Apple has built all kinds of handy safety features into your iPhone. In these iPhone tips we show 6 that you really need to know.
6 Safety Features in your iPhone
You have undoubtedly set some safety features on your iPhone once, but chances are that you will nevertheless not be sure whether everything is (still) right now. That is why it is a good idea to occasionally check the most important safety features. We recommend that you check these 6 at least.
1. SOS emergency notification
One of the most convenient safety features in your iPhone is SOS emergency notification. In an emergency, your iPhone can quickly request help by automatically calling the emergency services. The SOS emergency notification function calls the local helpline for emergencies based on your location and is therefore even available when you are traveling. That way you don’t even have to know the local emergency number.
There are different setting options, so you can choose what works best for you. There are two automatic options where you can call immediately by holding down the side button and a volume button together, or pressing quickly on the side button five times in a row. There is also an option where you have to call with a sweeping movement.
You can set SOS emergency notification in the Settings app. You can enable one of the two or both options. If you do not want to call automatically, switch off both options. The options still work, only then you will end up in the switch -off screen of your iPhone. There you can then place an emergency call with one sweeping movement.
2. Medical ID
Medical ID provides relevant medical information and contacts to first aid providers when you get an accident. This is also one of the safety features on your iPhone that you can keep the best up-to-date and available.
Your medical ID contains your name, age, allergies and contact persons for emergencies, a photo, the languages ​​you speak, height, weight, blood type, medicines and medical conditions, including pregnancy. You can set your own medical ID in the Settings of the Health app:
- Open the app settings;
- Scroll down and tap ‘Apps’;
- Tap the ‘Health’ app and then on ‘Medical ID’;
- Tap each category to add data.
It is also good to know how you can get to someone’s medical ID in an emergency:
- Wipe up from the lock screen;
- On the password screen, you tap ‘Emergency’;
- Tap at the bottom left of ‘Medical ID’.
3. Detection of accident
This is one of the safety features of the iPhone that has already saved several people. With iPhone 14 or newer, the gyroscope and gear meter in the iPhone can detect an accident and warn the emergency services. ‘Detection of accident’ can sometimes give a false alarm. In the beginning that happened when people were skiing or were in a roller coaster, but Apple has now further refined it.
Detection of accident is automatically switched on on the iPhone 14 or newer, but you can easily check it:
- Open the app settings;
- Tap ‘SOS emergency notification’;
- Check whether the switch is on ‘Call after serious accident’.
If the function is switched on, the iPhone will show and count down an alarm in case of an accident before the call is placed. In this way you have the time to cancel the call when an accident has been detected incorrectly.
4. Share location
With the app looking for me you can share your location with friends and relatives, one of the more convenient safety features on your iPhone. In some situations it gives a safe idea that someone knows where you are. You can decide for yourself how long you want to share your location, for example for an hour, until the end of the day or for an indefinite period. Sharing is as follows:
- Open the app search my;
- Tap on the bottom left of ‘persons’;
- Tap ‘Start with parts of location’;
- Select the desired contact person;
- Tap ‘Send’ at the top right.
It is also possible to share your location from the Messages app and the App Contacts.
5. Check-in
If you do not want to share your location permanently with someone, you can use the ‘Check-in’ function. You then choose a person who will see your current location, your intended destination and the estimated time you need to get there. If you do not arrive at your destination or tap a notification when the timer ends, that person will receive a notification.
The person can see your starting location, the route you have traveled, your current or most recent location, when you last unlocked your iPhone or, if you have an Apple Watch when you have taken it off. The connecting status of your devices and the battery levels are also visible. You can switch on:
- Open the app messages;
- Choose the conversation with the desired person;
- Tap the ‘+’ button and choose ‘check-in’.
6. Safety control
Safety control is an important function that you lead through all privacy settings on your iPhone. It is worthwhile to use it occasionally and to check whether all safety features on your iPhone are good. It lets you know which people, apps and devices can see personal information such as your location. You start the safety control as follows:
- Open the app settings;
- Tap ‘privacy and security;
- Scroll down and tap ‘security control’.
There is an option ‘Emergency recovery’ and an option ‘Share management and access’. With an ’emergency recovery’, the permissions for sharing data from all your apps are immediately restored and sharing your location with both people and apps is stopped. ‘Share and access’ management is the option that is most suitable for most people.
Here you can see what you share with people, such as location, photos, agendas, passwords, activities, home devices, notes and more. You can view these settings per person or an overview of how many people have access to each category by tapping the ‘Information’ button.
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