Android Authority outlines overlooked safety features and how to enable them
Android Authority reports that several Android safety features require manual setup, including Safety Check, Emergency SOS, Heads Up, and Car Crash Detection.
The article notes that Google has folded health and safety features into Android over the years, with some operating quietly in the background, such as unknown tracker alerts. Others, however, need to be set up manually to work properly. The author says it is a good idea for users, especially those who recently switched to a new Android phone, to configure these settings immediately.
Among the features described is Safety Check, which prompts users to check in after a set period. If the user fails to do so, their emergency contacts receive their last known location. According to the report, this can ease worry during late-night commutes or trips to unfamiliar areas. The setup requires downloading the Personal Safety app, then using the Features tab to configure the activity, duration, and contacts to notify. Users can also customize emergency sharing options, for example sending alerts when the battery drops below 15 percent.
Emergency SOS, now part of Google's Personal Safety app on Android 13 and later, lets users quickly press the power button five times or more to alert emergency contacts and local services. The report says users can also set it to automatically record a video clip, which is backed up to the cloud and shared with contacts.
Heads Up, accessible under Settings > Digital Wellbeing, is designed to remind people to pay attention to their surroundings while walking. The article says enabling it turns on physical activity and notification access, and users can add sound and vibration feedback, even overriding Do Not Disturb. However, the author notes that the feature is inconsistent in practice, saying that it often does not notify on multiple phones, including the Pixel 10 Pro XL and the CMF Phone 2 Pro.
Car Crash Detection is available only on Pixel devices, starting with the Pixel 4a, and requires no setup beyond flipping a toggle in the Safety app. The author says he has never had to use it but considers it important to have on.
The report also mentions a personal wish for a home screen widget for the Safety app to quickly access Safety Check. It encourages users to take time to set up these features for their own well-being.