Veault Blog
Digital Accounts
iCloud
By:
Léon van Leeuwen
Last updated:
November 7, 2025
Among all the tech giants, Apple has the strongest reputation when it comes to safety and privacy. Both the hardware and software are designed like digital fortresses, giving a great sense of security.
But that same security becomes an impenetrable, painful wall for surviving family members. If you don't make arrangements, your iCloud data—think thousands of photos, important notes, and backups—will be lost forever. The question "how do I access a deceased person's iCloud?" often leads to a dead end. Apple is known for being extremely reluctant to grant access, even with a death certificate.
Luckily, Apple has introduced a proactive feature. In this guide, we explain how to use this feature, what the critical limitations are, and how to ensure truly complete access.
Apple's Official Solution: What is a "Legacy Contact"?
Apple allows you to designate a "Legacy Contact." This is a trusted person who can request access to the data in your Apple account after you pass away.
How to Set It Up? (On your iPhone/iPad)
Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security.
Tap Legacy Contact.
Follow the steps to assign a contact from your family or friends.
Crucial: Apple generates a unique Access Key. You must share this key with your contact. This can be done via iMessage or by printing it.
After your passing, your Legacy Contact will need to provide this access key and a copy of your death certificate to Apple to access iCloud after your death.
Can you unlock an iPhone after death?
This is the main shortcoming of the official method. The "Legacy Contact" feature provides:
NO access to the physical device (your iPhone or Mac).
NO access to stored passwords (your 'KeyChain').
NO access to stored payment details.
The feature gives only access to your iCloud data (photos, notes, mail, backups). If you haven't recorded the PIN code of the phone anywhere, it remains a useless, locked device.
The Major Limitations of the "Legacy Contact"
In summary, the official feature falls short in three areas:
The Key Problem: Where does your contact keep that access key? A printout gets lost. In an iMessage conversation, it's untraceable. Emailing is unsafe. If the key is gone, access is gone.
No Access to the Device: As mentioned above, unlocking your iPhone after death is not solved by this.
A Cumbersome Process: Your survivors still have to go through a formal, legal process with Apple, which takes time and energy in a tough period.
The Right Solution: The Vault as the Perfect Partner
The "Legacy Contact" is a good legal base. But to make it airtight and practical, you combine Apple's feature with a secure, central vault.
Step 1: Securely Store the Official Key
That unique Apple Access Key is extremely important. The safest place to store it is not in an email, but in a Zero-Knowledge vault. In Veault, you can safely store the key (as text or as a PDF print), linked to your Apple ID instructions. This is a perfect example of safely sharing passwords with family.
Step 2: Add the Real Keys
The Legacy Contact is the formal route. But what your partner truly needs on the day is the PIN code of your phone. In your Veault vault, you record the actual keys that Apple will never share:
The PIN code of your iPhone/iPad.
The password for your Apple ID (for full access, if you wish).
Instructions: "My Legacy Contact is [Name]. The access key is in this vault. Here is also the PIN of my phone, for quick access."
By combining the official method with sharing the real, everyday access codes in a secure vault, you give your survivors the choice: the formal route, or the fast, practical route.
Summary: Ensure There's a Door in Your Fort
Apple's privacy is a fort. Without your help, the drawbridge remains forever up.
Do the Basics: Go today into your Apple settings and set a Legacy Contact.
Finish It: Safely store the Access Key that Apple generates in your Veault vault.
Make It Watertight: Add the PIN code of your phone and your Apple ID password to your vault, along with clear instructions.
Only this way do you give your family the keys they truly need, in a way that is 100% safe.
Your Apple account is a crucial part of your digital life. Ensure it doesn't become a closed book.
Read more about managing your full digital legacy.
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