Your digital legacy

What happens to your Google account, iCloud photos, cryptocurrency, and social media when you die — and what you can do about it today.

Your will can’t give your family access to your accounts.

A will controls your physical and financial assets. But tech companies control access to your digital accounts — and most require you to designate a legacy contact before you die. Without setup, even immediate family members can be locked out permanently.

Google

Inactive Account Manager

Set up →

Choose up to 10 trusted contacts who can access your data (Gmail, Drive, Photos, YouTube) if your account is inactive for a period you define (3–18 months). You can also choose to have your account deleted automatically.

Why it matters: Google accounts often contain years of emails, irreplaceable photos, and important documents. Without setup, family members cannot access the account — even with a death certificate.

Steps

  1. 1.Go to myaccount.google.com → Data & Privacy → Inactive Account Manager
  2. 2.Set your inactivity timeout (3, 6, 12, or 18 months)
  3. 3.Add trusted contacts and choose what data each can access
  4. 4.Optionally schedule account deletion after the inactivity period

Apple

Digital Legacy

Set up →

Designate up to 5 Legacy Contacts who can access your iCloud data (photos, messages, notes, backups) after you die. Each contact receives a unique Access Key.

Why it matters: iCloud Photos and iMessage backups are often the only copies of family photos. Apple will not grant access without a Legacy Contact setup — even to immediate family.

Steps

  1. 1.On iPhone: Settings → [your name] → Password & Security → Legacy Contact
  2. 2.Add contacts and share the Access Key (printed card or AirDrop)
  3. 3.Contacts present the Access Key + death certificate to Apple to gain access

Facebook / Instagram

Legacy Contact & Memorialization

Set up →

Designate a Legacy Contact who can manage your memorialized Facebook profile — accept friend requests, pin a tribute post, update your profile photo. Alternatively, request that your account be removed after death.

Why it matters: Without a Legacy Contact, Facebook memorializes accounts automatically when notified of a death but no one can manage them. Instagram follows the same policy.

Steps

  1. 1.Facebook: Settings & Privacy → Settings → Memorialization Settings
  2. 2.Choose a Legacy Contact or select "Delete account after death"
  3. 3.For Instagram: managed through Facebook settings if accounts are linked

X (Twitter)

Account memorialization

Set up →

X does not offer a legacy contact or data download for family members. Immediate family can request account deactivation (removal) by submitting a request with a death certificate.

Why it matters: Unlike Google or Apple, X provides no way to transfer data to family. The main decision is whether to memorialize (keep the account visible) or deactivate it.

Steps

  1. 1.No pre-setup available — family must submit a request after death
  2. 2.Consider leaving instructions in your letter of instruction about what you'd prefer
  3. 3.Account deactivation requests: help.x.com → contact X about account memorialization

Microsoft

Next of kin process

Set up →

Microsoft allows next of kin to request a copy of account data (OneDrive files, Outlook emails) with proper documentation. They do not grant account access, but can provide a data download.

Why it matters: OneDrive is commonly used for document backup. Business email (Microsoft 365) may be managed by an employer separately.

Steps

  1. 1.No pre-setup available
  2. 2.Next of kin submits request with death certificate and proof of relationship
  3. 3.Microsoft provides a data download (not account access)

Password managers

Emergency access

Most password managers (1Password, Bitwarden, LastPass, Dashlane) offer an "emergency access" or "digital heir" feature. A trusted person can request access; you can set a waiting period (e.g., 7 days) during which you can deny the request if you're still alive.

Why it matters: A password manager is the master key to a person's digital life — banking, email, social media, crypto. Without access, family members face a wall of locked accounts. With access, they can systematically close, transfer, or memorialize everything else.

Steps

  1. 1.1Password: Families plan includes account recovery; Emergency Kit for emergency access
  2. 2.Bitwarden: Settings → Emergency Access → Add emergency contact
  3. 3.LastPass: Account Settings → Trusted Devices & Emergency Access
  4. 4.Store your Emergency Kit / recovery codes with your physical will

Cryptocurrency

Wallet access & private keys

Cryptocurrency held in a self-custody wallet (not an exchange) is controlled by a private key or seed phrase. Without it, the funds are permanently inaccessible. Crypto held on an exchange (Coinbase, Kraken) can be transferred via the exchange's estate process.

Why it matters: An estimated $100B+ in Bitcoin alone is permanently lost due to lost keys. Unlike a bank account, there is no recovery process. Your heirs cannot access self-custody crypto without the seed phrase.

Steps

  1. 1.Write down your seed phrase (12 or 24 words) on paper — never in a photo or cloud
  2. 2.Store it in a fireproof safe or bank safety deposit box with your will
  3. 3.Include instructions on how to use the seed phrase in your letter of instruction
  4. 4.For exchange accounts: name a beneficiary if the exchange supports it, or leave login credentials in a secure location
  5. 5.Consider a hardware wallet with a clearly labeled recovery process

Put it all in a letter of instruction

A letter of instruction is a non-legal companion to your will that gives your executor practical information: where your accounts are, how to access them, and what you’d like done with them. Unlike your will, it never becomes public record.

Your digital legacy starts with a will.

A will designates your executor — the person with legal authority to manage your estate, close your accounts, and carry out your wishes. Free, private, takes about 10 minutes.

Make my will →

Platform policies change. Links and steps were accurate as of early 2026. Always verify directly with each platform. This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.