To set emergency contact on Android, the steps differ by manufacturer, so you need to know which phone you have. On a Samsung Galaxy, you use the system Settings; on a Google Pixel, you use the Contacts and Safety apps. This feature matters because it lets first responders or bystanders reach your loved ones directly from your locked phone without needing your passcode.
Set emergency contacts on Samsung Galaxy
- Open Settings and tap Safety and emergency.
- Tap Emergency contacts.
- Tap Add emergency contact, choose a contact from your list or search for one, then tap Done.
Some devices also let you tap Emergency calls on the lock screen to access the emergency contacts setting.
To remove a contact, touch and hold the contact’s name and tap Remove.
Add medical info on Samsung Galaxy
- Go to Settings > Safety and emergency > Medical info.
- Enter your details. If prompted, tap Confirm.
- Tap Save when finished.
Show emergency contacts on the Samsung lock screen
After you add contacts, go back to Settings > Safety and emergency > Emergency contacts and enable the in the lock screen display option. This makes your emergency contacts visible on the lock screen without unlocking the phone.
Set emergency contacts on Google Pixel
- Open the Contacts app.
- Select the Google Account that has your emergency contacts.
- Look for a contact already labeled Emergency contact, or tap Fix & manage Emergency contacts at the bottom of the screen to open the Safety app’s list.
You can also add emergency contacts directly from the Contacts app: open a contact, tap the three-dot menu, and select Add to emergency contacts.
Unlike Samsung, the Pixel path does not use a system Settings page for emergency contacts.
Edit or remove emergency contacts on Pixel
Open the Safety app (accessed from the Contacts app as described above) to manage your list. You can add, edit, or remove contacts there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add multiple emergency contacts?
Yes. On both Samsung and Pixel, you can add as many contacts as you need. The documented sources do not state a fixed limit for Samsung, Pixel, or iPhone.
How do first responders see them on a locked phone?
On Samsung, after you enable the lock-screen display toggle, anyone can swipe up on the lock screen and tap “Emergency call” or “Emergency information” to see your contacts and medical info. On Pixel, emergency contacts are part of the Safety app and are accessible from the lock screen’s emergency call screen.
Do documented sources state a contact limit?
No. Apple’s emergency contact pages, Samsung’s page, and Google’s Pixel page all do not state a maximum number of contacts in the material retrieved.
Can I use Google Voice and internet calling for emergency contacts?
Emergency contacts are standard phone numbers from your device’s contact list. Google Voice and internet calling options are not part of the emergency contact setup process on Android, and emergency services may not reach those numbers reliably.
How do I set emergency contacts on an iPhone?
On iPhone, open the Health app, tap your account or profile, then Medical ID, then Edit. Under Emergency Contacts, tap Add Emergency Contact, choose a contact and their relationship, then tap Done. To remove one, go to Medical ID > Edit, tap the minus next to a contact, then Delete, then Done.
Do emergency contacts sync across Android devices?
Emergency contacts are not synced or accessible from other Android devices; they are available only on the device where they are set.
