Your Digital Legacy: How to Plan What Happens to Your Online Accounts When You Die
Updated March 2026 | 11 min read
The average person has over 100 online accounts. When someone dies, those accounts do not simply disappear. Email inboxes fill up, subscriptions keep charging, social media profiles remain visible, and valuable digital assets (photos, documents, cryptocurrency) can be lost forever if nobody knows how to access them. Digital legacy planning is the process of deciding what happens to your online presence after you die and making sure the right people can carry out your wishes.
Why Digital Legacy Planning Matters
When a loved one dies, the digital aftermath creates practical problems that most families are unprepared for. Subscriptions continue charging the deceased's bank account. Online banking may be inaccessible without passwords. Treasured family photos stored in iCloud or Google Photos could be permanently deleted after a period of inactivity. Cryptocurrency wallets without known access keys mean the value is lost forever.
Beyond practical concerns, there is also the emotional dimension. Seeing a loved one's Facebook profile pop up with birthday reminders or friend suggestions can be deeply distressing for grieving family members. Planning ahead gives you control over what happens and spares your family unnecessary difficulty.
What Happens to Your Accounts by Default
Every platform has its own policy for deceased users. Here is what the major services do:
| Platform | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Facebook / Instagram | Account can be memorialised (locked, "Remembering" added to name). A legacy contact you nominate can manage the memorialised profile. Account can also be permanently deleted on request. |
| Google (Gmail, Drive, Photos) | Inactive Account Manager lets you set a timeout (3-18 months). After inactivity, chosen contacts receive your data. Account deleted after timeout if you choose that option. |
| Apple (iCloud) | Legacy Contact feature (iOS 15.2+). Nominated person can request access to your iCloud data using a special key. Without a legacy contact, Apple requires a court order. |
| Microsoft (Outlook, OneDrive) | Next of kin can request account closure or data from the account. Requires a death certificate and proof of relationship. No legacy contact feature. |
| Twitter / X | Immediate family or authorised estate representative can request account deactivation. No memorialisation option. |
| PayPal | Contact customer service with death certificate. Account closed and remaining balance sent to the estate by cheque. |
| Amazon | Contact customer service to close the account. Digital purchases (Kindle books, music) are non-transferable under the terms of service. |
How to Create a Digital Legacy Plan
Audit your digital life
List every online account you have: email, social media, banking, shopping, subscriptions, cloud storage, domain names, websites, cryptocurrency wallets, gaming accounts, streaming services. Check your email for subscription receipts and password manager for a complete list.
Decide what happens to each account
For each account, decide whether it should be deleted, memorialised, transferred to someone, or archived. Not everything needs the same treatment.
Use platform legacy features
Set up Facebook Legacy Contact, Google Inactive Account Manager, Apple Legacy Contact, and any similar features offered by other platforms. Do this now; it takes minutes.
Store access information securely
Use a password manager (like 1Password, Bitwarden, or LastPass) and share the master password or emergency access with your executor or trusted person. Alternatively, write login details in a sealed document stored with your will.
Include digital assets in your will
Mention digital assets in your will and name who should handle them. While you cannot "bequeath" most digital accounts (they are licensed, not owned), you can direct your executor on what to do with them.
Document cryptocurrency holdings
If you hold crypto, this is critical. Without wallet keys and recovery phrases, crypto is permanently lost. Store recovery phrases in a secure physical location (not digitally). Tell your executor where to find them.
Write instructions
Create a letter of wishes (separate from your will) that explains your digital assets, where to find access details, and what you want done with each account. Keep it updated.
Review annually
New accounts are created, passwords change, and platforms update their policies. Review your digital legacy plan once a year alongside your will review.
Stopping Subscriptions After Death
The average UK adult pays for 5 to 7 monthly subscriptions: streaming services, gym memberships, software, meal kits, and more. After someone dies, these keep charging until someone cancels them. If the payment card is still active, charges continue indefinitely.
How to handle subscriptions
- Check bank and credit card statements for recurring payments
- Contact each provider with the death certificate to cancel
- Request refunds for any charges after the date of death
- Cancel the payment card once all legitimate charges are identified
- Check for annual subscriptions that may not appear on recent statements
Managing Social Media After Death
Social media accounts are often the most visible part of someone's digital presence. Seeing posts, memories, or ads from a deceased person can be upsetting for friends and family. Here are your options:
Memorialisation
Facebook and Instagram allow profiles to be memorialised. The word "Remembering" appears next to the name, the profile no longer appears in birthday reminders or "People You May Know," and friends can still post tributes. A legacy contact can pin a tribute post and respond to friend requests. To memorialise an account, submit a request via Facebook's memorialisation form with proof of death.
Deletion
All major platforms allow immediate family or estate representatives to request permanent account deletion. You typically need a death certificate and proof of your relationship or authority. This is permanent, so download any content you want to keep first.
Download data first
Most platforms allow data downloads. Google Takeout exports everything from Gmail, Drive, and Photos. Facebook and Instagram offer data download tools. Download before deleting, because there is no way to recover data after deletion.
Cryptocurrency and Digital Assets
Cryptocurrency presents unique challenges because there is no central authority that can grant access. If the wallet holder dies without sharing their private keys or recovery phrases, the cryptocurrency is permanently inaccessible. It is estimated that 20% of all Bitcoin is in lost or stranded wallets, much of it due to owner deaths.
Essential steps for crypto holders
- Write down your recovery phrases (seed words) on paper or metal
- Store them in a fireproof safe or safety deposit box
- Never store recovery phrases digitally (they can be hacked)
- Tell your executor or trusted person where to find them
- Document which exchanges and wallets you use
- Consider a multi-signature wallet that requires multiple keys (you + trusted person)
- For exchange-held crypto (Coinbase, Binance), the executor can contact the exchange with probate documents
The Legal Position in the UK
UK law does not have specific legislation for digital assets and inheritance. The general position is that most digital accounts are licensed to you rather than owned by you, so they cannot be inherited in the same way as physical property. However, executors have a general duty to manage the estate, which includes dealing with digital assets.
The Computer Misuse Act 1990 makes it an offence to access a computer system without authorisation. This means logging into someone's accounts with their password after death is technically a legal grey area. Having proper authorisation through an LPA (while alive) or executor powers (after death) is important.
Cryptocurrency and NFTs are treated as property under English law (as confirmed by the UK Jurisdiction Taskforce in 2019), which means they can be included in a will and pass through the estate in the normal way, as long as the executors can access the relevant wallets.
Digital Legacy Checklist
- 1. Set up Google Inactive Account Manager
- 2. Set up Facebook Legacy Contact
- 3. Set up Apple Legacy Contact
- 4. Set up password manager emergency access
- 5. List all online banking and investment accounts
- 6. List all cryptocurrency wallets and exchanges
- 7. List all active subscriptions
- 8. Document what you want done with each account
- 9. Store instructions securely with your will
- 10. Tell your executor where to find everything