Where to find the emergency contact setting on your iPhone

Emergency contacts on iPhone live in the Health app, not in Contacts. Open Health, tap the profile icon in the top right corner, then scroll down and tap "Medical ID." If you don't see Medical ID, tap "Edit" in the top right first. From there, you can add people and their phone numbers — they'll show up on your lock screen when someone swipes up from the bottom during an emergency call.

The Medical ID feature stores this information separately from your regular contacts so that first responders can find it without unlocking your phone. This is the official way iPhone handles emergency contacts, and it's built into every iPhone running iOS 8 or later.

Key Takeaways

  • Emergency contacts are stored in the Health app's Medical ID section, not in the Contacts app.
  • Information you add to Medical ID appears on your lock screen during an emergency call without requiring your phone to be unlocked.
  • You can add multiple emergency contacts with their phone numbers and relationships to you.
  • Medical ID also lets you store blood type, allergies, and medications that paramedics might need to know.

Step-by-step: adding your first emergency contact

Open the Health app on your home screen — it has a white icon with a red heart. Tap the profile icon (a silhouette in a circle) in the top right corner. Scroll all the way down until you see "Medical ID" and tap it.

Tap "Edit" in the top right. Under "Emergency Contacts," tap the plus sign to add a new person. Type their name, select their relationship to you from the dropdown menu (Mom, Dad, Friend, Doctor, etc.), and enter their phone number. Tap "Add" when you're done. You can add as many contacts as you want — most people add two or three.

When you're finished adding everyone, tap "Done" in the top right to save. Your emergency contacts are now stored and will show on your lock screen if someone calls 911 from your phone.

What information shows up on your lock screen

When someone initiates an emergency call from your iPhone, the lock screen displays your Medical ID information automatically. This includes your emergency contacts' names and phone numbers, your blood type, any allergies you've listed, current medications, and any medical conditions you've added. The person making the call can see all of this without entering your passcode.

You control exactly what appears by editing your Medical ID. If you don't want certain information visible, straightforward delete it or leave that field blank. Some people add only emergency contacts and blood type, while others include allergies and medications. The choice is yours.

Editing or removing emergency contacts later

To change an emergency contact's information, open Health, tap your profile icon, scroll to Medical ID, and tap "Edit." Find the contact you want to change and tap it. You can update their name, relationship, or phone number. Tap "Done" when finished.

To remove someone entirely, tap "Edit," find their name, and swipe left on it. A red "Delete" button will appear — tap it to remove them. You can add them back anytime by following the same steps as adding a new contact.

Why Medical ID is different from your Contacts app

Medical ID is designed to be accessible during emergencies without unlocking your phone, which is why it's separate from your regular Contacts app. If emergency information were buried in your locked Contacts app, first responders wouldn't be able to reach your family or know about critical allergies.

Your regular Contacts app is for people you call or text regularly. Medical ID is specifically for information that paramedics, hospital staff, or someone calling 911 on your behalf might need in a crisis. The two systems don't overlap — adding someone to Contacts doesn't make them an emergency contact, and vice versa.

What to tell your emergency contacts

Once you've added someone as an emergency contact, let them know. Send them a text or call and explain that you've listed them in your Medical ID. Tell them what information you've included (blood type, allergies, medications) so they understand what will be visible if something happens.

Make sure the phone number you entered is one they actually answer — if you list your mom's work number but she never picks up during the day, that defeats the purpose. Use a number where they're likely to be reachable at any time, or add multiple numbers for the same person if they have a cell and a home phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add emergency contacts without using the Health app?

No. The Health app is the only official way to set emergency contacts on iPhone. Some older phones had an "Emergency Contacts" field in the regular Contacts app, but Apple moved this to Medical ID years ago. If you're using iOS 8 or later, Health is where you need to go.

Will my emergency contacts be notified automatically if something happens?

No. Medical ID only displays their information on your lock screen — it doesn't send them notifications or messages. Someone has to actively call them from your phone or contact them separately. The system makes their number straightforward to find, but it doesn't make the call for you.

What if I don't have a Medical ID yet?

Open the Health app, tap your profile icon, and look for Medical ID. If it doesn't exist, tap "Create Medical ID" instead of "Edit." You'll be walked through adding your basic information and emergency contacts. It takes about two minutes.

Can someone see my emergency contacts if my phone is locked?

Yes — that's the whole point. During an emergency call, your Medical ID (including emergency contacts) appears on the lock screen without requiring a passcode. This is intentional and by design so that first responders can reach your family quickly.

What if I want to add someone who doesn't have a phone number?

You need a phone number to add someone as an emergency contact in Medical ID. If you want to list someone without a phone number, you could add a note in the Medical ID notes section instead, but they won't appear as a formal emergency contact. A phone number is required for the system to work.