Memorial Feature on Instagram: Account Removal & Use of This Feature

Instagram has a special feature called the Memorial Account, which helps friends and family remember a loved one after they have passed away. This feature was introduced around 2020, but over the years, Instagram has updated it with clearer rules and better protection. 

The Instagram Memorial Feature lets friends and family turn a deceased person’s account into a memorialized profile — a space to remember and honor someone after they’ve passed away. Instagram has defined clear rules and behavior for these accounts:

What’s the Use of This Memorial Feature?

• “Remembering” label: Instagram shows the word “Remembering” next to the person’s name at the top of the profile to clearly indicate the account belongs to someone who’s passed away.
• Account lock: No one — including family or friends — can log in to a memorialized account.
• Content stays visible: Posts, photos, videos, and comments that the person shared remain on Instagram and are visible to the audiences they were originally shared with (depending on privacy settings).
• No changes allowed: Once an account is memorialized, no changes can be made to existing posts, profile info, privacy settings, or the friend/follower list. 
• Reduced discoverability: Memorialized accounts generally do not appear in Explore or other public discovery areas of Instagram.
• Protecting sensitivity: Instagram tries to prevent memorialized accounts from showing up in suggestions or references that might be upsetting to others.

What Happens After an Account Is Memorialized?

1. No one can log in to the account once it is memorialized. This protects the account from being hacked or misused.
2. All posts, photos, videos, and comments stay on the profile exactly as they were shared, depending on the account’s privacy settings.
3. No changes can be made to the existing posts, bio, followers list, or privacy options.
4. The account becomes less visible — it will not appear in Explore, recommendations, or suggestive areas of Instagram.
5. Instagram also tries to prevent the account from showing up in unwanted places, reducing emotional distress for family and friends.

How Memorial Feature Works

To memorialize an Instagram account, someone (typically a friend or family member) must submit a request to Instagram with proof that the person has passed away. This usually involves providing:

1. The full name of the deceased
2. Their Instagram username
3. The date of death
4. A link to an obituary, news article, or similar verification of death 

Instagram will review the request and, where appropriate, memorialize the account. This process ensures privacy and prevents unauthorized people from accessing or altering the account after the owner’s death.

Requesting Account Removal (For Family Only)

Immediate family members can also request permanent deletion of the account.

For this, Instagram requires stronger proof, such as:

• A death certificate
• Proof of relationship (like a birth certificate or legal document)

This ensures the request is genuine and protects the privacy of the person who has passed away.

Instagram introduced this Memorial feature during the pandemic years, but now it has become an important part of how social platforms manage profiles after death. It is designed to protect the account, offer privacy, and avoid any hurtful experiences for friends and family.