Last verified 2026-08-17; facts checked against the primary sources below

How to access or delete an Apple Account after someone dies

Last verified: August 17, 2026

The short answer: If you are the named Legacy Contact, submit the deceased person's death certificate and your Legacy Contact access key through Apple's Digital Legacy site. Without a key, Apple may require a U.S. court order naming you as the rightful inheritor of the account data. You can also request permanent account deletion with the required legal documents.

Apple Digital Legacy at a glance

Situation	Current Apple path
You have a Legacy Contact access key	Submit the key and death certificate through Digital Legacy
No Legacy Contact key, but you need data	In the U.S., request access with a qualifying court order
You want permanent deletion	File a deletion request through Apple's Digital Legacy site
You want to reuse a device	Complete the legacy or deletion request, then erase and restore the device
Device has a passcode	Apple cannot remove the passcode without erasing the device

How does an Apple Legacy Contact request access?

Go to Apple's Digital Legacy request site and submit:

The unique access key created when the deceased person named you as Legacy Contact.
The deceased person's death certificate.

Apple verifies the request before granting access. Its security documentation says the approved Legacy Contact receives a special Apple Account and access credentials for the available data. The deceased person's original Apple Account no longer functions after the approved transition, and Activation Lock is removed from devices using that account.

Apple can require different documentation by country or region. Use the instructions shown for the deceased person's account and your location.

What data can an Apple Legacy Contact access?

Apple says accessible data may include photos, messages, notes, files, downloaded apps, and device backups. It excludes certain categories, including:

Purchased movies, music, books, and subscriptions.
Payment information, passwords, and passkeys stored in iCloud Keychain.
Some end-to-end encrypted data that Apple cannot decrypt.

An approved request is not a handoff of every device secret or digital purchase. Download and preserve the estate-relevant data within the access window and keep a record of what was received.

How long does Legacy Contact access last?

Apple's current Legacy Contact guidance says the data is available for three years from approval of the first legacy request. After that period, the legacy account is permanently deleted.

If more than one Legacy Contact was named, Apple says any one of them may independently make decisions about the account data, including permanent deletion. Coordinate before anyone submits an irreversible request.

What if there is no Legacy Contact access key?

In the United States, Apple says a requester may seek access with a court order naming the requester as the rightful inheritor of the deceased person's personal information. The order should identify:

The deceased person's name and Apple Account.
The requesting next of kin.
That the deceased was the user of the accounts associated with that Apple Account.
That the requester is the legal personal representative, agent, or heir whose authorization constitutes lawful consent.
That Apple is ordered to assist with access to the deceased person's account information.

Apple says the order should be addressed to the relevant Apple entity. Because the wording matters, obtain legal advice before filing a court request solely for digital data.

Can you delete a deceased person's Apple Account?

Yes. Apple provides a permanent-deletion request through its Digital Legacy website. The requester needs an Apple Account of their own, the Apple Account to be deleted, and the required legal documentation for the jurisdiction.

Deletion is different from access. Preserve needed photos, files, subscriptions, device information, receipts, and estate records before asking Apple to erase the account.

Can Apple unlock a deceased person's iPhone or iPad?

Apple distinguishes account access, Activation Lock, and the device passcode. It may remove Activation Lock after an approved Legacy Contact or deletion request, but Apple says it cannot remove a passcode lock without erasing the device because the device is protected by passcode encryption.

To reuse a device, complete the applicable request, then erase and restore it before setting it up under another Apple Account. Do not repeatedly guess the passcode or alter the device before deciding whether locally stored data matters.

Should you use a deceased person's Apple password?

Use Apple's formal process. Knowing a password or possessing a trusted device does not establish the right to disclose messages, delete data, or distribute digital assets. It can also trigger security controls or change synchronized information.

Preserve the hardware, note the serial number, and record the known Apple Account email without attempting transactions. Separate the data-access decision from the decision about who owns the physical device.

Digital privacy, device ownership, and inheritance are separate questions. Confirm Apple's current requirements and obtain legal advice if a court order or disputed data access is involved.