Reporting a Deceased Person on Dating Apps: How to Remove Profiles and Protect Their Privacy

Seeing a loved one’s dating profile after they’ve died can feel like a jolt to the body. It can be grief all over again—especially when the profile looks current, shows photos you weren’t expecting to see, or starts getting surfaced to people in your area as if nothing happened. And beyond the emotional hit, there’s a practical concern families often don’t realize until a charge hits a bank statement or a suspicious message appears: unattended accounts can be misused, especially when a phone number is recycled, an email is compromised, or someone guesses a password.

This guide is designed for real families and real situations. It covers what to do when you have access to the account (and can take the fastest, cleanest route), what to do when you don’t, and how to document your request so support teams can actually act on it—even if the email or phone line tied to the profile is no longer active.

Online dating is common enough that this is not a rare problem. The Pew Research Center reports that 30% of U.S. adults have ever used a dating site or dating app, and 9% used one in the past year as of its survey timeframe. That means dating profiles are now part of many people’s digital footprint—and, after a death, part of the digital tasks families may need to handle.

Start with the goal: removal, safety, or closure

Most people search for help with this topic using phrases like delete dating app account after death or report deceased on Tinder, and those searches carry two different needs. Sometimes the goal is emotional: “Please remove this profile so it stops popping up.” Sometimes it’s protective: “I’m worried this account could be accessed or impersonated.” And often it’s both.

Before you take action, name your primary goal in plain language. It will help you choose the right path and explain the situation clearly to support teams:

• Remove the profile from public view as quickly as possible.
• Stop billing and prevent future charges (including renewals and boosts).
• Prevent misuse or report profile misuse if you believe someone is accessing the account.
• Protect the person’s privacy and dignity by limiting what remains online.

If you’re not sure which goal is “primary,” it’s usually safest to treat privacy and misuse prevention as the priority. Profiles can be screenshotted, shared, or used as a hook for scams. If something feels off—new photos, updated prompts, unusual messages—assume the account may be compromised and move quickly.

If you have access: the fastest path is to delete the account and cancel billing

If you can sign in—because the phone is unlocked, the person shared passwords, or you’re the authorized executor with the right access—you can typically resolve this in one sitting. The key is to separate “account deletion” from “subscription cancellation,” because those are not always the same action.

Delete the profile inside the app (or account settings)

Report deceased on Tinder is a common phrase, but if you have access, you usually don’t need to rely on reporting tools. Tinder’s own help documentation explains how to delete an account from settings once you’re signed in. Follow the steps in Tinder’s account deletion guide to remove the profile through the app or on the web.

For Bumble, the most reliable approach is also in-app deletion. Bumble’s official support guidance walks through deletion steps and makes an important point: deleting the app from a phone does not automatically delete the profile. Use Bumble’s “Deleting your account” instructions to remove the account correctly.

For Hinge, account deletion is similarly handled inside the app when you can sign in. Hinge’s help center provides the in-app steps in “How do I delete my account?”.

Cancel subscriptions separately, even if you delete the account

Families are often shocked by this part: a profile can disappear, and billing can still continue if the subscription was purchased through an app store and not properly canceled. This is why “cancel dating app subscription” should be treated as its own task.

If the subscription was billed through Apple, Apple’s official guidance is to cancel it through the device’s subscriptions settings. Follow Apple’s instructions for canceling subscriptions (Settings → your name → Subscriptions) to ensure renewal stops.

If the subscription was billed through Google Play, Google’s official support article explains how to cancel from the Play Store subscriptions page. Use Google Play’s subscription cancellation instructions to stop the renewal.

If the subscription was purchased directly through the app’s own payment flow, use the platform’s billing help. For Tinder, Tinder’s subscription cancellation guidance outlines how cancellations can differ depending on how you paid.

As a practical habit, once cancellation is complete, take a screenshot of the “canceled” status and keep any confirmation emails. In a period of grief, it’s easy to forget what was handled, and documentation saves time if charges appear later.

