Accidentally calling emergency services might sound like something that could never happen to you, but mistakes do happen. If you have an iPhone and are new to using it or simply not familiar with the specific settings and functions, you may be at risk of dialing emergency services without even knowing it. In this blog post, we will explore what happens when someone accidentally calls Emergency SOS on their iPhone and how to prevent such a mishap from happening.
What is the Emergency SOS Feature?
The Emergency SOS feature on iPhones allows users to quickly call for help in an emergency or hazardous situation. The feature sends out a loud alert that can be heard by anyone nearby and calls the nearest emergency services number, such as 911 in the United States or 999 in the UK. However, this powerful feature can also be accidentally triggered, leading to some confusion over what happens next.
When activated, it triggers a loud alert that can be heard by anyone nearby and calls the nearest emergency services number automatically. The phone also sends out a message to any of your emergency contacts, letting them know you may need help. It’s an incredibly useful tool that can save lives in dangerous situations.
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What Happens If You Accidentally Call Emergency SOS on iPhone?
If you accidentally trigger the Emergency SOS feature on your iPhone, don’t worry – it doesn’t automatically connect you to emergency services. Instead, it will give you a few seconds to cancel the call before it connects. If you don’t cancel the call in time, your phone will start dialing your local emergency service number and alert any of your contacts who have been set up as emergency contacts.
If the call is not canceled in time, you will be connected with an emergency services operator. You can explain to them that you accidentally triggered the Emergency SOS feature and they will be understanding. However, if the operator believes there may have been a genuine emergency, they may send out emergency personnel to check on you.
It’s important to remember that emergency services operators take all accidental calls seriously, so it’s best, to be honest, and explain the situation if you accidentally trigger Emergency SOS.
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Guide to Accidentally Calling Emergency SOS

Accidentally triggering the Emergency SOS feature on iPhones is a frustrating, but surprisingly common issue that many users face. If you find yourself in this situation, there are a few steps you can take to ensure a safe and efficient resolution.
1. Trigger an accidental call with your iPhone
The Emergency SOS feature can be triggered in several different ways on iPhones, depending on the operating system. On older versions of iOS, it can be triggered by quickly pressing the power button five times in succession. On newer versions, it is located in the settings menu and needs to be clicked twice rapidly.
- Here’s a helpful tip: If you find yourself in an emergency and need to quickly trigger the Emergency SOS feature, press and hold the power button for 3 seconds. This will instantly connect you with your local emergency services number.
2. Understanding the alert noise that accompanies a call
When you accidentally trigger the Emergency SOS feature on an iPhone, it will emit a loud alert as well as display an emergency services number and contact info on your screen. This alert is meant to be heard by anyone nearby so they can help if needed. Fortunately, you have a few seconds to cancel the call before it connects.
3. What will happen next when the call is triggered?
If you don’t cancel the call in time, your phone will start dialing your local emergency services number and alert any of your contacts who have been set up as emergency contacts. If the call is not canceled in time, you will be connected with an emergency services operator. You can explain to them that you accidentally triggered the Emergency SOS feature and they will be understanding. However, if the operator believes there may have been a genuine emergency, they may send out emergency personnel to check on you.
Steps to Take After an Accidental Emergency Call
After you have triggered the Emergency SOS feature on your iPhone, it’s important to take a few steps to ensure a safe and efficient resolution.
1. Speak to the responding emergency personnel and inform them of the accidental nature of your call
If you are connected with an emergency services operator, it’s important, to be honest, and explain that you accidentally called. The operator will understand, though they may still send out an emergency response team if they feel it is necessary.
2. Wait for help to arrive if necessary
If the emergency services operator decides to send out a response team, it’s important to remain calm and wait for help to arrive. Once the response team has arrived, you can explain that your call was accidental and they will be understanding.
3. How to contact your local police department or emergency services to let them know the call was accidental
If you have accidentally triggered the Emergency SOS feature and do not need emergency services, you can contact your local police department to let them know the call was accidental. This will help prevent the unnecessary dispatch of resources or personnel in the future.
In any case, it’s important to stay calm and take the necessary steps to ensure a safe and efficient resolution. Accidentally triggering the Emergency SOS feature on your iPhone can be a scary experience, but with a few simple steps, it can be resolved without any further issues.
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How To Prevent Accidentally Calling Emergency SOS

Accidentally triggering the Emergency SOS feature on an iPhone can be a scary experience and it’s important to take steps to avoid this situation in the future. Here are some tips to help you prevent accidentally calling emergency services:
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1. Reviewing your iPhone’s settings and disabling the Emergency SOS feature
If you want to completely disable the Emergency SOS feature, it can be done easily by navigating your iPhone’s settings. Once in the settings, you can find “Emergency SOS” under General, then turn off the auto-call setting. This will prevent any accidental calls in the future, however, it will also limit the effectiveness of the feature if you ever need to use it.
2. Ensure that you are double-checking dialed numbers before making a call
Accidental calling can be caused by mistyping or accidentally tapping the wrong number on your contact list. To avoid this situation, it’s important to double-check the number you are dialing before making the call. This will help ensure that you are calling the right person and not accidentally triggering emergency services.
3. Keeping your finger away from the side buttons when you are not using them
The Emergency SOS feature can be triggered by quickly pressing and releasing the side button on your iPhone. To avoid this, it’s important to keep your finger away from the side button when you are not using it. This will help prevent any accidental calls and ensure that you can use the feature if necessary.
These tips should help reduce the chances of accidentally calling emergency services on an iPhone. While this situation can be alarming and upsetting, it’s important to stay calm and remember the steps you can take to resolve the issue. With these tips, you can avoid such situations in the future and ensure that emergency services are only called when they are needed.
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Conclusion
Accidentally calling emergency services on an iPhone can be a scary experience, but with the right steps and precautions, it can be avoided in the future. In this article, we discussed what happens when you accidentally trigger the Emergency SOS feature on an iPhone, as well as tips to help you prevent any further accidental calls.
When the Emergency SOS feature is triggered, your phone will sound an alarm and display a countdown before automatically calling emergency services. It’s important to stay calm and remember that you can cancel the call by pressing the side button or volume up/down buttons. In some cases, you may need to contact local emergency services and explain the situation.