Apple allows access to photos, files, and personal data if a Legacy Contact was set up in advance. Without it, a court order naming the claimant is required.
You must prepare the following legal and physical documents before contacting the platform's support:
If you have a Legacy Contact key, go to digital-legacy.apple.com on your browser.
Log in with your personal Apple ID (or create one for free).
Enter the Legacy Contact Access Key (an alphanumeric code — you can also scan its QR code) and upload the owner's Death Certificate.
Apple’s team reviews the request (typically takes a few days). Once approved, you get a temporary Apple ID to download their photos, contacts, and drive documents.
If you do not have an Access Key, you must contact Apple Support and present a court order specifying that you have legal right to the data.
If no Legacy Contact was set up in settings while the owner was alive, Apple cannot bypass device passcodes. They can only release iCloud backups.
The court order must mention: the deceased's name, their Apple ID, and that you are the court-appointed personal representative.
Note that a Legacy Contact does not inherit passwords: Apple states the beneficiary keying material does not include what is needed to decrypt the deceased's iCloud Keychain. Saved logins stay locked even after legacy access is granted.
Disclaimer: This guide is for general informational purposes only. Policies and URLs of third-party platforms are subject to change. WealthPass is an independent digital safety vault and has no official affiliation with the service providers listed in this wiki directory.