Set Up Medical ID and Emergency SOS on iPhone

Your iPhone can be a lifeline in an emergency, but only if it's set up ahead of time. Medical ID shows paramedics your health info from the locked screen, and Emergency SOS calls for help and alerts your family with your location. It takes about ten minutes to set up, and it's one of the most worthwhile ten minutes you'll spend on your phone. Here's how.

Part 1: Set up Medical ID

This is the card paramedics check when they pick up your phone. It can save real time when it matters.

1. Open the Health app (white icon with a red heart).
2. Tap your profile picture or initials in the top-right corner.
3. Tap Medical ID, then Edit.
4. Fill in what's relevant: medical conditions, allergies and reactions, medications, blood type, weight, and whether you're an organ donor.
5. Add Emergency Contacts by tapping "add emergency contact" and choosing people from your contacts.
6. Crucial: turn on Show When Locked so responders can see it without your passcode. Also turn on Share During Emergency Call so the info goes to dispatchers when you call 911.
7. Tap Done.

To check it works: lock your phone, tap the screen, tap Emergency on the passcode screen, then tap Medical ID. Your card should appear.

Part 2: Set up Emergency SOS

1. Open Settings > Emergency SOS.
2. Turn on Call with Hold and Release (press and hold the side button and a volume button, then release to call 911).
3. You can also turn on Call with 5 Button Presses if you'd rather trigger it that way.
4. Make sure After Call, Share Location options are set so your emergency contacts get a text with where you are.

Your emergency contacts come from the Medical ID you just filled in, so set that up first.

How to actually use it

Press and hold the side button and either volume button until the Emergency SOS slider appears. Drag it to call. If you keep holding instead, it counts down and calls emergency services automatically, then can notify your contacts. Practice the motion once so it's familiar (just don't drag the slider during practice).

Part 3: Turn on Fall and Crash Detection

Newer iPhones and Apple Watches can detect a hard fall or a serious car crash and call for help if you don't respond.

• Crash Detection (iPhone 14 and newer, recent Apple Watches): on by default. Check it under Settings > Emergency SOS.
• Fall Detection (Apple Watch, and supported on some newer iPhones): in the Watch app or iPhone Emergency SOS settings, turn it on. Great for anyone living alone or at higher fall risk.

Bonus: Emergency SOS via satellite

iPhone 14 and newer can text emergency services via satellite when there's no cell signal, helpful out on a hike or a back road in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It's automatic when you try Emergency SOS with no signal; just follow the on-screen prompts to point at the sky.

While you're at it: Find My

Setting up Find My iPhone and family location sharing pairs nicely with this, so loved ones can see where you are if you don't answer. Our family location sharing guide covers it.

Video walkthrough

Video by TechKnow for Seniors on YouTube