Don’t Lock Your Memories Away: Why You Need an iCloud Legacy Contact
A few years ago, a colleague in my professional photo organizing group shared a heartbreaking story. A family was trying to recover photos from a deceased uncle’s iPhone, but they didn’t have his passcode or Apple ID password. With no biometric access and Apple’s strict privacy policies, those family memories were essentially trapped behind a digital wall.
It is a situation no family wants to face, but there is a simple solution: the Apple Legacy Contact feature.
What is a Legacy Contact?
Apple allows you to designate trusted individuals who can access the data stored in your iCloud account after you pass away. This includes your most precious digital assets: photos, videos, messages, notes, files, and device backups.
Note: For security, your Legacy Contact cannot access your saved passwords (Keychain), payment information, or subscription-based purchases like movies or books.
How to Set Up Your Legacy Contact
The process is quick—it usually takes less than five minutes—but provides a lifetime of peace of mind. You only need to set this up on one device; it will automatically apply to your entire Apple ID.
On your iPhone or iPad:
- Open Settings and tap your Name at the very top.
- Select Sign-In & Security.
- Tap Legacy Contact.
- Tap Add Legacy Contact. You may be prompted to authenticate with FaceID, TouchID, or your passcode.
- If you use Family Sharing, your family members will appear as suggestions. You can select one of them or tap Choose Someone Else to add a friend or another relative.
- Follow the prompts to Share Your Access Key. You can send it via Messages or—my personal recommendation—print a copy to keep with your estate planning documents or will.
On your Mac:
- Click the Apple Menu () > System Settings.
- Click your Name (Apple Account) at the top of the sidebar.
- Select Sign-In & Security.
- Click Legacy Contact.
- Click the + (plus) icon and follow the onscreen instructions to choose your contact(s) and share the access key.
What Happens Later?
Each person you chose as a Legacy Contact will receive an access key specific to them. Change your mind? You can always go back in and remove someone as your Legacy Contact, and their access key will no longer work.
If the time ever comes that your Legacy Contact needs to request access, they will go to Apple’s Digital Estate portal. They will need two things: the access key you generated and a legal death certificate. Once approved, Apple provides them with a special Legacy Contact code to access your data.
You only need to do this process once on one device. The Legacy Contact is good for all devices connected to your iCloud account.
Peace of Mind in 5 Minutes
Creating your own Legacy Contact can bring you peace of mind in knowing that your loved ones will be able to access your photos and videos after you are gone.
Your photos and videos are the visual legacy of your life. Isn’t ensuring they stay in your family’s hands worth five minutes of your time?
Need a hand with this? If the technical steps feel a bit overwhelming, or if you want to ensure your entire digital photo legacy is secure, I’m here to help. We can walk through this together during a Personal Photo Coaching session. Let’s make sure your memories are protected for the next generation.
Keep Reading
- What Happens To Your Photos When You Die
- External Hard Drives Don’t Last Forever
- Our Services: Personal Photo Coaching
Ready to Finally Get Your Photos Organized?
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We keep learning about new services for which a Legacy Contact is recommended and available. It’s hard to keep track of, but good to know. Thanks, Andi!
Things are always changing, aren’t they?
This is essential information. I will definitely do this. Thank you for sharing the clear instructions for how to go about it. I’m assuming that setting it up on one of the Apple devices you named will give access to all of the linked Apple devices. I have an iMac, iPad, and iPhone. So I only have to set this up from one place? Is that correct?
Yes, you just need to do it on one device and it will cover everything in your iCloud account.
This is becoming more and more of an essential feature. I wish there were a central clearinghouse/database for information about setting up legacy accounts, closing accounts, etc., for all social media and similar accounts. I’m SO glad you’ve brought this to our attention. I’m going to set mine up immediately!
What a great idea! I’m not a Mac user, but have charged this post with my sister who is.
This was a great idea Andi! I did not know that this option was available on my iPhone/Mac. I will share this info with my family. Thank you for sharing!
I’m a bit late reading this, but I’ve set up my three contacts. Thank you so much, Andi.
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