It’s been a year since Apple launched “Emergency SOS via satellite” on the iPhone—and reports suggest that the feature is already saving lives.
For example, after a car with two passengers went off the road in Los Angeles, an iPhone 14 in the vehicle registered the accident (via the Crash Detection feature that was also introduced with the 2022 models) and contacted emergency services automatically over a satellite connection, as there was no Wi-Fi or mobile data available.
Apple says it’s intended for “exceptional circumstances when no other means of reaching the emergency services are available.” When you’re in trouble and you can’t get a Wi-Fi signal or a lock on a cell tower, your iPhone 14 will make contact with a satellite and send out your plea for help that way.
Be warned, though, this isn’t a backup internet connection for personal use. The satellite connection is slow and limited, and it’s really only suitable for transmitting key information about your situation: where you are, what condition you’re in, and what you need help with.
Unfortunately, you do need a recent version of Apple’s smartphone, the iPhone 14 or 15, to use Emergency SOS via satellite. While the company has not revealed long-term pricing for the critical feature, it’s free for two years when you activate a compatible device. Apple recently announced that it’s giving iPhone 14 owners who previously activated the feature another year of free access.
How Emergency SOS via Satellite Works
The service sends key information to emergency responders.
Courtesy of Apple
Emergency SOS via satellite becomes available only when you’re in an area without any Wi-Fi or cellular coverage—otherwise it’s expected that you can get in touch with emergency services or your trusted contacts in the normal way. Ideally, you need a clear view of the sky and the horizon, as obstructions like foliage and mountains can slow or even block your satellite connection.
Even in perfect conditions with the best satellite lock, messages can take 15 seconds to send. That might seem primitive, but there’s a lot of impressive technology here—not least the way that Apple has fitted satellite connectivity into something as svelte as the iPhone 15. (Check out the size of a regular satellite phone to see what we mean.)
As you would want in a stressful emergency situation, your phone will guide you through everything you need to do, and that includes moving the iPhone to stay locked to a satellite. (This can be done even when the handset itself is locked.) The feature works in combination with the other safety options on the iPhone, so you can send emergency responders information from the Medical ID section of the Health app, for example.
How to Use Emergency SOS via Satellite
The iPhone 15 will tell you how to keep connected.
Courtesy of Apple
Let’s hope you never have to use Emergency SOS via satellite, but it’s wise to lay a bit of groundwork just in case. Head to the Health app on your iPhone and tap Summary, then your profile picture (top right), then Medical ID, and Edit. You can fill in details about your medical conditions, medications, allergies, and so on. If necessary, you can send this information as part of your Emergency SOS via satellite communications.
You’re also able to designate emergency contacts who can be reached, in addition to first responders, through a satellite connection. It’s a good idea to make sure you’re sharing your location with these people through the Find My app on your phone—your whereabouts can then be automatically transmitted out into the wider world if you get in trouble.
To use Emergency SOS via satellite, you first need to try to make an emergency call, like 911. If no networks are available, then the Emergency Text via Satellite option appears on screen. Tap this, then Report Emergency, and you’ll be prompted to answer a few questions about what’s happened and what sort of assistance you need. (This might cover how many people are with you and details of any injuries that have been incurred, for example.) You also get to choose which optional information gets sent, like your Medical ID records.
With that done, just follow the instructions on the screen of your iPhone. You’ll be guided to get a lock on a passing satellite and to keep that lock (which may require you to shift your position slightly). The emergency services may request further information from you via text messages, and they should keep you updated on the response.
11/19/2023: This article was updated with additional reporting and updated instructions on using Apple’s Emergency SOS feature as it’s rolling out.
