Digital Legacy Planning: What Happens to Your Accounts When You Die

Most of us keep a lifetime of photos, messages and important records in online accounts. If something happens to you, your family may not be able to get into any of it, even with your phone in hand. A few settings, which take about 20 minutes, let you choose who can access what. A little planning also helps your family protect your identity, because scammers and identity thieves target people who have recently died.

This guide is for adults of any age who want to make things easier for their family, and for adult children helping a parent plan. It also covers what to do after a loved one has died. It was checked against Apple Support, Google Account Help, the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on October 29, 2026.

Start with a simple list

Before you change any settings, make a list your family can find. It doesn’t need passwords written in it. A password manager or a sealed envelope with your important papers is a safer place for those. The list should say:

• Your main email accounts and phone carrier.
• Where your photos are stored (iCloud, Google Photos, a computer, an external drive).
• Banks, retirement accounts, insurance and any payment apps.
• Subscriptions that charge automatically.
• Social media accounts and what you’d like done with them.
• Where to find your password manager’s emergency access instructions, if you use one.

Keep it with your will or other important documents, and tell one trusted person where it is.

Apple: add a Legacy Contact

Apple lets you choose a Legacy Contact, someone who can access certain data in your Apple Account after your death. According to Apple Support:

• Requirements: a device running iOS 15.2, iPadOS 15.2 or macOS Monterey 12.1 or later. Your Legacy Contact doesn’t need an Apple device or an Apple Account.
• How to add one: on iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security > Legacy Contact. On a Mac, use System Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security > Legacy Contact. You can name more than one person.
• The access key matters most. Apple creates an access key when you choose a contact. Your contact will need that key and a copy of your death certificate to request access. Share it by iMessage, or print it and keep it with your important papers.
• What they can get: data such as photos, messages, notes, files and device backups.
• What they can’t get: movies, music, books or subscriptions bought with your account, or anything in iCloud Keychain, including passwords, passkeys and payment information.

If a family member died without a Legacy Contact, Apple has a separate process for requesting access to a deceased family member’s account, which usually requires a court order.

Google: set up Inactive Account Manager

Google’s Inactive Account Manager shares parts of your account, or sends a message, if your account goes unused for a period you choose. Google Account Help explains:

• Where: go to myaccount.google.com/inactive.
• Who: you can name up to 10 people, and choose different data for different people, such as photos for one person and email for another.
• Phone number required: each trusted contact needs a phone number so that only they can download the data.
• When they hear: contacts get nothing during setup. They are notified only after your account has been inactive for the time you set, and the email includes a download link for what you chose to share.
• Why it matters: Google says it may delete an account that has been inactive for at least two years if no plan is set up. Without a plan, family photos in Google Photos could be lost.

Social media, password managers and everything else

• Facebook and Instagram let families request that an account be memorialized, which keeps it visible as a tribute and stops anyone from logging in. Facebook also lets you choose a legacy contact, or ask for your account to be deleted after you die, in your account settings. Check the Meta Help Center for current options.
• Password managers such as Bitwarden and 1Password offer emergency access or recovery options for trusted people. Set them up now; they can’t be added later.
• Banks and brokerages handle deceased customers through their own processes, not through shared passwords. Name beneficiaries where accounts allow it and keep them up to date.
• Don’t share your passwords as a plan. Logging in as someone who has died can break a service’s terms and may cause problems for the estate. Use the official legacy tools instead.

After a loved one dies: protect their identity

Identity thieves look for people who have recently died, because no one is watching their credit. These steps help:

1. Make sure Social Security knows. SSA says funeral homes generally report deaths, so families usually don’t need to. If no funeral home is involved, call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) with the person’s name, Social Security number, date of birth and date of death.
2. Ask about survivor benefits. SSA says a surviving spouse may get a one-time $255 payment, and some family members may qualify for monthly survivor benefits.
3. Notify the credit bureaus. The IRS advises sending a copy of the death certificate to the credit bureaus and asking them to place a deceased alert on the credit reports, then watching the reports for unusual activity.
4. Keep the obituary short. The IRS suggests leaving out details thieves can use, such as a birth date, mother’s maiden name or home address.
5. File the final tax return. The IRS says the estate or representative should file the final return when it’s due. If someone files a return using the person’s information, IRS Form 14039 can be filed on behalf of a deceased person.
6. Cancel or close accounts. Contact banks, card companies, phone carriers and subscription services. Close accounts that are no longer needed and keep a list of what you closed and when.
7. Collect and wipe devices. Back up photos you want to keep, then reset phones and computers before giving them away. See How to Wipe an Old Phone or Computer.

Watch for scams aimed at grieving families

• Calls or letters claiming the person owed a debt that you must pay right away. Debts are generally paid from the estate, and you can ask for proof in writing.
• Messages about an unclaimed life insurance policy that require a fee. See Life Insurance Scams.
• Fake government or Social Security calls asking for personal details. See IRS and Social Security Imposter Scams.

When in doubt, ask for everything in writing and talk to the estate’s lawyer or executor before paying anyone.

Talking with an older parent about it

• Frame it as protecting the family photos, which most people care about most.
• Set up Apple Legacy Contact or Google Inactive Account Manager together on their phone, and print the access key.
• Ask where their important papers are kept, and add the account list there.
• Our Family Tech Agreement for Older Parents can help start the conversation.

Checklist

• An account list is stored with your important papers.
• Apple Legacy Contact is set, and the access key is printed and stored.
• Google Inactive Account Manager is set with at least one trusted contact.
• Social media wishes are set or written down.
• Password manager emergency access is set up.
• Beneficiaries on financial accounts are current.

FAQ

Can my family just use my phone passcode to get in?

Sometimes, for a while. But many accounts ask for passwords or codes sent to a phone number that may be disconnected, and Apple’s and Google’s official tools are more reliable. Using the official tools also avoids problems with a service’s terms.

Does a will cover my online accounts?

A will can say what you want, but each company has its own process. Setting up the legacy tools makes those wishes easier to carry out. An estate lawyer can explain how your state handles digital assets.

Will my Legacy Contact see my passwords?

No. Apple says passwords, passkeys and payment information in iCloud Keychain are not included.

How soon should we report a death to the credit bureaus?

As soon as you have copies of the death certificate. The IRS recommends asking for a deceased alert on the credit reports and then monitoring them.

Related guides

• Identity Theft Recovery: What to Do First, Next and Later
• Credit Freeze Review
• A Password Manager for a Household
• Medicare Fraud: How to Protect Your Medicare Number

Sources

• Apple Support, “How to add a Legacy Contact for your Apple Account,” support.apple.com, accessed October 29, 2026.
• Apple Support, “Request access to a deceased family member’s Apple Account,” support.apple.com, accessed October 29, 2026.
• Google Account Help, “About Inactive Account Manager,” support.google.com, accessed October 29, 2026.
• Social Security Administration, “What to do when someone dies,” ssa.gov, accessed October 29, 2026.
• Internal Revenue Service, “Identity theft guide for individuals,” irs.gov, accessed October 29, 2026.

This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. For questions about a will, an estate or digital assets, talk to an estate attorney in your state.