If you don’t have access: use official support and reporting tools (and document the request)

Not having access is the most common situation. The phone may be locked. The email may be inactive. The number may have been canceled. And families can feel stuck—especially when the profile is showing up in people’s feeds or causing harm.

In this scenario, the goal shifts from “delete it myself” to “request removal through the platform.” That usually means two things: a support request and, if the platform allows it, a report from inside the app by someone who can view the profile.

Use the app’s reporting options if you can view the profile

If you are able to find the profile in the app (for example, a friend sees it in Discovery), reporting can be a way to flag it for review—particularly if there are signs of impersonation. Tinder explains how reporting works in its help documentation on reporting profiles and content. While this tool is primarily designed for violations and safety issues, it can be relevant if the account is being used inappropriately after a death.

Reporting is not a guarantee of fast removal. But if you suspect misuse—changed photos, messages being sent, or the profile suddenly appearing “active”—reporting can create an internal ticket trail while you also submit a formal support request.

Submit a support request with clear, verifiable details

When you don’t have login access, the way you write the request matters. Support teams move faster when they can verify identity and locate the account without multiple back-and-forth messages.

For Tinder, start with the official Tinder support request form. Choose the closest category to your situation (privacy, safety, account help), and explain plainly that you are requesting closure due to death. If the account appears compromised, say that directly and note why.

For Bumble and Hinge, use their official help centers and contact workflows. Even if the help article you find is framed as “delete your account,” the support team can route special circumstances if you provide documentation. Bumble also describes a separate pathway for data erasure requests in “Deleting your data”, which can be relevant when privacy is the priority and you are requesting removal of stored personal information.

What to include in a strong “account closure after death” request

Keep the tone calm and factual. You’re not trying to convince anyone that grief is real—you’re trying to give support the shortest possible path to locate the right account and act on it.

• The person’s full name (and any display name used on the profile).
• The phone number and email that may have been used (even if inactive).
• The username or profile link if the platform uses one.
• A screenshot of the profile as it appears now (if available).
• Proof of death if requested (often a death certificate or obituary link).
• Your relationship to the person and your authority, if applicable (next of kin, executor).

If the person’s email or phone number is no longer active, say so upfront. Support teams often default to “respond to the email on file,” and when that email is unreachable, requests can stall unless you provide an alternate contact email for the family or estate.

Stop payments even when you can’t sign in

Billing is where families feel the most urgency—especially when charges continue and the account itself cannot be accessed. If you’re dealing with recurring charges, “stop payments dating apps” becomes its own problem to solve, separate from profile removal.

If the subscription is through Apple or Google Play, cancellation can sometimes be handled from the device settings or account dashboard even without opening the dating app—assuming you have access to the Apple ID or Google Account that purchased it. Apple’s guidance for subscription cancellation is here: cancel a subscription from Apple. Google Play’s guidance is here: cancel, pause, or change a subscription on Google Play.

If you do not have access to the purchasing account, you may still be able to reduce harm by documenting charges and contacting the billing provider. Be careful with chargebacks: they can resolve a payment issue, but they can also trigger account restrictions depending on the platform. The safest path is usually: cancel renewal first, document what happened second, then dispute only what is truly unauthorized.

It’s also worth knowing that regulators have scrutinized cancellation practices in the online dating industry. For example, the Federal Trade Commission has announced enforcement actions involving cancellation and billing practices in this category. You do not need to become an expert in any of that to protect your family, but it reinforces a simple point: keep records, and don’t assume “it will just stop on its own.”

Protect privacy first: what not to do when a dating profile remains visible

When grief is mixed with urgency, people sometimes take steps that create bigger problems later—like losing access to a device that was needed for verification, or sharing private details widely in an attempt to prove a death. The goal is to protect the person’s dignity and your own emotional bandwidth.

• Do not post the person’s private details publicly (email, phone, or full screenshots that reveal sensitive prompts).
• Do not repeatedly guess passwords or try “unlock” tools; lockouts can make legitimate recovery harder.
• Do not cancel the phone line immediately if it is receiving two-factor codes; keep it active briefly if possible.
• Do not message random matches for information unless absolutely necessary; it can escalate privacy risk.

