How to manage a deceased loved one’s Facebook account

Losing a loved 1 is ne'er easy, and dealing with their integer beingness tin adhd different furniture of accent during an already hard time.

John from Northampton, Pennsylvania, reached retired with a question that galore radical look but fewer cognize however to handle: "Please explicate however to region a deceased person’s Facebook account."

John, we're precise atrocious for your loss, and you're not unsocial successful wondering what to bash next. Managing a deceased person’s Facebook beingness tin consciousness overwhelming, particularly if you’re not definite wherever to start. Facebook does connection a fewer options depending connected whether you'd similar to sphere their relationship arsenic a memorial oregon person it removed entirely. Here's what you request to know, on with however to support their integer bequest from misuse.

STAY PROTECTED & INFORMED! GET SECURITY ALERTS & EXPERT TECH TIPS – SIGN UP FOR KURT’S ‘THE CYBERGUY REPORT’ NOW

A pistillate scrolling connected Facebook (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

What is simply a memorialized Facebook account?

When Facebook is made alert that idiosyncratic has passed away, their argumentation is to memorialize the account. This turns the illustration into a integer tribute, serving arsenic a abstraction wherever friends and household tin gather, stock memories and presumption photos and posts. A memorialized account:

• Displays the word "Remembering" adjacent to the person’s name
• Preserves contented they posted during their lifetime
• Prevents anyone from logging into the account
• Can lone beryllium managed by a bequest interaction (if 1 was assigned)

Memorializing an relationship not lone honors the person’s representation but besides adds a furniture of information by locking the relationship from unauthorized access. Anyone tin petition a Facebook relationship beryllium memorialized if they judge the idiosyncratic has passed away, but lone verified contiguous household oregon a bequest interaction tin negociate the relationship afterward.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM SOCIAL MEDIA SCAMMERS

Option 1: Request memorialization

If Facebook hasn’t already memorialized the account, you tin petition it yourself. While anyone tin taxable a memorialization request, Facebook whitethorn necessitate impervious if you're not a adjacent household member. Here's however to petition memorialization:

• Go to the Memorialization Request Form
• Provide the deceased’s full sanction and day of death
• Upload proof of death (like an obituary, decease certificate oregon memorial card)
• Submit the form and hold for Facebook to reappraisal and process the request

If a bequest interaction was assigned by the deceased earlier they passed, that idiosyncratic volition beryllium notified and whitethorn beryllium capable to negociate the memorialized profile.

If you're unsure what a bequest interaction is oregon however to acceptable 1 up for your ain account, spell to Facebook > Settings > Memorialization Settings and take idiosyncratic you trust.

For much connected bequest contacts and integer bequest planning, cheque out: One time you’ll permission this Earth, but your information volition unrecorded connected successful a messy future.

Option 2: Request relationship removal

If you'd similar to person the relationship permanently deleted alternatively than memorialized, Facebook provides a abstracted process for that, but lone for contiguous household members oregon ineligible representatives. Here are the steps to region the account:

• Visit the Special Request for Deceased Person’s Account
• Select the option: Please region this account
• Upload documentation, including a transcript of the deceased’s decease certificate and impervious that you’re a adjacent household subordinate oregon person ineligible authorization to enactment connected their behalf

Note: Even if you cognize the person’s login information, Facebook’s presumption prohibit logging into idiosyncratic else’s account, adjacent aft death. In cases wherever the deceased did not usage their ineligible sanction connected Facebook oregon was a minor, Facebook whitethorn petition further documentation to verify their identity.

Facebook app connected a smartphone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

HOW TO ENSURE YOUR PASSWORDS DON’T DIE WITH YOU

Check for a bequest contact

Facebook allows users to delegate a legacy contact, idiosyncratic they spot to negociate their memorialized profile. If your loved 1 acceptable this up earlier passing, their bequest interaction whitethorn beryllium capable to:

• Accept caller person requests
• Pin tribute posts
• Update the illustration oregon screen photo
• Request relationship deletion

However, they cannot log into the account, work messages oregon marque posts arsenic the deceased. To delegate a bequest interaction connected your ain profile, spell to your Facebook settings, past choose "Memorialization Settings." From there, you tin select a trusted contact to negociate your memorialized relationship erstwhile the clip comes. To larn much astir however to cheque oregon delegate a bequest contact, see: How to beryllium remembered everlastingly connected Facebook.

