Apple provides instructions for adding a Legacy Contact to your Apple Account, allowing a trusted person to access your data after your death. The steps apply to devices running iOS 15.2, iPadOS 15.2, or macOS Monterey 12.1 or later.
What is a Legacy Contact
A Legacy Contact is someone you choose to have access to certain data in your Apple Account after your death.
The data might include photos, messages, notes, files, device backups, and more.
Inaccessible data includes movies, music, books, or subscriptions you purchased with your Apple Account, and data stored in your iCloud Keychain (payment information, passwords, and passkeys).
Before you add a Legacy Contact
Decide who you want to be your Legacy Contact; they don’t need an Apple Account or device.
Update your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to the latest version; you need iOS 15.2, iPadOS 15.2, or macOS Monterey 12.1 or later.
Sign in to your Apple Account on that device and turn on two-factor authentication if needed.
Your Legacy Contact must be over the age of 13 (age varies by country or region).
Add a Legacy Contact
On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, then tap [your name]. Tap Sign-In & Security, then tap Legacy Contact, and tap Add Legacy Contact. You might need to authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode.
If you’re in a Family Sharing group, you can choose a member, or tap Choose Someone Else to add someone from your Contacts using their phone number or email address.
On your Mac, from the Apple menu choose System Settings, then click [your name]. Click Sign-In & Security, then click Legacy Contact, and click Add Legacy Contact. You might need to authenticate with Touch ID or your Mac login password.
Choose how to share the access key: send an iMessage (if both you and the contact have iMessage turned on) or print a copy.
What to do
- Decide who you want to be your Legacy Contact.
- Update your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to iOS 15.2, iPadOS 15.2, or macOS Monterey 12.1 or later.
- Sign in to your Apple Account and turn on two-factor authentication if needed.
- On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security > Legacy Contact, then tap Add Legacy Contact.
- On Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security > Legacy Contact, then click Add Legacy Contact.
- Choose to share the access key via iMessage or print a copy.
- Save a copy of the access key with your estate planning documents.
Key facts and where they come from
- A Legacy Contact is someone you choose to have access to certain data in your Apple Account after your death.
A Legacy Contact is someone you choose to have access to certain data in your Apple Account after your death.
- Inaccessible data includes movies, music, books, or subscriptions you purchased with your Apple Account, and data stored in your iCloud Keychain.
Inaccessible data includes movies, music, books, or subscriptions you purchased with your Apple Account, and data stored in your iCloud Keychain (payment information, passwords, and passkeys).
- You need an Apple device running iOS 15.2, iPadOS 15.2, or macOS Monterey 12.1 or later.
You need an Apple device running iOS 15.2, iPadOS 15.2, or macOS Monterey 12.1 or later.
- You can add one or more Legacy Contacts in Apple Account settings.
You can add one or more Legacy Contacts in Apple Account settings on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
- Your Legacy Contact must be over the age of 13 (age varies by country or region).
Your Legacy Contact must be over the age of 13 (age varies by country or region) to request account access after someone passes away.
