Request access to an Apple account as a Legacy Contact
If a loved one who added you as a Legacy Contact passes away, find out how to request access to the data that’s stored in their Apple account.
About Legacy Contacts
Starting in iOS 15.2, iPadOS 15.2 and macOS 12.1, Apple users can add a Legacy Contact Adding a Legacy Contact is the easiest, most secure way a user can give someone they trust access to the data that’s stored in their Apple account if they pass away. This data may include photos, messages, notes, files, apps they’ve downloaded, device backups and more. Certain information, such as films, music, books or subscriptions they’ve purchased with their Apple ID, and data stored in their Keychain, such as payment information, passwords and passkeys, can’t be accessed by a Legacy Contact. Find out more about what data is available to a Legacy Contact.
You don’t need to have an Apple ID or an Apple device to be added as a Legacy Contact, but you must be over the age of 13 (age varies by country or region) to request account access after someone has passed away.
To request access as a Legacy Contact, you must have:
The access key that your loved one created when they chose you as a Legacy Contact
Your loved one’s death certificate*
Apple reviews access requests from Legacy Contacts and will only approve access to a deceased person’s data after this information has been verified. After your request has been approved, you’ll receive a special Legacy Contact Apple ID to access the account data. The account holder’s original Apple ID will no longer work and Activation Lock will be removed on any devices using their Apple ID.
You’ll have access to the legacy account for a limited time — three years from when the first legacy account request is approved — after which the legacy account will be permanently deleted. Please note that if your loved one has added more than one Legacy Contact, the other contacts can access the legacy account and make decisions about account data, including permanently deleting it.
To add a Legacy Contact, store a Legacy Contact access key or make a Legacy Contact request on your device, you’ll need a device running iOS 15.2, iPadOS 15.2 or macOS 12.1 or later.
If you’ve been added as a Legacy Contact
When someone adds you as a Legacy Contact, an access key will be created and shared with you. Make sure you keep this access key in a safe place because you must have it to request access as a Legacy Contact if they pass away.
If your Apple device is running iOS 15.2, iPadOS 15.2 or macOS 12.1 or later, and someone in your Family Sharing group adds you as a Legacy Contact or you receive a Legacy Contact request, the access key will be stored automatically in the Apple ID settings on your device.
If your Apple device has older software and you receive a Legacy Contact notification, you’ll need to update to iOS 15.2, iPadOS 15.2 or macOS 12.1 or later so you can save the access key in your Apple ID settings.
If you don’t have an Apple device or can’t update your Apple device, you can ask your loved one to send you the access key by email or text message, or they can print a physical copy for you.
In some cases, someone can add you as a Legacy Contact but choose to keep a copy of your access key with their estate planning documents. In this case, you may not receive the access key until after they’ve passed away.
However you receive the access key, it’s a good idea to keep an additional copy of it in a safe place so you can find it later.
If someone adds you as a Legacy Contact but you’d prefer not to be one, you can either talk to them about it or simply choose not to use the access key if they pass away. If Legacy Contact information is saved in your Apple ID settings, you can remove yourself as a Legacy Contact — which will also delete the access key — at any time.
Where to find your Legacy Contact access key
If your Legacy Contact access key is saved on your Apple device*, you can find it easily in your Apple ID settings. If your loved one has given you a copy of the access key or has sent it to you a different way, you’ll need to find it in your files.
If your access key is saved in your Apple ID settings
On your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch:
Go to Settings, then tap your name.
Tap Sign-In & Security > Legacy Contact.
Tap the person’s name to see more options, including viewing the access key or starting an access request.
On your Mac:
Choose Apple menu > System Settings (or System Preferences), then click your name (or Apple ID).
Click Sign-In & Security.
Click Manage next to Legacy Contact settings.
Click Details next to the person’s name to see more options, including viewing the access key or starting an access request.
