Facebook Memorialized Accounts: Plan Ahead
Learn what happens to your Facebook profile after you pass, how memorialization works, and how to appoint a Legacy Contact or request deletion.
4 min read · 5 steps · Checked April 2026
Step 1. Open Facebook and go to Settings
Open the Facebook app on your phone or go to facebook.com in a browser. Tap the three horizontal lines (menu) in the bottom right corner of the app, or the downward-pointing arrow in the top right on a computer. Scroll down and tap "Settings & Privacy," then tap "Settings."
Step 2. Find Memorialization Settings
In Settings, scroll down to the section called "Your Facebook Information." Tap it, then look for "Memorialization Settings" and tap that. This page lets you choose how your account will be handled after your passing and who will manage it.
Quick Tip
On a computer browser, you can search for "Memorialization Settings" in the Facebook Help Center to go directly to the right page.
Step 3. Choose a Legacy Contact
Tap "Choose Legacy Contact" and type the name of a Facebook friend you trust. This person will be able to manage your memorialized account. They can post a tribute message, update your profile and cover photo, and respond to new friend requests. Once you select them, Facebook will ask if you want to send them a message letting them know. It is a good idea to notify them so they understand this responsibility.
Warning
Your Legacy Contact cannot access your private messages, delete posts you made while alive, or remove current friends. Make sure the person you choose understands what they can and cannot do.
Step 4. Decide between memorialization and deletion
Below the Legacy Contact option, you will see a section that says "Account After Death." You can choose to have your account memorialized when Facebook is notified of your passing, or you can request that it be permanently deleted. Think about which option reflects your wishes. If you have many photos and memories on Facebook that your family values, memorialization may be the better choice. If you prefer privacy, request deletion.
Quick Tip
You can change these settings at any time. If your preferences change, come back to this page and update them.
Step 5. Tell your family where to find this information
Write down that you have a Facebook Legacy Contact and who it is. Include this in your estate planning documents or in a "digital accounts" note that you keep with your will. When the time comes, your Legacy Contact or another family member will need to notify Facebook using the "Special Request for Deceased Person's Account" form, which is available on Facebook's Help Center.
Many people spend years building a Facebook profile full of photos, memories, and connections. When someone passes away, their Facebook account does not disappear automatically — and without a plan in place, family members may find it difficult to manage or access.
Facebook has a system for handling accounts after someone passes. When Facebook is notified of a user's death, the account can be "memorialized." A memorialized account looks slightly different from a regular profile — the word "Remembering" appears before the person's name, the account cannot be logged into, and friends can still leave tributes on the timeline. The account remains as a place for people to gather and share memories.
Facebook allows you to designate a Legacy Contact — a trusted person who can manage your memorialized account. A Legacy Contact can write a pinned post, respond to new friend requests, and update the profile photo and cover photo. They cannot read your private messages, remove friends, or access your messages.
You also have the option to request that your account be permanently deleted after you pass, rather than memorialized. This is the right choice if you would prefer not to have an ongoing social media presence after your death.
Setting up your preferences takes just a few minutes and gives you peace of mind that your profile will be handled the way you want. You can find these settings in Facebook's "Settings & Privacy" section under "Memorialization Settings." Making these decisions now, while you can, is a gift to the people who will handle your affairs later. Facebook provides guidance on this topic at facebook.com/help.
Official sources
- Facebook Help Center — facebook.com
- Instagram Help — instagram.com
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