What happens to a Spotify account when someone dies
Spotify AB publishes no process specific to a deceased person's account; a written request goes in through Spotify AB's support ticket system.
Under Spotify AB's terms, a Spotify account closes when the holder dies and nothing in it passes to anyone.
Spotify AB publishes no process specific to a deceased person's account; a written request goes in through Spotify AB's support ticket system.
What to do
What Spotify AB's terms say at death
- Section 7 (About These Terms)
“You may not assign these Terms, in whole or in part, nor transfer or sublicense your rights under these Terms to any third party.”1
What Spotify AB says happens9
- Who owns the asset
The Spotify apps and Content are licensed, not sold or transferred, and Spotify and its licensors keep ownership of all copies. Users agree not to redistribute, sell or transfer the service or the Content.1
- Restoring a deleted account
After an account is closed, Spotify emails a link that reactivates it within 7 days. After those 7 days the account cannot be reactivated and deletion of its data begins.2
- Closing the account
The same email address can be used for a new Spotify account 14 days after the account is closed.2
- Deletion and data retention
Streaming history and profile information are kept for the life of the account and deleted or de-identified when the account is deleted; some data is kept longer for limited purposes such as legal obligations.3
- Purchased content and licenses
Purchased audiobooks are accessible only for as long as there is a Spotify account, with no ownership or permanent access, and access to them is lost when the account is closed and its data deleted.4, 2
- Balances, payouts and refunds
An audiobook purchase can be refunded on request if it was paid within the last 7 days and less than half was listened to; each request is reviewed case by case.5
A Spotify gift card buys Premium months on redemption, does not expire, and is not refundable or redeemable for cash except as required by law.6
- Subscriptions and billing
Unless required by law, Spotify gives no refunds or credits for partial subscription periods; a cancelled plan stays on Premium to the end of the billing period, then switches to the free service.1
When a plan manager cancels a Family or Duo plan, the members lose their Premium benefits from the next payment date. A free account keeps its playlists and saved music.7
A Premium plan bought through a third party may carry that party's terms, and refunds and subscription changes go to the third party.1
- Disclosure of account content
A copy of an account's personal data is available through the Download your data tool or by contacting Spotify, and plan and audiobook receipts cover the last 2 years.3, 8
- Other ways to reach the provider
Spotify offers no support by phone; help comes through a message to its customer service team or the Spotify Community, where listeners help each other.9
Other companies and product lines involved1
- Spotify for Artists
A recording artist's artist profile, music and team access on Spotify9
Not in Spotify's published guidance6
- A process for a deceased account holder
- How long a request takes
- A phone number for this
- A complete list of the documents to send
- Memorialization
- An option to hold an account while an estate is administered
Sources9
- 1.Spotify Terms of Use, Last Updated: September 4, 2026
- 2.Closing your account and deleting your data
- 3.Spotify Privacy Policy, Effective as of July 1, 2026
- 4.Audiobook Purchase Terms and Conditions, Last Updated: September 30, 2026
- 5.Audiobook refund policy
- 6.Spotify's Terms & Conditions for Gift Cards, eGift Cards, Subscription Cards, Premium Codes, PINs and Similar Items
- 7.How to cancel Premium plans
- 8.Check your receipts
- 9.Contact us
A written request to Spotify AB can ask it to transfer the accounts to a named family member, provide purchase and transaction records for the estate inventory, close the account and preserve the account while the estate is opened.
Nothing in the account survives the holder, and Spotify AB allows no lifetime transfer of it either.
Digital Assets Recovery Letter for Spotify drafts that request from the estate's details.
Sources
Data sourced from Spotify AB primary sources (14 pages reviewed). How we research.
Spotify estate claims
Spotify Support
Mailing address
Website
Estate requests go through general customer service.
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