On supported Android phones, configure Emergency SOS in Settings > Safety & emergency > Emergency SOS. Add emergency contacts, select what SOS can share, confirm the local emergency number, and choose whether activation requires a hold or begins after a countdown. Menus and available features vary by device, so review the options on your own phone before relying on them.
Set up Emergency SOS
Google documents this setup for Android 12 and later, though the feature and labels may differ by device. Follow the options shown on your phone. For Google’s documented flow, the settings are at Settings > Safety & emergency > Emergency SOS.
- Open Emergency SOS setup. Go to Settings > Safety & emergency > Emergency SOS, then tap Start setup.
- Check the emergency services number. Confirm that the displayed number is right for your location. If it is not, tap Change number and correct it before continuing.
- Add people for emergency sharing. Start the emergency-sharing setup, tap Add contact, select a person, and choose what information SOS should share. This is a separate choice from adding someone to your general emergency contacts list.
- Allow location access if prompted. Grant the Personal Safety app location permission while using the app if you want location-sharing features to work. Real-time location sharing also requires an internet connection.
- Choose whether to use emergency recording. If the option is available, configure emergency video recording and whether the video is automatically shared with contacts after it is backed up.
- Choose how SOS starts. You can require a touch-and-hold confirmation or have actions start automatically after a countdown. Google describes a five-second automatic countdown; the setup may also offer an alarm option.
- Finish and review. Tap Done, then reopen Emergency SOS settings to check the number, sharing selections, and activation behavior.
Google says Emergency SOS can be triggered by pressing the power button five or more times. Depending on your selected behavior, you then hold inside the red circle for three seconds or wait for the automatic countdown. If emergency sharing or recording is enabled, those actions start alongside the call. Do not test the feature by placing an actual emergency call; review the settings or use a non-emergency demonstration if your device provides one. See Google’s Android Emergency SOS instructions.
Choose and verify emergency contacts
The general emergency contact list is managed in the Safety app, which may appear as Personal Safety on some devices. Adding a person to this list does not, by itself, choose what information SOS shares with them; configure that separately during Emergency SOS setup.
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- Open the Safety or Personal Safety app and sign in if prompted.
- Tap Your info, then Emergency contacts.
- Tap Add contact and select someone from your contacts.
- Review the list and make sure the person’s number is current.
To make emergency information viewable from the lock screen, use Emergency info access and turn on Show when locked. This lets someone holding your locked phone see the selected information. Choose contacts who can respond and whom you are comfortable sharing your location or other selected details with; there is no universally correct number of contacts.
Check the list on a Pixel
On Pixel phones, the Contacts app may show an Emergency contact label under a selected person’s name. In Google Contacts, select the Google Account associated with the Safety app and open a contact, or go to Fix & manage > Emergency contacts to inspect the list. If it is missing, check that Safety and Contacts are using the same Google Account. See Google Contacts Help and Google Pixel Phone Help.
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Choose how SOS activates and what it shares
The settings involve two separate decisions: how quickly an SOS action begins and who receives information. The practical trade-offs are:
| Choice | What it does | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Touch-and-hold confirmation | Requires you to hold inside the red circle for three seconds after triggering SOS. | Adds a confirmation step that may help prevent accidental activation. |
| Automatic countdown | Starts actions after the five-second countdown described in Google’s Android SOS settings. | Can start actions without the hold, but leaves less opportunity to cancel an accidental trigger. |
| Contact sharing | Lets you select contacts and the information SOS shares with them. | Consider whether each recipient can act on the information and whether you are comfortable sharing it. |
Feature availability and exact controls depend on the phone. Review the choices shown in your device’s Emergency SOS settings rather than assuming another model’s setup applies.
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Know what can prevent SOS or location sharing from working
- Airplane mode and Battery Saver: Google says Emergency SOS does not work while either is on.
- Internet and location permissions: Real-time location sharing with personal emergency contacts needs Wi-Fi or mobile internet. Emergency Sharing also requires at least one emergency contact, location permission, Location Services, and emergency call status sharing.
- SIM or eSIM and carrier conditions: A SIM or eSIM may be needed to call emergency contacts. Pixel Help says a phone without one cannot text a contact later. Whether calls or messages work can depend on device and carrier conditions.
- Region and account restrictions: Location sharing is unavailable in some countries or regions. Supervised accounts have age and Family Link restrictions, including limits that vary by age and parental contact settings.
- Device differences: The Personal Safety app is available only on some Android devices, and not every manufacturer uses Google’s documented menu flow. Some setup steps require touching the screen.
Emergency contact sharing and a call to emergency services are related but distinct. Google’s Emergency Location Service (ELS) is a separate mechanism that can send location to responders. ELS works only where supported by the country or region and mobile network, and if it has not been turned off; a carrier may still provide location when ELS is off. Check Google’s ELS availability information for the relevant conditions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Review your phone before relying on it
- Confirm the emergency services number shown in SOS settings is correct where you live.
- Check that the intended people appear in the emergency contacts list and that their numbers are current.
- Review separately which contacts receive sharing and what information is included.
- Check location permission, Location Services, and internet access if you intend to share real-time location.
- Read the activation behavior and any countdown or hold requirement so you know what the phone will do after the power-button trigger.
These features do not replace knowing how to reach local emergency services or checking whether your device and network support the options you intend to use. Google’s documented Android flow is described in Android Help; Pixel-specific conditions are covered in Pixel Phone Help.
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