What Does SOS Mean on iPhone? Understanding Your Emergency Lifeline
Have you ever seen “SOS” displayed on your iPhone’s status bar and wondered what it meant? While it might seem like a cause for alarm, SOS on an iPhone is a powerful emergency feature designed to quickly call for help and alert your emergency contacts when you find yourself in a dire situation. It’s essentially a built-in safety net that can be easily activated when needed.
Table of Contents
When SOS is displayed on iPhone screen?
1. Limited Network Connectivity and Emergency Calls:
- Seeing “SOS” in the status bar signifies a compromised cellular network connection.
This could be due to:
- Being in a remote area with weak signal.
- Experiencing network outages.
- Having issues with your SIM card.
2. Emergency SOS Feature:
- iPhones offer an “Emergency SOS” feature for quick help in emergencies.Despite limited network, you can still make emergency calls to designated numbers like 911 (US) or 112 (Europe).
How to activate SOS service on iPhone ?
Depending on your iPhone model and software version, there are a couple of methods to activate SOS:
Method 1: Using Buttons
- Press and Hold Side Button with Volume Button:
- On most iPhone models, including iPhone 8 and later, simultaneously press and hold the side button (also known as the Sleep/Wake button) and one of the volume buttons.
- Hold both buttons until the “Emergency SOS” slider appears on the screen.
- Swipe Emergency SOS Slider:
- Once the “Emergency SOS” slider appears, swipe it to the right to initiate the emergency call immediately.
- Keep in mind that this action will automatically dial the local emergency services number based on your iPhone’s location.
Method 2: Using Side Button
- Rapidly Press Side Button:
- On iPhone models such as the iPhone 7 and earlier, rapidly press the side button (or the Sleep/Wake button) five times in quick succession.
- Slide Emergency SOS Slider:
- After the rapid presses, the “Emergency SOS” slider will appear on the screen.
- Swipe the slider to the right to place the emergency call.
What Happens When You Activate SOS?
- Countdown and Alert: Holding the buttons initiates a countdown with an audible alert. Releasing after the countdown automatically dials emergency services.
- Emergency Call Slider: Alternatively, you can drag the “Emergency Call” slider that appears on the screen to initiate the call immediately.
- Emergency Contact Notification: After an emergency call using SOS, your iPhone can send your location to your pre-defined emergency contacts, unless you choose to cancel this option.
How to set up SOS contact no ?
To set up emergency contacts, also known as SOS contacts, on your iPhone, you’ll need to use the Health app. Follow these steps to add emergency contacts and set up your Medical ID:
Open the Health App:
- Locate and open the Health app on your iPhone. Normally it comes pre-installed on iOS devices and has a white icon with a red heart.
Tap on Your Profile:
- At the top-right corner of the Health app, you’ll see your profile picture or initials. Tap on it to access your profile.
Select Medical ID:
- Within your profile, you’ll see an option for “Medical ID.” Tap on it to proceed.
Edit Medical ID:
- Once you’re in the Medical ID section, tap on “Edit” in the top-right corner. You may need to enter your passcode or use Touch ID/Face ID to proceed.
Add Emergency Contacts:
- Scroll down to the Emergency Contacts section, where you’ll find an option to add emergency contacts. Tap on “Add Emergency Contact.”
Select Contacts:
- You’ll be prompted to select a contact from your address book. Choose the person you want to add as an emergency contact.
Assign Relationship:
- After selecting a contact, you’ll be asked to assign a relationship to that contact. This helps emergency responders understand your relationship with the person. You can choose from options like “Sister,” “Friend,” or “Spouse.”
- You can add more than one emergency contacts by tapping on “Add Emergency Contact” again and repeating the same process.
Save Changes:
- Once you’ve added all the emergency contacts you want, tap on “Done” or “Save” to save your changes.
Review Medical Information:
- While you’re in the Medical ID section, take some time to review and update any other medical information you want to include, such as allergies, medications, blood type, and existing medical conditions. This information can be helpful for emergency responders.
List of SOS no of different country worldwide
| Country | Emergency Number |
| United States | 911 |
| United Kingdom | 999 or 112 |
| Germany | 112 |
| France | 112 |
| Italy | 112 |
| Spain | 112 |
| Netherlands | 112 |
| Sweden | 112 |
| Switzerland | 112 |
| Belgium | 112 |
| Norway | 112 |
| Denmark | 112 |
| Austria | 112 |
| Ireland | 112 or 999 |
| Finland | 112 |
| Portugal | 112 |
| Greece | 112 |
| Poland | 112 |
| Czech Republic | 112 |
| Hungary | 112 |
| Croatia | 112 |
| Bulgaria | 112 |
| Romania | 112 |
| Slovakia | 112 |
| Lithuania | 112 |
| Latvia | 112 |
| Estonia | 112 |
Remember when using SOS on iPhone:
- Use SOS responsibly and only in genuine emergencies.
- Familiarize yourself with the specific functionalities and settings on your iPhone model. This includes customizing your Emergency SOS preferences and updating your emergency contact information.
- SOS is a valuable tool, but it’s not a replacement for taking precautions and avoiding risky situations.
