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Smartphone Guide: How to Add Emergency Info to Lock Screen

Smartphones today have become an integral part of our daily lives. We use them for communication, entertainment, and even to manage our daily tasks. However, in times of emergency, our phones could also be a lifeline. That's why it's crucial to have critical information readily accessible on our phones at all times.

smartphone lock screen

Fortunately, there's a way to make this information available to anyone, even when our phones are locked. By adding emergency information to our lock screens, we can ensure that first responders or anyone nearby can quickly access important details that could be a matter of life and death. This could include medical conditions, allergies, emergency contacts, and more.

Adding this information to your phone, and knowing where to locate it if you are in need of it, is essential. Whether you have an iPhone, an Android, or any other smartphone, we're here to guide you through the process step-by-step.

Related: PHONE GUIDE: How to Make Your Phone Use Less Data!

How to Add Emergency Info to an iPhone

To access Medical ID, you have several options:

1. To access Medical ID, you have several options:

  • Long-press the Apple Health app and select Medical ID.
  • Open the Health app, located on all devices running iOS 8 and later. Tap your profile image at the top right, then choose Medical ID. If it's been a while since you last opened the Health app, you might be prompted to complete a Health Checklist, which will also direct you to your Medical ID.
  • Navigate to Settings > Health > Medical ID.

2. Once you've accessed Medical ID, tap on the Edit button.

3. Fill in the necessary information. If you don't take medications or have any known allergies, simply write "None" or "None known" to prevent confusion for first responders and medical professionals.

4. For Emergency Contact, you can select a contact from your Contacts app. Make sure that the person you choose is already saved in your phone's Contacts.

5. At the bottom of the page, toggle on the settings for Show When Locked and Share During Emergency Call under Emergency Access.

6. There's an option to add a profile photo at the top of the page. Consider uploading a recent picture of yourself to help emergency responders identify your information accurately.

7. Once you've completed filling in your Medical ID, tap Done at the top right to save your changes.

Related: 5 Tips That Make For an Easier iPhone Experience

How to Find Someone's Emergency Info on an iPhone

Once you've set up your emergency information, you'll need to know how to access it from your phone's lock screen.

1. On the lock screen, when the phone asks for a passcode, there is a designated section titled Emergency in the lower left corner.

2. When you tap the Emergency label, a keypad interface appears immediately.

3. Go to the bottom left corner and select Medical ID. All necessary emergency information is immediately available. Further down the page, you'll see an opportunity to call any of the listed emergency contacts by tapping on their phone number.

How to Add Emergency Info on Android

Most Android smartphones have a provision for including emergency contact information, which may be accessed through either the phone settings or the contacts app. The actual location may vary depending on the phone model and Android version loaded, but it will most likely look like this:

1. Search for Emergency in your device's settings menu. This will most likely take you to a section named Emergency Information or something similar. If you can't find it, look under My Information.

2. In most cases, when you enter this part, you will be presented with a screen that includes fields for emergency medical information and contacts. These fields may require you to enter information such as your name, blood type, medications, allergies, and other relevant information. Take care to fill out all essential fields accurately. If you do not have any medications or allergies, it is best to state "None" or "None known" to help emergency responders.

3. Finally, go to the section for Emergency Contacts. This section could be located below the medical information forms, in a separate page, or accessible via your contacts app. Regardless of their location, you must have the people you want to designate as emergency contacts saved in your contacts app before assigning them as such.

4. Many Android devices allow you to add a custom message on your lock screen. This is a great opportunity to prominently display emergency information, especially for people who are unfamiliar with accessing it through conventional means. To enable this function, navigate to your device's settings and look for choices like Screen Lock or Lock Screen Message.

Related: Simple Tips to Transfer Contacts from iPhone to Android

How to Find Someone's Emergency Info on Android

smartphone

If you need to help an Android phone user access their medical information and emergency contacts, here's a step-by-step guide: 

1. Start by swiping up from the lock screen.

2. Next, select the Emergency option.

3. Select Emergency Information from the menu.

4. Even if the phone is locked, you can reach the individual's chosen contacts assuming they have provided emergency information. Swiping up and selecting Emergency allows you to quickly obtain the local emergency services number.

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