Guide · Property and digital
Memorialize social media after death
Step by step for Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. What memorialize does, what proof each platform asks for, and how long it takes.
Facebook and Instagram let a friend memorialize the account with a death certificate or obituary link, freezing the profile and preventing new logins. LinkedIn removes accounts on request from a family member. X requires an immediate family member or executor to submit the death certificate and a government ID.
Step by step
Facebook: memorialize
Submit a memorialization request with a link to an obituary or a death certificate. The account freezes, Remembering appears next to the name, and no one can log in.
Facebook: legacy contact
If the deceased set a legacy contact, that person can pin a final post and download a copy of the profile. They cannot read messages.
Instagram
Same Meta process. A memorialized account stays visible but no one can log in. A verified immediate family member can also request removal.
LinkedIn
Use the Deceased Member form. LinkedIn removes the profile after verifying the death notice. Memorialization is not offered.
X (Twitter)
An immediate family member or executor submits the death certificate and their government ID. X removes the account, does not memorialize.
Common questions
How long does memorialization take?
Facebook usually completes the request within a few business days. LinkedIn and X take one to two weeks depending on volume.
Can I download the deceased's photos and posts?
Only the named legacy contact (Facebook) or a court order (most others) can download archives. Plan ahead by setting legacy contacts on every platform that offers one.