Make an account inventory without copying secrets

An account inventory should help you find and manage services without becoming a document full of secrets. Record the service, purpose and recovery route, while keeping credentials in an appropriate password manager.

Start with accounts tied to money, important files or essential communication. Note the official service address, the email alias used and whether the account belongs to you or an organisation. Do not copy passwords, backup codes or complete payment details into an ordinary spreadsheet.

Record the responsibility

For shared work, identify the accountable owner and the approved recovery process. Avoid creating a shared password list to solve an ownership problem. Follow the organisation's access and security policy, especially when someone changes roles or leaves.

Use the provider's current account settings to review recovery information and active access. Update outdated details carefully and keep recovery methods secure. Record the date of the review so an old check does not look current indefinitely.

When closing an account, confirm exports, billing and dependencies before removal. A little-used service may still provide login access to another tool. The inventory is useful because it reveals these relationships. Keep it in a protected location and share only the portions someone needs, rather than circulating a complete map of your digital life.