How to Set Up and Use Android Emergency SOS
Android has a built-in emergency SOS feature — pressing the power button rapidly calls 911 and sends your location to contacts. Here's how to set it up.
At a Glance
Find Emergency SOS in Settings
~15sEnable Emergency SOS
~20sQuick Tip
Test the activation motion in settings before relying on it — make sure pressing the button 5 times is a natural motion you can do with one hand.
Add Emergency Contacts
~19sQuick Tip
On Samsung phones, add emergency contacts in SettingsSafety and EmergencyEmergency contacts. On Pixel, use the Personal Safety app.
Enable Share Location with Emergency Contacts
~15sUnderstand What Happens When It Activates
~27sWarning
Accidental 911 calls can use emergency dispatcher resources. If a call goes through accidentally, stay on the line and explain it was accidental — never hang up without speaking to the dispatcher.
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Android phones have a built-in Emergency SOS feature. Press the power button several times fast, and it calls 911 for you. This helps when you cannot safely type or find a menu. Once it turns on, it calls emergency services, shares your GPS location, and can alert your emergency contacts.
The setup steps vary a little by brand — Samsung, Pixel, or Motorola. But every recent Android phone running Android 14 or later has Emergency SOS built into Settings.
On most Android phones, pressing the power button five times fast turns on Emergency SOS. On some phones, you press and hold the side button instead. A countdown runs before the call goes out, so you can cancel it if it was an accident.
You set up emergency contacts separately. These are the people who get your location and an alert when Emergency SOS turns on. They do not need any special app — they get a text message with a link to your location.
Google's Personal Safety app (built into Pixel phones and available on Google Play for other Android phones) extends these features: it adds crisis contact sharing, location sharing for solo activities, and integration with Pixel's crash detection. For the best Android safety features, this app is worth installing if it is not already on your phone.
Nexus and Pixel phones also have a crisis location sharing feature that sends your location to a trusted contact when you hold the power button and slide — without calling 911 — useful for checking in during solo activities.
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