Losing a loved one is never easy, and dealing with their digital life can add another layer of stress during already difficult times.
John, from Northampton, Pennsylvania, reached out to him with a question that many face but few people know how to handle it. “Please explain how to delete the deceased’s Facebook account.”
John, we are very sorry for your losses and you are not alone as you wonder what to do next. Managing the deceased’s Facebook presence can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t know where to start. Facebook offers several options depending on whether you want to save your account as a monument or have deleted it completely. Here’s what you need to know along with how to protect your digital legacy from misuse:
Woman scrolling on Facebook (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)
What is a memorable Facebook account?
When Facebook realizes that someone has passed away, their policy is In commemoration account. This will make your profile a digital tribute and serve as a space where friends and family can gather, share memories, and view photos and posts. Memorial account:
- Next to the person’s name, the word “remember” is displayed.
- Save content posted during your lifetime
- Prevents everyone from logging in to their account
- Can only be managed by legacy contacts (if assigned)
Memorializing your account not only honors people’s memories, but also adds a layer of security by locking your account from unauthorized access. Anyone can request that a user be commemorated to their Facebook account if they believe they have passed away, but they can ensure that only their directly family and legacy contacts can manage their account.
How to protect yourself from social media scammers
Option 1: Request a commemorative
If Facebook has not yet commemorated your account, you can request it yourself. Everyone can submit a commemorative request, but Facebook may require proof if they are not close family members. Here’s how to request commemoration:
- I’m going to Commemorative Request Form
- Provide the deceased Full name and date of death
- Upload Proof of death (Like an obituary, death certificate, or commemorative card)
- Submit the form Wait for Facebook to confirm and process your request
If a legacy contact is assigned by the deceased before the deceased passes, the person may be notified and manage the memorial profile.
If you don’t know what your legacy contacts are or how to set them up for your account, Facebook > setting > Choose a memorial setting and someone you trust.
Find out more about Legacy Contacts and Digital Legacy Plans. One day you leave this Earth, but your data will continue to live in a troublesome future.
Option 2: Request to delete your account
If you are not memorialized and want to permanently delete your account, Facebook will provide you with a separate process for that, but only to your immediate family or legal representative. To delete an account:
- Please visit Special requests for the deceased account
- Select an option: Please delete this account
- Upload the documentincluding a copy of the deceased’s death certificate and evidence that you are close family members or have legal authority to act on their behalf.
Note: Even if you know a person’s login information, Facebook terms prohibit logins to other people’s accounts, even after death. If the deceased did not use legal names on Facebook, or were minor, Facebook may request additional documentation to verify their identity.
Facebook app on your smartphone (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)
How to prevent your password from dying with you
Check your legacy contact details
With Facebook, users can assign a Legacy Contact Informationwho trusts them to manage their memorial profiles. If your loved one sets this before passing, their legacy contact may be able to do the following
- Accept new friend requests
- Pintribute posting
- Update your profile or cover photo
- Requests to delete your account
However, you cannot log in to your account, read messages, or create posts as deceased. To assign legacy contacts to your profile, Facebook Settingsselect “Memorial setting.“You can choose from there Trustworthy Contacts To manage your commemorative account when the time comes. For more information on how to view or assign legacy contacts, see: How to remember forever on Facebook.
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Other Facebook options you should know
In addition to commemorating or deleting your account, Facebook offers several other tools to handle the profile of the deceased.
- Request a copy of the content: Validated family members or legal representatives are permitted Request content Photos, messages, etc. Note: Facebook does not allow full access, but in some cases you can request downloads of shared content such as photos, posts, videos, and more.
- Please report your memorable account. You can do it even if you’re not a close relative Report your account If you believe it belongs to someone who has passed.
- Can’t access or log in to your memorial account? : Facebook does not allow logins to commemorate profiles, even if you have credentials. If you are encountering Access issuesthey are probably related to this limitation.
How con artists have been newly sunk in AI death scam targeting grief
Why it’s important to take action
Unfortunately, the digital world never stops after someone dies. Unmanned accounts can become vulnerable Ghost HackingA type of cybercrime targeting the deceased. It is known that con artists are beginning to exploit friends and family who are grieving for the deceased.
And beware of scammers who target families with fake funeral-related schemes: How a scammer tries to misuse your grief and wallet in a new funeral scam.
Online scammer (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)
Protect your loved one’s digital legacy: essential steps to take
Managing the deceased’s Facebook account is just part of protecting your digital presence. To ensure that your online life is safe and respected, here are five important steps you can take to protect your password, account and personal information after your loved one has passed away.
1) Using the Password Manager: Use the Password Manager to generate and store complex passwords. It provides emergency access features, provides trusted contacts that can request access to your account after the waiting period, and uses trusted contacts that are secure in passwords but can be accessed by the right people if necessary. Get my details Find the best expert reviewed password managers of 2025 here.
2) Enable multifactor authentication: Enable Multi-factor authentication All critical accounts provide emergency contacts with backup codes or alternative authentication methods to prevent lockouts while maintaining strong security.
3) Assign legacy contacts: Assign legacy contacts not only to Facebook, but also to other major platforms such as Google, Apple, Microsoft, etc., so trustworthy people can manage or retrieve digital data at their preferences after their death.
4) Keep updated account list: Process each of your updated and encrypted lists of all important accounts, including financial services, subscriptions, email and social media credentials, and maintain instructions on how to store them digitally or physically securely.
5) Regularly review and communicate: Be sure to review and update your digital legacy plan regularly at least once a year, and communicate clearly with designated contacts and understand how to access and manage your account when the time comes.
Important takeouts in your cart
It may seem overwhelming to process after your loved one’s Facebook account has passed, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Whether you want to keep your memory through a memorial page or completely delete your account, Facebook has clear steps to help you do it respectfully and safely.
How do you think social media platforms need to handle the accounts of deceased users? Write us and let us know cyberguy.com/contact.
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