Memorializing or removing a loved one’s Instagram account

What to do first

Decide whether you want the account memorialized (kept as a remembrance) or removed. Gather what you will need: a link to an obituary or news article that confirms the death, and, if you are asking for removal, documents that show you’re an immediate family member.

Step 1: Memorialize

Instagram has a request form for memorialization. Anyone who knew the person can submit it. You will enter the person’s username, the date of death and a link to proof, such as an obituary or news article. Once approved, the account is marked as remembered, no one can log in, and posts remain visible to the audience they were shared with.

Step 2: Ask for removal

Verified immediate family can request that the account be removed instead. Instagram asks for proof of relationship, such as a birth or death certificate, and, if you represent the estate, proof of legal authority. Check the form for current requirements, since they can differ by country.

Step 3: Report if someone else is using it

If a family member gave out the password and you see activity after death, or a stranger is using the account, report it. If a person is using the name to mislead others, use the impersonation form. Don’t log in yourself with a known password, because that is against Instagram’s terms.

Step 4: Save memories first

If you have the login legitimately, download the data first. If you do not, ask Instagram about your options through the form, and save public photos and posts that you are able to see.

What a memorialized account looks like

The word “Remembering” appears next to the name on the profile. The profile is protected: no one can log in, and the content stays visible to the people it was shared with. Existing posts, likes and followers remain as they were, so it works as a quiet place for people to look back.

Why Instagram won’t hand over the login

Instagram doesn’t share passwords with anyone, including close relatives. The reason is privacy: the account holds private messages with other people who never agreed to share them. Instead the help pages offer memorialization or removal. If a family member needs a specific photo or video, the Help Center is the place to ask about options, and a request for content from the account is handled separately from memorialization.

A note on timing and tone

There’s no rush. The request forms are available whenever you’re ready, and Meta doesn’t publish a timeline for processing. If a profile is being used to spam friends or upset family in the meantime, use the report option on the profile to flag it.

What not to do

• Don’t pay anyone who offers access to a deceased person’s account. Instagram doesn’t sell access and doesn’t hand out passwords.
• Don’t submit fake documents. It can end the request.
• Don’t repeat the form every week. Meta doesn’t publish a timeline, so wait for the reply.