If your access key is saved as a document
If your loved one has added you as a Legacy Contact and given you a copy of the access key, you’ll need to find the access key in your files. They could have sent it to you by email or text message, or they may have printed it out and given you a physical copy. It’s also possible that they saved a copy of your access key with their estate planning documents and you’ll only receive it after they’ve passed away.
If you can’t find or don’t have an access key
To protect the privacy and security of the Apple ID account holder, Apple can’t access or replace an access key that’s been lost or misplaced. If you can’t find your Legacy Contact access key or you don’t have one, find out about other options to request access to a deceased family member’s Apple accounts.
How to request access as a Legacy Contact
If someone who has added you as a Legacy Contact passes away, you can request access either directly on your Apple device that’s running the latest software*, or on the internet.
Before you get started, make sure that you have:
The access key that your loved one created when they added you as a Legacy Contact
Your loved one’s death certificate*
Save your access key in a secure place because you’ll need it again when you sign in to the Legacy Contact Apple ID after your request has been approved.
Apple will send you an email confirming that your request has been received. For security, we’ll also send an email to the Apple ID that you’ve requested access to. Apple reviews and verifies each request. You will be notified by email when the review has been completed or if more information is required.
The death certificate can be in PDF, PNG, TIF, JPEG or GIF file format, with a resolution of at least 300 dpi or 3300x2550 pixels. Each page must be flat and fully legible; all four edges of the page must be visible.
Request access in Apple ID settings
If your access key is saved in your Apple ID settings, you can start a request directly on your device.
On your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch:
Go to Settings, then tap your name.
Tap Sign-In & Security > Legacy Contact and tap the person’s name.
Tap or click Request Access and follow the instructions to upload the death certificate.*
On your Mac:
Choose Apple menu > System Settings (or System Preferences), then click your name (or Apple ID).
Click Sign-In & Security.
Click Manage next to Legacy Contact settings.
Click Details next to the person’s name.
Click Request Access and follow the instructions to upload the death certificate.*
Request access on the internet
If you don’t have access to an Apple device but you have the access key and death certificate, you can start your request on the internet.
Go to Digital Legacy — Request Access (https://digital-legacy.apple.com).
Click “Request access” and sign in with your Apple ID or provide the requested contact information.
Follow the instructions on the website to verify your identity, enter your access key and upload the death certificate.
You can check the status of your request at Digital Legacy — Manage (https://digital-legacy.apple.com/manage).
After your Legacy Contact request has been approved
After your request has been verified and approved, you’ll receive an email with more details and instructions. The email will include a special Legacy Contact Apple ID for your loved one’s account. You’ll be asked to enter your access key again and confirm your contact information. Then you’ll create a password and set up two-factor authentication for the Legacy Contact Apple ID. You can manage this information at Digital Legacy — Manage (https://digital-legacy.apple.com/manage).
Access a Legacy Contact Apple ID
After you’ve created a password and set up two-factor authentication, you can use your Legacy Contact Apple ID to sign in to the account on the web at iCloud.com or download the account data at privacy.apple.com. Or you can use the Legacy Contact Apple ID to sign in on an Apple device, just like you would with any other Apple ID. You can also use the Legacy Contact Apple ID to restore an iCloud backup You may be asked to enter your Legacy Contact access key for end-to-end encrypted data, such as health data, voice memos and more.
Make sure that you use the Legacy Contact Apple ID to sign in. Don’t use the original account holder’s Apple ID or your personal Apple ID.
You can access the legacy account for a limited time — three years from when the first legacy account request was approved — which is noted in your confirmation email and in the account. After this time, the legacy account will be permanently deleted. You may want to download any content that you’d like to keep. Please note that if your loved one has added more than one Legacy Contact for their account, the other contacts can also access the legacy account and make decisions about the account data, including deleting it permanently.
After your request has been approved, Activation Lock These devices will need to be restored to factory settings before they can be used with another Apple ID.
Learn more
Find out how to add a Legacy Contact.
Find out about data available to a Legacy Contact.
* Documentation requirements may vary by country or region. For example, in Japan, you may need a family certificate indicating the death of an account holder instead of a death certificate.
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