Making arrangements for your estate before you die is important, but it’s also crucial to consider your digital legacy. That is, what happens to your data after you die?
Not making plans could result in identity theft, unfinished business arrangements, and difficulty for loved ones in accessing your photos or videos. In some cases, these scenarios could cause significant problems for friends, family, or employees.
Thankfully, the biggest names in tech usually have a process for handling your digital legacy:
- Google provides the Inactive Account Manager service to manage your account posthumously.
- Apple lets you designate Legacy Contacts to take care of your digital affairs.
- Facebook can delete your page or turn it into a digital memorial.
- Instagram can also memorialize your account or remove it altogether.
- Twitter allows you to request that an account be deleted, as long as you have proof.
- LinkedIn, like Meta’s platforms, allows you to memorialize or delete an account.
- Microsoft doesn’t offer support outside of Germany, but your data is deleted after two years.
- TikTok offers no option to delete or memorialize a page unless you have the account credentials.
Looking for a detailed guide about managing your digital legacy after you die? For more information, in addition to useful tips on digital will planning and using password managers to create a digital will, check out our full article below.
Benjamin Franklin once famously stated that nothing is certain except death and taxes. While thinking about the end is unpleasant, it’s something that comes for us all, and so it makes sense to wonder what happens to everything you leave behind.
There are established processes for handling physical assets and such. But now, many of us have a vast digital presence. We’re talking about social media accounts, photos and videos, emails, financial accounts, and more.
So, what happens to your data after you die? How do you secure your digital legacy when you’re no longer around to manage it? Below, we’ll explore digital legacy planning in more detail, with some real-world examples that highlight its importance.
What Happens to My Data After I Die?
We’re probably all familiar with what happens to your estate (your money, assets, and so forth) when you die. Ideally, you’ve got a will, which is used to determine what happens to the material possessions you’ve accumulated. Credit lines and bank accounts are typically easily managed, and families or spouses only need to submit official documentation proving that you no longer need them.
Digital accounts and data, on the other hand, are not so straightforward. We do not recommend leaving them in a traditional will. After probate, in many countries, a will becomes a public record. That means everybody could access your passwords if you write them into your will! There are, however, digital will services, which we’ll cover in more detail below.
Fortunately, most companies set out ways in which your family members can access your accounts when you pass away. Others allow you to specify a legacy contact who can gain access to your digital information if you’re no longer around.
Ensuring your data security after you pass away
Some companies have data retention periods, after which they will delete your account and data. Others, like TikTok, don’t delete your account or data unless requested. Facebook, for example, will also retain your data until the account is closed or “until it is no longer necessary to provide services and Facebook Products.”
This presents a unique problem. While you can opt out of data sharing and delete your online accounts, you are the only one with an automatic right to your own data. Without properly preparing for your digital legacy, your loved ones can face problems when it comes to delete it from the internet.
So, if you’re wondering what happens to your data when you die, in many cases, the answer is “nothing.” If you haven’t made preparations, your data could linger online and in company databases for years to come and be passed to third parties.
To ensure the security of your data after you’ve passed, you can do the following:
- Include your data and online accounts, or any other digital property, in a digital will. Appoint somebody that will follow your wishes.
- Spend some time making a list of all your online accounts and who can access them. Follow the instructions for each account in nominating somebody who can manage or delete it once you’re gone.
- Use a password manager to store all of your passwords securely. Set up secondary access for trusted loved ones so that they can access your credentials when needed.
- Consider using a data removal service like Incogni or DeleteMe to remove excess personal information from the internet. These services can purge your data from third-party marketing agencies.
Below, we’ve covered how to close online accounts with the biggest providers when someone dies. We’ve also included some other useful tips to secure digital assets after death. You will find more information on some of the points above, too.
How to Secure Your Digital Legacy on the Biggest Platforms
There are countless digital services out there, and many of them don’t have a defined process for managing your digital legacy. What’s more, some service providers retain more personal information than others. Certain services, like social media sites, hold a lot of data about you, while others may only have your name and email address.
To avoid having you read this article until your number is up, we’re going to keep things short. So, let’s focus on some of the most common service providers and look into how you can secure your digital legacy with them.
Google: Manage your data with Inactive Account Manager
Google is a good place to start. Many of the services we use daily allow you to log in via your Google account. Moreover, this service provider is also one of the biggest cloud storage and email services around. As such, there could be plenty of emails, photos, documents, and other important data tucked away inside your account.
When you die, you’ll want all of that data to be kept safe – or deleted entirely. Well, Google has a service known as the Inactive Account Manager. As the name suggests, it’ll automatically reach out to as many as 10 chosen people if you haven’t logged into your account for a specified time. Here’s how you can access the Inactive Account Manager setting:
- Go to your Google account homepage.
- Click on Data and Privacy on the left-hand side.
- Scroll down until you see the option to “Make a plan for your digital legacy,” and click here.
- Specify the inactivity period (three, six, 12, or 18 months) and who you’d like to notify. You can also set your Google account to automatically delete itself.
Should the worst happen, your chosen contacts will be given account access according to your choices.
