To turn off SOS on my phone, open the Settings app and navigate to the emergency menu specific to your device. On an iPhone, you disable individual triggers in Settings > Emergency SOS; on Android, you use the documented path Settings > Safety and emergency > Emergency SOS > Settings icon > Turn off Emergency SOS.
Why your phone's SOS keeps activating
Accidental SOS activations happen because the feature is designed for quick access. On iPhone, SOS can be triggered by the side button shortcuts Apple documents in Settings > Emergency SOS: Call with Hold and Release and Call with 5 presses. Apple also documents automatic SOS after a severe crash when Call After Severe Crash is enabled on iPhone 14 or later running iOS 16 or later. On Android, Google documents Emergency SOS as an emergency feature in the phone’s Safety and emergency settings, with a separate option to turn it off.
How to turn off SOS on an iPhone
- Open Settings.
- Tap Emergency SOS.
- Turn off Call with Hold and Release.
- Turn off Call with 5 presses.
- If your device supports it, turn off Call After Severe Crash; Apple also documents Call After Severe Crash in Settings > Emergency SOS for iPhone 14 or later running iOS 16 or later.
Apple documents separate switches for Call with Hold and Release and Call with 5 presses in Settings > Emergency SOS. Apple says turning off Call with Hold and Release or Call with 5 presses only disables those triggers; the Emergency Call slider can still be used. If you want to avoid accidental calls while still keeping the phone silent, you can use Do Not Disturb and silent mode to prevent sounds from a potential countdown.
How to turn off SOS on Android phones
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Safety and emergency.
- Tap Emergency SOS.
- Under How it works, tap the Settings icon.
- Tap Turn off Emergency SOS.
Google’s help page documents Turn off Emergency SOS, but it does not list every device model in the snippet available here. After turning it off, the feature is disabled, though the ‘SOS’ status bar icon has a different, carrier-related meaning.
A critical note for Samsung Galaxy users
For Samsung Galaxy phones, Samsung’s support pages say behavior varies by software update and region. One support page says after the June 2023 software update automatic dialing cannot be fully turned off, while another says devices without that update can deactivate it. Check your phone’s software version before assuming you can disable the feature entirely.
What to expect after turning off SOS
On iPhone, the Emergency Call slider remains accessible even after disabling the triggers. On Android, the feature is off, but the ‘SOS’ status bar icon has a different, carrier-related meaning, it indicates the iPhone is not connected to its carrier, not that emergency calling is active. Turning off the triggers stops accidental calls, but emergency calling is not removed entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can SOS be fully removed from an iPhone?
Apple documents turning off the trigger options in Settings > Emergency SOS, not removing emergency calling entirely. The Emergency Call slider remains available.
Can SOS be fully removed from Android?
Google documents a Turn off Emergency SOS option in Settings > Safety and emergency > Emergency SOS, which disables the feature. It does not remove the ability to call emergency services manually.
What if the phone still shows SOS in the status bar?
Apple’s support result says SOS in the status bar means the iPhone is not connected to its carrier. This is unrelated to the emergency SOS feature and indicates no cellular service.
Does turning off SOS affect crash detection?
Yes. Turning off Call After Severe Crash on iPhone 14 or later running iOS 16 or later stops automatic emergency calls after a severe crash. The crash detection sensor still works, but it will not dial emergency services.
What happens if I press the side button five times after disabling SOS?
On iPhone, turning off Call with 5 presses means pressing the side button five times will not trigger an emergency call. The button still performs its standard function (like bringing up the power-off screen) depending on your settings.
