What an emergency contact is and why it matters
An emergency contact on your iPhone is a person's name and phone number that appears on your lock screen when someone finds your phone. You do not need to unlock the device to see it. If you are in an accident, unconscious, or unable to communicate, a stranger or first responder can call that number directly from your lock screen without knowing your passcode.
This is different from a regular contact in your phone book. A regular contact is private — someone would have to unlock your phone to find it. An emergency contact is deliberately public. The trade-off is straightforward: you lose a small amount of privacy in exchange for the chance that someone can reach your family or a trusted person if you cannot.
Most people set a spouse, parent, adult child, or close friend as their emergency contact. Some people set more than one. The choice is yours, and you can change it anytime.
Key Takeaways
- Emergency contacts appear on your iPhone lock screen and can be called without unlocking your phone, so choose someone you trust completely.
- You can add up to five emergency contacts through the Health app, and they will show on your lock screen in the order you list them.
- The person you choose will not receive a notification that you have listed them as an emergency contact.
- You can change or remove your emergency contacts at any time by opening the Health app and editing your Medical ID.
How to add an emergency contact through the Health app
Open the Health app on your iPhone — it has a white icon with a red heart. Tap the profile icon in the top right corner (it looks like a person's silhouette). Scroll down and tap "Medical ID." If you have never set up a Medical ID before, tap "Create Medical ID" at the bottom of the screen.
Scroll down to the section labeled "Emergency Contacts." Tap "Add Emergency Contact." A list of your existing contacts will appear. Choose the person you want to add. Their name and phone number will now appear as an emergency contact on your lock screen.
If the person you want to add is not yet in your contacts, go back to your main Contacts app, create a new contact with their name and phone number, and then return to the Health app to add them.
Adding multiple emergency contacts and changing the order
You can add up to five emergency contacts. When you add more than one, they appear on your lock screen in the order you set them. The first contact listed is the one a first responder will see first.
To add another emergency contact, go back to Medical ID in the Health app and tap "Add Emergency Contact" again. To change the order, tap "Edit" in the top right corner of the Medical ID screen, then tap and hold the three horizontal lines next to each contact name and drag it up or down. Tap "Done" when you are finished.
What happens when someone calls your emergency contact
When a person finds your phone and swipes up from the lock screen, they see a button labeled "Emergency SOS." Below that, they see "Emergency Contacts" with your contact's name and a phone icon. Tapping the phone icon calls that person directly — no passcode needed.
The person you listed will not know in advance that they are your emergency contact. They will straightforward receive a call from your phone number. There is no notification sent to them, no message saying "you have been added as an emergency contact." You should tell them yourself so they understand why they might receive a call from your phone in an emergency.
Removing or changing an emergency contact
To remove an emergency contact, open the Health app, tap your profile icon, tap "Medical ID," and tap "Edit." Find the contact you want to remove and tap the red minus sign next to their name. Tap "Delete," then tap "Done."
To change a contact to someone else, tap "Edit," tap the contact you want to replace, and choose a new person from your contacts list. Tap "Done" when finished.
Privacy and security considerations
Because your emergency contact appears on your lock screen, anyone who picks up your phone can see that person's name and phone number. This is by design — the point is to make it straightforward for a stranger to reach someone who knows you. If you are concerned about someone having access to a particular person's phone number, do not list them as an emergency contact.
Your Medical ID information is stored on your device and is not sent to Apple or backed up to iCloud by default. If you want your Medical ID to be visible even if your phone is locked and offline, make sure "Show on Lock Screen" is toggled on in your Medical ID settings. This is usually on by default.
You can also add medical information to your Medical ID — allergies, medications, blood type, organ donor status — and choose whether that information shows on your lock screen. Emergency contacts are separate from this medical information, and you can have one without the other.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my emergency contact get notified that I added them?
No. Adding someone as an emergency contact sends no notification to them. They will only know if you tell them. It is a good idea to let them know so they understand why they might receive a call from your phone number in an emergency.
Can I add someone who is not in my contacts?
Not directly through the Health app. You must first create a contact for that person in your Contacts app with their name and phone number. Then you can add them as an emergency contact in the Health app.
What if I do not want anyone to be able to call my emergency contact from my lock screen?
You can remove all emergency contacts by editing your Medical ID and deleting each one. However, first responders can still call emergency services (911) from your lock screen without your passcode, which is usually the more important safety feature.
Do emergency contacts work if my phone is turned off?
No. Your emergency contact information only appears on your lock screen when your phone is powered on. If your phone is off or the battery is dead, the information is not accessible.
Can I set a different emergency contact for different people?
No. All emergency contacts you add appear on your lock screen for anyone who finds your phone. You cannot hide certain contacts from certain people. Choose contacts you are comfortable with anyone being able to reach.