How to give access to your OneDrive before your death

Yes—set up OneDrive Digital legacy now to give a spouse, adult child, or another trusted person read-only access to your OneDrive files and photos if you die or become unable to use the account.^1^

Set up Digital legacy

1. Sign in to OneDrive Digital legacy.
2. Select Settings → Digital legacy.
3. Enter the trusted contact’s email address and select Invite.
4. The contact opens the invitation, signs in with their own Microsoft account, goes to Digital legacy, and selects Accept.
5. Return to Digital legacy and select Get code.
6. Store or share that code securely—for example:
   • Give it directly to the trusted contact.
   • Put it with your will.
   • Give it to your lawyer or estate executor.

The code does not expire or change. The trusted contact must have their own Microsoft account.^1^

How your trusted contact obtains access

When access is needed, the trusted contact:

1. Opens OneDrive Digital legacy.
2. Selects Request access.
3. Enters the code.
4. Waits 72 hours.
5. Selects Go to files when that option appears.

The access is read-only: the person can view and download the files but cannot edit them within your OneDrive. Downloaded copies can be edited separately. This arrangement provides access to OneDrive content; it does not transfer ownership of the entire Microsoft account.^1^

You can cancel an invitation if it was sent to the wrong person.

If Digital legacy was not configured beforehand

Microsoft generally cannot give a non-account holder access merely because they are a spouse, child, or executor. Microsoft must first be formally served with a valid subpoena or court order before it can consider releasing personal account or OneDrive information, and an order does not guarantee disclosure. Regional procedures vary.^2^

Without account access, OneDrive may be frozen after one year, its files deleted shortly afterward, and the Microsoft account may expire after two years of inactivity. Setting up Digital legacy and preserving its code with estate documents is therefore the supported advance-planning option.^2^

References

1. Preserve your digital legacy with OneDrive | Microsoft Support
2. Accessing Outlook.com, OneDrive and other Microsoft services when someone has died