Previously, we looked at how to add Legacy Contacts to your Apple ID on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Now let’s look at how a Legacy Contact can request access to your Apple account.
A Legacy Contact is someone you choose to have access to the data in your Apple account after your death. The data that a Legacy Contact can access depends on what the Apple ID account holder stored in iCloud and in their iCloud Backup.
When you’re added as a Legacy Contact
When someone adds you as a Legacy Contact, they create an access key to share with you. Make sure that 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 is stored automatically in 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, or they can print out a physical copy for you.
- In some cases, someone may 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 pass 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, and you’d prefer not to be, you can talk to them about it, or simply don’t 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 also deletes the access key—at any time.
Where to find your Legacy Contact access key
If your Legacy Contact access key was saved on your Apple device*, you can find it easily in your Apple ID settings. If your loved one 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 ID settings
On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch:
- Go to Settings, then tap your name.
- Tap Password & 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 Preferences, then click Apple ID.
- Click Password & 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 a 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, or 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 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, learn 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 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 web.
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 safe place because you’ll need it again when you sign in to the legacy contact Apple ID after your request is approved.
Apple sends you an email confirming that we received your request. For security, we also send an email to the Apple ID 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.
The death certificate 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.
Request access in Apple ID settings
If your access key is saved in your Apple ID settings, you can start a request right on your device.
On your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch:
- Go to Settings, then tap your name.
- Tap Password & 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 Preferences, then click Apple ID.
- Click Password & 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 web
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 web.
- 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 is approved
After your request is 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 create 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 any Apple ID. You can also use the legacy contact Apple ID to restore an iCloud backup on an Apple device. You may 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 ID to sign in, and not the original account holder’s Apple ID or your personal Apple ID.
Access a legacy contact Apple ID
After you create 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 any Apple ID. You can also use the legacy contact Apple ID to restore an iCloud backup on an Apple device. You may 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 ID to sign in, and not the original account holder’s Apple ID or your personal Apple ID.
(This how-to is based on my experiences and info on Apple’s support pages.)
