How to Set Up a Legacy Contact on Your iPhone

Legacy Contact iphone

With the release of iOS 15.2, Apple introduced a vital new feature: Legacy Contact. This allows you to designate someone you trust to access your Apple ID account and personal data after your death.

This guide explains what a Legacy Contact is, why it’s important, and how to set it up or remove it from your iPhone or other Apple device.

What Is a Legacy Contact?

A Legacy Contact is a person you authorize to access your Apple account data after you pass away. This includes photos, messages, notes, documents, device backups, and more stored in iCloud.

Apple protects your privacy by requiring the Legacy Contact to provide two things:

  • The access key you generate during setup

  • A copy of your death certificate

Why Set Up a Legacy Contact?

Designating a Legacy Contact is an important part of digital estate planning. It ensures your family or trusted individuals can:

  • Access personal memories and important documents

  • Close accounts or manage devices you leave behind

  • Avoid legal and technical issues trying to access your Apple ID data later

Without this setup, Apple cannot grant access to your data, even with a court order.

How to Set Up a Legacy Contact on iPhone

Follow these steps to add a Legacy Contact:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

  2. Tap your name at the top of the screen.

  3. Go to Password & Security.

  4. Select Legacy Contact.

  5. Tap Add Legacy Contact.

  6. Choose someone from your contacts list.

  7. Confirm your selection and choose how to share the access key (via message or by printing).

  8. Store the access key securely. The contact will need it to access your data in the future.

How to Remove or Change a Legacy Contact

If you want to remove or change your Legacy Contact:

  1. Open Settings and tap your name.

  2. Go to Password & Security > Legacy Contact.

  3. Select the contact you want to remove.

  4. Tap Remove Contact and confirm.

You can then follow the same steps above to add a new Legacy Contact if needed.

Additional Information

  • This feature requires iOS 15.2 or later.

  • The person you choose does not need to have an Apple device, but having one simplifies access.

  • You can add multiple Legacy Contacts if you wish.

Final Thoughts

Setting up a Legacy Contact is a simple yet essential step in protecting your digital life. It ensures that your loved ones can access important information in the event of your death and prevents your data from becoming permanently inaccessible.

For more details, visit Apple’s official support page on Digital Legacy.

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