What happens to my Instagram account when I pass away?
Instagram is more than just a place to share photos and videos. It’s a digital diary, a hub for connection, and often a reflection of our lives. But what happens to your account when you pass away? Can you prepare for that in advance and ease some of the emotional and practical burden for your loved ones?
In this post, we’ll share some tips to help you plan ahead, like why it’s worth writing down your wishes, what options Instagram actually gives you, and where you can find extra info and the forms you might need.Who do you trust with your Instagram account?
If you want your Instagram account to be handled according to your personal wishes in the event of an emergency, you can make important arrangements during your lifetime.
Even though Instagram doesn’t yet let you designate a legacy contact, there are still steps you can take yourself.
Step 1: Put your wishes in writing
Think about what should happen to your account and write it down, for example, in a will or a digital legacy document. Consider the following questions:
Should the account be deleted or memorialized?
Is there any content that should be backed up first?
Who is authorized to make decisions?
Keep this information somewhere safe, such as in a digital emergency folder or alongside your will, ideally with clear instructions or access details.
By making these provisions yourself, you’ll protect your digital identity and ease the burden on your loved ones during a difficult time. You can read more about planning for your entire digital estate in this guide: What are digital assets & what happens to them after you’re gone?
Step 2: Know your options on Instagram
Meta (Instagram’s parent company) currently offers three ways to handle an account after someone passes away:
1. Memorialize the account
When an Instagram account is memorialized, the profile stays visible but can no longer be used. Photos and posts remain online, though only confirmed followers are able to see them. The account name is marked with the phrase “In memory of,” and no one can log in or make changes. To request this status, relatives or close friends must provide proof of death, such as a death certificate.
2. Permanent deletion of the account
Alternatively, you can request that the account be completely deleted. In this case, all content on the Instagram account will be deleted. This means that pictures, videos, messages, and comments will be irrevocably removed. Proof of death is also required for this, which can be submitted to Meta by a close relative.
3. Access by heirs
In some situations, a legal heir may be able to request access to the account, especially if no arrangements were made in advance and the profile is still active. To do this, Meta requires official documents proving inheritance rights, and access will only be granted if the account holder hasn’t objected beforehand. While the process can be a bit complicated, it can give families the chance to save important memories or bring ongoing conversations to a close.
Step 3: Use Instagram’s support resources
If you ever need to take action on behalf of a loved one, Instagram has a dedicated help page for relatives, friends, or estate administrators. There, you can report a death, request that an account be memorialized, or ask for it to be permanently deleted. It’s a straightforward way to handle things officially during a difficult time. For more information on this, you can visit the Instagram help page.
Just like with the rest of your digital legacy, it’s a good idea to plan ahead for your Instagram account! Decide whether you’d like your profile to be kept as a memorial or removed entirely, and make sure those wishes are clear. Taking the time now to think it through means your loved ones won’t have to make those decisions later. While Instagram does offer them options if nothing has been arranged, having your wishes written down removes uncertainty and makes the process far less stressful.
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