Managing an X (Twitter) account after a death: complete procedures

Unlike other social platforms, X (formerly Twitter) does not offer any account memorialisation option. The only possibility for heirs is permanent deactivation. This particularity makes digital preparation even more crucial to preserve the memory of the deceased.

Specificities of X when a user passes away

Major differences with Meta:

• No memorialised or commemorative account option
• Total impossibility of accessing the account’s content
• No transfer of account ownership to heirs
• Deletion as the only available option

Practical consequences:

• Tweets remain visible indefinitely if no action is taken
• The account continues to appear in search results
• Followers can still interact with old publications
• No automatic notification is sent to contacts

Who can request the deactivation of an X account?

Eligible persons according to X’s official policy:

• Immediate family members:
  • Spouse or registered legal partner
  • Biological or adoptive parents
  • Adult children (18 years and over)
  • Siblings
• Legal representatives of the estate:
  • Executor named in the will
  • Estate administrator appointed by the court
  • Agent with valid notarised power of attorney

Ineligible persons:

• Friends, even close ones
• Colleagues
• Acquaintances or followers
• Other distant family members

Documents required for the deactivation request

Proof of your relationship with the deceased:

For family members:

• Marriage certificate (for spouse)
• Birth certificate (for parents or children)
• Family record book or guardianship judgment (for siblings)
• Any official document proving the family link

For legal representatives:

• Original will or certified true copy
• Letters of administration of the estate
• Court order appointing the executor
• Notarised power of attorney in force

Proof of death:

Documents accepted by X:

• Official death certificate (recommended)
• Obituary published in a recognised media outlet
• Press article announcing the death
• Death certificate from a hospital or funeral home
• Government document mentioning the death

Information about the deceased’s X account:

Data to be provided mandatorily:

• Exact username (@username)
• Email address associated with the account (if known)
• Phone number linked to the account (if known)
• Full profile URL (example: twitter.com/username)
• Approximate account creation date (if known)

Your identity document:

Accepted documents:

• Valid national identity card
• Valid passport
• Official driving licence
• Resident card or residence permit

Detailed deactivation procedure step by step

Step 1: Access X’s official form

• Direct URL: help.x.com/en/forms/account-access/deactivate-or-close-account/deactivate-account-for-deceased
• The form is available in several languages
• Mobile and desktop compatible

Step 2: Fill in your personal contact details

Information required:

• Full first and last name
• Valid contact email address
• Phone number (optional but recommended)
• Country of residence
• City and postcode

Step 3: Provide the deceased’s information

Details to be entered accurately:

• Full name as it appeared on X
• Date of death (day, month, year)
• Last known city of residence
• Nationality of the deceased

Step 4: Specify your relationship to the deceased

Select the corresponding option:

• Spouse or legal partner
• Parent
• Child
• Brother or sister
• Executor
• Estate administrator
• Other (specify in the free text field)

Step 5: Describe the X account to be deactivated

Mandatory technical information:

• X username (@username)
• Email address associated with the account
• Linked phone number (if applicable)
• Any additional information that can identify the account

Step 6: Upload the supporting documents

Formats accepted by X:

• PDF (recommended for textual documents)
• JPG or JPEG (for photos of documents)
• PNG (for screenshots)
• Maximum size: 5 MB per file

Documents to be systematically attached:

• Death certificate (mandatory)
• Your identity document (front and back)
• Proof of family relationship or legal documentation
• Any other relevant supporting document

Step 7: Write an explanatory message (optional but recommended)

Elements to include:

• Brief explanation of your request
• Details on the family situation
• Additional information about the account
• Contact details for possible follow-up

Step 8: Submit the request and keep the proof

Important actions:

• Check the accuracy of all information before sending
• Note the date and time of submission
• Keep a copy of the confirmation email
• Note the case reference number (if provided)

Processing times and case follow-up

Average processing time:

• Standard processing: 14 to 30 working days
• Complex cases: 30 to 45 working days
• Periods of high demand: delays can reach 60 days

Follow-up of your request:

• X does not provide a real-time tracking system
• Communication is exclusively by email
• Keep all exchanges with X support
• Follow-up possible after 30 days without response

