What Happens to Your Mastodon / Fediverse Account When You Die
Quick Facts
Account
Tied to specific instance
Deletion
Contact instance admin
Data
Export before deletion
Step-by-Step Guide
Identify the instance
Mastodon is decentralized — the account lives on a specific instance (e.g., mastodon.social). Identify which instance hosts the account.
Contact instance admin for deletion
Contact the instance administrator to request account deletion, or use Settings > Delete Account if credentials are available.
Export data first
Export followers, following lists, and posts via Settings > Import and Export before deleting.
Document Now Checklist
- Instance URL (e.g., mastodon.social)
- Account username
- Instance admin contact info
Last verified: June 2026. Platform policies may change. Verify current procedures directly with Mastodon / Fediverse. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Related Guides
Facebook has the best memorial process of any social platform. Set up a Legacy Contact now — it takes 5 minutes.
Go to Settings → Account → Download Data to save all photos, videos, and profile info.
X (Twitter)
X does NOT memorialise accounts. If not deactivated, X may eventually delete your account due to inactivity.
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