Setting up a Facebook legacy contact is the only way to ensure a trusted person can manage your main profile after it is memorialized. This feature lets you choose someone to handle your digital legacy, but it comes with specific limits and a clear setup path in your Accounts Center.
What a Facebook legacy contact can and cannot do
A legacy contact is the person you choose to look after your Facebook profile if it becomes memorialized after death. They can manage the memorialized account by writing a pinned post, responding to new friend requests, updating the profile and cover photos, requesting account removal, and downloading a copy of what was shared if that feature was enabled. However, a legacy contact cannot log in to the account, read messages, remove friends, or edit past posts. Their role is to maintain the memorialized profile, not to access your private data or change your history.
How to designate your legacy contact in Accounts Center
Follow these steps from your main profile to set up your legacy contact using the current Accounts Center path:
- Tap or click your profile photo.
- Open Settings & Privacy.
- Tap or click Settings.
- Go to Accounts Center.
- Open Personal details.
- Select Account ownership and control.
- Choose Memorialization.
- Select Memorialize account or Delete after death.
- If you choose memorialization, follow the prompts to pick a friend as your legacy contact and confirm with Next.
You can also choose to send them a message letting them know that you have designated them as your legacy contact. You can also use the older direct path under General Profile Settings: from your profile photo, open Settings & Privacy > Settings, then under General Profile Settings choose Memorialization Settings, type a friend’s name, click Add, and optionally click Send to notify them.
How to change or remove your legacy contact
You can change or remove the legacy contact at any time. Return to the same Memorialization settings area in Accounts Center or under General Profile Settings, select Remove, and then add a new legacy contact if needed. This flexibility means you can update your choice as your relationships or preferences evolve.
What your legacy contact does after your profile is memorialized
Once your profile is memorialized, your legacy contact can manage it by opening the memorialized profile and selecting Manage in the bottom right of the cover photo. From there, they can perform the permitted actions like writing a pinned post or updating photos. Your legacy contact has the authority to moderate content on your Facebook page, including deleting or archiving posts, photos, and videos. Your legacy contact can provide information to your friends and family members, such as funeral or memorial service details. While your legacy contact does not have access to your private messages, they can request a copy of your Facebook data, which includes any conversations you had on the platform. Memorialized accounts without a legacy contact cannot be changed, so designating someone now is essential if you want any posthumous management.
Limitations to know before you choose
Several key constraints apply. The legacy contact feature is only available for your main profile and does not apply to additional Facebook profiles. The designated person cannot log in to your account, read messages, remove friends, or edit past posts. Most importantly, the account is only managed after it is memorialized, your legacy contact has no access or control before that event.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pick more than one legacy contact?
No. Facebook currently allows you to choose only one legacy contact for your main profile.
Can they see my messages?
No. A legacy contact cannot read your private messages. They also cannot log in to your account or view any personal information you have not made public.
What if I want my account deleted instead?
In the Memorialization settings, you can choose the Delete after death option instead of memorialization. This ensures your account is permanently removed with no legacy contact needed. If you do not wish to designate a Legacy Contact, there is an alternative option. You can choose to have your Facebook account permanently deleted after your death, ensuring that no one has access to your profile or any associated data. If you need help with related account settings, Facebook's help resources cover phone numbers and calling help under Phone Numbers, Calling and Messaging Help.
Can I change my legacy contact after I set one?
Yes, you can change or remove your legacy contact at any time by returning to the same Memorialization settings area and selecting Remove, then adding a new person if desired.
Does a legacy contact work for additional Facebook profiles?
No. The legacy contact feature applies only to your main profile and cannot be set for any additional profiles you may have created.
