Set Up Emergency Calls Using Siri

Updated 7 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

To set up emergency calls using Siri, you configure your iPhone’s Medical ID and emergency contacts in the Health app, then use voice commands like “Hey Siri, call emergency services” or “Hey Siri, call my emergency contact.” Once set up, Siri can dial local emergency numbers or notify your chosen contacts when you need help.

What Siri Can Do for Emergency Calls

Siri acts as a hands-free gateway to emergency services and personal emergency contacts. On iPhone and Apple Watch, Siri can:

Call local emergency services (e.g., 911 in the US, 112 in Europe, 000 in Australia) when you say “Hey Siri, call 911” or “Hey Siri, call emergency services.”
Call your designated emergency contacts if you say “Hey Siri, call my emergency contact.”
Share your Medical ID with first responders when you use the Emergency SOS feature.
Send a text message with your current location to emergency contacts if you use the “Send Message When Call Ends” option during an Emergency SOS call.

These features work even when the phone is locked, provided Siri is enabled on the lock screen and the device has cellular or Wi-Fi calling capability.

How to Set Up Emergency Contacts and Medical ID

Before Siri can call an emergency contact, you must define them in the Health app. Here’s the step-by-step process:

Open the Health app on your iPhone.
Tap your profile picture in the top right corner.
Tap Medical ID.
Tap Edit in the top right.
Add emergency contacts by tapping Add Emergency Contact. Choose a contact from your address book and assign a relationship (e.g., spouse, parent).
Enable Show When Locked so first responders can see this info without your passcode.
Tap Done.

You can add multiple emergency contacts. Siri will use the first one listed when you say “call my emergency contact.” If you want to call a specific contact, say “call [contact name]” and Siri will recognize them if they are in your contacts.

Using Emergency SOS with Siri

Emergency SOS is a dedicated feature that works alongside Siri. On iPhone, you can trigger it by pressing the side button five times or holding the side button and one volume button. On Apple Watch, hold the side button. When you trigger Emergency SOS, the device automatically calls local emergency services. After the call ends, it can send a text to your emergency contacts with your current location.

Siri can also initiate Emergency SOS. Say “Hey Siri, call emergency services” or “Hey Siri, call 911.” Siri will confirm the call and then dial. On Apple Watch, Siri can do the same, and the watch will also share your Medical ID if you have it set up.

Important: Emergency SOS requires a cellular connection or Wi-Fi calling. If you have no signal, the call will fail. In some regions, the phone may also send your location to emergency services automatically when you call.

Common Problems and Troubleshooting

If Siri doesn’t call emergency services or your contacts, check these common issues:

Siri disabled on lock screen: Go to Settings > Siri & Search and enable “Allow Siri When Locked.” Without this, Siri won’t respond when your phone is locked.
No emergency contact set: If you haven’t added contacts in Medical ID, Siri won’t know who to call. Open Health > Medical ID and add them.
Wrong region emergency number: Siri uses your current location to determine the correct emergency number. If you’re traveling, say “call emergency services” rather than a specific number like 911, which may not be correct in other countries.
Poor network: Emergency calls require a cellular or Wi-Fi connection. If you’re in a dead zone, the call won’t go through.
Siri mishearing: In noisy environments, Siri might misunderstand. Try speaking clearly or use the physical button sequence for Emergency SOS as a backup.

If Siri still fails, restart your iPhone and ensure you have the latest iOS update. You can also test Siri by asking it to call a non-emergency contact to confirm it works.

Safety Considerations and Limitations

While Siri can be a lifesaver, it has limitations you should know:

Do not rely solely on voice: If you are unable to speak, use the physical button sequence for Emergency SOS instead of Siri.
Location accuracy: When you call emergency services via Siri, your phone may transmit your location, but this is not always precise. Be prepared to give your address if you can.
International travel: Siri will dial the local emergency number based on your location, but this works only if the device has a cellular connection. In some countries, you may need to manually dial a specific number.
Medical ID visibility: Even with “Show When Locked” enabled, first responders must know to look for it. It appears on the lock screen, but not everyone checks it.
False alarms: Accidentally triggering Emergency SOS can tie up emergency lines. Be careful when handling your phone.

Apple’s Emergency SOS also includes a countdown timer and a loud alert sound on some models, which can deter an attacker but may also draw unwanted attention.

Alternatives to Siri for Emergency Calls

If Siri isn’t working or you want additional options, consider these alternatives:

Emergency SOS via buttons: Press the side button five times quickly (iPhone) or hold the side button (Apple Watch). This works without voice.
Quick emergency call on lock screen: On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the lock screen to access the Emergency keypad and dial a number manually.
Third-party safety apps: Apps like bSafe or Life360 offer additional features like sharing your location with trusted contacts, but they are not a substitute for calling official emergency services.
Voice assistants on other devices: Android phones have Google Assistant with similar “call emergency services” commands. Smart speakers like Google Nest or Amazon Echo can also call emergency services in some regions, but they are not always reliable for this purpose.

For people with disabilities, Apple offers Accessibility features like Voice Control and Switch Control that can also be used to make emergency calls, but Siri remains the most direct voice method.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Siri call 911 without unlocking my phone?
Yes, if “Allow Siri When Locked” is enabled, you can say “Hey Siri, call 911” on a locked iPhone. The call will go through, and your Medical ID may be shown to responders.

What if I say “call emergency services” and Siri asks for confirmation?
Siri may ask you to confirm before calling emergency services to prevent accidental calls. You can simply say “yes” or “confirm” to proceed. This is a safety feature.

Does Siri work for emergency calls on Apple Watch without iPhone nearby?
Yes, if your Apple Watch has cellular capability and is on a plan, Siri can call emergency services directly from the watch. If the watch is paired to your iPhone via Bluetooth, it uses the iPhone’s connection.

Can I change the order of my emergency contacts?
Yes. In the Health app’s Medical ID, you can tap Edit, then drag the contact list to reorder. The first contact is the one Siri calls when you say “call my emergency contact.”

Will Siri send my location to emergency contacts automatically?
Only if you enable “Send Message When Call Ends” in Settings > Emergency SOS. After an emergency call ends, your iPhone will send a text to your emergency contacts with your current location. This is off by default.

What if I’m in a country where 911 isn’t the emergency number?
Siri automatically detects your location and uses the correct local emergency number when you say “call emergency services.” If you say a specific number like 911, it will dial that number, which may not work outside the US.

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