Apple used to have the musical theme that when we died , our Apple ID and our iCloud data point should go with us . Their condition and conditionssaid explicitly , “ Upon reception of a copy of a death certificate your history may be terminate and all Content within your Account delete . ” Perhaps because of the huge bit of masses who buy the farm before their instinctive course during the pandemic , Apple has moderated that lieu with the Digital Legacy feature .
First announced at the 2021 Worldwide Developer Conference , thefeature appeared in hintsby October 2021 , but only became available a few weeks ago with the release of iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2 and then later macOS 12.1 . Digital Legacy lets you select up to five people , telephone your Legacy Contacts , who can access data point you synchronise with iCloud.com after you ’ve guide . This process also disable Activation Lock on linked devices , making them erasable and recyclable .
( Note : Apple calls the feature in its operating systems Legacy Contact ; it label the process , associated website , and service Digital Legacy . )
How Legacy Contact and Digital Legacy works
Individuals you cull will involve to hold back certain information provided through Legacy Contact to establish they were given permission by you when you were alert . They also must obtain a dying certificate they can provide to Apple to get at your information .
Providing access may be something you want for yourself to allow loved one , home , or others have entree to your contacts , photos , and some other sort of datum . Or , it might be that you could aid relatives and friends set this up so they have a digital afterlife if they desire it .
The kind of data uncommitted is close but not superposable to that provided by theiCloud Data Recovery Service , introduce weeks before Digital Legacy . That latter service rent you piece people to help you restore access to your information and account while you are still in the here and now , not hereafter .
Digital Legacy includes well-nigh all information synced or store in iCloud that does n’t need a machine to access — that is , does n’t rely on end - to - ending encoding , which requires unlock a gimmick with a passcode , finger’s breadth , or face . So you could retrieve photo and videos , contacts , calendar entries , email , machine reliever , notes , apps , substance ( salt away with Messages in iCloud ) , and iCloud Drive files . Payment methods , sensitive leverage , in - app purchases , and iCloud Keychain items ca n’t be accessed . Appleprovides a complete list .
Using Digital Legacy also disables Activation Lock on all devices register to the Apple ID account . If someone did n’t leave passwords behind , Digital Legacy allow these machine to be firmly rub out and then reuse — they can be sell , traded in , or given away . But their gimmick - locked secrets remain preserved .
Enable Legacy Contact
The feature is easy to enable . As you add contacts , the system bring forth a unparalleled admission key for them . If they have iOS / iPadOS 15.2 or macOS 12.1 install , that headstone is total to their Apple ID story and they can begin the recovery process later at once from their gimmick .
Otherwise , you or they will need to keep track of it as an electronic or paper written document . Apple notes that it could be included in estate - preparation documents that would be released after one ’s last .
In iOS / iPadOS 15.2 or later , bug out with :
In macOS 12.1 or later , start with :
In the Add Legacy Contact screen , you’re able to pick out phallus in a Family Sharing group if you ’re in one . you’re able to also bug or clickChoose Someone Else , tap or clickNext , and then start out typing to pit people from your contacts .
When you tap or clickContinueon an additional revealing screen , that mortal is immediately added as a striking . But you must discharge the next whole step to send word them and ca n’t step backward . You ’ll be prompted to send them a content if their contact selective information is enable for iMessage .
In all font , you ’ll also have the selection to print a copy of the key , which includes data about Legacy Contact , some details about you , and has both the text and scannable QR code format of the key . iOS and iPadOS force you to publish the document ; you ca n’t save it as a PDF unless you ’re on a Mac , where that ’s a aboveboard option in the Print dialog . ( I ’ve had to wedge quit preferences on my iPhone to pass away that option - loose dead conclusion . )
Retrieve the access key after the enrollment
you may retrieve contacts ’ access key after you first invite them :
Now you may wiretap or clickView Access Key . After authenticating with Face ID , Touch ID , or a password , you may consider the memory access key as textual matter and as QR Code . Tap or flick Print a Copy to produce the end product document .
you’re able to also slay a tangency on their detail page by tapping or clack Remove Contact .
Request access for someone’s data after they’re gone
Once someone has passed and you desire to or are tasked with accessing their iCloud and related selective information , you call for a copy of their death credentials and the access key provided to you either in advancement or with their estate - provision materials .
When Apple turns on Digital Legacy for someone ’s Apple ID business relationship , the following happens :
you’re able to also habituate an iPhone or iPad with version 15.2 or later install or a Mac with macOS 12.1 or later install to initiate the process via the same Legacy Contact preferences arena note above . pick out a contact and click Request Access . Via Apple’sDigital Legacy site , you may snap Request Access and inscribe the accession key .
This mental process prompts you to upload a scanned or digital edition of the last certificate , which must be flat and flexible , at least 300 dpi ( 3,300 by 2,550 for an 8.5 - by-11 – inch pageboy ) , and in PDF , PNG , TIF , JPEG , or GIF formats . An Apple employee refresh the file manually and you ’re emailed for more information or when account access is approved .
Apple then creates a novel legacy Apple ID account name and has you make a password for it . Two - factor authentication is mandatory . Once created , you may lumber in via iCloud.com and get at the person ’s data similar to using iCloud.com with a even account . you could also use the account to reconstruct iCloud Backups to an Io or iPadOS gadget .
Any legacy contact can begin this unconscious process if they have the death certificate . Apple warns that whomever is first to begin the process starts the three - year countdown . Any legacy contact can also edit all the data at any time without having to ordinate digitally with other contacts .
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