If you need a broader, calm framework for digital closure after a death, Funeral.com’s Digital Accounts After a Death: A Practical Closure Checklist walks through the “devices first” sequence that prevents common mistakes. If you’re managing multiple services at once, Closing Accounts and Subscriptions After a Death can help you decide what to cancel now versus what to keep briefly while you untangle access.

When email and phone access are gone: use official “after death” processes

Dating apps are often connected to bigger identity systems: Apple IDs, Google accounts, phone carriers, and email inboxes that receive verification codes. This is why families can feel like they’re chasing a moving target. If you can’t access the underlying identity accounts, you may need to use official deceased-user pathways rather than trying to force access.

For Apple accounts, Apple provides an official process to request access to or delete a deceased person’s Apple Account, described in Apple Support’s guidance on requesting access to a deceased family member’s Apple Account. If the person set up a Legacy Contact ahead of time, Apple explains that the Legacy Contact will need an access key and documentation, as described in How to add a Legacy Contact.

For Google accounts, Google provides a formal process for requests regarding a deceased user’s account and explains the role of Inactive Account Manager. The starting point is Submit a request regarding a deceased user’s account.

Sometimes the practical blocker is the phone line itself. If two-factor authentication codes are still going to that number, keeping the line active briefly can prevent weeks of added friction. Funeral.com’s guide on canceling or transferring a cell phone plan after a death explains why timing matters and how to avoid accidentally locking yourself out of everything else.

A gentle reality: dating profiles can also be part of the grief story

Sometimes the profile isn’t just a privacy issue—it’s part of the emotional terrain. You might learn something you didn’t know. You might see language that feels unfamiliar. Or you might feel protective and angry that strangers can still “meet” this person when you can’t.

If you’re navigating new relationships, complicated histories, or feelings around love after loss, you may appreciate Funeral.com’s Journal piece on dating and new relationships after the death of a spouse. It’s not about apps and settings; it’s about the human side of what happens next, and how to talk with family when grief and love overlap.

If you are also handling funeral planning: connect digital closure to the larger checklist

Many families end up dealing with digital accounts at the same time they are making decisions about services, disposition, and memorialization. That overlap is real—and it’s why a digital legacy checklist belongs in the same folder as death certificates and planning notes.

On the practical side, Funeral.com’s End-of-Life Planning Checklist ties digital accounts to the broader planning picture, including documents and conversations that reduce stress later.

And if cremation is part of your family’s plan, it can help to know you’re not alone in choosing it. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate is projected to be 63.4% in 2025. The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) reports a U.S. cremation rate of 61.8% in 2024. Those numbers don’t make the decisions easier, but they explain why so many families find themselves searching for guidance on how much does cremation cost, what to do with ashes, and how to choose memorial items that feel right.

If you’re in that part of the process, Funeral.com resources can help you move from confusion to a plan at your own pace:

• Browse cremation urns for ashes and small cremation urns when your family is deciding between a full-size memorial and a smaller shared option.
• If sharing is part of the plan, the keepsake urns collection is designed for families who want multiple households to have a portion.
• For pets, pet urns for ashes and pet cremation urns options can support both “one main urn” and “shared keepsakes” approaches.
• If you want something wearable and discreet, explore cremation jewelry and cremation necklaces, and consider reading cremation jewelry 101 for practical filling and care guidance.
• If you’re considering keeping ashes at home as a “pause button” while you decide, Keeping Ashes at Home offers a calm, safety-first walkthrough.
• If your plan includes a water burial, Funeral.com’s guide to water burial and burial at sea explains the practical details families tend to worry about.

Digital closure—like removing a dating profile—often feels like “one more thing” piled onto grief. But it is also a form of care. It prevents misuse. It reduces painful surprises. And it protects a person’s privacy in a world where accounts can outlive the people who created them.

FAQs: Deceased Dating App Accounts, Removal Requests, and Subscription Charges