How to Set Up Emergency Contacts on Your Phone’s Lock Screen

If you are in an accident and your phone is locked, first responders need a way to contact your family or learn about critical medical conditions. Most people do not realize that both iPhones and Android phones allow you to display emergency information on the lock screen without needing your passcode. This feature takes two minutes to configure but can save precious time during a crisis.

iPhone: Using the Health App

Apple stores this information in the Health app. Open Health and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Select Medical ID, then choose Edit. Fill in details like your birth date, medical conditions, allergies, and blood type. Most importantly, add at least one emergency contact by tapping add emergency contact and selecting someone from your address book. Make sure you specify their relationship to you.

Scroll down and enable Show When Locked. This is the critical step that allows paramedics or good Samaritans to view this data without entering your passcode. When finished, tap Done. When you make an emergency call on an iPhone, this Medical ID can also be shared automatically with dispatchers if your region supports Enhanced Emergency Data, though the lock screen access remains the most reliable method for first responders physically present at the scene.

Android: Using Safety App or Settings

On Android, the process varies slightly by manufacturer, but most phones use the Safety app or a dedicated Emergency Information section in Settings. Open Settings and search for Emergency Information or tap Safety and Emergency. Select Emergency Information or Medical Information.

Enter your name, allergies, medications, and blood type. Add emergency contacts by tapping Add Contact. Some Samsung devices place this under Settings then Lock Screen then Contact Information, while Google Pixel phones use the Personal Safety app. If you cannot find the setting, try searching Emergency in the Settings search bar. On older Android versions, this might be located under Users and Accounts or About Phone. Regardless of path, ensure the Visible on lock screen toggle is active.

What Information Should You Include?

Keep the details concise and relevant. Too much text becomes hard to read under stress.

• Your full name and date of birth
• Blood type and known allergies, especially to medications like penicillin
• Current medications and medical conditions such as diabetes or epilepsy
• Two emergency contacts with clear labels like Mother or Spouse
• Primary care physician name (optional but helpful)

Be specific about allergies. Instead of just writing allergic to medication, list the exact drug names and reaction severity. If you have no known allergies, write NKA (No Known Allergies) so responders do not assume you simply left the field blank. Avoid adding your home address or social security number, as this information could be misused if your phone is lost.

Testing the Setup

Verify that everything works correctly. Lock your phone completely. On an iPhone, wake the screen and tap Emergency in the bottom left, then tap Medical ID. On Android, look for an Emergency button on the lock screen keypad or an Emergency Information link near the bottom. You should see your details displayed without entering your PIN or using Face ID.

If you do not see the emergency button, check that you have a secure lock screen enabled, such as a PIN or pattern. The emergency feature does not appear if you use swipe-to-unlock or have no screen lock active.

Keep It Current

Review this information every six months or whenever your medications or emergency contacts change. Outdated allergy information or a disconnected phone number helps no one. Set a calendar reminder to check these details when you change your smoke alarm batteries or during daylight saving time transitions.

Remember that your emergency contacts will receive a notification if you use the Emergency SOS feature to call for help, depending on your phone model. Make sure these contacts know they are listed and understand they might receive an alert with your location if you trigger an emergency call.

Setting up your emergency medical ID is a small task that sits quietly on your phone until it is needed most. Take a moment to configure it now so the right people can be reached when seconds count.