Preserving Photos and Music of a Deceased Account Holder for Her Kids

Question

Preserving Photos and Music of a Deceased Account Holder for Her Kids

My daughter passed away about a year ago. I am executor of her estate and guardian of her two children 7 and 9. Their mother left a great many purchased songs in her iTunes library and thousands of photos. While her music tastes are not really mine, they technically belong to the kids anyway. The photos, moreover, are worth saving.

I have full access to her Apple account info and have been paying for iCloud storage. I have changed the account password, payment info and billing address to one that only I know. The kids have iPads that can access all this (although I have blocked for now access to her music--explicit lyrics, often misogynistic, etc).

What is the best strategy for preserving this material for them?

The one that looks easiest is to simply change her AppleID to one of the kids' email addresses (yes, they have addresses--only used for TSA/Global Entry so far). Eventually her old email address will die, but we will need an active one for 2-factor authentication. I don't mind paying for storage until they reach maturity. They don't add pix or want to purchase music (yet), so storage will cost $25 or so a year.

Are there different or better ways to handle this? I am about to close the estate, so if any of the options require active Letters of Administration, I need to act soon.

Thanks.

iPad Air (3rd generation)

Posted on Oct 3, 2023 7:04 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 3, 2023 1:32 PM in response to Richard Setterberg

Your daughter's email address is used for her Apple ID, but her Apple ID will not be terminated automatically if her email was terminated. Unless you've specifically requested for the Apple ID to be deleted, it won't be deleted.

If you delete her Apple ID, the photos stored in iCloud will be deleted and her iTunes purchases will be unaccessible. My suggestion would be to change her Apple ID email address to an email address that you manage (which you've said you have already done). Then, add the Apple ID to a Family Sharing group that includes yourself and the children.

If you still want to delete the Apple ID, make sure you archive or make copies of their photos first: Archive or make copies of the information you store in iCloud - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Oct 3, 2023 7:14 AM in response to Richard Setterberg

My condolences for your loss.

As you already have access to her Apple ID, I would suggest you archive or make copies of the photos other Apple ID. You can read more about this here: Archive or make copies of the information you store in iCloud - Apple Support

As for the iTunes purchases, it is not possible to move those from one Apple ID to another. That being said, it is possible to share her iTunes purchases with her children by setting up Family Sharing with her and her children's' Apple IDs. You can learn more about Family Sharing here: What is Family Sharing? - Apple Support

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Answer 3

Oct 3, 2023 10:10 AM in response to Richard Setterberg

Apple IDs aren't meant to be transferred from person-to-person; you'll have more control over their screen time and the content they can access if you create Apple IDs for them using your own Apple ID. (Create an Apple ID for your child - Apple Support). You can automatically setup the iPads with their child Apple IDs using just your iPhone (Use Quick Start to set up a child's iPhone or iPad - Apple Support).

Once you've done this, you can add your daughter's Apple ID to the Family Sharing group that will be created when you setup Apple IDs for the children.

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Answer 4

Oct 4, 2023 7:24 AM in response to Richard Setterberg

The email address used as the Apple ID should be an active email so that you can continue to receive correspondence from Apple. You can change the email on the Apple ID to an email you manage.

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Answer 5

Oct 3, 2023 12:10 PM in response to Richard Setterberg

You do not need to create a second Apple ID for yourself to setup Apple IDs for the children and add your daughter's Apple ID to your Family Sharing group; you can use the Apple ID you already have.

Adding your daughter's Apple ID to your Family Sharing group will not merge her music / photos with yours.

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Answer 6

Oct 3, 2023 9:03 AM in response to timdifferent

I jumped the gun here, possibly, but I did change her email and name to one of her kids. The only thing I did not change--because I could not--is the child's age. With these changes (which in fact show up in the iPads previously in my daughter's name), they can access the music. Is this likely to be a problem?

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Answer 7

Oct 3, 2023 11:33 AM in response to timdifferent

Since I already have an Apple ID (and so does my wife), I can't set up another one in my own name, can I? If not, then who?

Nor does it make any sense to rename the account in my daughter's name, does it? We are discontinuing her email address.

To be clear, neither my wife nor I have any interest in merging her music/photos with ours.

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Answer 8

Oct 4, 2023 7:17 AM in response to timdifferent

The email address used as the Apple ID has to be an active email, doesn't it? When I made recent changes to her profile, I got an email from Apple (at her soon to be dead address) asking for confirmation.

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Answer 9

Oct 5, 2023 6:05 AM in response to timdifferent

I think we've come full circle. The email address I changed it to several days ago is one I manage: That of one of my grandchildren. The only thing I could not change in the profile is age, and I don't think I care. FWIW, all her previous music and photos remain available on all the devices that survived her--under the new Apple ID (and preexisting password).

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Answer 10

Oct 3, 2023 12:32 PM in response to timdifferent

I probably was not clear above. My daughter's Apple ID (her email address) is dead (or soon will be). How do I add an Apple ID that no longer exists?

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Preserving Photos and Music of a Deceased Account Holder for Her Kids

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