How to Set Up Medical ID and Emergency SOS on iPhone

Your iPhone can show important health information to someone helping you in an emergency, even when your phone is locked. Setting up iPhone Medical ID also lets you choose emergency contacts who can be notified when you use Emergency SOS.

It only takes a few minutes to review these settings. You can add the details you want to share, decide whether they are available from the Lock Screen, and learn how to call for help.

What you’ll need

• Your iPhone and its passcode.
• The names and phone numbers of the people you want to list as emergency contacts.
• Any health details you want to include, such as allergies, medical conditions, or medications.

Step 1: Open Medical ID in the Health app

Medical ID is a section of the Health app that stores selected health and emergency details. It can help first responders or other people assisting you understand important information if you cannot explain it yourself.

1. Open the Health app.
2. Tap your profile picture or initials in the upper-right corner.
3. Tap Medical ID.
4. If this is your first time setting it up, tap Get Started. If you have already entered information, tap Edit.

Good to know: Medical ID is separate from the rest of your Health app data. You choose which details to include in Medical ID.

Step 2: Add your medical information

Take a moment to enter information that could be useful to someone helping you. Only include details you are comfortable making available in an emergency.

1. In the Medical ID editing screen, add your Date of Birth and any other personal details you want to share.
2. Add relevant Medical Conditions, Medical Notes, and Allergies & Reactions.
3. Under Medications, add medicines that emergency responders should know about.
4. Choose your Blood Type, if you know it.
5. Add any other available details that are important for emergency care.
6. Review the information carefully before saving.

The fields shown can vary by iOS version and region. Do not guess at a blood type or medical detail. Leave a field blank if you are unsure.

Careful: Medical ID is not a complete medical record and should not replace telling a healthcare professional about your health. Keep the details accurate, and update them when your medications, allergies, or health circumstances change.

Step 3: Add your emergency contacts

Emergency contacts are people you want your iPhone to notify when you use Emergency SOS. They may also be visible through Medical ID, depending on your sharing settings.

1. In the Medical ID editing screen, scroll to Emergency Contacts.
2. Tap Add Emergency Contact.
3. Choose a person from your Contacts.
4. Select their relationship, if asked.
5. Repeat to add another contact, if you wish.
6. Tap Done to save your Medical ID.

Choose people who are likely to respond and who know what to do if they receive an emergency notification. Check that their phone numbers in your Contacts are current.

Step 4: Decide whether Medical ID is available from the Lock Screen

You can allow someone to view your Medical ID without knowing your iPhone passcode. This can be helpful if you need assistance and cannot unlock your phone.

1. In the Health app, open your Medical ID.
2. Tap Edit.
3. Find Show When Locked.
4. Turn it on if you want Medical ID to be accessible from the Lock Screen.
5. Tap Done.

When this setting is on, someone can view the information you chose to include without unlocking your iPhone. They cannot use this access to open the rest of your phone.

Tip: Consider asking a trusted family member or friend to check that your Medical ID can be opened from the Lock Screen. You can do this together without sharing your passcode.

Step 5: Choose whether Medical ID is shared during an emergency call

Depending on your region and iOS version, your iPhone may offer an option to share Medical ID information with emergency services during an emergency call.

1. Open the Health app.
2. Tap your profile picture or initials.
3. Tap Medical ID, then Edit.
4. Look for Share During Emergency Call.
5. Turn it on if the option is available and you want to use it.
6. Tap Done.

This feature is not available everywhere. When supported, your iPhone can share your Medical ID information with emergency services during a call. It does not guarantee that every emergency service can receive the information.

Step 6: Understand how Emergency SOS works

Emergency SOS lets you call local emergency services from your iPhone without first opening the Phone app. The button sequence depends on your iPhone model and settings.

On most recent iPhones with Face ID:

1. Press and hold the Side button and either Volume button together.
2. Keep holding until the Emergency SOS countdown appears, or use the on-screen Emergency SOS slider if you prefer.
3. If you continue holding the buttons, your iPhone starts a countdown and then calls emergency services automatically.

On iPhones with a Home button, the method can differ by model and region. Check Apple’s instructions for your exact iPhone before relying on a particular button sequence.

Careful: Do not test Emergency SOS by starting a real emergency call. Learn the steps from Apple’s instructions instead. Only use Emergency SOS when you need urgent help.

Step 7: Review the Emergency SOS settings

Your iPhone may offer settings that control how the emergency call starts. Review them so you understand what will happen if you press the buttons in an emergency.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Emergency SOS. On some iOS versions, the setting may be listed directly in Settings; if you do not see it, use the Settings search field and search for “Emergency SOS.”
3. Review the available options, such as Call with Hold and Release or Call with 5 Button Presses, if shown.
4. Read the explanation beneath each option and decide which settings you want enabled.

The available choices depend on your iPhone model, iOS version, and region. If you enable an automatic calling option, understand the button action that starts the countdown so you can avoid accidental calls.

Troubleshooting: If you cannot find Medical ID or Emergency SOS

I cannot find Medical ID. Make sure you are using Apple’s Health app. Open it, tap your profile picture or initials, and look for Medical ID. If the labels differ, search for “Medical ID” in the Health app or check Apple’s support instructions for your iOS version.

My emergency contact is not listed. Check that the person is saved in the iPhone’s Contacts app with a current phone number. Return to Medical ID, edit the Emergency Contacts section, and add them again.

I cannot see Share During Emergency Call. This feature depends on location, carrier, and iOS availability. You can still set up Medical ID and emergency contacts even if the sharing option is not offered.

I am unsure whether my information is visible. Open Medical ID’s editing screen and check Show When Locked. If you want to see what another person can access, follow Apple’s instructions for viewing Medical ID from the Lock Screen.

Take a moment to check your setup

A few minutes spent setting up Medical ID and understanding Emergency SOS can make important information easier to find when it matters. Review your details from time to time, especially after a change to your medication, health information, or emergency contacts.

For Apple’s current instructions, see Set up your Medical ID in the Health app on your iPhone and Use Emergency SOS on your iPhone.