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Your digital legacy: what happens to your online accounts

Your photos, email and social accounts don’t look after themselves. Apple, Google and Facebook let you name someone in advance — here’s how, and why to do it now.

Last updated 10 July 2026

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We think of documents and money — but a huge part of modern life is locked inside online accounts. They don’t pass on by themselves, and platforms won’t hand over logins. The good news: you can set this up in minutes.

Nominate someone on each platform

  1. Apple — Legacy ContactIn your Apple Account settings, add a Legacy Contact who can access your data and iCloud after your death, using a key and a death certificate.
  2. Google — Inactive Account ManagerDecide what happens to your account after a set period of inactivity — who’s notified and what data they can download.
  3. Facebook — legacy contactName someone to manage a memorialised profile, or choose to have the account deleted.
Watch out. These can only be set up while you still have access to the account. It’s a few minutes now that saves your family a frustrating — sometimes impossible — process later.

Why it belongs with the rest of your admin

Tip. Add “set up digital legacy contacts” to your household admin alongside your ‘in case of’ file and account inventory. Together they mean nothing important — financial or personal — is locked away when your family needs it.

In short

Your online accounts don’t look after themselves and won’t pass on automatically. Use Apple’s Legacy Contact, Google’s Inactive Account Manager and Facebook’s legacy contact to nominate someone now — while you still have access — so your family can reach precious photos and messages and close accounts without a fight.

Frequently asked questions

What happens to my online accounts when I die?

Nothing automatic — and without planning, families often can’t access photos, email or documents, or even close the accounts, because platforms won’t share logins. The fix is to nominate someone in advance using each platform’s built-in tool.

How do I set up a Legacy Contact or Inactive Account Manager?

Apple: add a Legacy Contact in your Apple Account settings. Google: set up Inactive Account Manager to decide what happens after a period of inactivity and who’s notified. Facebook: choose a legacy contact to manage a memorialised profile. Each takes a few minutes.

Why do this now?

Because it can only be set up while you have access to the account. Done in advance, it lets your family reach irreplaceable photos and messages and tidy up accounts smoothly. Left undone, it can mean lost memories and a frustrating, sometimes impossible, process.

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Sources & last checked

Last checked against official sources: 10 July 2026.