The Complete List of Online Accounts People Forget

A practical guide for families organising their digital life

Most people have far more online accounts than they realise.

Email. Banking. Subscriptions. Shopping. Cloud storage. Loyalty programs. Social media.

Over time these accounts accumulate — and many are completely forgotten.

This becomes a serious problem when families need to:

  • organise important information

  • help ageing parents manage technology

  • locate financial accounts

  • manage digital assets after death

This guide outlines the most commonly forgotten online accounts so you can make sure nothing important is missed.

Why Forgotten Online Accounts Matter

Untracked accounts can create several problems for families:

Important financial assets can be missed

Many people forget about:

  • PayPal balances

  • investment apps

  • cryptocurrency wallets

  • unused gift cards or loyalty points

Subscriptions may continue charging

Streaming services, cloud storage, and app subscriptions often keep charging long after they’re forgotten.

Important information becomes inaccessible

If login details are lost, family members may not be able to access:

  • photos

  • documents

  • financial information

  • personal communications

Organising these accounts now helps ensure clarity and peace of mind for the future.

The Complete List of Online Accounts People Often Forget

Use this list as a starting point when organising your digital life.

Email Accounts

Many people have multiple email accounts created over the years.

Common examples include:

  • Gmail

  • Outlook / Hotmail

  • Yahoo Mail

  • Apple iCloud email

  • work email accounts

Older accounts are often forgotten but may still contain important information.

Banking and Financial Accounts

These are some of the most important accounts to track.

Examples include:

  • online banking

  • credit card portals

  • superannuation accounts

  • share trading platforms

  • investment platforms

  • cryptocurrency exchanges

  • PayPal or online wallets

Some people also have multiple bank accounts created years ago that are no longer used regularly.

Government Accounts

In Australia, government portals are essential to manage.

Examples include:

  • MyGov

  • Medicare

  • ATO

  • Centrelink

  • Service NSW

  • My Health Record

These accounts often contain critical personal records.

Shopping Accounts

Online shopping accounts are extremely common and often forgotten.

Examples include:

  • Amazon

  • eBay

  • Afterpay

  • PayPal linked shopping accounts

  • store loyalty accounts

  • airline shopping portals

These accounts may store payment details or delivery addresses.

Subscriptions and Streaming Services

Subscriptions quietly accumulate over time.

Common examples include:

  • Netflix

  • Disney+

  • Spotify

  • Apple Music

  • YouTube Premium

  • newspaper subscriptions

  • software subscriptions

Many people forget these accounts entirely.

Cloud Storage Accounts

Cloud storage often contains valuable personal data.

Examples include:

  • Google Drive

  • Dropbox

  • Apple iCloud

  • Microsoft OneDrive

These accounts may hold:

  • family photos

  • scanned documents

  • backups of phones or computers

Social Media Accounts

Even unused social accounts should be recorded.

Examples include:

  • Facebook

  • Instagram

  • LinkedIn

  • Twitter / X

  • TikTok

  • Pinterest

Families may need access to these accounts in the future.

Travel and Loyalty Programs

These accounts frequently contain valuable points or rewards.

Examples include:

  • airline frequent flyer programs

  • hotel loyalty programs

  • credit card rewards programs

Many people forget about points accumulated over many years.

Utility and Household Accounts

Many everyday services now require online accounts.

Examples include:

  • electricity providers

  • gas providers

  • water services

  • internet providers

  • insurance portals

These accounts often contain important billing information.

Apps Linked to Phones or Tablets

Mobile devices create dozens of app accounts.

Examples include:

  • ride-sharing apps

  • food delivery apps

  • fitness apps

  • banking apps

  • health tracking apps

Even if the app is no longer used, the account may still exist.

How to Start Organising Your Online Accounts

A simple first step is to create a master list of accounts, including:

  • the service name

  • associated email address

  • username

  • notes about the account

Passwords should never be written in an unsafe way, but having a clear record of accounts helps families understand what exists.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many online accounts does the average person have?

Studies suggest many people have 70–100 online accounts, although most only actively use a small number of them.

Should families keep a list of online accounts?

Keeping a record of online accounts helps families understand what services exist and prevents important accounts from being lost or forgotten.

What are digital assets?

Digital assets include online accounts, documents, photos, financial accounts and subscriptions stored online.

Download the Family Digital Asset Checklist

If you would like help getting started, you can download our Family Digital Asset Checklist.

This guide helps families:

  • identify online accounts

  • organise important digital information

  • prepare for the future

Need Help Organising Your Digital Life?

Many families find it overwhelming to organise accounts, passwords and digital information on their own.

Digital Care Services Australia provides in-home support for seniors and families across the Illawarra to help organise:

  • online accounts

  • passwords

  • important documents

  • digital records

The goal is simple:
bring clarity and structure to your digital life so your family is never left guessing.

You can start with a free 15-minute Digital Clarity Call to see how the process works.

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