Emergency SOS on iPhone and Android: UK set-up guide

Posted on by Safety App UK team

On an iPhone 8 or later, press and hold the side button and either volume button, then drag the Emergency Call slider (or keep holding to call automatically). You can also turn on “Call with 5 Button Presses”. On Android 12 or later, press the power button five or more times. Both call 999 in the UK and can alert your emergency contacts, so set those contacts up today. This built-in SOS is free, so you don’t need a separate SOS app to call 999.

Updated 2 October 2026 · Sources: Apple Support (UK), Google Android Help, GOV.UK, EENA, Which?

In danger now? Call 999
If you can’t speak on a mobile, stay on the line and press 55 when prompted.
Called 999 by accident? Don’t hang up
Stay on the line and tell the operator it was a mistake. Hanging up can mean the police have to call back or check on you.
iPhone
Hold the side button + a volume button until the sliders appear, then drag Emergency Call. Or keep holding for an automatic call.
Android 12+
Press the power button 5 times or more. Depending on your settings, hold the red button or wait for the countdown.

What happens when you press Emergency SOS

1. You press the buttons

iPhone: hold the side button and a volume button, or press the side button 5 times if turned on. Android 12+: press the power button 5 times or more.

2. A countdown, then 999

After a short countdown (or when you confirm), the phone calls the UK emergency number, 999. You can cancel during the countdown.

3. Your location goes with the call

Most smartphones automatically send their location to the 999 service during the call (Advanced Mobile Location). You still need to tell the operator what is wrong.

4. Your contacts are told

iPhone texts your emergency contacts your location after the call, unless you cancel. Android can share your location with contacts and record video, depending on your settings.

Emergency SOS: iPhone vs Android at a glance

How do I set up Emergency SOS on an iPhone?

  1. Open Settings → Emergency SOS.
  2. Choose how it calls: Call with Hold and Release, and if you want it, Call with 5 Button Presses. Call Quietly stops the loud warning sound.
  3. Add emergency contacts: open the Health app, tap your picture, then Medical ID → Edit → Emergency contacts.
  4. Practise the button hold without completing the call, so you know what the screen looks like.

How do I set up Emergency SOS on Android?

  1. Open Settings → Safety & emergency → Emergency SOS (Android 12 or later; some makers, such as Samsung, use similar wording).
  2. Turn it on and choose whether it starts after a 5-second countdown or when you touch and hold a red button.
  3. Add emergency contacts and choose whether to share your location, record video and play an alarm.
  4. Check Battery Saver and aeroplane mode are off when you are out late, because they can stop it working.

What happens after an Emergency SOS call?

Your phone calls 999, the UK emergency number. On an iPhone, once the call ends your emergency contacts get a text with your current location, unless you cancel it, and updates if your location changes. On Android, depending on your settings, your contacts can receive your location and the phone can record video. The emergency operator still needs to hear what is wrong, so speak if you can, or press 55 on a mobile if you can’t.

What is an SOS app and do I need one?

An SOS app is anything that raises the alarm quickly. Every iPhone and Android 12+ phone already has a free one built in: Emergency SOS calls 999 and alerts your emergency contacts. Separate personal safety apps add things like live tracking for friends. Compare them in our fair comparison of safety apps or read our Hollie Guard guide. We make Safety App UK.

What happens when you press Emergency SOS in the UK?

After a short countdown, your phone calls 999. Calls go to BT call-handling centres, which put you through to police, ambulance, fire or coastguard (GOV.UK). Most smartphones also send their location automatically (Advanced Mobile Location). If you can’t speak, see how a silent 999 call works, and learn how to tell 999 where you are.

Does 112 work in the UK?

Yes. GOV.UK says 112, the pan-European emergency number, can be used in the UK and reaches the same BT call-handling centres as 999, where the agent asks “emergency, which service?”. So if you are visiting from abroad and dial 112, or your phone’s Emergency SOS uses it, you still get UK police, ambulance, fire or coastguard. Not sure which number fits? See 999 or 101.

Can I use Emergency SOS with no signal in the UK?

On an iPhone 14 or later, often yes. Apple lists the UK as a country where Emergency SOS via satellite works. It only starts when you have no mobile or Wi-Fi coverage, and you need to be outside with a clear view of the sky and horizon. It lets you text emergency services and shares your location. On Android, Google says Emergency SOS won’t work in aeroplane mode or with Battery Saver on.

Frequently asked questions

It calls the local emergency number. In the UK that means 999; 112 also works from any UK mobile.

Yes. On iPhone, turn on Call Quietly in Emergency SOS settings. On Android, switch off the alarm option in Emergency SOS settings.

Emergency SOS calls 999. Location sharing only tells people you choose. For everyday journeys, see how to share your live location.

Not to call 999. Emergency SOS is built into iPhone and Android 12 or later, free. A separate safety app is optional and mainly helps friends or family follow your journey. See our safety app comparison.

Usually, yes. Most smartphones send their location automatically during a 999 call using Advanced Mobile Location, with no app needed. Still say where you are if you can.

Sources

General safety information. Menus vary between phone models and software versions. In an emergency, always call 999.

Keep reading

One tap to alert the people you trust

Emergency SOS calls 999. Safety App UK keeps your circle in the loop too: an SOS sends your chosen contacts your live location and live video, and it can start with a button, a shake of the phone, or automatically in an area with more reported crime. Free for 7 days, then £2.99 a month.

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