Digital Legacy - Instagram

Memorialised Accounts

A memorialised Instagram account becomes a place where friends and family can remember someone’s life.
Key features include:

• No one can log into the account.
• The word “Remembering” appears next to the person’s name.
• Posts the person shared (photos, videos) remain visible to the same audience who could see them before.
• The account will not appear in certain places like Explore or public suggestions.
• Once memorialised, the account cannot be modified: no new posts, no changes to profile, followers or following.

Why this matters: The account remains a digital legacy—preserving memories—but it is locked for editing or logging in, which reduces risk of misuse or unwanted changes.
Learn more: About memorialised Instagram accounts

Requesting Memorialisation

If you see an account of someone who has passed away, here is how to proceed:

• You (friend or family) can request the account be memorialised.
• Instagram will require proof of death, like an obituary or news article.
• After review, the account will be updated as “Remembering” and locked.

Deleting an Account After Death

If you are an immediate family member of a deceased person, Instagram offers the option to remove the account permanently (👉 Request removal of a deceased person’s account):

• You will need to provide documentation: death certificate, birth certificate of the deceased, and proof of lawful authority (for example executor of estate).
• Once removal is approved, all content—posts, photos, videos, comments—will be deleted.
• Consider carefully: once the account is deleted, the digital legacy and memories it holds are gone.