Here’s how it works

When you make a call with SOS, your iPhone automatically calls the local emergency number. In some countries and regions, you might need to choose the service that you need. For example, in China you can choose police, fire, or ambulance.

You can also add emergency contacts. After an emergency call ends, your iPhone alerts your emergency contacts with a text message, unless you choose to cancel. Your iPhone sends them your current location, and, for a period of time after you enter SOS mode, it sends updates to your emergency contacts when your location changes.

Call emergency services

Here’s how to make the call on iPhone X, iPhone 8, or iPhone 8 Plus:

1. Press and hold the side button and one of the Volume buttons until the Emergency SOS slider appears.
2. Drag the Emergency SOS slider to call emergency services. If you continue to hold down the side button and Volume button, instead of dragging the slider, a countdown begins and an alert sounds. If you hold down the buttons until the countdown ends, your iPhone automatically calls emergency services.

Here’s how to make the call on iPhone 7 or earlier:

1. Rapidly press the side button five times. The Emergency SOS slider will appear. (In India, you only need to press the button three times, then your iPhone automatically calls emergency services.)
2. Drag the Emergency SOS slider to call emergency services.

After the call ends, your iPhone sends your Emergency contacts a text message with your current location, unless you choose to cancel. If Location Services is off, it will temporarily turn on.

If your location changes, your contacts will get an update, and you’ll get a notification about 10 minutes later. To stop the updates, tap the status bar and select “Stop Sharing Emergency Location.” If you keep sharing, you’ll get a reminder to stop every 4 hours for 24 hours.

If you use the Emergency SOS shortcut, you need to enter your passcode to re-enable Touch ID, even if you don’t complete a call to emergency services.

End a call

If you started an emergency call by accident, press the Stop button, then tap Stop Calling.

Add or remove contacts

You can add emergency contacts from the Health app on your iPhone:

1. Open the Health app and tap the Medical ID tab.
2. Tap Edit, then scroll to Emergency Contacts.
3. Tap to add an emergency contact.
4. Tap a contact, then add their relationship.
5. Tap Done to save your changes.

Here’s how to remove emergency contacts:

1. Open the Health app and tap the Medical ID tab.
2. Tap Edit, then scroll to Emergency Contacts.
3. Tap next to a contact, then tap Delete.
4. Tap Done to save your changes.

You can’t set emergency services as an SOS contact.

Turn off Auto Call

When Auto Call is on and you try to make an emergency call, your iPhone begins a countdown and sounds an alert. After the countdown ends, your iPhone automatically calls emergency services.

Here’s how to change the setting:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap Emergency SOS, then turn Auto Call on or off.

If you turn off this setting, you can still use the Emergency SOS slider to make a call.

Learn more

Use Emergency SOS on your Apple Watch.