Can you pass on your Apple Books e-books when you die?
Apple's terms forfeit Apple Books e-books at death. While alive, the account holder can use family pooling.
Protecting Apple Books e-books while the account is active
No beneficiary designation, lifetime transfer options for e-books, and 5-step plan.
How to protect your Apple Books e-books while you are alive →Someone died. Handling Apple Books e-books after a death
E-books are forfeited under the official terms, 8-step process, and 5 required documents.
What happens to Apple Books e-books when someone dies →Apple Books is Apple's digital bookstore and reading app for e-books and audiobooks. Titles are acquired through the Apple Account (formerly Apple ID) and stored in the account's purchase history rather than as files the reader owns outright.
Under Apple's terms, Apple Books e-books are forfeited when the account holder dies. While the account holder is alive, Apple allows family pooling.
What happens to Apple Books at death
Naming who acts after a death
- Designation
There is no way to name who receives a purchased Apple Books library. The Apple Account's Legacy Contact reaches iCloud data, and Apple lists purchased content such as movies, music and books among the data a Legacy Contact cannot access.3
Sources3
- 1.iCloud Terms and Conditions, Last revised September 14, 2026
- 2.Apple Media Services Terms and Conditions, Last Updated September 14, 2026
- 3.Data that a Legacy Contact can access
Apple publishes its own process for a deceased person's account: Request access to a deceased family member's Apple Account; a request goes in through Apple's online form. There is no way to name a beneficiary or successor on an Apple Books account.
Sources
Data sourced from Apple Inc. primary sources (13 pages reviewed). How we research.
Apple Books customer support
Apple Support
Phone
Website
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