How to Turn Off Emergency SOS on iPhone

Emergency SOS is a vital safety feature on the iPhone, but its accidental activation can be startling and may even lead to unintended calls to emergency services. This guide walks you through the different ways to turn off or adjust Emergency SOS settings on your iPhone, depending on your iOS version and how you want the feature to behave. You’ll learn how to disable the auto-call, the side-button shortcut, and the countdown sound, so you can keep the feature available without the risk of accidental triggers.

What You’ll Need

Your iPhone with the passcode or Face ID access.
Your Apple ID password if you need to turn off the feature entirely (not just adjust settings).
Knowledge of your iPhone model (to identify which buttons are used).

Step-by-Step

The exact steps depend on your iOS version. The following covers iOS 17 and iOS 18 (the current versions as of this writing).

Turn Off Auto-Call (the main culprit)

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Scroll down and tap Emergency SOS (in iOS 17 and earlier, it’s under Settings > Emergency SOS; in iOS 18, it’s under Settings > Emergency SOS as well).
Look for the toggle labeled Call with Hold and Release (iOS 17) or Call with Side Button (iOS 18). This is the feature that triggers a call when you hold the side button and one of the volume buttons, or rapidly press the side button five times.
Toggle this switch off. The switch will turn from green to gray.
If you also want to disable the countdown sound that plays during the emergency call, toggle off Countdown Sound (iOS 17) or Countdown Sound (iOS 18). This sound is a loud alarm that plays for 3 seconds before the call is placed.
Exit Settings. The changes are saved automatically.

Turn Off the Side Button Shortcut (if you still want the feature)

If you want to keep the ability to call for help but prevent accidental triggers, you can disable the rapid-press shortcut:

Go to Settings > Emergency SOS.
Look for Call with 5 Presses (iOS 17) or Call with Rapid Press (iOS 18).
Toggle it off.
Now, only the hold-and-release method (if enabled) will work, which is less likely to be triggered accidentally.

Completely Disable Emergency SOS (if you never want it)

If you want to remove the feature entirely, you can turn off all the toggles in the Emergency SOS settings. However, note that you cannot delete the feature from the phone; you can only disable the automatic calling. The Emergency SOS slider will still appear on the power-off screen, but it won’t call unless you confirm.

Follow the steps above to turn off Call with Hold and Release and Call with 5 Presses (or the equivalent toggles).
Also turn off Auto Call (if present) – this is the feature that automatically calls emergency services after the countdown ends.
Once all toggles are off, pressing the side button rapidly or holding it with a volume button will not initiate an emergency call. The power-off screen will still show the “Emergency SOS” slider, but sliding it will only bring up the keypad to dial manually (it won’t auto-call).

Common Mistakes

Turning off the wrong toggle: Many users turn off “Countdown Sound” thinking it disables the call, but the call still goes through—just silently. Make sure you turn off the actual call trigger.
Forgetting that the side button still works: Even with “Call with 5 Presses” off, holding the side button and a volume button may still trigger a call if “Call with Hold and Release” is on. Check both.
Not updating iOS: The settings menu names changed slightly in iOS 18. If you’re on an older version, the labels may be different. Always check the exact wording on your screen.
Assuming the feature is off because you toggled one option: You must turn off all the call triggers you don’t want. If you leave “Call with Hold and Release” on, you can still accidentally call.

Tips

Keep the countdown sound on: Even if you keep the feature enabled, the countdown sound gives you a few seconds to cancel the call if it’s accidental. You can cancel by tapping “Stop” on the screen.
Use the “Emergency SOS” slider on the power-off screen: If you disable all automatic triggers, you can still manually initiate an emergency call by swiping the slider on the power-off screen. This is a good middle ground.
Set up Medical ID: Even if you disable Emergency SOS, your Medical ID can still be accessed from the Emergency SOS screen, which is useful for first responders.
Test the feature safely: If you want to see how it works without calling, you can simulate it by pressing the buttons and then immediately tapping “Stop” when the countdown starts. This helps you understand the behavior.

Troubleshooting

If you’ve followed the steps but the feature still activates, try these:

Restart your iPhone: Sometimes settings changes don’t take effect until a restart. Press and hold the side button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears, then slide to power off, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on.
Check for iOS updates: Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any pending updates. Bugs in older iOS versions can cause settings to not apply correctly.
Reset all settings (not your data): If the issue persists, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. This will reset all system settings (Wi-Fi passwords, wallpaper, etc.) but will not delete your data. After the reset, go back to Emergency SOS and set it as you wish.
Contact Apple Support: If none of the above works, there may be a hardware issue with the side button or volume buttons causing phantom presses. Apple Support can run diagnostics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off Emergency SOS disable the power button?

No. The power button (side button) still works normally for locking the screen, taking screenshots, and accessing the power-off menu. Emergency SOS only uses specific button combinations or rapid presses.

Can I still call emergency services if I turn off all toggles?

Yes. You can always dial 911 (or your local emergency number) manually from the keypad. Also, the Emergency SOS slider on the power-off screen will still allow you to make a call if you swipe it and confirm.

Why does my iPhone still make a siren sound when I press the side button?

That sound is the countdown sound. If you turned off “Countdown Sound,” it should stop. If it still plays, check that the toggle is actually off. Also, ensure you don’t have a case that presses the buttons accidentally.

Does turning off Emergency SOS affect the Medical ID?

No. Your Medical ID is a separate feature. You can still access it from the Emergency SOS screen (by tapping “Medical ID”) even if the auto-call is disabled.

Will my iPhone automatically call emergency services if I’m in a car crash?

That’s a different feature called “Crash Detection” (on iPhone 14 and later). It uses the motion sensors and microphone to detect a severe crash and will call emergency services automatically. You can turn this off in Settings > Emergency SOS > Call After Severe Crash. This is separate from the button-based Emergency SOS.

I turned off “Call with Hold and Release” but it still calls when I hold the side button and volume button. Why?

Make sure you are not pressing the side button five times rapidly. The “Call with 5 Presses” feature may still be on. Also, check that you have the correct toggle for your iOS version. In iOS 18, the toggle is called “Call with Side Button” and it controls both the hold-and-release and the rapid press. If you turned that off, neither should work.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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