28/05/2025
🕊️ A Personal Message About Digital Legacy Planning
This may seem a little morbid at first, but after recently losing a loved one, I felt it was important to share something that could help others avoid added stress during an already difficult time.
Unfortunately, we see at least one message every week from someone asking if there’s a way to access a device that belonged to a loved one who has sadly passed away. Both Apple and Google have strict policies and cannot unlock a device or account without the proper setup in place. If you don’t know the passcode or haven’t been set as a Legacy Contact, access is simply not possible.
We’ve put together a short guide that walks you through how to set up Apple’s Legacy Contact and Google’s Inactive Account Manager. It only takes a few minutes!
We can’t stress enough how easy and important it is to take this small step. If you have any questions or need help setting it up, please don’t hesitate to get in touch
🔐 Digital Legacy Planning: How to Secure Access to Your Loved One’s Online Accounts 🧾
In today’s digital world, planning for the future means more than just wills and estate planning - it also includes your digital accounts. If you or a loved one use Apple or Google services, setting up digital legacy tools now can make it easier for trusted people to access important data later
Here’s how to set it up:
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🍏 Apple – Legacy Contact
Apple’s Legacy Contact feature allows you to choose trusted individuals who can access your Apple account (including photos, messages, notes, and more) after your death
✅ To Set Up:
1. Go to Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap your name > Password & Security > Legacy Contact.
3. Tap Add Legacy Contact, then select someone you trust.
4. Share the access key Apple provides with them (they’ll need this along with a death certificate)
🔗 Learn more and set it up:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212360
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📧 Google – Inactive Account Manager
Google’s Inactive Account Manager lets you decide what happens to your Google account if it hasn’t been used for a certain period. You can choose trusted contacts to receive your data or have the account deleted
✅ To Set Up:
1. Visit the Inactive Account Manager here:
https://myaccount.google.com/inactive
2. Set your timeout period (3 to 18 months of inactivity).
3. Add trusted contacts and choose what data they can access.
4. Optionally, set your account to delete itself after that.
🔗 Learn more:
https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/3036546
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💡 Why This Matters
Preparing your digital legacy now can help reduce stress for your loved ones and ensure your important memories and information are not lost.
