Your Digital Legacy: What will your Online Footprint Look Like?

6 minute read

We live so much of our lives online, but have you considered what happens to all of that when we’re no longer here? Just like our physical belongings, our digital footprint - our digital legacy - continues long after we’re gone. 

A digital legacy refers to everything we leave behind in the online world. From personal photos on Facebook to important documents in cloud storage, our digital presence can either be a well-organised archive for loved ones or a confusing mess to untangle. Unlike a box of old letters or a family photo album, much of our digital life is locked behind passwords, accounts and terms of service agreements—making it harder for family members to access or manage when the time comes.

Just as we declutter and organise our homes to make life easier, thinking about our digital legacy is a way of future-proofing our online presence. By taking small, practical steps now, we can protect our privacy, secure our online assets and ensure that the things that matter most—photos, messages, important documents—are accessible to those we trust.

APDO member Julia Jamieson walks us through understanding our digital footprint, managing online accounts and creating a plan for a digital legacy. Whether you’re tidying up your inbox or setting up legacy contacts, these steps will help you take control of your online world—before someone else has to.

1. Understanding Your Digital Footprint

We all leave a digital footprint—whether we intend to or not. By managing it now, we can control what we leave behind.  

What Makes Up Your Digital Legacy?

Think about all the digital spaces you occupy. Your footprint might include:

• Social Media
• Emails & Messages
• Cloud Storage & Photos
• Financial Accounts
• Subscription Services
• Online Businesses & Websites

Without a plan, loved ones may struggle to access important accounts or close unused ones, and some digital assets could even be lost forever. Unclaimed accounts can also be vulnerable to hacking or identity theft. Thinking ahead about your digital legacy ensures your personal information is protected, your assets are handled correctly and the things that truly matter—your photos, messages and memories—are available to those who need them.

Audit Your Digital Life

A great starting point is to take stock of your digital presence. Create a Digital Footprint Checklist to map out and review your key accounts and assets. This simple exercise helps you see where you might need to take action—whether that’s closing old accounts, unsubscribing to services you’re no longer interested in, securing important documents or making sure loved ones can access what they need.

Now that you’ve reviewed your digital footprint, it’s time to take action.

Managing Your Digital Accounts

The first step in managing your digital legacy is to create a secure record of your important accounts. Here’s how:

✅ Make a list of key accounts – Include email, social media, financial and cloud storage accounts.
✅ Use a password manager – A tool like LastPass or Dashlane can securely store and share login details.
✅ Review inactive accounts – Close down old accounts to reduce digital clutter and potential security risks.
✅ Back up important data – Download and save essential files, emails and photos in a secure location.

Setting Up Legacy Contacts & Account Access

Some platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Google and Apple allow you to decide what happens to your account after you pass away by setting up a legacy contact and granting account access. 

💡 Top Tip: If you have important digital assets—such as financial accounts, business logins or cloud-stored family photos—make sure at least one trusted person knows how to access them. You could include key details with a Digital Will (that outlines what should happen to your online accounts, files and assets after you’re gone) or store these instructions in a secure location. (Note: In the UK a Digital Will is not legally binding but can sit alongside your will as guidance like your Letter of Wishes.) 

2. How to Secure Your Digital Assets

Now that you’ve organised your digital accounts, the next step is to protect the valuable digital assets you want to preserve.

What Are Your Digital Assets?

Your digital assets are anything of value—whether sentimental, financial or legal—that exists in digital form. This includes:

• Personal Memories – Photos, videos, voice notes and emails from loved ones.
• Financial & Legal Documents – Digital wills, insurance policies, investment accounts and online banking details.
• Business & Work Files – If you run a business, blog, or sell online, your digital presence could have financial value.
• Passwords & Security Information – Access to key accounts, stored securely.

Back Up Important Data

Digital files are fragile—accidental deletion, cyberattacks or lost passwords can mean important memories or documents disappear forever. Back up files in multiple locations to avoid loss.

Declutter Your Digital Clutter

Just as physical clutter can build up over time, so too can digital clutter. Decluttering your digital life will simplify your digital world for you right now as well as being a welcome gift for those dealing with your estate when the time comes.

Think about how many accounts you’ve signed up for over the years—shopping sites, newsletters, trial subscriptions… Do you still use them all? If not, it’s time to let them go!

Organise Your Digital Files & Photos

Over time, our devices become a dumping ground for duplicate photos, random downloads and forgotten documents. Here’s how to regain control:

Sort Your Files:

• Create folders for important documents, financial records and personal keepsakes.
• Delete anything you no longer need—old work files, expired documents and duplicates.

Tidy Up Your Photos:

• Delete blurry, duplicate or meaningless photos.
• Use Google Photos, Apple Photos or Amazon Photos to organise and tag memories.
• Create albums for special events or important family memories. 

Set Up a Routine:

• Make digital decluttering a habit—schedule a “digital reset” day every 3–6 months.
• Keep a “declutter as you go” mindset—delete unnecessary downloads, emails and photos regularly.

By streamlining your digital life, you’ll enjoy a cleaner, more organised online space – and an organised legacy! 

Finally, let’s look at how your most treasured digital memories are passed on to the right people.

3. Passing on Your Digital Story

Your digital legacy isn’t just about accounts and passwords—it’s also about the stories, memories and values you leave behind. From treasured photos and videos to personal writings and voice notes, your digital presence holds pieces of your life that your loved ones may want to keep. Preserving and sharing these ensures that the moments that matter don’t get lost in a forgotten hard drive or inaccessible account.

What Parts of Your Digital Story Do You Want to Preserve?

Think about what matters most—family photos, meaningful emails, personal writings or even curated playlists. These digital keepsakes help tell your story.

Not everything needs to be saved—but selecting key memories ensures that the essence of your story lives on.

How to Preserve & Share Your Digital Story

✅ Create a Digital Memory Archive

• Organise photos, videos and important documents into folders.
• Store them in cloud storage (Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox) with clear labels.
• Consider printing important photos or letters for a physical keepsake.

✅ Use Online Legacy Services
Some services help you securely store and share messages, videos and documents for loved ones:

• Meminto – Turns memories into a printed book.
• MyWishes – Helps store messages, social media wishes and funeral preferences.
• FutureMe – Write letters to be sent to loved ones in the future.

✅ Leave a Video or Letter for Loved Ones
A heartfelt message—whether written or recorded—can be a powerful way to pass on wisdom, love and personal stories.

✅ Talk to Your Family
One of the best ways to ensure your digital legacy is honoured is to have open conversations about it. Let them know what matters to you, where they can find the information and any specific wishes you might have.

Are You Ready to Take Control of Your Digital Legacy?

Remember your digital presence is a collection of your memories, your work and your personal story. Just like we organise our homes to make life easier for ourselves and our loved ones, tidying up our digital footprint is an act of love that ensures what truly matters is protected and accessible.

By taking small, intentional steps—organising accounts, securing digital assets, decluttering online clutter and preserving meaningful memories—you can shape the legacy you leave behind. Whether it’s making sure your loved ones can access important documents, setting up legacy contacts or simply sharing treasured photos, every step you take now saves them time, stress and uncertainty later.

A little digital spring cleaning now can bring peace of mind and leave a thoughtful, well-organised legacy. The best time to start is now, and the best place to begin is with just one small action. What will you tackle first?

If you would like professional support as you review and organise your digital legacy, use our Find an Organiser directory and start working with an APDO member today.