This IPhone Feature Can Save Your Life in an Emergency.
This week, an avalanche claimed the lives of eight people in the Lake Tahoe mountain area. One person is also missing but presumed dead. The story is tragic, but miraculously, six members of the group survived. According to the New York Times , the skiers were rescued thanks to the iPhone’s standard satellite SOS feature, which allowed them to contact emergency services while trapped in the snow.
If you have an iPhone, you probably have this feature available to you too. What’s more, it’s easy to activate in an emergency, though it’s a good idea to know exactly how it works beforehand. This isn’t the first time satellite SOS calls have helped save lives during natural disasters, and knowing this now could potentially save your life in a future emergency.
What is an emergency SOS call via satellite?
You might be familiar with the Emergency SOS feature on your iPhone—you might even have accidentally activated it by pressing the button too many times in a row. Emergency SOS allows you to quickly call 911 in an emergency.
But the Emergency SOS satellite feature works differently. This feature allows you to contact emergency services even if you’re in an area without cellular coverage. While a regular 911 call goes through your carrier’s network, Emergency SOS satellite connects your call or message to the nearest satellite overhead. This means that under favorable conditions, you can contact emergency services from virtually anywhere in the world, regardless of cellular coverage.
Of course, since the connection is via satellite, it’s significantly different from a standard cellular connection.Apple states that under “ideal conditions” with clear skies, messages can take 30 seconds to send. Under less ideal conditions, such as when the sky is obscured by trees, message sending time can drop to 60 seconds or more.
Apple first introduced this feature on the iPhone 14, but starting with iOS 18, you can send text messages to anyone via satellite . The principle is the same, but you can contact friends and family instead of calling 911. In an emergency, but without calling the police, fire department, or an ambulance, this feature allows you to contact close friends no matter where you are.
How to use the SOS emergency call feature via satellite
To connect to satellite using your iPhone, you’ll need an iPhone 14 or later. In the US and Canada, you’ll also need iOS 16.1, though other regions have their own software requirements. This feature is currently available in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, and the US.
If you have a satellite network connection (cellular or Wi-Fi), the option to connect to satellite services won’t appear. This option will be available when there’s no connection. In this case, the iOS Connection Assistant will ask if you want to connect to the satellite. If you skip this question, you can launch it from the Cellular section in Control Center or from Settings > Satellite .
Once you launch the Connection Assistant, it will guide you through the process of connecting to the nearest satellite, including on-screen visual cues. The key is this: you need to be outdoors with a clear view of the sky. Apple states that “light” or “medium” tree foliage can slow down signal transmission, while “dense” foliage, hills, mountains, or tall structures can completely block the connection.
Apple states that you can hold your iPhone as usual—there’s no need to point it at the sky—but you may be prompted to move left or right depending on the satellite’s position. Apple also notes that the connection may not work in locations above 62° latitude, including northern Alaska.
Once connected, the first thing you should do is try calling 911. The call may go through even via satellite, but if it doesn’t, you’ll find an option to send an “Emergency Text Message.” Tap this option, then select the appropriate service ( roadside assistance or emergency services). You can also open the Messages app, send a text message to 911, and then select “Emergency Services.” Here, tap “Report Emergency,” and then answer the questions when asked to describe the situation. You can also set up automatic notification to emergency services that you’ve contacted 911. Your iPhone will then transmit all this information, along with your location, remaining iPhone battery life, and Medical ID (if configured), to emergency services.
Is the Emergency SOS satellite service free?
Yes! (For now.) Since its launch, the satellite SOS feature has been free, although Apple officially states that the feature is free for two years after iPhone activation. Last year, the company extended this deadline for iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 users, so no iPhone users have yet been charged for the feature. The company may continue to extend the deadline or begin charging a fee, but pricing information is currently unavailable.
It’s worth noting that T-Mobile also has its own satellite service . If you have this carrier and an iPhone 13 or later, you can use their satellite service.