Apple will introduce legacy Contacts functionality in iOS 15.2. This feature helps an iOS user’s loved ones access the user’s iPhone. Old contacts will have access to the user’s messages, photos, notes, and other sensitive data. Given the importance of this feature, it should be reserved for your most trusted contacts. Additionally, the Legacy Contacts feature enables contacts to remove activation lock from other devices. iOS 15.2 is currently in beta mode and will be released to the public later this year.
The legacy Contacts feature is part of the upcoming iOS 15.2 update. As mentioned earlier, this feature allows designated contacts to access the deceased iPhone user’s phone as well as access their personal data. Apple mentioned that people who are set up as old contacts will be given a special access code, which they will need to provide to Apple along with a death certificate to unlock the device. Here’s how to add old contacts.
How to add old contacts
Adding old contacts is fairly simple, but the most important prerequisite for this feature to work is that both the user and the old contacts need to be running at least iOS 15.2.
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Click Profile picture and open Apple ID settings.
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Open Passwords and security.
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Click Add old contacts.
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Click again Add old contactsonce the disclaimer screen pops up.
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If the user has Home Sharing enabled, they can select family members. Otherwise, they can choose others from their contact list.
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After selecting the old contact, click Next.
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Click continue How the feature works is described on the screen.
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Users can then choose how to share the access key. It can be shared via iMessage and a copy can be printed.
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After selecting the sharing method, the selected contact will be set as the old contact.
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A user can have multiple old contacts, so the process can be repeated for other old contacts.
Apple reviews all requests from legacy contacts before providing user data to them. In order to access a user’s data, old contacts need to know their date of birth, death certificate and access key. The access key is a huge multi-digit key made up of letters and numbers and a QR code.
Users should ensure that their date of birth is set accurately in their device settings, as that date will be used as authentication during the process of unlocking their iPhone after their death.
Old contacts need to collect the deceased user’s access keys as well as the death certificate. They will then need to visit the Digital Heritage website to begin the authentication process. The site will then ask the old contact to log in using their credentials and provide Apple with the necessary information. In the unlikely event that the access key is lost, the deceased user’s family will still be able to access their iPhone, but all data and logins will be deleted first. Even then, the family will need to provide a death certificate.
How to delete old contacts
Apple also allows users to delete old contacts if they wish.
- Open set up.
- Click on the profile picture and open Apple ID settings.
- Open Passwords and security.
- Click Old version contact information.
- Click the name of the person you want to remove.
- choose Delete contact.
- On the disclaimer page that pops up, click again Delete contact.
After following these steps, the old contacts will be deleted and the generated access keys will become invalid.