What happens to your iPhone data after you die? Do this to secure it

The latest iOS 15.2 update released a feature to let you add legacy contacts, who can access your data after your death. Check how it works.

Legacy contacts can access iCloud information excluding the passwords and subscribed media. (Pixabay)

Have you ever wondered, what will happen to your online data, or mobile data after your death? But you don't need to worry, if you have an iPhone. As with the latest iOS 15.2 release, you will get the Legacy Contact setting amongst several other features. What it does for you? So, basically the new feature will allow you to select who can access your smartphone data and Apple account including your photos, videos, emails, notes and all other information that is linked with your account, when you die. Here's how to do it.

How to enable the feature?

- To use this feature, you first need to upgrade your iOS to 15.2, if you haven't yet. For that, go to Settings, tap on 'General' and then click on 'Software Update'.

- Once you are upgraded to iOS 15.2, go to your Settings and tap on the name at the top.

- Select Password & Security and scroll down to the option 'Legacy contacts'

- Now, it will show you to add legacy contacts, where you can add up to five contacts. It will automatically suggest your family sharing plan.

Decoding the term: Legacy contacts simply means the contacts who can access your Apple account and information after your death. Legacy contacts can be friends or family, anybody you trust and want to make your data secured with them. Legacy contacts can access iCloud information excluding the passwords stored in your account and subscribed media such as books, music or movies.

Once, you have added the legacy contacts, they will get an access key. So, when you die, your legacy contacts will need to visit digital-legacy.apple.com to log in with their iCloud account or with some other contact information. There they will need to put the access key. Additionally, the legacy contacts will also have to upload a death certificate which will be checked by the Apple team. After the completion of the reviewing process, the legacy contacts will get a link to create a password for the account, which can be used to log in to the Apple device to access the data.

What if someone wants to share limited information?

Unfortunately, that's not possible! Either you give access to all the iCloud data or nothing to your legacy contacts. Your legacy contacts will get access to the whole of your data bank from messages, files to photos. Though, some parts of your account will be disabled for legacy contacts such as messages and emails to restrict the use of these services. Still, the account can receive the messages, which can be read by the legacy accounts.