Accidental Emergency SOS Call: What Happens Next and How to Disable It

Have you ever dialed the emergency SOS feature on your iPhone by mistake? This situation can be alarming, as it may trigger a notification to emergency services. But how exactly does this work, and what actions can you take to prevent such accidents in the future?

Understanding the Scenario

If your iPhone calls emergency services through the SOS feature and you immediately hang up, typically, emergency services will not respond unless they receive confirmation of an emergency. However, it is a good idea to follow up in case they attempt to contact you.

What Will Happen If I Accidentally Call Emergency Services?

Emergency Services Notification

In some regions, emergency services may still be notified about the call. They might try to reach you to confirm that everything is okay. This is a standard protocol to ensure the safety of those who truly need assistance.

For example, it is possible that 9-1-1 systems will look up the nearest cell-phone tower to determine your approximate location. They might attempt to call you back or send the police out to check if you are alright.

No Penalties for Accidental Calls

Generally, there are no penalties for accidentally calling emergency services. However, if you are known to make repeated false calls, there may be scrutiny. The investigating officer's mood or the circumstances of the call can determine the outcome.

Steps to Disable Emergency SOS

If you want to prevent accidental emergency SOS calls in the future, there are steps you can take to disable or change the activation method of this feature:

Disable Emergency SOS for iOS 16 and Later

Open the Settings app. Tap on Emergency SOS. Turn off Call with Side Button if applicable, or adjust the settings as needed.

Change Activation Method

In the Emergency SOS settings, you can change how the feature is activated. For example, you can set it to require a longer press or disable it entirely.

Using Accessibility Settings

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Emergency SOS. Adjust the settings to prevent accidental activations.

By following these steps, you can help protect yourself and ensure that the emergency SOS feature is only used in genuine emergencies.

Conclusion

An accidental emergency SOS call can lead to various outcomes. From potential contact attempts by emergency services to other accidental callers, it is important to take steps to prevent such incidents in the future. By disabling the feature or changing its activation method, you can safeguard against any unintended calls.