account
• Read the person’s messages
• Remove friends or make new friend requests

You must be 18 or older to choose a legacy contact. Meta says it may add capabilities over time, so check Meta’s current page.

What if there’s no legacy contact?

The account can still be memorialized with proof of death, and an immediate family member or executor can ask for removal. No one gets to log in either way. Meta’s Special Request form handles other situations as well, but Meta says it generally can’t respond to reports about issues other than account memorialization, and that for an account that isn’t already memorialized or removed it may need to memorialize the account in the course of resolving your issue.

How is Instagram different?

Instagram’s policy is similar: an account can be memorialized with proof of death or removed by a verified immediate family member. Two differences to know:

• No legacy contact. Summaries we found say Instagram doesn’t offer a legacy contact feature (we couldn’t confirm this on Meta’s page), so a person who wants a say should tell a trusted person and put instructions in their estate plan
• No login. Instagram’s text says it can’t provide login information for a memorialized account

What if the account is hacked or someone is impersonating the person?

This happens, and Meta’s Special Request form has options for a deceased person’s account that was hacked or is posting spam, and for an account impersonating a deceased person. Report it promptly. Don’t try to log in yourself to fix it.

Should I memorialize or remove?

• Memorialize if friends and family are using the page to share memories, or you want to keep photos and posts visible. It’s also the choice if you aren’t an immediate family member or executor
• Remove if the page is painful or you worry about misuse, and you’re eligible. Meta’s form describes this as deleting the account, and without a legacy contact’s download we found no sanctioned way for family to get the photos and posts out first
• Check for a legacy contact before choosing, because they have a say on Facebook

If the photos matter, ask whether the person set up a legacy contact with the download option, and look for other copies on phones, computers, and cloud backups. See cloud photos after a death.

What can a family member not do?

You can’t log in, read private messages, or take over the account through Meta’s memorialization and removal forms. Getting more than that would generally require the person’s advance planning or a legal process. See who can access a dead person’s online accounts.

How can I set this up for myself?

• On Facebook, choose a legacy contact in your settings (look for memorialization settings, since menu names change), decide whether they may download a copy of what you’ve shared, and tell them
• On Instagram, note your wishes for a trusted person and your executor
• Add the accounts to your Final Day Plan and your will. See digital legacy planning in advance

Platform policies and forms change often. This is general information; use Meta’s current help pages and request forms for the exact steps, and an attorney for questions about authority or access.