Securing a loved one’s digital life means preserving access to their phone, computer, email, and accounts quickly, before devices lock or data is wiped, so the family does not permanently lose photos, financial access, and important information. Digital access degrades fast after a death, and a few early steps can prevent the slow, sometimes impossible task of recovering locked accounts. This guide explains what to do in the first days, lawfully and carefully.
A note before you start: act within the law and the person’s wishes. Using credentials can intersect with platform terms and digital-asset law, so see our guide on digital assets and the law for the legal framework.
Why speed matters
Phones and computers lock after periods of inactivity or when the battery dies, and some accounts begin deletion timers after inactivity. Two-factor authentication tied to the person’s phone can also block access to many accounts once the device is unavailable. Acting in the first days, while devices are still on and accessible, preserves options that disappear later.
Step 1: Keep devices powered and unlocked
If you have lawful access, keep the person’s phone and computer charged and prevent them from locking. Adjust the auto-lock setting to a longer interval if you can, and avoid restarting devices, since a reboot often requires the passcode you may not have. Do not factory-reset or wipe anything. The unlocked phone is frequently the key to email, two-factor codes, and account discovery.
Step 2: Capture what accounts exist
While a device is accessible, photograph or list the installed apps and visible accounts, which reveals the person’s banks, subscriptions, social platforms, and email providers. Check the email inbox for financial statements and account notifications, which surface accounts no one knew about. This inventory feeds the estate’s broader financial picture and tells you which accounts will need to be closed or memorialized.
Step 3: Find the password manager and recovery information
Look for a password manager, which may hold the keys to nearly everything in one place, and note any emergency-access feature the person may have set up. Locate written passwords, recovery codes, and, critically, any cryptocurrency seed phrases or hardware wallets, since crypto is unrecoverable without them. Keep all of this secured, because it is exactly the information a thief would want.
Step 4: Note two-factor and recovery methods
Identify which accounts use the person’s phone for two-factor authentication or text codes, since losing the phone can lock those accounts. Preserving the SIM or the device, and noting backup codes, keeps these accounts reachable while the estate is settled.
What not to do
Do not reset devices, delete accounts impulsively, or post from the person’s profiles before the family decides what to do. Sharing or using passwords can also conflict with platform terms and the law, so where access is uncertain, preserve the device and consult the legal framework rather than forcing entry.
A digital-securing checklist
- Keep phones and computers charged and unlocked; lengthen auto-lock.
- Do not reboot, reset, or wipe any device.
- Photograph the app list and note visible accounts.
- Locate the password manager and any emergency access.
- Secure crypto seed phrases and recovery codes.
- Preserve the phone and backup codes for two-factor accounts.
Frequently asked questions
How do I access a deceased person’s phone? If you have lawful access, keep the phone charged and prevent it from locking, and avoid rebooting it, since that usually requires the passcode. The unlocked phone gives access to email and two-factor codes. If it is locked, manufacturers offer limited legacy-access processes, but options are far better when the device stays accessible.
Can I use my deceased relative’s passwords? Using someone’s credentials can conflict with platform terms of service and computer-access law, even with good intentions. The lawful path is to use platform legacy tools and the authority granted in the will or power of attorney under digital-asset law. Preserve access and consult those routes.
What happens to two-factor authentication when someone dies? Accounts secured with text or app-based two-factor codes tied to the person’s phone can become inaccessible once the phone is lost or wiped. Preserving the phone and any backup codes keeps these accounts reachable during estate settlement.
What should I do about cryptocurrency on the devices? Locate the seed phrase, private keys, or hardware wallet immediately and secure them, because cryptocurrency is generally unrecoverable without that information. Do not wipe any device that may store wallet data.
Let Otherside protect the digital estate
Knowing what to preserve, fast, prevents permanent loss of photos and assets. Otherside provides a digital-capture checklist, a secure vault, and guidance on lawful access through platform legacy tools. See how Otherside helps.
Sources
- Apple: How to add a Legacy Contact
- Google: Inactive Account Manager
- Uniform Law Commission: Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, Revised
This article is for general educational purposes and is not legal advice. Digital-asset rules vary by state. Otherside provides coordination; regulated services are delivered by licensed third-party providers.
