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Can you pass on your Apple TV account when you die?

Apple's terms forfeit an Apple TV account at death. While alive, the account holder can use family pooling.

Apple TV is Apple's streaming subscription for original shows, movies and live sports, and the Apple TV app where movies and TV shows are bought for an iTunes library. Both ride on the holder's Apple Account.

Under Apple's terms, an Apple TV account closes when the holder dies and nothing in it passes to anyone. While the account holder is alive, Apple allows family pooling.

What happens to Apple TV at death

Forfeited at death

Neither the Apple TV subscription nor a purchased Apple TV media library passes to an heir. Apple's iCloud Terms make the account non-transferable and end any rights to it or its content at death.1

Naming who acts after a death

Designation

There is no way to name who receives the Apple TV subscription or the purchased library. A Legacy Contact set up on the Apple Account cannot access purchased content or subscriptions.2

Other companies and product lines involved3

Apple Digital Legacy

Legacy Contact access requests and requests to delete a deceased person's Apple Account3

Google Play

Cancelling an Apple TV subscription billed through Google Play4

Amazon

Cancelling an Apple TV subscription billed through Amazon4

Sources4

Apple publishes its own process for a deceased person's account: Request access to a deceased family member's Apple Account; a written request goes in through Apple's support ticket system. There is no way to name a beneficiary or successor on an Apple TV account.

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·

Sources

Data sourced from Apple Inc. primary sources (12 pages reviewed). How we research.

Apple TV customer support

Apple Support

Verified Sep 2026

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