How to Set Up iPhone Emergency Contacts and Medical ID

To create or edit the Medical ID, open the Health app, tap the profile picture at the top right, and select Medical ID. Two sliders control visibility: Show When Locked allows anyone to view the details by tapping Emergency then Medical ID on the passcode entry screen, while Share During Emergency Call sends crucial information to 911 automatically. Both should be enabled, as keeping the info locked inside the phone defeats its purpose. Below these, users can enter basic medical information such as age, medications, allergies, and health conditions, plus additional details like height, weight, blood type, and notes.

The same page includes the Emergency Contacts list. Users can add multiple people from their existing contacts and assign relationship labels. These contacts serve two purposes: they are visible to medical professionals or anyone who finds the phone, and they are alerted with the user's location when the Emergency SOS feature is activated. To review Emergency SOS settings, go to Settings and select Emergency SOS.

By default, Emergency SOS is triggered by holding the Side button and either Volume button for several seconds longer than needed to turn off the device. A countdown with a loud sound begins before a call to 911 is placed. Alternatively, enabling Call with 5 Button Presses allows a quick sequence of presses on the Side button, though this is easier to activate accidentally. The alarm can be silenced with Call Quietly, but that makes accidental activations harder to notice. If a call is made by mistake, users should stay on the line and explain the situation. Even with both options disabled, the Emergency Call slider on the power-off screen remains available, and Call After Severe Crash can automatically call for help after an accident. Emergency SOS is not accessible via the Action Button.

Another related feature is Emergency Bypass, which lets a specific person's ringtone or text tone sound even when the phone is silenced or in a Focus mode. It is intended for trusted people who only call in serious situations. To enable it, open Contacts, choose a person, tap Edit, then select Ringtone or Text Tone and turn on Emergency Bypass. There is no way to enable it for all emergency contacts at once. Since details may change, users should regularly review their emergency profile to ensure it remains accurate.