The tech-giant Apple release an alarming iPhone update on 13th December, iOS 15.2, which includes a new feature called ‘Digital Legacy’. Digital legacy is nothing but assigning specific set of people who will be able to access your Apple account after you die.
It’s been very difficult for people to access their deceased relative’s or friend’s Apple account, not knowing its password, until this December. So far, without the phone’s passcode or iCloud information, surviving family members sometimes had to get a court order for accessing a deceased loved one’s digital data. That access can be helpful if a surviving family member needs phone numbers emails, passwords, notes and other information.
With this Digital Legacy, the contacts chosen by an individual, will be provided a special access key for enabling them to handle the person’s data in iCloud, like photos and documents, in case if that individual die. However, the person’s death certificate is vital for accessing, though you have the access key.
Here’s how to set up ‘Digital Legacy’ in your iPhones. First of all, make sure you’ve updated to iOS 15.2. Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
Setting up Digital Legacy
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap your name at the top of the Page.
- Select “Password & Security”.
- Choose “Legacy Contact”.
- You can choose up to five contacts, either family members or friends.
- You’ll receive an access code. Print it and keep it in a safe place with your other estate planning documents / your diary.
- Your Digital Legacy contacts will need to provide that code and a death certificate to access your account.
Legacy contacts can visit Apple’s website to request access after you die.
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This is for the case only if you have an ultra-level privacy in your iPhone, where your phone’s passcode is not known to any others than you. If your family member or friends know your iPhone passcode, the device allows them to reset the iCloud password to recover any content saved in the iCloud.