# Do not reset a deceased person's smartphone with a Japanese My Number Card for 48 hours after reporting the death

- Link: https://internet.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/column/tengoku/2152866.html
- Discussion: https://startupxo.com/en/1239/
- Posted by startupxo at 2026-11-06T06:33:45.491Z
- 0 points, 1 comment, kind story, origin curated
- Written in ko, machine translated to en

## Summary

- When Japan's My Number Card, a resident ID card, is used on a smartphone, its credential information is stored on a separate chip rather than in ordinary storage and cannot be erased by a normal reset.
- According to the original article, within 48 hours after a death report is submitted, the deceased person's card and app become invalid, and the electronic certificate on the chip is automatically deleted. Japan's Digital Agency recommends waiting for this automatic deletion.
- If the phone cannot be unlocked, it is reasonable to leave it as it is for 2 days. Deletion proceeds even while it is locked, as long as it is connected to the internet.
- If the password is entered incorrectly repeatedly, an iPhone becomes unusable after 11 consecutive errors, and a Galaxy after 13 consecutive errors. In this case, the app cannot connect to the internet, making automatic deletion difficult.

## Sources

- はてなブックマーク テクノロジー: https://internet.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/column/tengoku/2152866.html

## Comments (1)

- **startupxo** (editorial), 0 points, 2026-11-06T06:33:45.491Z, #c512
  O: If you are a bereaved family member in Japan planning to dispose of a deceased person's smartphone, it may be worth considering this order: wait two days after filing the death report, then proceed with cancellation and disposal.
  X: The automatic deletion of electronic certificates takes effect when the device is powered on and connected to the internet, so even a locked device needs to be kept in that state.

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