Most people have a will or an advance directive that explains what happens at the end of their life. But far fewer people have a plan for what happens to their digital legacy — the photos, emails, documents, and memories stored on phones, tablets, and online accounts.
At first, digital legacy planning might not seem important. But when you stop and think about how much of your life now lives behind a password, it becomes clear how helpful this can be for the people you love. Whether it’s for probate purposes or simply so a family member can save a treasured photo of Memaw and the kids, having a digital legacy plan in place makes things much easier during an already difficult time.
The good news is that two of the biggest technology companies — Apple and Google — both offer free tools to help you manage your digital assets after death.
Apple Legacy Contact
Apple’s solution is called Legacy Contact. It’s a secure way to give someone you trust access to certain data stored in your Apple account after your death.
Once set up, your Legacy Contact can access:
- iCloud Photos
- Notes
- Contacts
- Calendars
- Reminders
- Messages stored in iCloud
- Call history
- iCloud Drive files
- iCloud backups
- Health data
- Voice memos
- Safari bookmarks
Some information is not accessible, including:
- Purchased movies, music, and books
- App purchases and subscriptions
- Passwords, payment information, and passkeys stored in Keychain
How to Set It Up on an Apple Device
- Open Settings
- Tap your name
- Tap Sign-in & Security
- Tap Legacy Contact
- Follow the on-screen steps
For detailed instructions, visit Apple Support and search Legacy Contact.
Google Inactive Account Manager
Google’s approach is called Inactive Account Manager. It allows you to decide what happens to your Google data if your account becomes inactive for a certain period of time.
If your account is inactive:
- Google sends you multiple reminder emails and text messages
- If there’s no response, Google contacts your Trusted Contacts
- Trusted Contacts receive a secure link to download the data you selected
- They must verify their identity and have three months to download the data before access expires
Trusted Contacts can be granted access to:
- Photos
- Google Drive files
- Gmail
- Contacts and Calendar
- YouTube videos
- Google Play Books, Movies & TV
- Chrome bookmarks
- Location history
- Google Fit
- Keep notes
- Google Maps contributions
Items that are not shared include:
- Passwords
- Payment methods and Google Pay
- Google Workspace accounts
- Two-factor recovery codes
How to Set It Up
- Go to myaccount.google.com
- Select Data & Privacy
- Scroll to Make a plan for your digital legacy
- Click Start under Inactive Account Manager
- Choose an inactivity period (3, 6, 12, or 18 months)
- Add your contact information
- Add up to 10 Trusted Contacts
- Choose what data each contact can access
For full instructions, search Inactive Account Manager on the Google Account site.
A Few Important Things to Know
- Neither Apple nor Google enables these features by default
- Once enabled, they remain active until used or turned off
- Each service is free and secure
- You can change or remove contacts at any time
Don’t Forget Other Digital Accounts
Apple and Google are major parts of our digital lives, but they aren’t the only ones. Social media platforms, online storage services, and password managers often have their own legacy or trusted contact options.
Password managers are especially important. Think of them like the keys to your home — when you’re gone, someone may need access to help manage or close accounts properly.
A Small Step That Makes a Big Difference
Creating a digital legacy plan doesn’t take long, but it can make a meaningful difference for the people you care about. It removes guesswork, reduces stress, and ensures your memories and information are handled the way you intend.
Your loved ones will thank you for it.
