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How to Turn Off SOS on an iPhone 13: Your Comprehensive Guide

Turning off SOS on your iPhone 13 isn’t about switching off a feature entirely; it’s about understanding how to manage the activation methods that trigger it. The SOS feature is a vital safety net, allowing you to quickly call for help in emergencies. It doesn’t have an ‘off’ switch in the traditional sense. Instead, you need to adjust settings that prevent accidental activations. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to manage SOS on your iPhone 13 and avoid unintended emergency calls.

Understanding SOS on Your iPhone 13

Before diving into the how-to, let’s clarify what Emergency SOS does. When activated, it calls emergency services and shares your location with your emergency contacts (if you’ve set them up). There are primarily two ways to trigger SOS on an iPhone 13:

Using the Side Button and Volume Button: Simultaneously pressing and holding the side button (power button) and either volume button (up or down) will initiate the emergency call sequence.
Using the Side Button Rapidly: Quickly pressing the side button five times can also trigger SOS, depending on your settings.

Knowing this is crucial because disabling SOS effectively means preventing these actions from initiating the emergency call.

Steps to Manage and Prevent Accidental SOS Activation

Here’s a breakdown of the steps you can take to control how SOS functions on your iPhone 13:

Step 1: Adjust Call with Side Button Setting

This is the primary control point for preventing accidental SOS calls when you press and hold the side and volume buttons.

Open the Settings app on your iPhone 13.
Scroll down and tap on Emergency SOS.
Toggle the Call with Side Button switch to the off position. When it’s disabled (greyed out), pressing and holding the side and volume buttons will no longer automatically start the countdown to call emergency services. It will still display the Emergency SOS slider, allowing you to consciously choose whether to call or not.

Step 2: Disable Auto Call After Five Presses

If you find yourself accidentally triggering SOS by quickly pressing the side button five times, follow these steps:

Open the Settings app on your iPhone 13.
Scroll down and tap on Emergency SOS.
Toggle the Call After 5 Presses switch to the off position. When this setting is disabled (greyed out), rapidly pressing the side button five times will no longer automatically call emergency services.

Step 3: Review and Manage Emergency Contacts

While not directly disabling SOS, managing your emergency contacts is a crucial safety measure. Ensure that the people listed are those you trust to be contacted in an emergency.

Open the Health app on your iPhone 13.
Tap on your profile picture in the top right corner.
Tap on Medical ID.
Tap on Edit in the top right corner.
Scroll down to Emergency Contacts and review the list. You can add, remove, or modify contacts as needed.
Tap Done to save your changes.

Step 4: Practice and Familiarize Yourself

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the adjusted SOS settings. Experiment (without actually completing an emergency call) to understand how the side and volume buttons now behave. This will help you avoid accidental activations and feel more confident in using the feature when truly needed.

Important Considerations

Location Services: Emergency SOS relies on location services to share your whereabouts with emergency responders. Ensure location services are enabled for emergency use. You can find these settings in Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services > Emergency Calls & SOS.
Testing the Feature: Avoid testing the SOS feature by actually calling emergency services unless it’s a genuine emergency. Doing so can tie up valuable resources and potentially delay assistance for those who truly need it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about SOS on iPhone 13

Here are some common questions and their answers regarding Emergency SOS on the iPhone 13:

FAQ 1: Is it possible to completely disable SOS on my iPhone 13?

No, you cannot completely disable the Emergency SOS feature. The design philosophy prioritizes safety, ensuring that you always have a way to contact emergency services. However, you can manage the settings to prevent accidental activation, as described above.

FAQ 2: What happens when I activate SOS on my iPhone 13?

When you activate Emergency SOS, your iPhone automatically calls local emergency services. After the call ends, your iPhone sends a text message to your emergency contacts (if you have any) with your current location. It will also continue to send updates if your location changes.

FAQ 3: How do I set up emergency contacts on my iPhone 13?

You set up emergency contacts through the Health app, as detailed in Step 3 above. They should be people you trust to be notified in case of an emergency.

FAQ 4: Does SOS work if I don’t have cellular service?

Emergency SOS ideally requires cellular service to make a phone call. However, if you are in an area with Wi-Fi calling enabled and a Wi-Fi network available, it might still be able to connect to emergency services. The new Emergency SOS via satellite (available on iPhone 14 and later models) allows you to connect to emergency services where celluar and Wi-Fi coverage is not available.

FAQ 5: How do I stop sharing my location after using SOS?

Your iPhone will automatically send a text message to your emergency contacts with your location. To stop sharing your location, tap the status bar and select “Stop Sharing Emergency Location.”

FAQ 6: Will SOS call emergency services silently?

No, Emergency SOS does not call emergency services silently. There is a countdown and an audible alarm before the call is placed (unless you’ve specifically muted your phone). This alarm is designed to alert others nearby that you are in distress.

FAQ 7: Can I use SOS when traveling internationally?

Yes, Emergency SOS works internationally. When you make an emergency call in another country, your iPhone will connect you to local emergency services.

FAQ 8: What is the difference between “Call with Side Button” and “Call After 5 Presses”?

“Call with Side Button” refers to initiating Emergency SOS by pressing and holding the side button and either volume button. “Call After 5 Presses” refers to initiating SOS by quickly pressing the side button five times. Each setting can be toggled independently.

FAQ 9: How do I know if I’ve accidentally triggered SOS?

If you’ve accidentally triggered Emergency SOS, you’ll see a countdown on your screen accompanied by a loud alarm (unless muted). If you realize it’s a mistake before the countdown finishes, you can slide the emergency call slider to cancel the call.

FAQ 10: Does SOS work if my iPhone is locked?

Yes, Emergency SOS works even if your iPhone is locked. You do not need to unlock your device to initiate an emergency call.

FAQ 11: Will SOS drain my battery?

Activating Emergency SOS and sharing your location can drain your battery faster than normal. However, the feature is designed to conserve battery life as much as possible while providing critical assistance.

FAQ 12: Is Emergency SOS via satellite available on iPhone 13?

No, Emergency SOS via satellite is not available on iPhone 13 and earlier models. This feature was introduced with the iPhone 14 lineup.

By understanding these settings and frequently asked questions, you can effectively manage the SOS feature on your iPhone 13, balancing safety and preventing accidental activations. Keep your emergency contacts updated, familiarize yourself with the adjusted settings, and you’ll be well-prepared for any situation.