How do I manage a loved one's Spotify account after their death?

Spotify is one of the leaders in online music. The platform boasts no fewer than 205 million subscribers and 489 million active ^users1. As a result, it's one of the most popular music services around. There's no doubt that some of your friends and family have an account on this essential platform. If one of your loved ones dies, the question of how to manage his or her account will arise.

Obviously, the loss of a loved one is a difficult time. If it's necessary to take care of their digital assets, this situation can add further pressure. However, Spotify, as a popular music service, can potentially hold a significant part of that loved one's digital legacy. Whether it's carefully curated playlists, favorite tracks or simply the ability to retain access to that account, managing a deceased loved one's Spotify account can become a necessity. 

To make this painful step easier, we explain Spotify's policies on death and the actions you can take to manage the account.

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1LesEchos , Spotify nears half a billion users worldwide, deepens losses, 2023

What is Spotify's policy on deceased accounts? 

While some online platforms make provision for the event of a user's death, unfortunately not all do. In this respect, Spotify is one of the services that is most attentive to the needs of its customers when it comes to transmission. 

Indeed, it is possible to create a " digital will " with Spotify. This is a term used by the platform, but has no legal value. This initiative enables the platform to know precisely what the user's wishes are with regard to the management of their musical assets on the service.

To create a "digital will", the user must contact the Spotify site administration and provide the following information: 

• The username and e-mail address associated with the account; 
• The full name of the person to whom the user wishes to transfer ownership of the account.

With this service, users can grant the following rights to the person of their choice: 

• Close user account ;
• Transfer ownership of the account so that the heir can access the account and its contents; 
• Transfer playlists, subscribers and titles saved on the account, then close the account;
• Exercise any other rights in accordance with the laws and regulations relating to the protection of personal data.

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What actions can you take? 

If this proposal to create a digital will on the part of Spotify during the user's lifetime is a good thing, what if the user has made no provision? 

If you want to close your account, for example, you need to go to the Spotify platform. The procedure is different in each case.

You have the deceased's login and password

This is the simplest situation, since all you have to do is log in to the profile and delete it or leave it as is. And if the deceased has not specified anything to Spotify, the platform transfers ownership of the account to the legal heir.

If the deceased was a Spotify Premium subscriber, you need to follow this link to close the account and delete the data. If it was a free account, you need to follow this other link.

You do not have a login and password 

If you do not have your login and password, you will need to contact the platform to request closure or access to your account. 

To do this, send a message on Facebook or Twitter to the @SpotifyCares account. You can also contact Spotify administration via the online support service.

Whatever channel you use, you must provide an official death certificate to prove that your loved one has disappeared. 

Tips for managing digital accounts after a death

Clearly, managing the account of a deceased loved one can be complex and time-consuming. In addition to a Spotify account, there may also be a Netflix or LinkedIn account, for example. Given that each platform has its own policies regarding the management of deceased accounts, it's important to research each platform and fully understand the different procedures.

In addition, it is important to treat the digital accounts of the deceased loved one with sensitivity. Reflections of the individual's life and passions, they can be important sources of memories and consolation for family or friends. For this reason, it is essential to respect the wishes of the deceased unconditionally.

Unfortunately, leaving this significant burden to your loved ones means adding numerous sources of concern to the already significant grief of loss. Planning and anticipating the transmission of your digital assets therefore becomes an essential issue. Ideally, you should talk to your loved ones before your death, list your online accounts and precisely document your wishes regarding each digital account.

Preparing your estate with Solal Tech 

To achieve your goals, you're not alone! The Solal Tech platform specializes in digital asset management and transfer. Via a single, dedicated platform, you can list all your digital assets, centralize and manage them, and prepare your digital succession in a serene and efficient manner.

Your notary or a Solal partner notary will be with you every step of the way. These notaries have an in-depth understanding of the issues involved in transferring digital assets. So they can advise and guide you every step of the way.

What's more, the Solal Tech platform offers you the opportunity to appoint a guardian. This person of trust is responsible for ensuring that your last wishes are scrupulously respected.

These practical solutions enable you to plan the succession of your digital assets in advance. This is a very important part of inheritance planning, so that your loved ones don't have to deal with these complex issues following your death, which could have the effect of adding to their grief.

👉 To go further, how to manage a loved one's Amazon account after their death?

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