Setting up emergency contacts on your iPhone ensures that first responders or loved ones can quickly reach critical information from your locked screen. These details can streamline medical decisions and speed up coordinated responses during urgent situations.
Using Medical ID, lock screen notifications, and key settings, you can make sure the right people and information are only a few taps away when it matters most.
| Feature | Location | Access Without Passcode | Share During Emergency Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical ID | Health app | Yes | Link to profile |
| Emergency SOS | Side button & volume keys | N/A | Auto-call after countdown |
| Notification Previews | Lock screen banners | Limited | Caller-specific details |
| Auto Call Countdown | Emergency SOS settings | N/A | Contacts notified via message |
Access Medical ID from Your Lock Screen
The Medical ID in the Health app stores your emergency contacts, allergies, medications, and organ donor status. You can open it quickly from the lock screen, even when the phone is locked.
To open it, tap Emergency, then Medical, and you can view details or call your listed emergency contacts directly from that screen.
Configure Emergency SOS and Auto Call
Set Up Countdown and Notifications
Emergency SOS lets you hold the side button and either volume key to start a countdown before calling local emergency services. During this time, your designated emergency contacts receive a message with your location, even if you cancel the call.
You can toggle the call countdown and automatic call options in Settings, ensuring that help is only a button away when you need it most.
Add and Manage Emergency Contacts
Use Health App to Assign Key People
Open the Health app, tap your profile picture, then select Medical ID to edit. From there, you can add people as emergency contacts, defining the relationship and ensuring they appear on your Medical ID.
These contacts will be notified during an emergency call if you use Emergency SOS, making communication with family or doctors faster and more organized.
Leverage Lock Screen Notification Settings
Balance Privacy and Urgency
In Settings, you can manage how much information appears on the lock screen when a call comes in. Emergency calls can still display contact details, while regular notifications may be hidden to protect your privacy.
Test these settings in a safe environment to confirm that the right information appears for emergency services without exposing sensitive data unnecessarily.
Quick Steps to Secure Emergency Access on iPhone
- Open the Health app and create or edit your Medical ID to add accurate emergency contacts.
- Enable Emergency SOS countdown and Auto Call in Settings to streamline the call process.
- Check lock screen notification settings so that critical caller details appear during urgent situations.
- Periodically review your emergency contacts to keep information up to date and relevant.
FAQ
Reader questions
Will emergency services see my full Medical ID if I call 911?
When Emergency SOS is triggered, the call connects to local services and your Medical ID becomes available to responders on the screen, including your listed emergency contacts and medical details.
Can I choose only certain emergency contacts to notify?
Medical ID can list multiple people, but Emergency SOS notifies all listed emergency contacts. You can manage these names carefully in the Health app to reflect your current wishes.
What happens if I turn off the Emergency SOS countdown?
Disabling the countdown means the call connects immediately when you press the buttons, and your emergency contacts still receive a message with your location and timestamp.
Will my emergency contacts know my location if I cancel the call?
Yes, even if you stop the call during the countdown, your contacts receive a message that includes your current location, helping them reach you or first responders quickly.