How to Turn Off SOS on iPhone [Video]

The Emergency SOS feature on iPhones is a crucial safety tool, designed to quickly and efficiently call emergency services and notify your emergency contacts when you're in danger. However, there are situations where you might want to disable this feature. This tutorial will guide you through the process of turning off SOS on your iPhone, along with providing essential background information and addressing common concerns.

STEPS TO TURN OFF SOS ON IPHONE

Step One

Tap to launch the Settings app from your Home Screen.

Step Two

Tap Emergency SOS from the Settings menu.

Step Three

By default if you continuously hold the side button and either volume button, a countdown begins and an alarm sounds. If you release the buttons after the countdown, your iPhone automatically calls your local emergency number.


To disable this feature, toggle the Call with Hold and Release switch to the OFF position.

Step Four

Additionally, it's possible to enable Emergency SOS by rapidly pressing the side button five times. After this a countdown will begin and an alarm will sound. When the countdown ends, iPhone will call emergency services.

To turn off this feature, toggle the Call with 5 Button Presses switch to the OFF position.

Step Five

If you're in a car crash, iPhone can automatically call emergency services. iPhone will start a countdown and sound an alarm before the call.

To turn off this feature, toggle the Call After Sever Crash switch to the OFF position, then tap Turn Off to confirm.

WHAT IS EMERGENCY SOS?

Emergency SOS is a feature in iPhones that allows users to rapidly contact emergency services by pressing a combination of buttons. It's particularly useful in urgent situations where you might not have the time or ability to dial emergency services manually.

On iPhone 8 or later, users can press and hold the side button and one of the volume buttons until the Emergency SOS slider appears. Drag the Emergency Call 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 release the buttons after the countdown, your iPhone automatically calls emergency services.

On iPhone 7 or earlier, Emergency SOS is activated by rapidly pressing the side (or top) button five times. The Emergency Call slider will appear. 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.

Note that in India the procedure is slightly different. Users can activate Emergency SOS by rapidly pressing the side button three times.

WHY YOU MIGHT WANT TO TURN OFF SOS

We strongly recommend you leave Emergency SOS enabled; however, some users may want to disable the feature due to repeated accidental emergency calls and false alarms, or a personal preference in handling emergencies. If you want to re-enable the feature on your iOS device, simply follow the steps above in reverse.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)

Will turning off SOS affect other emergency functions on my iPhone?

No, if you turn off Emergency SOS it will not affect other emergency functions like Medical ID or Find My iPhone.

Can I still make emergency calls without SOS?

Yes, you can still make emergency calls manually by dialing the emergency number through the Phone app.

Is it possible to customize the SOS activation process?

There are limited customization options for the activation process; however, you can toggle the Auto Call and Countdown Sound features.

Is there a dedicated Emergency SOS button?

No, there is not a dedicated Emergency SOS button on iPhone. This could lead to many accidental to authorities when not in an emergency situation. Apple has set up its Emergency SOS feature to require a continuous hold down of the side button and either volume button.

Can I add emergency contacts to iPhone?

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

What does SOS mean in my status bar?

When the SOS icon appears in your iPhone status bar, it means a cellular network is available for emergency calls. If your cellular connection is in Emergency SOS Mode, then you may need to check your network settings or contact your carrier to make sure you have a valid cellular plan.

Which iPhones Support Crash Detection?

iPhone 14 and later models support Crash Detection and will automatically initiate an emergency call 20 seconds after a severe crash. If you're in a location without a cellular or Wi-Fi connection, iPhone will attempt to contact emergency services using Emergency SOS via satellite, where available.