How to Set Up and Use Emergency SOS on Your Phone

Published 2026-10-16 · Marion Phone Repair

Every modern smartphone has an Emergency SOS feature that can automatically call emergency services and notify your emergency contacts when you are in danger. The feature works even when the phone is locked, does not require unlocking or navigating through apps, and can be triggered with a quick button combination. However, most people never set it up until they need it — and in an emergency, you do not have time to figure out the setup. Configuring Emergency SOS, setting emergency contacts, and understanding how the feature works on your specific phone takes only a few minutes and could be critically important when it matters.

iPhone Emergency SOS

How to trigger Emergency SOS

• iPhone 8 and later: Press and hold the Side Button and either Volume button simultaneously for a few seconds. A slider appears for Emergency SOS. Continue holding both buttons — after a countdown, the phone automatically calls emergency services. Alternatively, rapidly press the Side Button 5 times in a row
• iPhone 7 and earlier: Rapidly press the Side Button (or Top Button) 5 times. The Emergency SOS slider appears — slide it to call
• When Emergency SOS is activated, the phone calls your local emergency number (911 in the US), shares your location with emergency services if available, and then sends an automatic text message with your current location to your emergency contacts

Configure Emergency SOS settings

1. Open Settings, Emergency SOS
2. Call with Hold and Release: When enabled, holding the Side Button and Volume button then releasing after the countdown automatically calls emergency services. When disabled, you must slide the slider manually
3. Call with 5 Button Presses: Toggle this on to enable the rapid-press trigger. This is useful as a discreet way to call for help — you can press the button inside your pocket without looking at the phone
4. Call Quietly: When enabled, the phone calls emergency services without the loud countdown alarm and flashing light. This is important for situations where drawing attention could be dangerous. When disabled, the phone plays a loud warning sound and shows a visible countdown

Set up emergency contacts

1. Open the Health app, tap your profile picture in the top right, then Medical ID
2. Tap Edit. Scroll down to Emergency Contacts and tap the plus button to add contacts from your address book
3. For each contact, choose their relationship to you (parent, spouse, sibling, friend, etc.)
4. These contacts receive an automatic text message with your location when you trigger Emergency SOS. They continue to receive location updates if your location changes after the initial alert

Medical ID

• While in the Medical ID setup, fill in relevant medical information: blood type, allergies, medications, medical conditions, organ donor status, and any other information that emergency responders should know
• Toggle Show When Locked so that first responders can view your Medical ID from the lock screen by tapping Emergency, then Medical ID. This information can be life-saving if you are unconscious or unable to communicate

Android Emergency SOS

Samsung phones

1. Open Settings, Safety and Emergency (or Settings, Advanced Features, Send SOS Messages, depending on your Samsung model)
2. Enable Send SOS Messages. Set it to trigger by pressing the Side Button rapidly 3 or 4 times (configurable)
3. Choose what happens when SOS is triggered: call an emergency contact, send an SOS message with your location, or both. You can also enable auto-recording of audio and sending photos from the front and rear cameras to your emergency contacts
4. Add emergency contacts who will receive the SOS alert. You can add multiple contacts — all of them receive the alert simultaneously

Google Pixel and stock Android

1. Open Settings, Safety and Emergency (or Settings, Emergency SOS on newer Android versions)
2. Emergency SOS: configure the trigger (usually pressing the power button 5 times rapidly). Choose actions: call emergency services, share location with emergency contacts, or record emergency video
3. Under Emergency Contacts, add the people you want notified in an emergency. These contacts can also be displayed on the lock screen for first responders to see
4. Crisis Alerts: toggle on to receive alerts for natural disasters, public safety threats, and AMBER alerts in your area

Other Android brands

• OnePlus, Xiaomi, Motorola, and other brands have similar features in Settings under Safety, Emergency, or SOS. The location and naming varies but the functionality is similar — rapid button presses to trigger an emergency call and alert
• If your phone does not have a built-in Emergency SOS feature, install the Google Personal Safety app from the Play Store. It provides emergency SOS, car crash detection, and emergency sharing features on compatible Android phones

Emergency SOS via satellite

• iPhone 14 and later: When you are in an area with no cellular signal, Emergency SOS via Satellite lets you text emergency services through satellite connectivity. The phone guides you to point it toward a satellite, and you can exchange short messages with emergency dispatchers. This feature works in open sky conditions and is included free with the phone
• Android (Pixel 9 and later, Samsung Galaxy S25 and later): Satellite SOS features are being added to flagship Android phones. Check your phone model specifications for satellite emergency capability. The feature works similarly — in areas without cell service, the phone connects to satellites to relay your emergency to dispatchers

Car crash detection

• iPhone 14 and later: Crash Detection uses the accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, GPS, and microphone to detect a severe car crash. When a crash is detected, the phone displays an alert for 10 seconds. If you do not dismiss it (because you are unconscious or injured), the phone automatically calls emergency services and notifies your emergency contacts with your location
• Google Pixel 4a and later: Car crash detection is available through the Personal Safety app. When detected, the phone alerts you and calls emergency services if you do not respond. Enable it in the Personal Safety app under Car Crash Detection

Fall detection

• Apple Watch: If you wear an Apple Watch, Fall Detection uses the accelerometer and gyroscope to detect hard falls. If the watch detects a fall and you do not respond to the alert within 60 seconds, it automatically calls emergency services and sends your location to emergency contacts. Enable it in the Watch app, Emergency SOS, Fall Detection
• Samsung Galaxy Watch: Fall Detection on Samsung watches works similarly — detect a hard fall, wait for user response, and call emergency contacts or emergency services if no response. Settings, Safety and Emergency, Hard Fall Detection in the Galaxy Wearable app

Test your setup

• After setting up Emergency SOS, verify that your emergency contacts are correct and that the feature is configured the way you expect. You can review the settings without triggering it by going through the settings menus
• Do not test by actually triggering Emergency SOS — this calls real emergency services. Instead, verify that emergency contacts are correct by checking the contacts list in the Emergency SOS settings, and confirm the trigger method (button presses, hold duration) is configured
• Tell your emergency contacts that they are listed. If they receive an SOS alert, they should know it is real and take it seriously rather than assuming it is an accidental trigger

Phone safety setup in Marion

If you want help setting up Emergency SOS, Medical ID, emergency contacts, crash detection, and all safety features on your phone, Marion Phone Repair can configure everything during a visit — making sure your phone is ready to call for help if you ever need it.