We plan for what happens to our home and savings, but rarely for our digital lives: the photos, emails, money and accounts that live online. Without a plan, loved ones can be locked out forever — or your accounts left wide open. Our GetMyPassword team explains how to set up a digital legacy so your accounts are handled the way you want.
What a digital legacy is
A digital legacy is your plan for what happens to your online accounts and data if you die or can no longer manage them. It covers your email, photos, social media, cloud files, subscriptions and any money held in online accounts. Done well, it lets the people you trust access what they need — and keeps everything else securely closed.
Use the built-in legacy tools
- Apple lets you name a Legacy Contact who can access your account data later.
- Google has an Inactive Account Manager that acts after a long period of inactivity.
- Facebook allows a legacy contact to manage a memorialized profile.
- A password manager with emergency access can grant a trusted person your vault under set conditions.
Write a plan — but not a list of passwords
Leave clear instructions for someone you trust: which accounts matter, where to find them, and what you want done. Crucially, do not write your passwords into a will — a will can become a public document. Instead, keep your logins in a password manager and use its emergency access feature, or store a sealed note somewhere safe, so access is granted without ever exposing your passwords.
A will can become public, so it is the last place your passwords should live. Name legacy contacts and use a password manager’s emergency access instead — they hand over the keys without ever publishing them.
Start with one strong vault
A digital legacy is far easier when your accounts already live in one organized, secure place. Put every login behind a unique password from our password generator, store them in a password manager protected by a strong master password and two-factor authentication, then set up its emergency access. That single step protects your accounts now and makes them manageable for your loved ones later.
Frequently asked questions
What is a digital legacy?
It is your plan for what happens to your online accounts and data — email, photos, social media, files, subscriptions and online money — if you die or can no longer manage them, so trusted people can access what they need while everything else stays closed.
How do I set up a digital legacy?
Use built-in tools like Apple’s Legacy Contact, Google’s Inactive Account Manager and Facebook’s legacy contact, keep your logins in a password manager with emergency access, and leave clear written instructions for a trusted person.
Should I put my passwords in my will?
No. A will can become a public document, so passwords do not belong in it. Use a password manager’s emergency access or a sealed note kept somewhere safe, so a trusted person gains access without your passwords being exposed.