Digital recovery planning
Digital Recovery Planning Without Writing Passwords
Plan digital recovery safely by documenting recovery paths, trusted contacts, password manager instructions, and two-factor notes without storing passwords or seed phrases.
Digital recovery notes should explain where safe recovery instructions are stored, who is trusted, and what should happen first.
Document the recovery path
Many emergencies become harder because accounts, devices, password managers, and two-factor authentication are locked behind one person. A recovery plan should describe the path, not expose the secret. Write down the account or device name, recovery-location notes, trusted contact, two-factor guidance, priority, and any support channel family may need.
The right level of detail is enough for a trusted person to know where to look and whom to ask, but not enough for an unauthorized reader to take over accounts.
- Password manager recovery location
- Trusted device or backup-code storage location
- Phone number recovery notes
- Email account recovery helper
- Important device unlock policy
Keep dangerous values out
Do not store seed phrases, raw backup codes, passwords, OTPs, or private keys in the workbook. If those items exist, store them in a dedicated secure place and document only where an authorized person should look.
This is especially important for email, phone, cloud storage, password managers, brokerage accounts, crypto wallets, and business accounts. A family-facing file should be useful, not dangerous.
- Use locations and authorized contacts instead of raw secrets
- Keep backup codes and recovery phrases in a separate secure system
- Review digital recovery notes after phone, email, password manager, or device changes