Crash Detection is one of Apple’s most valuable safety features. It could save your life by automatically contacting emergency services if your device detects you’ve been in a serious car accident. Here’s how it works in practice, how to make sure it’s set up properly, and how to make the most of this potentially life-saving technology.
How Crash Detection works
Crash Detection uses advanced sensors built into the iPhone and Apple Watch – including accelerometers, gyroscopes, microphones, GPS, and barometers – to detect sudden impacts, loud noises, and rapid deceleration typically associated with car crashes. If a severe crash is detected, your device immediately shows an alert to check if you’re okay. If you don’t respond within 20 seconds, your device automatically calls emergency services, providing them with your precise location so help can reach you quickly.
During the emergency call, your iPhone or Apple Watch plays a recorded message repeatedly to inform emergency services that you’ve been involved in a severe accident, along with your approximate location. After playing this message, your device’s microphone activates so responders can hear any ambient sounds, helping them understand your situation better.
Setting up emergency contacts
For Crash Detection to work effectively, it’s important to add emergency contacts who’ll be notified if an accident occurs. These contacts receive an automatic message alerting them of the crash along with your current location.
To set this up, open the Health app on your iPhone and tap your profile picture at the top right. Select Medical ID, then tap Edit. From here, you can add the people you want informed in an emergency, such as family members or close friends. Once saved, these contacts are also notified whenever you use the Emergency SOS feature manually.
Ensuring crash detection is active
Crash Detection is activated by default on the iPhone 14 and newer models, as well as Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra, and later devices. Even so, it’s a good idea to check your settings to confirm it’s still enabled. Unfortunately it’s not available on older devices.
To do this on your iPhone, open Settings, then navigate to Emergency SOS. Make sure Call After Severe Crash is switched on. For Apple Watch, open the Watch app on your iPhone, tap Emergency SOS, and confirm that Call After Severe Crash is activated there too.
Fall Detection
Another related safety feature is Fall Detection, available on Apple Watch. It works similarly, automatically calling emergency services if it detects you’ve experienced a hard fall and remain immobile for about a minute. This is especially valuable for older users or anyone with mobility concerns.
You can enable Fall Detection through the Watch app on your iPhone. Open the app, tap Emergency SOS, and toggle Fall Detection to Always On or Only During Workouts, depending on your needs.
Avoiding false alarms
Certain activities, especially extreme sports, can occasionally trigger Crash Detection accidentally. If this happens, simply cancel the alert within the 20-second countdown.