Technology

How to put in place an Apple inherited contact, in case you die

If you regularly use Apple devices, your Apple account has many important files and data attached to it, including photos and videos of precious souvenirs and extended messaging archives to which you should hang on.

Apple gives you many ways to ensure that this data is maintained, including the implementation of a few key contacts that are attached to your account: recovery contact (which can help you get back to your account if you are locked), and inherited contact (which can enter your account if you die.)

There are good reasons to set up these two contacts, and it does not take long to do. You can specify more than one contact in each case and modify the contacts you have chosen at any time.

Configuration of a recovery contact from macOS. Screenshot: Apple

Let's start with a recovery contact, a specified person you trust and you can turn if you are locked in your account. This is one of the most reliable methods to restore access to your Apple account, because it is based on a real human being that knows you rather than passwords or authentication applications.

Apple says Your recovery contact “should be a person you know and have confidence, like a family member or a close friend.” You can set up up to five recovery contacts for your account. If you use family sharing with your account, Apple will recommend other people in your family as contacts, but you are free to choose who you like.

Your recovery contacts will need to access an iPhone, iPad or Mac, and their own Apple account – so you cannot choose friends and parents who only use Android or Windows. Apple will not store any information on whom your contacts are, so it is important that you remember who you named (you cannot recover your recovery contacts).

To configure your recovery contacts on an iPhone or iPad, open the settings, press your name, choose Connection and security> Recovery contactsThen follow the instructions on the screen. You can also do it from a Mac, via system settings: click on your name, then Connection and securitySO Recovery contacts. If he is already someone in your family sharing group, contact is added automatically; Otherwise, they will have to accept your request.

If you have trouble accessing your account, your recovery contacts can help you. From the parameters of an iPhone or an iPad, or system settings on a Mac, they must select their name, then choose Connection and security> Account recovery. Once they have selected your name, they will get a recovery code that they can send you, which will help your identity in Apple and bring you back to your account.

Screenshot of access to access key to an iPhone
You will receive an access key to share with your inherited contacts. Screenshot: Apple

It is never pleasant to think of death, but your chances of escaping it are zero – so you want to make sure that putting your things in order is as simple as possible for the loved ones that you leave behind. Of course, our digital inheritances become an increasing part of our worldly property and possessions.

Apple allows you to specify what he calls inherited contact, someone you give permission to access your Apple account after your departure. This includes access to your photos, messages, notes and files, but it does not cover passwords or payment information. You can specify more than an inherited contact, and the people you choose do not need to use Apple devices or have an Apple account.

On an iPhone or iPad, open the settings, press your name, then choose Connection and security> Inherited contact To choose someone. If you are on MacOS, from the system settings, select your name, then click on Connection and security> Inherited contact. No confirmation is required, but you will be invited to send your chosen contacts the digital key it will need to access your account in the future.

Before Apple leaves these contacts designated in your account, they will need both the digital key you have given them and a copy of your death certificate. Once the administrative work is away, they will be granted to a special account, contact the Apple account, by which they will be able to obtain the information you have left.

“Your inherited contact has access to your data for a limited period – three years from the moment when the first inherited account request is approved – after the permanent deletion departure”, ” Apple says. Note that if you have specified more than one contact, they can all make measures on your data and files regardless of each other.

More offers, reviews and purchasing guides

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button