YOUR iPhone has a special option for “quietly calling” emergency services – and it’s important to know how it works.
You’ll need to activate a setting before you can do it, so familiarise yourself with it now.
It’s linked to Apple’s Emergency SOS feature, a standard iOS feature on your iPhone.
With Emergency SOS, you can press and hold the side button plus either volume button to make an emergency call.
It’s a fast way to contact the emergency services, especially if you’re in a difficult situation.
However, Emergency SOS triggers a countdown and then sounds an alarm as part of its process.
That might be very useful in some situations, but you might want to make a more subtle call instead.
In that case, you’ll want to use Apple’s Call Quietly option.
“Warning alarms, flashes, and VoiceOver audio will be silenced when using ‘Hold and release’ or ‘5 Button Presses’ to place an emergency call,” Apple explains.
The feature was added in the iOS 16.3 update, which was released in January 2023.
We’re currently up to iOS 18, so it’s very likely that you already have it.
To check, just go to Settings > General > Software Update.
Then go to Settings > Emergency SOS and toggle the Call Quietly option on.
Note that this only works if you’re using either the “Call with Hold and Release” or “Call with 5 Button Presses” options.
So you’ll need one or both of those toggled on in Settings > Emergency SOS too.
There are some other useful emergency features on your iPhone.
A great example is the Emergency Reset button in Safety Check.
If you haven’t heard of Safety Check, it’s a way to see who has access to your iPhone’s info.
For instance, you might have forgotten that you’re sharing things (like your photos or location) with certain people.
It’s also possible that someone has set up that sharing without your knowledge.
Use the Emergency Reset button to shut out snoopers instantly.
But the company warned: “Keep in mind that people may notice if you stop sharing your information with them.”
If you want to do an Emergency Reset, just look for the button in your Safety Check settings.
A second emergency setting that you’re (hopefully) unlikely to need is called Lockdown Mode.
It’s designed to be offer Apple calls “extreme protection” against serious cyberattacks.
“Lockdown Mode is optional and should be used only if you believe you might be targeted by a highly sophisticated cyberattack,” Apple explained.
“Such as by a private company developing state-sponsored mercenary spyware.
“Most people are never targeted by attacks of this nature.”
Just go to the Apple menu then choose System Settings.
Now select Privacy & Security, scroll down and choose Lockdown Mode.
Now tap Turn On > Turn On Lockdown Mode.
Enter your password if you’re prompted to, then choose Turn On & Restart.
Picture Credit: Apple
It’ll block or change certain features on your iPhone if you activate it.
That includes things like blocking most message attachments, rejecting FaceTime calls from people you’ve never contacted, and removing location info from photos that you share.
To turn it on, just go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode, and then follow the prompts.
Just bear in mind that you’ll probably never need this feature, as it’s only for people who think they’re being targeted by very serious attacks.
OTHER EMERGENCY IPHONE FEATURES
There are some other useful emergency features on your iPhone.
A great example is the Emergency Reset button in Safety Check.
If you haven’t heard of Safety Check, it’s a way to see who has access to your iPhone’s info.
For instance, you might have forgotten that you’re sharing things (like your photos or location) with certain people.
It’s also possible that someone has set up that sharing without your knowledge.
Use the Emergency Reset button to shut out snoopers instantly.
But the company warned: “Keep in mind that people may notice if you stop sharing your information with them.”
If you want to do an Emergency Reset, just look for the button in your Safety Check settings.
FAQs
Q: What is the Call Quietly feature?
A: The Call Quietly feature is an option in Emergency SOS that silences warning alarms, flashes, and VoiceOver audio when making an emergency call.
Q: How do I turn on the Call Quietly feature?
A: To turn on the Call Quietly feature, go to Settings > Emergency SOS and toggle the Call Quietly option on.
Q: What is Safety Check?
A: Safety Check is a feature that allows you to see who has access to your iPhone’s info and reset access as needed.
Q: How do I use the Emergency Reset button in Safety Check?
A: To use the Emergency Reset button in Safety Check, look for the button in your Safety Check settings and follow the prompts.
Q: What is Lockdown Mode?
A: Lockdown Mode is an optional feature that offers extreme protection against serious cyberattacks.
Q: How do I turn on Lockdown Mode?
A: To turn on Lockdown Mode, go to the Apple menu, choose System Settings, select Privacy & Security, scroll down and choose Lockdown Mode, and then follow the prompts.