Emergency Access

Overview

Emergency Access lets you designate a trusted contact who can request access to your vault if something happens to you. After a waiting period you choose, they get read-only access - they can view and copy your items, but cannot change anything or lock you out. Everything stays end-to-end encrypted; our servers never see your keys.

Note: Designating an emergency contact is a Premium feature. Being someone else’s emergency contact is free.

Setting it up

In your web vault, go to Settings > Emergency Access and click Manage.
Click Invite trusted contact and enter their email.
Choose the waiting period before access is granted automatically: 7, 14, or 30 days (14 by default).
Click Send invitation.

Your contact needs a Heimlane Vault account (a Free account is fine). After they accept, you finalize the secure setup - you can read each other’s safety code out of band (for example by phone) to be sure you’re connecting to the right person.

How a request works

Your contact requests access.
You’re notified and can reject the request during the waiting period.
If you don’t respond by the end of the waiting period, access is granted automatically.
Once granted, your contact gets a read-only view of your vault.

Staying in control

You can revoke a contact or reject a request at any time.
Access is read-only - a contact can never modify your vault, change your master password, or lock you out.
From time to time, both sides confirm they still have access, to keep the arrangement healthy.

Tips

Choose someone you trust and can actually reach.
Pick a waiting period that gives you enough time to notice and decline an unexpected request.