How to Set Up Emergency SOS on Your Phone

Tap an item to see how to set it up.

iPhone

Turn on the feature in Settings under Emergency SOS, and pressing the side button rapidly several times will place an emergency call and send your location to your chosen contacts.

Android

Turn on Emergency SOS under Settings > Safety & emergency, and set it to activate by pressing the power button several times.

Add emergency contacts

It's important to add the contact information of family or friends ahead of time so they're automatically notified in an emergency.

Set up medical ID information

Registering information like your blood type, allergies, and medications means first responders can view it even from your lock screen.

Setting this up in advance can make a real difference in an emergency

Emergency SOS is designed to let you request help and share your location with just a few button presses when you urgently need it. It's important to set it up ahead of time, before you ever need it.

It's also worth knowing how to locate a lost phone

Emergency features and location-finding tools both rely on the same idea -- having settings turned on in advance so they're ready when something unexpected happens -- so it's worth reviewing both together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will it trigger an emergency call if I press the button by accident?

Most devices give you a countdown you can cancel, so if you activate it by mistake, you can cancel it within that window.

Does emergency SOS work while traveling abroad?

Some countries don't support it, or it may work differently, so it's worth checking whether your destination supports it before you travel.