Possible responses from X:

• Approval and effective deactivation of the account
• Request for additional documents
• Reasoned refusal (insufficient documents, relationship not proven)
• On hold for further verification

Important limitations of X concerning deceased users’ accounts

What X absolutely does not allow:

• Accessing the content of the deceased’s tweets
• Retrieving private messages (DMs)
• Obtaining passwords or login credentials
• Transferring account ownership to an heir
• Posting new tweets on behalf of the deceased
• Modifying the profile or existing publications
• Downloading an archive of the account data
• Knowing the complete list of followers or subscriptions

What X only allows:

• Permanently deactivating the account
• Preventing any new activity on the account
• Removing the profile from search results

What happens to the data after deactivation?

Immediate effects of deactivation:

• The profile is no longer visible on X
• Tweets are no longer accessible
• The username is released (can be reused)
• Followers no longer see the account in their lists

Data fate according to X’s policy:

• Data is retained for 30 days after deactivation
• Permanent deletion from servers after this period
• No possibility of later recovery
• Private messages sent to other users may remain in their conversations

How Asfaly anticipates X’s limitations

Problems encountered without preparation:

Heirs must systematically:

• Identify the existence of the deceased’s X account
• Find the exact username (@username)
• Locate the associated email address
• Gather scattered personal documents
• Understand X’s specific restrictions
• Accept the impossibility of recovering content

Solutions provided by Asfaly:

Centralisation of essential information:

• Recording of the exact X username
• Storage of the full profile URL
• Preservation of the associated email address
• Clear instructions on the wish (deactivation or retention)
• Personal documents grouped together (birth certificate, will)
• Designation of a beneficiary to manage this procedure

Concrete advantages:

• Considerable time saving in searches
• Precise knowledge of the deceased’s wishes
• Necessary documents immediately accessible
• Reduction of administrative stress for heirs
• Respect for digital last wishes

Alternatives to total deactivation

Option 1: Keeping the account as is

If no action is taken:

• The account remains active indefinitely
• Tweets remain publicly visible
• The profile appears in search results
• Followers can still see old publications

Advantages:

• Preservation of the deceased’s digital memory
• Access to publications for loved ones
• Testimony of past activity

Disadvantages:

• Risk of hacking or fraudulent use
• Potential notifications for followers
• No control over content

Option 2: Prior archiving of content

Before requesting deactivation:

• Use tweet archiving tools (if access is available)
• Capture important publications via screenshots
• Back up significant conversations
• Keep a record of memorial elements

Recommended tools:

• TweetDeck for tweet viewing
• Systematic screenshot tools
• Web archiving services (Wayback Machine)

Checklist for deactivating an X account

Documents to prepare:

• Death certificate (certified copy recommended)
• Your identity document (front and back)
• Proof of family relationship or legal documentation
• Exact X username (@username)
• Profile URL (twitter.com/username)
• Associated email address (if known)
• Any additional information about the account

Steps to follow:

1. Access X’s official form
2. Fill in all mandatory sections
3. Upload the documents in accepted formats
4. Check the accuracy of the information
5. Submit the request
6. Keep the acknowledgement of receipt
7. Note the submission date
8. Wait for confirmation by email
9. Check effective deactivation after 30 days

Common mistakes to avoid

Document errors:

• Documents in unsupported formats (DOC, TXT)
• Files that are too large (exceeding 5 MB)
• Expired or illegible supporting documents
• Forgetting the applicant’s identity document

Information errors:

• Incorrect or incomplete username
• Forgetting the @ symbol before the username
• Wrong associated email address
• Contradictory information about the deceased

Procedure errors:

• Using an inappropriate form
• Request by an ineligible person
• No follow-up after submission
• Failure to respect response deadlines

Practical recommendations

To optimise your request:

• Always provide the official death certificate
• Use high-quality scans for all documents
• Include all known information about the account
• Write a clear and respectful message as a supplement
• Keep a complete copy of the file sent

To protect the deceased’s memory:

• Act quickly to avoid any suspicious activity
• Archive important content before deactivation
• Inform loved ones of the procedure undertaken
• Regularly check the account status during processing