How to Set Up Apple Legacy Contact

Apple Legacy Contact gives someone you choose a real path into your Apple account after you die — but only if you set it up while you're alive, and only for what Apple explicitly allows. Here's exactly what it covers and how to turn it on.

What you need before you start

iOS 15.2 or later, iPadOS 15.2 or later, or macOS Monterey 12.1 or later.
Two-factor authentication turned on for your Apple Account — Legacy Contact requires it.
The email address or phone number of the person you're naming.

How to add a Legacy Contact

On iPhone or iPad: Settings → [your name] → Sign-In & Security → Legacy Contact → Add Legacy Contact.
On Mac: System Settings → [your name] → Sign-In & Security → Legacy Contact, using similar steps with Touch ID or your login password.
Choose someone from your Family Sharing group, or add anyone else by phone number or email.
Apple gives you an access key at the end — save it, print it, or share it directly with your contact. Treat it like an estate document: your contact will need it later.

What a Legacy Contact can access after you die

Photos, messages, notes, files, and your device backups stored in your account.

What's explicitly excluded

Purchased movies, music, books, and subscriptions.
iCloud Keychain — saved passwords, payment information, and passkeys.

What your contact needs to actually get access

The access key you gave them, plus a death certificate. There's no documented waiting period beyond Apple processing that request. You can name more than one Legacy Contact, and each one can act on their own — they don't need to coordinate with each other.

Let Estate Assist handle the rest

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Frequently asked questions

What's the minimum age to be someone's Legacy Contact?

13, though this can vary by region — check Apple's current requirements for where your contact lives.

Can I remove or change my Legacy Contact later?

Yes, at any time, from the same Legacy Contact settings screen where you added them.

Does this give my contact my Apple Account password?

No — it gives them a separate, specific path to request the categories of data listed above, using the access key and a death certificate. It does not expose your password or your iCloud Keychain.