The emergency features of your phone are most famous for giving you an easy way to call 911, whether you need to do so discreetly in your pocket or when you can’t unlock your device. But Android and iOS pack so many more useful features that are important in emergencies.
By their nature, it’s worth setting up these features before you need them. Take the time to explore what’s on offer, and your phone could prove invaluable in a crisis.
On iPhone, go to Settings > Emergency SOS to view and configure these options. Tapping Edit Emergency Contacts in Health will jump to the relevant Medical ID section of the Health app.
For Android, go to Settings > Safety & emergency. On compatible phones, you should also install the Personal Safety app for deeper configuration. Features may vary depending on your phone.
Know who should be notified when something happens
Screenshot by Pankil Shah — No attribution required
Screenshot by Pankil Shah — No attribution required
Screenshot by Brian Abuga—No attribution
When you’re in a critical situation, calling 911 is obviously important. But there are likely friends and family you want to contact, too. Letting them know that you need help or are headed to the hospital alerts them immediately, instead of potentially not finding out for hours.
After adding emergency contacts, your phone will reach out to them automatically when you take advantage of emergency calling. Those people will receive a message that you’ve contacted emergency services and a link to see your location.
Emergency contacts are also used for many of the following features, making them important to configure. It’s wise to choose several emergency contacts from different areas of your life. That way, one contact can let the rest of the friend group know.
Choose more than one emergency contact. If that person is busy or even in an accident with you, nobody else will be made aware.
Detect crashes or falls
Get help when you can’t respond
In the case of a car wreck, you might not be able to use your phone’s emergency feature to call 911. That’s why the iPhone and Pixel phones offer crash detection. With this enabled, when your phone detects a crash has happened, it will display a screen saying so.
If you’re able to use your device, you can slide to call emergency services or cancel the call if you aren’t hurt. But if you’re unresponsive, your phone will automatically call 911 and play a recorded message saying you were in a crash and not responding.
This feature alerts your emergency contacts about the crash. And if you have a smartwatch, this feature also works there, letting you talk to emergency services on your wrist.
Speaking of which, the Pixel Watch and Apple Watch feature a fall detection feature that works similarly. This alerts emergency services if the watch detects a hard hit to the ground. On Android, open the Pixel Watch app and go to Settings > Safety & emergency > Fall detection to configure it. For iPhone, open the Apple Watch app and go to My Watch > Emergency SOS.
Store your medical profile
Let first responders know how to care for you
Screenshot by Pankil Shah — No attribution required
Screenshot by Pankil Shah — No attribution required
Screenshot by Pankil Shah — No attribution required
Your phone can store important information about your medical needs, making first responders aware of any pertinent conditions. For example, you can note any medications you take, allergies you have, or health conditions that affect you. This way, emergency personnel are aware of any immediately pressing details.
This information is accessible on your phone’s lock screen by tapping the Emergency option. Depending on your device, this info can also be shared automatically with emergency services over the phone.
For this information to be useful, it needs to be visible from the lock screen. Remember that anyone who has your phone can view this info.
Safety check-in
Have someone waiting for you
If you’re walking alone, traveling in rough conditions, meeting someone new, or similar, it’s reassuring to know someone is waiting for you to return safely. That’s what the Safety Check (Android) or Check In (iPhone) feature is for.
This lets you specify an amount of time, after which your chosen contacts will be notified if you don’t check back in. It’s a great way to make sure someone is notified if you don’t make it back after a hike, or otherwise aren’t able to use your phone as expected.
On iPhone, this is a useful iMessage feature. It’s available in the Messages app by tapping the Plus icon in a conversation, then choosing More > Check In.
You can also set this up to alert chosen contacts when you arrive at a destination. If your phone stops moving, or you’re late, your trusted contacts will be able to see information about your location, last time you unlocked your phone, and similar.
Video chat with emergency dispatchers
Give them eyes on the scene
One of the latest safety upgrades in both Android and iOS is the option to let 911 dispatchers perform a video call with your phone. While on the phone with emergency services, they may ask to see video from your phone, which requires you to accept a prompt on your device.
Once you do, you’ll be connected to the 911 operator like you would on a Zoom or FaceTime call. There’s lots of value in being able to show what’s happening to emergency staff, rather than explaining it. This is a great way to bring emergency calls into the modern age, since everyone has the capability to record video in their pockets.
Satellite connections
Reach out with zero cell signal
An iPhone showing the Emergency SOS demoCredit: Nick Lucchesi/MakeUseOf
Some of the latest phones can connect to satellites to text emergency services when you have no other way of reaching them. Connecting to a satellite is much slower than usual cellular networks, but it can be a lifesaver when you’re in an area with no cell service.
If you have a compatible phone (iPhone 14 and later, Pixel 9 and 10 series, Galaxy S25 series), you’ll see an option to connect via satellite when you place a call to 911 with no Wi-Fi or mobile connection. Tapping that option will guide you through the steps to connect to the satellite and transfer your message.
Satellite connections require you to be outside and work best with a clear view of the sky. Trees, hills, and other obstacles can slow down or block your connection.
On iPhone, you can also use satellite connections to contact roadside assistance, update your Find My location, or text others. Open Control Center, expand the connections section, and tap Satellite to view the options. You can also walk through a satellite connection demo to make sure you understand how the functionality works.
Not all phones support satellite calls and text, but if your phone does, it’s another important part of your emergency toolkit to be aware of. Depending on your phone and carrier, you may need to pay a separate fee for satellite services. Apple has extended the free period for all iPhone models into sometime in 2026.
Your phone is vital in an emergency
Nobody expects an emergency to happen, which is why it’s so important to set up these features and make sure they’re ready for a crisis. Having your phone with you lets you alert your closest contacts when there’s something wrong, get automatic help after a crash, connect to emergency services with no signal, and more.
It’s not fun to think about, but these are features you should configure and know how to use. Make your friends aware, too—pass the info on to anyone who would have you as an emergency contact.