How To Set Emergency Alerts On Iphone

Little-known iPhone feature that alerts emergency services discretely goes viral

The useful feature - which offers a discrete way to call the police or ambulance during an emergency - has gone viral on social media as many iPhone owners didn't realise it existed

A new iPhone 7 Plus

The feature isn't as well-known as it should be (

Image: REUTERS/Jason Reed)

A useful iPhone feature that can alert the emergency services alongside your own contacts is being highlighted online.

The useful tech allows people to discreetly call for help, without having to unlock their phones.

Following the disappearance of Sarah Everard, lots of people have rushed to highlight useful tips that can help keep everyone safe.

On Twitter, one woman posted: "Chatting with girlfriends about being afraid to walk home at night in London after the disappearance of Sarah Everard. One pointed out that it's important to set up the emergency SOS feature and add emergency contacts if you have an iPhone . Sharing in case it's useful for anyone."

Instagram user The India Edit shared the iPhone feature on her Instagram, adding: "Please share as I feel this is a little known fact that could make us ALL feel safer."

To activate the function - simply search for "Emergency SOS" on your iPhone to learn more about the function.

Useful safety advice is being shared online

Here's how to make the call on iPhone 8 or later:

Press and hold the side button and one of your volume buttons until the Emergency SOS slider appears on your screen and drag it to call the emergency services.
If you continue holding the buttons instead, a countdown will start and an alert will sound. At the end of the countdown, your phone will call the police - so this is an easier option if trying not to alert anyone you've dialled 999.

The life-saving feature can alert the emergency services discretely

Make sure this is turned on if you have a iPhone

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

Rapidly press the side (or top) button five times and the Emergency SOS slider will appear.
Drag the SOS slider to call emergency services.

While some people might set it off by mistake, it can offer an inconspicuous way to phone in an emergency.

But that's not all, you can also designate specific emergency contacts, who will be sent an alert by text with location details after the feature is activated.

For a period of time, it will also send updates to your contacts if your location changes.

If you need to add emergency contacts to your phone, you can do this via the Health app.

Just go to the app and tap the Medical ID tab. Tap edit, scroll to emergency contacts and add your contacts then tap done to save your changes.

Find out more about the emergency iPhone features here.