Online accounts after death: compare the official access routes
Understand the difference between preserving data, requesting account access and deleting an account, with official Apple, Google and Microsoft sources.
Last reviewed . Rules change — check with the provider before you rely on this guide.
Decide the outcome before making a request #
Preserving photos, obtaining certain account data, stopping charges and deleting an account are different tasks. Start by listing the service and the outcome the family is trying to achieve. Use the provider’s official process; access to a device or knowledge of a password usually does not settle permission or ownership questions. Ask the provider or an attorney if you are unsure.
Compare the starting points #
This table is a curated guide to official support routes checked September 9, 2026. It is not a promise that a request will be approved. Follow the linked provider guidance for the person’s region and account type.
| Provider | Starting point | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Apple | Legacy Contact route if a key exists; otherwise deceased-account support | Apple says account data and unlocking a physical device are separate issues |
| Deceased-user request process | Google says it does not provide passwords or login details | |
| Microsoft | Deceased-user support guidance | Requirements and available routes vary by region |
Source: Apple: Request access to a deceased family member’s account
Source: Google: Requests regarding a deceased user’s account
Check whether a plan was already set up #
Look for the person’s digital inventory, a legacy-contact record or the location of protected instructions. Keep any access keys private. Contact the chosen person before starting competing requests. A family coordinator can maintain a status log without circulating the sensitive documents themselves.
Preserve data options before asking for closure #
Google specifically warns that it cannot later provide account contents after an account-closure request is completed. Establish whether the family needs data before choosing deletion. For every service, read the consequences of the requested action and ask support if you are unsure.
Source: Google: Requests regarding a deceased user’s account
Record provider, request and next step #
Keep a row for the provider, desired outcome, official support link, date contacted, requested documentation and next follow-up. Submit documentation through verified official channels. For social, financial and subscription services not listed here, locate the current official help page rather than assuming another provider’s rules apply. Do not publish the inventory or include recovery secrets in it.
WiseTomorrow is a technology service for organizing and sharing information. It does not provide legal, tax, financial or estate-planning advice, does not replace a will, trust, power of attorney, beneficiary designation or advance directive, and does not verify that stored documents are valid. Consult a licensed professional for advice about your situation. Read the full legal disclaimer.
Sources and editorial notes
Prepared by WiseTomorrow, the maker of Wise Box. These resources help organize information; they are not an independent product review. No specialist review is claimed. How these resources are prepared.
- Google: Requests regarding a deceased user’s account · Source checked 2026-09-09
- Apple: Request access to a deceased family member’s account · Source checked 2026-09-09
- Microsoft: Accessing services when someone has died · Source checked 2026-09-09
Have a correction? Contact WiseTomorrow.