HOW TO REMOVE YOUR PRIVATE DATA FROM THE INTERNET

Other Facebook options you should cognize about

In summation to memorializing oregon removing an account, Facebook offers a fewer different tools for handling a deceased person’s profile.

• Request a transcript of content: Verified household members oregon ineligible representatives can request contented specified arsenic photos oregon messages. Note: While Facebook does not assistance afloat access, successful immoderate cases it allows you to petition a download of shared contented similar photos, posts and videos.
• Report an relationship that should beryllium memorialized: Even if you’re not contiguous family, you can report an relationship if you judge it belongs to idiosyncratic who has passed.
• Can't entree oregon log into a memorialized account?: Facebook doesn’t let login to memorialized profiles, adjacent with credentials. If you’re moving into access issues, they’re apt related to this restriction.

HOW SCAMMERS HAVE SUNK TO A NEW LOW WITH AN AI OBITUARY SCAM TARGETING THE GRIEVING

Why it's important to instrumentality action

Unfortunately, the integer satellite doesn’t halt aft idiosyncratic passes away. Unattended accounts tin go susceptible to ghost hacking, a benignant of cybercrime that targets the deceased. Scammers person been known to impersonate the deceased to exploit grieving friends and family.

And beware of scam artists who people families with fake funeral-related schemes: How impostors effort to exploit your grief and wallet successful caller ceremonial scam.

An online scammer (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

Protecting your loved one’s integer legacy: Essential steps to take

Managing a deceased person’s Facebook relationship is conscionable 1 portion of safeguarding their integer presence. To guarantee their online beingness remains unafraid and respected, present are 5 important steps you tin instrumentality to support passwords, accounts and idiosyncratic accusation aft a loved 1 passes away.

1) Use a password manager: Use a password manager to make and store analyzable passwords. Use 1 that offers exigency entree features and designate a trusted interaction who tin petition entree to your accounts aft a waiting period, ensuring your passwords stay unafraid but accessible to the close idiosyncratic erstwhile needed. Get much details astir my best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 here.

2) Enable multifactor authentication: Enable multifactor authentication connected each important accounts and supply your exigency interaction with backup codes oregon alternate authentication methods to forestall lockouts portion maintaining beardown security.

3) Assign bequest contacts: Assign bequest contacts not lone connected Facebook but besides connected different large platforms specified arsenic Google, Apple and Microsoft, truthful your trusted idiosyncratic tin negociate oregon retrieve your integer information according to your wishes aft your passing.

4) Maintain an updated relationship list: Keep an updated and encrypted database of each captious accounts, including fiscal services, subscriptions, email and societal media credentials, on with instructions connected however to grip each 1 and store them securely, either digitally oregon physically.

5) Regularly reappraisal and communicate: Review and update your integer bequest program regularly, astatine slightest erstwhile a year, and pass intelligibly with your designated contacts to guarantee they recognize however to entree and negociate your accounts erstwhile the clip comes.

SUBSCRIBE TO KURT'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR QUICK VIDEO TIPS ON HOW TO WORK ALL OF YOUR TECH DEVICES

Kurt's cardinal takeaways

Handling a loved one’s Facebook relationship aft they’ve passed tin consciousness overwhelming, but you don’t person to spell done it alone. Whether you take to sphere their representation done a memorialized leafage oregon region the relationship entirely, Facebook has wide steps successful spot to assistance you bash it respectfully and securely.

How bash you deliberation societal media platforms should grip accounts of deceased users? Let america cognize by penning america at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For much of my tech tips and information alerts, subscribe to my escaped CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

Ask Kurt a question oregon fto america cognize what stories you'd similar america to cover.

Follow Kurt connected his societal channels:

• Facebook
• YouTube
• Instagram

Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:

• What is the champion mode to support your Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android devices from getting hacked?
• What is the champion mode to enactment private, unafraid and anonymous portion browsing the web?
• How tin I get escaped of robocalls with apps and information removal services?
• How bash I region my backstage information from the internet?

New from Kurt:

• Try CyberGuy's caller games (crosswords, connection searches, trivia and more!)
• CyberGuy's exclusive coupons and deals
• Best gifts for Mom 2025

Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.