How to close an Instagram account after a loved one passes

There are three options for what to do with a Instagram account when someone passes away:

1) Do nothing. The deceased’s account will remain as is.

2) Convert the deceased’s account to a memorial account to try to prevent it from appearing in ways that may be upsetting, and to protect the privacy of the account. You can use this link: https://help.instagram.com/contact/452224988254813?helpref =faq_content

• Instagram requires proof of death (e.g. a link to an obituary)

• The memorial account will be different:

  • No one can log in

  • The profile will appear the same as it did

  • The profile cannot be changed in any way, including likes, followers, tags, posts shared (photos and videos), comments, and the audience

  • The profile will not appear in public spaces like people's Explore section

3) Delete the deceased’s account, if you are an immediate family member and have the below documentation, using this link: https://help.instagram.com/contact/1474899482730688?helpr ef=faq_content

• The deceased person's birth certificate

• The deceased person's death certificate

• Proof of authority under local law that you are the lawful representative of the deceased person or their estate

Note: Instagram will never let you log into the deceased person’s account. It's always against the Instagram Policies to log into another person's account.

However, despite it being a violation of the terms and conditions, some people recommend that you can reset the password for the account and log in. This could work if you already have access to your loved one’s email, phone, or Facebook account. We are not endorsing this choice, but if recommended by your lawyer, here are the instructions:

• Open the Instagram App

• On the login screen, tap “Get help signing in”

• On Android: select Username or Email, Send an SMS or Log In with Facebook, then enter the information and follow the on-screen instructions

• On iOS, tap Username or Phone. Enter the email address, username or phone number, then tap Send Login Link.