Apple's new Digital Legacy feature is now available to beta testers, giving the first clear indication of exactly what data Apple will make available to your next of kin when you pass away.
First outlined in June with the unveiling of iOS 15, Digital Legacy is a new feature designed to let you set a person as your Legacy Contact, giving the person access to your Apple ID account and personal information in the event of your death.
The Legacy Contact option can be accessed by opening up the Settings app, tapping on your profile picture and then selecting "Password & Security." From there, choose "Legacy Contact" from the list and you can choose a trusted person to access your account after you pass away.
When they need to, the Legacy Contact can visit digital-legacy.apple.com to request access using an access key and a copy of death certificate. There, they can access the following data from the deceased user's iCloud:
iCloud Keychain logins and passwords will not be made available, nor will any licensed media. Apple says that Digital Legacy also includes access to other personal information from a user's iCloud account, but it is not yet clear exactly what additional data will be available.
Apple did not include Legacy Contact in the initial versions of iOS 15 that were released to the public as the feature was not yet ready, but it is available in the iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2 betas that were recently seeded to developers and public beta testers.
iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2 also include a number of new features, such as Find My lost item tracking, Communication Safety, improvements to the Notification Summary, and more. For a full list of features that have been added with each iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2 beta, we have dedicated guides for the initial beta and the second beta.
Monday January 26, 2026 1:55 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple today introduced its first two physical products of 2026: a second-generation AirTag and the Black Unity Connection Braided Solo Loop for the Apple Watch.
Read our coverage of each announcement to learn more:Apple Unveils New AirTag With Longer Range, Louder Speaker, and More
Apple Introduces New Black Unity Apple Watch BandBoth the new AirTag and the Black Unity Connection Braided...
Monday January 26, 2026 3:56 pm PST by Juli Clover
Alongside iOS 26.2.1, Apple today released an updated version of iOS 12 for devices that are still running that operating system update, eight years after the software was first released.
iOS 12.5.8 is available for the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 6, meaning Apple is continuing to support these devices for 13 and 12 years after launch, respectively. The iPhone 5s came out in September 2013,...
Monday January 26, 2026 6:07 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple today introduced the second-generation AirTag, with key features including longer range for tracking items and a louder speaker.
For those who are not familiar, the AirTag is a small accessory that you can attach to your backpack, keys, or other items. Then, you can track the location of those items in the Find My app on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and iCloud.com.
The new...
Tuesday January 27, 2026 2:39 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Update: Apple Creator Studio is now available.
Apple Creator Studio launches this Wednesday, January 28. The all-in-one subscription provides access to the Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage apps, with U.S. pricing set at $12.99 per month or $129 per year.
A subscription to Apple Creator Studio also unlocks "intelligent features" and "premium...
Sunday January 25, 2026 6:02 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
2026 promises to be yet another busy year for Apple, with the company rumored to be planning more than 20 product announcements over the coming months.
Beyond the usual updates to iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches, Apple is expected to release its all-new smart home hub, which was reportedly delayed until the more personalized version of Siri is ready. Other unique products rumored for ...