Apple: Secure your digital legacy with Legacy Contacts
On December 13th, 2022, Apple released iOS update 15.2, which brought a new feature: digital Legacy Contacts. As with Google, these are people who can take care of your affairs if you’re no longer around. Follow the steps below to add your Legacy Contact:
- On your iPhone, open the Settings app and click on your name at the very top.
- Select Password & Security.
- Scroll down and tap on Legacy Contact.
- Click on Add Legacy Contact.
- Verify your password and select contacts from your address book.
Each contact you choose will receive an access key, which they can use on the Apple website to request access to your device. Remember, your designated contacts will still need to provide proof of your death – your death certificate.
Facebook: Close down or memorialize your page
Facebook’s not as popular as it used to be, and many of us have already stopped using the platform. But if you have an account with Facebook, you have two options: you can either delete it or turn it into a digital memorial for friends to visit.
Much like with Google and Apple, you can specify a next of kin or friend with the Legacy Contact feature. They’ll be able to take care of the page once you’ve passed on. Here’s how you set up both of those options:
- On Facebook for desktop, click on your profile photo.
- Select Settings and Privacy.
- Choose “Settings.”
- Click on Memorialization settings.
- Specify a contact – who must be a Facebook friend – to manage your account if you die.
- Alternatively, click on “Request that your account be deleted if you pass away.” (If you choose this option, your account will be deleted – but somebody will still have to inform Facebook).
Bear in mind that your legacy contacts can only manage any posts left after your death. They can’t start deleting old statuses or photos, nor can they send haunting messages to your contacts.
Instagram: Get friends or family to set up a memorialization page
Your Instagram account might contain a lot of sensitive data, with pictures and videos of you and friends or family. Much like Facebook, you can simply memorialize your account. This leaves a visual memory for your loved ones, and your name will be appended with the word “Remembering.” This is how someone can set up a memorialization page:
- Your friend or family member will need to visit the memorialization page after you’ve passed on. They, too, will need an account, as this page requires a sign-in.
- On this page, they’ll need to submit a form. The form asks for information, including their name and email address, in addition to information about your profile.
- Instagram requests proof, so your contact must provide a death certificate or a screenshot of a relevant obituary.
Alternatively, a similar form is available for your loved ones to simply request that your account be deleted.
Twitter: Deceased users’ accounts can be deleted on request
Twitter recently saw a great deal of change, but the process for handling deceased users’ accounts hasn’t changed. Bear in mind that it’s the platform’s policy not to allow anybody else access to an account. That said, there’s a way to have an account deactivated:
- Visit the Twitter page to request the removal of a deceased user’s account.
- Complete the request, adding your contact information and the Twitter username of the account you want to be deleted.
- Wait for an email from Twitter, which will usually ask for more information, such as your ID and a copy of your friend or family member’s death certificate.
Twitter insists that any confidential information provided will be securely deleted after your request has been confirmed. You can also request that a medically incapacitated user’s account be deactivated.
LinkedIn: Offers similar options to Facebook and Instagram
While LinkedIn belongs to Microsoft, not Meta, the options here are the same as for Facebook and Instagram. You can request that an account be closed completely or turned into a memorial. Here’s how:
- Visit the LinkedIn Help page for closing or memorializing an account.
- Ensure you have the deceased person’s full name, LinkedIn profile URL, and email address. You’ll also need to know the date they passed and have a copy of their death certificate.
- Use the relevant link on the above page to either request an account deletion or request it to be turned into a memorial.
- Enter your digital signature and submit the form to send your request.
You will also need to have a letter of administration, testamentary, representation, or court order. This proves you can act on behalf of the person in question.
Microsoft: You must wait two years for your inactive account to be deleted
Unfortunately, Microsoft doesn’t provide any kind of digital legacy feature or service. The company has decided that personal data security and privacy are more important, which is understandable.
After two years of inactivity, an account is automatically deleted, so your data shouldn’t fall into the wrong hands.
The one exception is in Germany, where Microsoft allows residents to close a relative’s account by submitting documentation that includes a death certificate.
TikTok: Offers no options unless you know the account credentials
Unlike the other social media giants, TikTok has no option to delete or memorialize a page. The only way to permanently delete an account is by logging in using the account credentials.
What’s more, after 180 days of inactivity, TikTok changes account usernames to a string of random numbers. This can open up the original account owner for impersonation if a scammer sets up a new account using a name similar to the original.
So, what are your options for dealing with somebody’s TikTok account if they’ve passed away? Ideally, you’ll need their credentials, which is where a password manager can come in useful.
Password Managers Simplify Your Digital Legacy
Besides the obvious benefits of password managers, like improved password security and multi-factor authentication (MFA), the best password managers can make handling your digital legacy simpler.
Services like 1Password have something called an Emergency Kit. This stores all of your key signup information, including your master password. Your master password lets you log into 1Password and access all of your user credentials for all of the services you access online.
When you get your Emergency Kit, it’s recommended that you save it and print it out or download a copy to a USB. You can then store this information physically, somewhere safe and secure.
