Dealing with digital accounts after death

A calm, practical way to handle someone’s online life — without trying to solve everything at once.

After someone dies, digital accounts can quickly become overwhelming. Email, subscriptions, banking, photos, social media — it’s often unclear what exists, how to access it, or what the person would have wanted. This guide is about helping you take control gently and methodically, one step at a time.

You don’t need to do everything immediately. In the early days, your focus is on the essentials. The rest can be handled in phases, when you have more capacity.

Start with a simple inventory

Before you try to log in to anything, make a basic list of what you know exists. This alone can reduce stress and stop you from missing important accounts.

• Devices Note what they used: phone, laptop, tablet, and any passcodes you can legally access.
• Email accounts Email often holds the clues — receipts, password resets, and account notifications.
• Banking and payments Online banking, PayPal, Apple Pay/Google Pay, and any cards tied to subscriptions.
• Subscriptions Streaming, deliveries, software, memberships, charities — often the easiest to overlook.
• Social and messaging Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, X, and other platforms.
• Photos and storage iCloud, Google Photos, Dropbox, OneDrive, external drives.

Prioritise what matters most

Not all digital accounts are equally urgent. Prioritising helps you feel back in control.

• Financial accounts Banking, credit, and payment services should be identified early.
• Accounts that keep charging Subscriptions can continue silently for months if not cancelled.
• Email It’s often the hub for everything else — but don’t force access if it isn’t available.
• Anything time-sensitive Work accounts, business logins, or services needed for household admin.

Be careful with access and passwords

It can be tempting to try passwords you think might work or to “just get in” to deal with things. In practice, access rules vary by service, and repeatedly attempting logins can lock accounts.

• Don’t guess repeatedly Too many attempts can trigger security locks and make things harder.
• Avoid changing details too early Changing recovery emails or phone numbers can create complications later.
• Use official bereavement processes Many services have clear steps for next of kin or executors.

Email and online accounts

Email is often the biggest key — but it can also be the hardest to access. If you have legitimate access, start by looking for account notifications, receipts, and subscription emails.

• Search for receipts Look for “receipt”, “invoice”, “subscription”, “renewal”, “trial”, “payment”.
• Search by providers Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Google, PayPal, banks, energy providers.
• Make a list as you go Record what you find so you don’t revisit the same accounts repeatedly.

Subscriptions and recurring payments

This is often the quickest win. Cancelling subscriptions reduces financial leakage and mental load.

• Check bank statements Look for monthly charges and identify what they relate to.
• Cancel where possible Use the service’s official cancellation process.
• Watch for “annual renewals” These can show up later and catch families out.

Social media and online profiles

People often want different things here: some prefer accounts to be closed, others want them memorialised. If you’re unsure, it’s okay to pause before making irreversible changes.

• Decide what feels right Memorialise, close, or leave as-is for now.
• Use platform bereavement tools Many services allow memorialisation or removal with evidence.
• Be mindful of messages Accounts can contain private conversations — proceed respectfully.

Photos, files, and digital memories

Photos and videos are often the most meaningful digital assets. If there is one area worth handling carefully, it’s this one.

• Identify where photos are stored Phone storage, cloud backups, shared albums, external drives.
• Back up before making changes If you have lawful access, preserve copies before closing accounts.
• Share with family thoughtfully Consider privacy and who may want what.

Take it in phases

Digital admin is rarely completed in a weekend. It’s normal for this to take weeks or months, especially if access is unclear. Aim for progress, not perfection.

• Phase 1 Identify key accounts and stop ongoing charges.
• Phase 2 Use official bereavement routes for access, closure, or memorialisation.
• Phase 3 Preserve important files and memories, then simplify what remains.

Keeping everything organised

One of the hardest parts after a death is not knowing what exists — which accounts were used, what needs cancelling, or where important files are stored. Having everything organised in one place can make a huge difference for the people left behind.