Your Digital Afterlife: What Happens to Your Photos, Passwords and Accounts If Something Happens to You?

Most people have a Will for their house and savings. Almost nobody has a plan for their digital life. We rely on photos, passwords, notes, documents and subscriptions that quietly sit underneath our everyday routines.

When something unexpected happens, families are often left locked out of phones, email accounts and cloud storage. They often cannot access vital information or even treasured memories. This guide explains, in plain English, what actually happens to your digital accounts and the simple steps you can take now to make things easier for the people you love.

Why planning your digital afterlife matters

In real cases, families often discover:

• Locked Devices: They cannot unlock the person’s phone.
• Inaccessible Memories: Photos in iCloud or Google Photos are unreachable.
• Hidden Admin: Email, banking and documents are sealed behind logins.
• Ongoing Costs: Subscriptions continue charging the bank account.
• Lost Details: Insurance, bills and ID details cannot be recovered.

It does not need to be complicated. A few preparations now prevent months of distress later.

1. What happens to your accounts when you die?

Different companies handle digital access in different ways.

Apple (iPhone, iCloud)

If you have not set a Legacy Contact:

• Family cannot access your photos, notes or iCloud backups.
• Apple will not unlock a device without a court order.

If you have set a Legacy Contact:

• Your trusted contact can access your photos and key data using an access key and a death certificate.

Important: They cannot access your messages, iCloud Keychain (passwords) or paid purchases. These areas remain protected even after death to maintain your privacy and security.

Google (Gmail, Photos, Drive)

Google may delete inactive accounts after 2 years unless you configure the Inactive Account Manager. This is part of their global safety policy, but it can catch families out.

If you set it up:

• You decide who is notified.
• You choose what data they can download.
• Your photos and emails are protected from automatic deletion.

Without it, families typically cannot retrieve data.

Facebook

You can nominate a Legacy Contact to manage a memorialised profile. They can:

• Write a pinned post
• Update the profile photo
• Respond to friend requests

They cannot read your messages or access private content. Alternatively, you can choose for your account to be permanently deleted.

2. The real modern problem: Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Most people assume that leaving a list of passwords is enough. Today, that is no longer the case.

Most secure services (Gmail, banking, Amazon, HMRC, Gov.uk) use Two-Factor Authentication. When someone tries to log in from a new device, a 6-digit security code is sent to your phone.

If your family cannot unlock your phone to see that code, the password is useless.

The Fix: Ensuring a trusted person knows your Phone PIN is the most important step in digital planning.

3. Your photos: where they actually live

For most families, photos are the most precious digital asset. Cloud storage complicates access.

• If you use iCloud Photos: Your photos usually live in the cloud, not on the device. Without access to iCloud, they cannot be retrieved.
• If you use Google Photos: Photos are often only stored online. Without account access, they are effectively gone.

Solution: Set up a Legacy Contact and note where your main photo library is stored.

4. Digital subscriptions and ongoing bills

Without access, subscriptions can continue for months or even years. Common examples include:

A simple list of recurring bills – or giving your executor access to your email – stops this drain.

5. Exactly what to set up today

Here is your step-by-step checklist.

6. What families can do if nothing was set up

Access may still be possible, but expect delays.

• Apple: Usually requires a court order.
• Google: Often allows account closure, not full access.
• Banks: Freeze accounts immediately upon receiving the death certificate.
• Subscription services: Close accounts when notified.

Without preparations, this process often takes weeks or months.