After you’re gone, being able to pass on this Emergency Kit to a trusted loved one means that they can take care of your accounts with simplicity. They’ll have all the information needed to access and close down your services with every single provider. 1Password has a lot of useful features that help keep you safe online.
Create a Digital Will and Name an Executor(s)
According to a UK study in 2022, just five percent of people who held a will said that it included digital assets. Still, you need to be careful. As noted earlier, never write your passwords into your will, as they could be viewed by the public once probate is over.
That said, you can create a digital will. Much like your account credentials, a digital will can be stored directly within a password manager vault. Services like 1Password allow you to create a folder within your vault, giving them custom titles.
So, here’s how you can quickly and easily create a digital will. We’ll use the 1Password manager as an example since it’s one of our best password managers:
- Get a 1Password subscription, then sign into your account.
- Set up a custom vault in 1Password by selecting “New Vault” on your homepage.
- Choose a preconfigured vault or create a custom vault. You can name custom vaults as needed (e.g., “Digital Will”).
- Store your important passwords, PIN access codes, or other digital assets within the folder.
- Send invites to your trust contacts who you want to manage your affairs once you’re not around.
- Click on “People“ in the sidebar.
- Designate roles that determine who can access your vault.
Using a password manager like 1Password can massively simplify the management of your data when you’re not around to handle it.
Why Worry About Your Digital Legacy?
You might wonder why you should worry at all about your digital legacy. After all, you won’t be around to use your data! But there are numerous legitimate concerns why you should think about your digital information ahead of time.
1. Your data could still be used for marketing, or worse
The sad reality is that once you’re gone, your data is still at risk of being stolen and abused for identity theft and other cyber crimes. This could be distressing for others, particularly where living relatives are concerned. In one recent example from the US, a man lived for around 50 years under a false identity, which had been stolen from a deceased person.
2. You may have unfinished business in the event of a sudden departure
Depending on your career and professional life, an untimely death could cause significant problems for others in your wake. A cryptocurrency exchange known as QuadrigaCX suffered such a fate in 2019 when its owner and CEO passed away suddenly. It turned out that he was the only one who knew the password to his computers, and he wasn’t using a password manager. As such, around $250 million was lost, and the exchange was filed for creditor protection with the courts in Canada.
3. Your family may want access to important photos and memories
There are other reasons that you might want to consider regarding what happens to your data after you die. In a high-profile case, a man named Byron Tate fought Apple for more than half a year to gain access to his deceased wife’s family photos.
Apple stood by its privacy policies at first, preventing Tate from accessing them, though he succeeded in the end. But this case, which is far from being the only one of its kind, highlights another example of why you should consider what happens to your data when you die.
Eventually, Apple allowed the man to access his wife’s information, directly going against its own privacy policies. This is positive news for Tate, but in some instances, you might not want your family gaining access to your data.
Final Thoughts: How to Secure Your Digital Legacy
You might think that securing your digital legacy is not important. But the reality is that your identity could still be stolen after you’ve passed away. In some cases, it could even cause financial problems for people who are financially tied to you in some way.
Fortunately, there are services in place to make things simple for your trusted contacts. Most providers offer a way for friends or family to help close down accounts once you’re gone. But in most cases, you’ll need to think about this ahead of time.
The table below gives you a quick rundown of how big service providers secure your digital legacy.
| Service provider | How it secures your digital legacy |
|---|---|
| Inactive Account Manager | |
| Apple | Legacy Contact |
| Page memorialization or account deletion | |
| Page memorialization | |
| Microsoft | Account deletion after 2 years of inactivity (outside of Germany) |
| Page memorialization or account deletion | |
| TikTok | Login credentials required to delete an account |
| Account deletion upon proof of your passing |
For more information about the importance of keeping your data safe and why password managers are essential, take a look at the articles below:
- The Best Password Managers: Our Top 5 Picks
- NordPass Review: A Cheap But Great Password Manager
- How to Be Safe Online: 8 Cyber Hygiene Tips to Keep You Safe
It’s understandable that you might have questions about your digital legacy planning. Below, we’ve answered some of our most frequently asked questions.
Typically, nothing happens to your data after you die unless you’ve made arrangements for your digital legacy.
With Google and Apple, you can designate contacts to manage your data once you’re gone. Facebook and Instagram will memorialize or delete your account when requested by a friend or family member, assuming proof is provided. Microsoft, however, won’t take action – but will delete your data after two years.
Most trustworthy companies should have data retention policies, but that could still mean that your data sits in a database for many years if you don’t make other arrangements.
Apple’s Legacy Contacts feature lets you specify people in your contacts list who can manage your data when you die. They’ll need to log into Apple’s website with a secure access key, before being able to request that your account be deleted, or to access media. If you don’t set this up in advance, your loved ones could have serious trouble accessing your account.
Many companies will fight against requests for passwords or general account access if arrangements aren’t made. Password managers are among the most stringent service providers regarding data security. So, your loved ones are unlikely to ever gain access to your accounts if you haven’t made arrangements in advance.
That’s why you should use a password manager like 1Password to set up a digital will and emergency kit, to be stored offline.
