DB LabsQuick Answer
Apple Digital Legacy lets you name up to five Legacy Contacts who can access the photos, messages, and other data in your Apple Account after you die. Each contact gets an access key; combined with your death certificate, they can unlock your account for up to three years.
What is Apple Digital Legacy?
Apple Digital Legacy is a feature, introduced in iOS 15.2, that lets you designate trusted people as Legacy Contacts. After your death, those contacts can request access to the data stored in your Apple Account, including your iCloud photo library, so that memories and important files are not locked away forever. Without it, Apple normally treats your account credentials as private, and a grieving family can be left unable to recover years of photos.
The system is deliberately built around two safeguards working together: a unique access key you share in advance, and a copy of your death certificate submitted later. Neither one alone is enough, and your Apple ID password is never required.
How to set up a Legacy Contact
You can add up to five Legacy Contacts. The process takes about a minute on an iPhone running iOS 15.2 or later:
- Open Settings and tap your name at the top.
- Tap Sign-In & Security, then Legacy Contact.
- Tap Add Legacy Contact (confirm with Face ID or your passcode).
- Choose someone from your contacts. If you are in a Family Sharing group, you can pick a member directly.
- Share the access key. If your contact uses an Apple device, you can send it through Messages and it is stored automatically. Otherwise, choose Print a Copy and keep it with your will or other estate documents.
The access key and death certificate process
When the time comes, the Legacy Contact starts a request at digital-legacy.apple.com (or via Settings > Sign-In & Security > Legacy Contact on their own device). They submit the access key you gave them along with a copy of your death certificate. Apple reviews the request manually; once approved, your existing security measures, such as Activation Lock and your old password, are removed from the account, and the contact gets a separate Legacy Contact Apple Account to view the data. Approved access lasts three years, after which the account and its contents are permanently deleted.
What is and is not included
Digital Legacy covers most personal data stored in iCloud but deliberately excludes things tied to payments and licensing. Here is the breakdown:
| Included (accessible) | Not included (not accessible) |
|---|---|
| iCloud Photos and videos | Apple ID password and login |
| Messages (iMessage) and notes | Keychain data: saved passwords, passkeys, credit cards |
| Files stored in iCloud Drive | Payment information and subscriptions |
| Contacts, calendars, and reminders | In-app purchases and stored funds |
| Downloaded apps and device backups | Licensed media: purchased movies, music, books |
Because the photo library itself transfers, this is the single best way to make sure a lifetime of pictures reaches your family. If you want to make that inheritance easier to manage, it helps to keep the library tidy while you are still using it, deleting blurry shots, duplicates, and screenshots so your contacts receive the photos that matter. A quick monthly pass with Swype Photo Cleaner keeps the library lean, and pairing it with Optimize iPhone Storage ensures full-resolution originals stay safely in iCloud.
Related reading
For more on keeping your iCloud library healthy, see our Complete iPhone Storage Guide and What Is iCloud Photos.
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