Set up Emergency SOS, decide whether medical details should be visible from the lock screen, and review any additional tools your phone supports. Android’s emergency features differ by device and version; Safety Check and Car Crash Detection are Pixel-specific tools, not settings to expect on every Android phone.

Choose the SOS actions and location access you want ahead of time. Pressing the power button alone does not enable every option.

Set up Emergency SOS

TuAppPara’s Spanish-language Emergency SOS setup on a Huawei phone

Google documents Emergency SOS for Android 12 and later. On a supported phone, open Settings > Safety & emergency > Emergency SOS. If the menu labels differ, search Settings for “Emergency SOS.”

  1. Choose the actions. Set the emergency number and select which actions to configure, such as calling emergency services, sharing information with emergency contacts or recording video. The shortcut does not enable every action by default.
  2. Set how those actions begin. After you press the power button five or more times, Emergency SOS can require a touch-and-hold or start the configured actions automatically after a five-second countdown. The countdown does not remove the need to trigger the shortcut.
  3. Check the requirements for sharing your location with contacts. Add at least one emergency contact, turn on Location Services, allow the Safety app to access location while in use, and keep an internet connection. Emergency SOS does not work in Airplane mode or when Battery Saver is on. A phone without a SIM or eSIM may still be able to call emergency services but may not be able to call emergency contacts. Google’s Android emergency guidance

TuAppPara’s Spanish-language walkthrough shows SOS setup on a Huawei phone, including choosing contacts and entering medical details. Its menus are a device-specific example, not a universal Android layout.

Add medical information and choose lock-screen access

In the Safety app, add the medical details and emergency contacts you want a helper to find. If you enable Show when locked, anyone holding the phone can view that information without unlocking it. Turn off lock-screen access if you do not want those details visible to someone who picks up the device. Google’s Android emergency guidance

Use Safety Check on Pixel

On a Pixel, Safety Check lets you schedule a check-in for a chosen reason and duration, up to 24 hours. It requires location access while the Safety app is in use. At check-in, you have 60 seconds to mark yourself safe; if you do not respond, Emergency Sharing begins. If the phone is off or has lost signal, it can share the last known location rather than a live one. Google’s Pixel emergency guidance

Keep contact sharing and emergency alerts separate

TecTips’ Spanish-language wireless-alert settings demonstration on a Samsung Galaxy

Sharing a location with personal contacts is different from Emergency Location Service (ELS). Where the country or region and mobile network support ELS, it can send a phone’s location to authorized responders during an emergency call or text. A carrier may also provide location during an emergency call when ELS is off. Google’s Android emergency guidance

Wireless emergency alerts are a separate system for broadcast warnings, including threat alerts and AMBER alerts. Google’s Android settings route is Settings > Notifications > Wireless emergency alerts, where you can manage alert types, history, sound and vibration. The Spanish-language TecTips demonstration shows threat and test-alert options, vibration settings and alert history on one Samsung Galaxy phone.

Android Earthquake Alerts are another distinct system. In supported countries, they can warn about nearby earthquakes of magnitude 4.5 or greater; Wi-Fi or mobile data must be on to receive alerts. Not every earthquake is detected, estimates can be inaccurate, and an alert may arrive before, during or after shaking starts. Google’s Android emergency guidance

Check Pixel Car Crash Detection

Google lists Car Crash Detection for Pixel 4a and later, including Fold, in the United States. It requires a SIM and location, physical-activity and microphone permissions. The feature does not work while roaming, in Airplane mode or with Battery Saver enabled. It may miss crashes, and some high-impact activities may trigger it; weak network service or an ongoing call may also prevent an emergency call. Google’s Pixel emergency guidance and Google Play’s Personal Safety listing describe the Pixel-specific feature.

Verify your setup

  • Confirm the emergency number and SOS actions you selected, including whether actions start after a countdown or require a touch-and-hold.
  • If you want contact location sharing, check that an emergency contact is set, Location Services are on, the Safety app has location access while in use, and the phone has internet access.
  • Decide whether medical details should be visible from the lock screen.
  • On a Pixel, review Safety Check’s location permission and, if using Car Crash Detection, its SIM and permission requirements.
  • Review the wireless emergency-alert settings and the alert types you want enabled.