Your iPhone has a special option to 'quietly call' emergency services – and it's important to know how it works.
You'll need to activate a setting before you can do this, so learn about it now.
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It's tied to Apple's Emergency SOS feature, which is a standard iOS feature on your iPhone.
With the Emergency SOS feature, you can press and hold the side button plus either volume button to make an emergency call.
It's a quick way to contact emergency services, especially if you're in a difficult situation.
However, the Emergency SOS feature triggers a countdown and then sounds an alarm as part of the process.
This can be very useful in some situations, but you may want to make a more precise call instead.
In this case, you'll need to use Apple's Call Quietly option.
“Warning alarms, flashes, and VoiceOver sound will be silenced when you use 'Press and Release' or '5 Presses' to make an emergency call,” Apple explains.
The feature was added in iOS 16.3 update, released in January 2023.
We're currently on iOS 18, so it's very likely you already have it.
To check, just go to Settings > General > Software Update.
Then go to Settings > Emergency SOS and turn on the Call Quietly option.
Note that this only works if you use the “Dial and hold and release” or “5-button dial” options.
So you'll need to activate one or both options in Settings > Emergency SOS as well.
Other emergency features on the iPhone
There are some other useful emergency features on your iPhone.
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Emergency reset
A great example of this is the emergency reset button on a safety check.
If you haven't heard of Safety Check, it's a way to see who has access to your iPhone information.
For example, you may have forgotten that you're sharing things (like your photos or your location) with certain people.
It's also possible that someone made this post without your knowledge.
What is the integrity check that cannot be changed?
Below is Apple's official list of shared information that Safety Check cannot review or change…
- Non-Apple accounts and passwords.
- Social media sharing.
- Devices where you're signed in with a different iCloud account.
- An iPad or Mac with information sharing settings for other apps turned on.
Image credit: Apple
You can review all your sharing arrangements just by going to Settings > Privacy & Security > Health Checkup.
But there is a powerful feature built inside Safety Check called Emergency Reset.
This is designed to allow you to quickly stop sharing information with all people and applications.
You'll be able to review your emergency contacts, see (and remove) devices connected to your Apple account, review phone numbers used to verify your identity, and change your Apple account password.
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“If your personal safety is at risk, use the emergency reset to quickly protect your information from people and apps,” Apple explained.
But the company warned: “Keep in mind that people may notice if you stop sharing your information with them.”
If you want to perform an emergency reset, just look for the button in your Safety Check settings.
Lock mode
The second emergency setting that you (hopefully) probably won't need is called Lockdown mode.
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It is designed to provide Apple with “ultimate protection” against serious cyberattacks.
“Secure Mode is optional and should only be used if you believe you may be targeted by a highly sophisticated cyberattack,” Apple explained.
“Like a private company developing spyware for state-sponsored mercenaries.
“Most people are not targeted by attacks of this type.”
Lock mode works on MAC too!
Here's how to do it…
Simply go to the Apple menu and then choose System Settings.
Now select Privacy & Security, then scroll down and choose Lock mode.
Now tap on Turn on Lock Mode.
Enter your password if prompted, then choose Turn on and restart.
Image credit: Apple
This will block or change certain features on your iPhone if you activate them.
This includes things like blocking most message attachments, rejecting FaceTime calls from people you've never connected with, and removing location information from photos you share.
To turn it on, just go to Settings > Privacy & security > Lock mode, then follow the prompts.
Just keep in mind that you'll probably never need this feature, as it's only intended for people who think they're being targeted by very serious attacks.
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So, turn it on only as a last resort – normal people are not meant to leave it turned on, as it will make your iPhone experience absolutely miserable.
