How to close a Twitter account after a loved one passes

Twitter only gives two options: leave the account as is, or have it deleted.

1) Do nothing, and the deceased’s account will remain as is.

2) To deactivate the account:

• You can use this link: https://help.twitter.com/forms/privacy

• You can do this if you are an immediate family member or executor

3) Request Twitter remove images and videos that capture the moments of critical injury before or after death

• https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/contact-twitter-about-media-on-a-deceased-family-members-account

• You can do this if you are an immediate family member or executor

• Twitter will consider public interest factors such as the newsworthiness of the content and may not honor every request

Note: Twitter cannot provide account access regardless of your relationship to the deceased.

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

• From the sign in page on either twitter.com, mobile.twitter.com, or the Twitter for iOS or Android app, click Forgot password: https://twitter.com/account/begin_password_reset

• Enter your loved one’s email address, phone number, or Twitter username. If there are multiple accounts associated with the phone number, you cannot use itduring this step.

• Click the reset link in the email.

• Choose a new password.