# An online account can leave an offline puzzle.

Canonical: https://oscarok.com/what-happens-to-online-accounts-when-you-die

Prepare your family for online accounts after death: make an account inventory, review provider legacy tools and leave clear instructions about where to start.

A relative may not even know which services you use, let alone which records matter. Preparing an account map gives them a starting point without promising access that only the provider can decide.

## At a glance

What happens to an online account after death depends on the provider and the arrangements made in advance. Start with an account inventory and each provider’s current legacy or bereavement instructions. OscarOK cannot unlock an account or recover a deceased person’s password.

## Write down what exists

Group accounts by purpose: communication, photos and files, household services, memberships and work. Note the provider, the kind of records held there and where to find the official help page. Keep the inventory current so relatives do not spend time searching for an account you closed years ago.

## Record the arrangements you actually made

Google offers Inactive Account Manager for planning around account inactivity. Apple offers a Legacy Contact feature for access to certain account data after death. Their processes are different. Use the official instructions below to review your settings, then record the relevant information for your chosen person.

## Explain your wishes without promising access

You might want family photographs preserved or a profile handled in a particular way. Record those wishes clearly, but explain that the provider’s process still applies. OscarOK does not bypass identity checks, recover passwords or make someone authorised to sign in.

## If someone has already died

Start with the relevant provider’s official bereavement or account-help process. A new OscarOK account cannot retrieve information from the person’s devices, find unknown accounts or create access to a vault they did not set up. For general UK next steps after a death, use the government guidance linked below.

## Your starting checklist

- List the providers that matter.
- Add links to their official legacy or bereavement guidance.
- Note any legacy contact or inactivity settings you configured.
- Explain which records you hope to preserve.
- Keep time-sensitive access arrangements outside a delayed OscarOK release.

## Can OscarOK recover a parent’s account after they have died?

No. OscarOK shares information an account holder prepared in advance. For another provider’s account, follow that provider’s official process.

## Is sharing a password enough?

Do not rely on that assumption. Provider access processes and authority to act are separate from knowing a password. Prepare clear provider instructions and seek appropriate advice where needed.

## Official sources

- [Google: Inactive Account Manager](https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/3036546)

- [Apple: Legacy Contact guidance](https://support.apple.com/en-gb/102631)

- [GOV.UK: What to do when someone dies](https://www.gov.uk/when-someone-dies)

## Related guides

- [Digital inheritance explained](https://oscarok.com/digital-inheritance)

- [Help a parent prepare](https://oscarok.com/prepare-parents-digital-legacy)

- [The “if I die” folder](https://oscarok.com/if-i-die-folder)

## About OscarOK

OscarOK organises prepared information for selected trusted contacts. It does not verify death, transfer assets, provide legal authority or offer emergency assistance.

[Prepare your own account map](https://oscarok.com/auth?mode=register)