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X (Twitter) · Request only

What happens to your X account when you die

X does not memorialise accounts or let you name a legacy contact. The only option for family is to ask for deactivation.

Request onlyOfficial help centre

What happens if nothing is set up

An X account stays live and public after its owner dies until someone asks for it to be deactivated.

X does not provide access to the account for family, and there is no memorialised state. The choice is to leave it as it is or to ask for deactivation.

Because there is no setting to choose in advance, clear written wishes are the only way to tell your family what you would prefer.

Steps

What to do instead

With no built-in option, a short note does most of the work.

  1. Note your username

    Write down your handle so your family can find the right account.

  2. Decide what you want

    Say whether you would like the account deactivated or left as it is.

  3. Save anything you want kept

    If you want posts or media kept, download an archive of your data now and store it somewhere safe.

  4. Tell your executor

    Keep your wishes with your other account instructions, so the right person can make the request.

X's policies and forms change often, so check its help centre for the current deactivation process.

What your family can request

X has a request process for deceased users.

  • Deactivation of the account by verified immediate family or an authorised estate representative
  • No access to the account or its direct messages
  • No memorialisation

Documents usually requested

  • A copy of the death certificate
  • ID for the person making the request
  • Proof of relationship or authority to act for the estate

Policies change. Treat this as a starting point and confirm on each service's own help pages.

FAQ

Questions about X (Twitter)

No. X does not offer memorialised accounts. Family can only request deactivation.

No. X does not give account access to anyone, even with documentation.

A verified immediate family member or a person authorised to act on behalf of the estate, by submitting a request with documentation.

Write down your username and wishes for your executor. Some people keep this list in a sealed note in Sealkept, delivered only if they stop checking in.

Other services

Other accounts to plan for

Back to all accounts

Related reading

One service at a time. Or the whole picture at once.

Write one sealed note to your executor in Sealkept listing every account and what you want done. It's delivered only if you stop checking in.

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