Bereavement request

Question

How do we obtain access to a deceased loved one's accounts or data?

Answer 1

Hello

Accessing another user's account is a legal process. Microsoft needs to be served court order or subpoena. in order to allow access.

See the instruction here https://support.microsoft.com/account-billing/accessing-outlook-com-onedrive-and-other-microsoft-services-when-someone-has-died-ebbd2860-917e-4b39-9913-212362da6b2f

Answer 2

For personal Microsoft accounts (for example Outlook.com, OneDrive, and other Microsoft services), access to a deceased person’s data is tightly controlled for privacy and legal reasons.

1. If account credentials are known

• Sign in to the account and follow the steps in How to close your Microsoft account to close it.
• After closure, the account can be reopened within 60 days by signing in again; after 60 days, the account and its data are permanently deleted.

2. If account credentials are not known and only cancellation/closure is needed

• Subscriptions can be stopped by cancelling payment at the bank or card issuer (for example, closing the card or revoking authorization).
• Without sign-in, the Microsoft account will automatically:
  • Have Outlook.com and OneDrive frozen after 1 year of inactivity, with email and OneDrive files deleted shortly after.
  • Fully expire after 2 years of inactivity, at which point the account is closed.

3. If access to the deceased person’s data/content is required

• Microsoft generally cannot provide account contents (email, OneDrive files, or other data) to non-account holders unless required legal process is followed.
• A valid non‑criminal subpoena or court order must be formally served on Microsoft’s registered agent in the requesting party’s state or region before Microsoft will consider whether it can lawfully release information.
• After review of applicable laws, Microsoft may still be unable to provide the account content; submitting legal documents does not guarantee access.

4. Regional variations

• Europe: Non‑criminal subpoenas and court orders must be served on Microsoft Ireland Operations Ltd’s registered address in Dublin, Ireland.
• Germany: Heirs may contact Microsoft customer support and must provide proof of legal successorship and documentation such as:
  • Death certificate.
  • Deceased person’s ID or passport.
  • Certificate of inheritance (Erbschein) or equivalent court documentation proving heirship, or documentation listing all heirs plus their consent.
  • Requestor’s ID/passport or signed power of attorney.
• China: Close relatives (spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild) may contact Microsoft customer support and must provide:
  • Proof of death (for example, death certificate or equivalent official document).
  • Proof of close relationship (for example, Hukou registration, marriage certificate, relationship certification, or notarized certification).
  • Requestor’s ID or passport.
  • Signed statement explaining the purpose of accessing the account.

5. If OneDrive Digital legacy was set up

• If the deceased person configured OneDrive Digital legacy, a designated trusted contact can request read‑only access to the OneDrive files by following the Digital legacy flow (using the previously shared code and the Digital legacy page).

6. If OneDrive Digital legacy was not set up

• If Digital legacy was not configured, Microsoft is generally unable to provide access to OneDrive or other account data to non‑account holders. In that case, only the legal‑process route described above is available.

For any situation where access to contents is required (not just cancellation of billing), legal guidance in the relevant jurisdiction is necessary to determine how to obtain and serve the appropriate subpoena or court order.

---

References:

• Accessing Outlook.com, OneDrive and other Microsoft services when someone has died
• If you need access to the account, seek legal guidance
• Preserve your digital legacy with OneDrive

AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.