Don’t lock your family out: A digital legacy guide

This is not a blessed topic. But it’s indispensable proposal whether you’re 30 oregon 90.

If thing happened to you tomorrow, could your household get into your integer life? I’m talking astir your slope accounts, emails, crypto and a beingness of memories stored connected your telephone oregon computer.

Big Tech and different companies won’t manus implicit your information oregon passwords, adjacent to a spouse, without a hassle, if astatine all.

1. The 10-minute setup

Start with a Legacy Contact. Think of idiosyncratic you spot who gets entree lone aft you’re gone. Who is that? Good.

SECRET PHRASES TO GET YOU PAST AI BOT CUSTOMER SERVICE

One day, you won't beryllium present anymore, but your tech volition bel. Here's however to program for that. (iStock)

· iPhone: Open Settings > pat [Your Name]. Tap Sign-In & Security > Legacy Contact. Go to Add Legacy Contact and travel the prompts.

· Google: Search for Inactive Account Manager successful your Google Account settings. Choose however agelong Google should hold earlier acting (e.g., 3 months). Add up to 10 radical to beryllium notified and take which information (Photos, Drive, Gmail) they tin download.

Google has an "Inactive Account Manager" feature. (Chesnot/Getty Images)

2. The maestro cardinal problem

Apple and Google don’t assistance with banking, insurance, concern oregon different sites oregon apps. You request a coagulated password manager similar NordPass that offers exigency entree features.

1. Open your Password Manager and look for Emergency Access.

2. Add a Digital Heir: Enter the email of a spouse oregon trusted child.

3. Set the Safety Delay: Choose a hold period. Usually 7 days is the saccharine spot.

4. How it works: If your interaction ever requests access, the app sends you an alert. If you’re fine, you deed Deny. But if you’re incapacitated and can’t respond wrong those 7 days, the vault automatically unlocks for them.

Pro tip: Your Emergency Contact lone gets viewing privileges. They can’t delete oregon alteration thing successful your vault.

YOU’LL NEVER TRUST VIDEO AGAIN ONCE YOU SEE WHAT SORA 2 CAN DO

Facebook and Instagram person after-death options for accounts. (Karly Domb Sadof, File/AP )

3. Crypto and societal media

· Crypto: Without your effect phrases, that wealth is gone. Store them physically on with immoderate instructions and receipts of you buying crypto with your property paperwork. If you usage a crypto hardware wallet, support that successful a fireproof safe.

· Social media: On Facebook oregon Instagram, spell to Settings > Memorialization. Choose to either person your relationship deleted oregon managed by a interaction who tin station a last tribute.

Be definite idiosyncratic knows the passcode to your phone. That’s important for 2FA codes, among different things.

One much thing. If you recovered this usher helpful, beryllium definite to get my escaped newsletter astatine GetKim.com to enactment tech-savvy and unafraid each day!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Award-winning big Kim Komando is your concealed limb for navigating tech.

· National radio: Airing connected 500-plus stations crossed the US, find yours astatine komando.com oregon get the escaped podcast

· Daily newsletter: Join 650,000 radical who work the Current (free!) astatine komando.com

· Watch: Kim's YouTube transmission astatine youtube.com/@kimkomando

Copyright 2026, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved.