Apple's iOS 15 offers several features to enhance your iPhone experience. These include: Visual changes in Safari And better management of notifications via Focus Modes , which has been missing from iOS for a long time. Aside from these changes, Apple is burying some vital features in the Settings menu in iOS 15, such as adding a legacy contact. Here's how to add a legacy contact on your iPhone.
A legacy contact contains the details of the person who can access the data on your iPhone after your death. This could be a family member or a close, trusted friend. It's similar to a filter you'd add to a bank account.
Here's how to add a legacy contact on your iPhone and give them access to your iCloud data after your death.
What data can be accessed by the legacy contact?
The inherited contact can access iPhone data synced with iCloud. This includes installed apps, photos, videos, files, notes, contacts, messages, call logs, and calendar events. However, this person cannot access passwords saved in iCloud Keychain. Also, licensed media purchased through services such as iTunes will be inaccessible.
You can set up a legacy contact on your iPhone only when you're comfortable sharing information and data after your death.
How to Add a Legacy Contact from Your iPhone
Before you begin, make sure your iPhone is running iOS 15 or later. This feature is only available from iOS 15 onward. Therefore, if you have an older iPhone that doesn't support the iOS version, you won't be able to add the legacy contact.
Step 1: Open Application Settings On your iPhone. Tap Your Name Displayed at the top of the screen.
Step 2: Select an option Password and Security within Apple ID Your.
Step 3: Scroll down until you find the option "Legacy Contact". Click on it.
Step 4: Now, tap on the option Add a legacy contactIt's also worth noting that if someone adds you as a legacy contact, you'll be able to see it on this screen.
Step 5: Locate Add a legacy contact Again after reading the information presented.
Step 6: You can now select the contact you want to add as the inheritor contact from your phone book. Once you've selected the contact, tap Their phone number or email ID To select an option Where to receive the secret key. Next, select "Continue". The legacy contact you add will appear on your iPhone and other devices connected to the same Apple ID.
Step 7: You can choose between two options for sharing your secret access key with your contact. You can send it to the person you've designated as your legacy contact via iMessage, who will automatically store the key on their device. Or you can choose to take a printout to hand.
Step 8: in screen Add a legacy contact You'll find an option to update your date of birth. Select this option if you haven't set your date of birth on your iCloud account or if it's incorrect. If it's already set accurately, tap "It was completed".
To add multiple legacy contacts, repeat the entire process again. Selecting a legacy contact gives you the option to view their access key and remove that person as a legacy contact. You can print out the access key and store it in a safe place. It contains a QR code with a unique 88-character key that unlocks your data.
How to access iCloud data as a legacy contact
Adding someone as a legacy contact doesn't mean they can access your data whenever they want. The contact must follow certain steps before they can access your iCloud data. Here's how.
Step 1: Visit Apple Digital Heritage Portal and select “Access Request”Log in with . Apple ID Yours when asked.
Step 2: Enter first 32 character access key You will then be asked to upload a copy of Death certificate of the deceasedYou will also have to verify your date of birth before granting access.
Step 3: Once verified, you can access the relevant data on iCloud or even download a copy if you want to store and view it later.
Let your legacy live on
By setting up legacy contacts, you can allow people to access important data and share life memories with your family and close friends. Also, in your absence, a legacy contact is useful for proving that a particular device belongs to you.
