What happens to Google accounts when the owner dies

Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.) has a formal process for transferring accounts after an account holder dies

Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)

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Google Deceased User Requests

Timeline

Google does not publish a timeline for deceased user requests; processing time depends on the complexity of the request and documentation provided. Inactive Account Manager triggers after the user-configured 3, 6, 12, or 18-month inactivity period, followed by reminder emails and SMS before data is released. Personal accounts inactive for 2+ years may be deleted with at least 3 months advance notice. Deleted Workspace accounts can be restored within 20 days. Google Fi final billing and refunds can take up to 90 days after cancellation.

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Verified Jul 2026

Google handles post-death requests through a formal troubleshooter with three options: close the account, request funds from the account, or obtain content from the account. Each request is reviewed individually. Google will not provide passwords or other login credentials under any circumstances. Critical ordering rule: once an account is closed, Google cannot later process a request for account contents, so data requests must be submitted before any closure request. Separately, Google offers Inactive Account Manager, which lets the account holder pre-designate up to 10 trusted contacts to receive data exports after a configurable inactivity period (3, 6, 12, or 18 months). Inactive Account Manager is the closest thing to a beneficiary designation offered by any major consumer internet platform. Personal Google Accounts inactive for 2+ years may have all content deleted, with at least 3 months advance notice; accounts with active purchases, subscriptions, gift card balances, published apps, or minor accounts via Family Link are exempt.

How to request a transfer

To request a transfer of Google accounts after an account holder's death, follow these steps:

Before acting on the account, determine whether the decedent set up Inactive Account Manager. If they did, designated trusted contacts receive automatic email notifications and data download links after the inactivity period (3-18 months). Contacts verify identity via SMS to the mobile phone number the decedent registered. If IAM is configured, that path is typically faster and more reliable than the deceased user request process.

Submit a request through Google's deceased user troubleshooter at https://support.google.com/accounts/troubleshooter/6357590. Choose one of three paths -- and choose in the right order:

•Obtain data from the account (submit first; data release is discretionary but only possible before closure)
•Request funds from the account (for AdSense balances, Google Pay balances, and similar)
•Close the account (submit last; closure is irreversible and prevents any later data request)

Provide documentation. Requirements are presented dynamically in the troubleshooter form; have the following ready:

•Government-issued photo ID of the requestor
•Certified copy of the death certificate
•Proof of legal authority (letters testamentary, letters of administration, power of attorney, or next-of-kin documentation)
•The deceased's Gmail address and full name

For YouTube channels with AdSense monetization: AdSense keeps paying automatically using the existing payment method. To redirect future payments to the estate, submit legal documentation (death certificate and proof of heirship) via the AdSense heir claim portal, by fax to (650) 618-8507, or by mail to Google, Inc., Attn: Google Legal Support, AdSense Support, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043. See https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/165678.

For Google Workspace accounts (business accounts with a custom domain): contact the organization's Super Admin. An admin can immediately reset the password and revoke OAuth tokens, then either archive the account (preserves data, blocks sign-in), transfer Drive / Calendar / Looker Studio data to another user, or delete the account. Deleted Workspace accounts can be restored within 20 days. See https://knowledge.workspace.google.com/admin/getting-started/options-to-preserve-former-employee-data.

For Google Fi: contact Google Fi support to cancel the line or port the number to another carrier -- self-service cancellation requires account access, so deceased-user cancellation is handled by support. Final billing and refunds can take up to 90 days to complete. See https://support.google.com/fi/answer/6079398.

For Google Play purchases: apps, movies, books, and music are non-transferable personal licenses per the Google Play Terms of Service (https://play.google.com/about/play-terms). Access ends when the account is closed; there is no estate or inheritance path for Play content.

Required Documents

Government-issued photo ID of the requestor
Certified copy of the death certificate
Proof of legal authority (letters testamentary, letters of administration, power of attorney, or next-of-kin documentation)
Deceased's Gmail address and full name

Timeline

Download instructions for the whole estate

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Google offers a formal deceased user request troubleshooter with three paths: obtain data from the account, request funds, or close the account. Each request is reviewed individually. Google will not release login credentials under any circumstances. Google also offers Inactive Account Manager, a proactive tool that lets the account holder designate up to 10 trusted contacts to receive data after a configurable inactivity period.

Always submit the data request first, then any funds request, and finally the account closure request. Once Google closes an account, Google cannot later process a request for the contents of that account. Closure is irreversible. Requesting data first preserves the option to obtain emails, documents, photos, and other content before the account is shut down.

Possibly. Google reviews each request individually and may provide content "in certain circumstances." Google will never release passwords or account access. The data request must be submitted before any account closure request -- once the account is closed, data recovery is no longer possible. Expected documentation includes government-issued photo ID of the requestor, a certified death certificate, proof of legal authority such as letters testamentary, and the deceased's Gmail address.

Google Play purchases -- apps, movies, books, and music -- are non-transferable personal licenses per the Google Play Terms of Service. When the account is closed, access to purchased content ends. There is no estate or inheritance path for Play content. Google Play Family Library sharing works only while the sharing account remains active.

AdSense continues making payments automatically using the existing payment method, because the system has no way to know the creator has died. To redirect future earnings to the estate, heirs must submit a death certificate and proof of heirship via the AdSense heir claim portal, by fax to (650) 618-8507, or by mail to Google Legal Support at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043. Whether a deceased creator's channel can remain monetized indefinitely is not documented.

The organization's Super Admin can immediately secure the account by resetting the password and revoking OAuth tokens. The admin can then archive the account (preserves data while blocking sign-in), transfer Drive, Calendar, and Looker Studio data to another user, or delete the account. Deleted Workspace accounts can be restored within 20 days. For domains with a single Super Admin who has died, regaining admin access requires Google's domain verification recovery process.

Google Fi cancellation for a deceased subscriber is not self-service -- contact Google Fi support directly to cancel the line. To port the number to another carrier, the estate will need the port-out number and PIN, which requires working with Google Fi support when account credentials are not available. Final billing and any refunds can take up to 90 days to complete.

The recipient can use transferred accounts under the program's normal terms. Keeping the deceased account holder's account number and contact details on file simplifies this process for the executor or surviving family.