How to Add an Old Contact on iPhone

Apple’s iOS 15 brings several features to improve the iPhone using experience. These include visual changes to Safari and better notification management via Focus Modes, long missing from iOS. Alongside these changes, Apple is embedding a few vital features like adding a 15, Old Contact to the Settings menu in iOS.

A former contact carries details of a person who may have access to data on your iPhone after your death. It could be a family member or a close friend you trust. It’s pretty similar to an island you add for a bank account.

Here’s how you can add an Old Contact to your iPhone and give them access to your iCloud data after you pass away.

What Data Can a Legacy Person Access?

An old person may have access to your iPhone’s iCloud synced data. This includes your installed apps, photos, videos, files, notes, contacts, messages, call logs and calendar events. However, this person cannot access passwords stored in iCloud Keychain. Also, licensed media purchased through services such as iTunes cannot be accessed.

You can create an old contact on your iPhone only when you are comfortable sharing information and data after your death.

How to Add an Old Contact from Your iPhone

Before you begin, make sure your iPhone software is running iOS 15 or later. This feature is only available from iOS 15 onwards. Therefore, if you have an older iPhone that does not support the iOS version, you cannot add an old contact.

Stage 1: Open ‘Settings’; application on your iPhone. Tap your name displayed at the top of the screen.

Step 2: Select ‘Password & Security’ under your Apple ID.

Stage 3: Scroll down until you find the ‘Old Contact’ option. Tap on it.

Step 4: Now, tap on the ‘Add Old Contact’ option. Also, if someone has added you as their old contact, you will be able to see them on this screen.

Step 5: After reading the information displayed, select ‘Add Old Contact’ once again.

Step 6: You can now select the contact you want to add as an old contact from your phone book. After selecting the contact, tap the phone number or email id to choose where to get the secret key. Then select ‘Continue’. The old contact you added will appear on your iPhone and other devices connected to the same Apple ID.

Step 7: You can choose between two options to share the secret access key with the person. You can send the key to the person you choose as your Old Contact via iMessage, which will automatically store it on their device. Or you can choose to have a physical printout to deliver.

Step 8: On the ‘Old Contact Added’ screen you will find an option to update your birthday. Select this option if you haven’t set your birthday in your iCloud account or it’s incorrect. Tap on ‘Done’ if it is already set up correctly.

Repeat the whole process once more to add multiple old contacts. Selecting an old contact gives you the option to view that person’s access key and remove them as the old contact. You can print out the access key and store it in a safe place. It contains a QR code with a unique 88 character key that unlocks your data.

How to Access iCloud Data as a Legacy Contact

Adding someone as an ex doesn’t mean they can access your data whenever they want. The person needs to follow certain steps before their iCloud data can be accessed. Here is the procedure.

Stage 1: Visit Apple’s Digital Heritage Portal and select ‘Request Access’. Sign in with your Apple ID when prompted.

Step 2: Enter the first 32 characters of the access key, then you will be prompted to upload a copy of the deceased’s death certificate. You will also need to verify the birthday before access is granted.

Stage 3: Once verified, you can access the relevant data in iCloud or even download a copy if you want to keep it and view it later.

Let Your Legacy Continue

By setting up old contacts, you can allow people to access important data and share memories of your life with family and close friends. Also, in case of your absence, the former contact helps you to prove that a particular device belongs to you.