Where to find and update your emergency contact

Your emergency contact on iPhone lives in the Health app, not in your regular Contacts. When you call emergency services or if someone finds your locked phone, iOS shows this person's name and number on the lock screen. You can change it anytime by opening Health, tapping your profile picture in the top right corner, selecting "Medical ID," and then tapping "Edit." From there, add or replace the person listed under "Emergency Contacts."

The person you choose should be someone who can actually answer the phone and make decisions about your care — a family member, spouse, close friend, or trusted neighbour. They do not need to be in your regular contacts list, though most people choose someone they already have saved. You can list multiple emergency contacts, and iOS will display all of them on your lock screen when needed.

Key Takeaways

  • Emergency contacts are stored in the Health app under Medical ID, not in your phone's regular Contacts app.
  • Anyone with your iPhone can see your emergency contact information on the lock screen without unlocking your phone.
  • You can add multiple emergency contacts, and they will all appear together on your lock screen.
  • Changing your emergency contact takes less than a minute and takes effect when ready.
  • Your emergency contact does not need to be someone already in your phone's contacts — you can add their name and number directly in Medical ID.

Step-by-step: adding or changing an emergency contact

Open the Health app on your home screen. Tap your profile picture in the top right corner — it looks like a circle with your initials or photo. Scroll down and tap "Medical ID." If you have never set up Medical ID before, tap "Create Medical ID" instead. Tap the "Edit" button in the top right.

Scroll down to the "Emergency Contacts" section. If you already have a contact listed, tap the minus sign next to their name to remove them, then tap "Add Emergency Contact." If this is your first time, tap "Add Emergency Contact" directly. Type the person's name, then tap "Add Contact" and choose them from your contacts list, or tap "Create New Contact" to add their information directly into Medical ID.

To add multiple emergency contacts, repeat this step. Tap "Done" when you are finished. Your changes save when ready, and the contacts now appear on your lock screen.

What information shows on your lock screen

When your iPhone is locked, anyone can swipe up from the bottom or tap "Emergency" to see your Medical ID. This screen displays your emergency contacts' names and phone numbers, along with any other medical information you have added — allergies, medications, blood type, or organ donor status. This is intentional: first responders and strangers who find your phone need quick access to this information without unlocking your device.

Because of this, only add people you trust to see your medical information. Your emergency contact will be visible to anyone who picks up your phone, not just to emergency services. If you have privacy concerns about a specific person, choose someone else or add them only if necessary.

Removing an emergency contact

Open Health, tap your profile picture, select "Medical ID," and tap "Edit." Scroll to "Emergency Contacts" and tap the red minus sign next to the person's name. Tap "Delete" to confirm. Tap "Done" when finished. The contact is removed when ready and will no longer appear on your lock screen.

If you want to keep the person in your regular contacts but remove them as an emergency contact, this action only affects Medical ID — they stay in your Contacts app unchanged. You can add them back to Medical ID anytime by repeating the steps above.

Using emergency contact information during a call to 911

When you call 911 from your iPhone, the dispatcher can see your location through Emergency SOS. After you hang up or when the call ends, iOS automatically sends your emergency contact a text message with your location. This happens whether or not you unlock your phone, so your emergency contact gets notified even if you cannot reach them by phone.

The text message includes a map link showing where you were when you called. If you move after calling 911, the location in the message does not update — it shows only where you were at the moment the call ended. Your emergency contact can use this information to find you or meet you at a hospital.

Medical ID and privacy: what you should know

Medical ID information is visible on your lock screen without any password or Face ID required. This is a security trade-off: emergency responders need fast access to your medical history, but anyone who holds your phone can also see it. If you live with someone you do not want to share medical details with, or if you are concerned about a specific person accessing this information, think carefully about what you add to Medical ID and who you list as an emergency contact.

You can also set Medical ID to show only on the lock screen during an emergency call. Open Health, tap your profile picture, select "Medical ID," tap "Edit," and toggle off "Show When Locked" if you want to hide it from casual access. However, this also hides it from first responders who find your phone, so most people leave it on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add someone who is not in my contacts?

Yes. When you tap "Add Emergency Contact" in Medical ID, you can choose "Create New Contact" instead of selecting from your existing contacts. Type their name and phone number directly, and they will be saved only in Medical ID. They will not appear in your regular Contacts app.

What happens if my emergency contact's phone number changes?

Open Health, tap your profile picture, select "Medical ID," tap "Edit," and tap the emergency contact's name. Update their phone number and tap "Done." If they are also in your regular Contacts app, update their number there separately — Medical ID and Contacts are separate lists.

Can I hide my emergency contact from the lock screen?

No. Emergency contacts always appear on your lock screen when someone taps "Emergency" or swipes up from the bottom. If you want to keep someone's information private, do not add them as an emergency contact. You can always call them manually in an emergency.

Do emergency contacts get notified when I set up Medical ID?

No. Adding someone as an emergency contact does not send them a notification or message. They will only be contacted if you call 911 or if your iPhone detects a hard fall and asks if you need emergency services. You should tell them separately that you have listed them.

Can I have different emergency contacts on my iPhone and iPad?

No. Medical ID syncs across all your Apple devices using iCloud. If you change your emergency contact on your iPhone, it updates on your iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch automatically. You cannot have different emergency contacts on different devices.