Use Emergency SOS on your Apple Watch

To use Emergency SOS on an Apple Watch that doesn't have cellular, your iPhone needs to be nearby. If your iPhone isn't nearby, your Apple Watch needs to be connected to a known Wi-Fi network and you must set up Wi-Fi Calling.

When you make a call with Emergency SOS, your Apple Watch automatically calls local emergency services and shares your location with them. In some countries and regions, you might need to choose the emergency service that you need. For example, in China mainland you can choose police, fire, or ambulance. And if you have Apple Watch Series 5 or later (GPS + Cellular), or Apple Watch SE (GPS + Cellular), your watch can also call local emergency services when you're traveling in other countries or regions.

Your Apple Watch sends them your current location, and, for a period of time after you enter Emergency SOS mode, it sends your emergency contacts updates when your location changes.* Learn how to add emergency contacts. 

* Your watch doesn't text your emergency contacts or share your location when you're roaming outside your home country or region.

1. Press and hold your watch's side button (the button below the Digital Crown) until the Emergency SOS slider appears.
   
2. Drag the Emergency SOS slider to start the call immediately. Alternatively, you can keep holding the side button. After a countdown, your watch calls emergency services automatically.

When the call ends, your Apple Watch sends your emergency contacts a text message with your current location, unless you choose to cancel. If Location Services is off, it will temporarily turn on. For a period of time after you enter Emergency SOS mode, your watch sends your emergency contacts updates when your location changes.* Learn how to add emergency contacts. 

* Your watch doesn't text your emergency contacts or share your location when you're roaming outside your home country or region.

After your emergency call, your Apple Watch will remind you every four hours that your location is being shared with your emergency contacts. Tap Stop Sharing in the notification to stop sharing your location.

If you start the Emergency SOS countdown by accident, just release the side button.

If you start an emergency call by accident, tap the End Call button , then tap Yes to confirm that you want to stop the call. After that, your watch asks if you still want to send a text message to your emergency contacts. Tap No if you want to cancel the text.

1. Open the Health app on your iPhone, then tap the profile icon  (or your photo, if you've added one).
2. Tap Medical ID.
3. Tap Edit, then scroll to the Emergency Contacts section.
   
4. Tap the add emergency contact  button.
5. Tap a contact name. If they have more than one phone number, tap the number that you want to use.
6. Specify their relationship to you. 
7. Tap Done to save your changes. 

You can't set emergency services as an emergency contact. 

1. Open the Health app on your iPhone, then tap the profile icon  (or your photo, if you've added one).
2. Tap Medical ID.
3. Tap Edit, then scroll to the Emergency Contacts section.
4. Tap the delete emergency contact  button next to a contact, then tap Delete.
5. Tap Done to save your changes. 

You can change your settings so that holding the side button won't call emergency services automatically: 

1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, then tap the My Watch tab.
2. Tap Emergency SOS.
3. Turn off Hold Side Button to Dial. 
   

If you turn off this setting, you can still use the Emergency SOS slider to make a call.

Apple Watch Series 5 and later (GPS + Cellular), and Apple Watch SE (GPS + Cellular), can call local emergency services when you're in another country or region. When you start an Emergency SOS call while abroad, your watch connects to local emergency services, but it doesn't send your location or a text message to your emergency contacts. In some countries and regions, international emergency calling works even if you haven't set up cellular service on the watch. Learn which countries and regions are supported.

Just like when you use Emergency SOS in your home country or region, your iPhone needs to be nearby if your Apple Watch isn't a cellular model.

• Use SOS on your iPhone
• Set up your Medical ID