Request access to an Apple Account as a Legacy Contact

If a loved one who added you as a Legacy Contact passes away, learn how to request access to data stored in their Apple Account.

About Legacy Contacts

Being a Legacy Contact is the most secure way for someone to give you access to the data stored in their Apple Account after their death. Learn how someone can add you as a Legacy Contact.

This data may include photos, messages, notes, files, device backups, and more. A Legacy Contact can’t access certain information. Inaccessible data includes movies, music, books, or subscriptions your loved one purchased with their Apple Account, and data stored in their iCloud Keychain (payment information, passwords, and passkeys). Learn more about the data a Legacy Contact can to access.

After Apple approves the first Legacy Contact account request, you can access the account for a limited time.

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

Before you request access as a Legacy Contact

• If you want to use an Apple device to request access, update your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to the latest version. You need an Apple device running iOS 15.2, iPadOS 15.2, or macOS Monterey 12.1 or later.

• You don’t need to have an Apple Account or an Apple device, but you must be over the age of 13 (age varies by country or region) to request account access after someone passes away.

• Gather any Apple devices that belonged to your loved one. After Apple approves your request, Activation Lock is removed from the devices that used your loved one’s original Apple Account.

• Gather the document(s) you need. Any documents you upload can be in PDF, PNG, TIF, JPEG, or GIF file format, with a resolution of at least 300 dpi or 3300 x 2550 pixels. Each page must be flat, fully legible, and all four edges of the page must be visible.

• Find the access key. You’ll need the access key to request access, and again when you sign in to the Legacy Contact Apple Account after Apple approves your request.

Where to find your Legacy Contact access key

If your Legacy Contact access key was saved on your Apple device, you can find it in your Apple Account settings. If the decedent gave you a copy of the access key, or 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 Account settings on your iPhone or iPad

1. Go to Settings, then tap your name.

2. Tap Sign-In & Security, then tap Legacy Contact.

3. Tap the person’s name to see more options, including viewing the access key or starting an access request.

   

If your access key is saved in your Apple Account settings on your Mac

1. From the Apple menu , choose System Settings. then click your name.

2. Click Sign-In & Security, then click Legacy Contact.

3. Click the person’s name to see more options, including viewing the access key.

If your access key is saved as a document

If your loved one added you as a Legacy Contact and gave 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.

• They could have printed it 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 receive it only after they pass away.

If you can’t find or don’t have an access key

To protect the privacy and security of the Apple 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, learn about other options to request access to a deceased family member’s Apple Account.

Request access as a Legacy Contact

If someone who added you as a Legacy Contact passes away, you can request access directly on your Apple device. If you don’t have an Apple device, but you have the access key and death certificate, you can start your request on the web.

Apple reviews access requests from Legacy Contacts and approves access to a deceased person’s data only after verifying your information. When Apple approves your request, you receive a special Legacy Contact Apple Account to access the account data. The account holder’s original Apple Account no longer works, and Activation Lock is removed on any devices that use their Apple Account.

Check the status of your Legacy Contact request

Apple sends you an email confirming that we received your request. For security, we also send an email to the Apple Account for which you requested access. Apple reviews and verifies each request and will notify you by email when the review is complete or if more information is required.

You can also check the status of your request on Apple’s Digital Legacy website.

After Apple approves your Legacy Contact request

After Apple verifies and approves your request, you’ll receive an email with more details and instructions. The email will include a special Legacy Contact Apple Account 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 Account. You can manage this information on Apple’s Digital Legacy website.

After Apple approves your request, Activation Lock is removed from devices that use your loved one’s original Apple Account. These devices need to be erased and restored before they can be used with another Apple Account.

Access a Legacy Contact Apple Account

After you create a Legacy Contact Apple Account, you can sign in and access the data on your loved one’s account.

• You can sign in on the web at iCloud.com.

• You can download data about the account at privacy.apple.com.

• If you have an extra Apple device, you can sign in to your Legacy Contact Apple Account on it — like you would any Apple Account.

• You can also sign in to your Legacy Contact Apple Account to restore an iCloud backup when setting up an Apple device.

You might be asked to enter your Legacy Contact access key for end-to-end encrypted data, like health data, voice memos, and more.

Make sure that you use the Legacy Contact Apple Account to sign in, and not the original account holder’s Apple Account or your personal Apple Account.

Legacy Contact access is temporary

You can access the Legacy Contact account for a limited time, three years from when Apple approves the first Legacy Contact account request. The limited time is noted in your confirmation email and in the account. After this time, the account is permanently deleted. You might want to download any content that you’d like to keep.

If your loved one added more than one Legacy Contact for their account, the other contacts might also access it and make decisions about the account data. This includes deleting the account permanently.