If you have a compatible Android phone, the Google's Safety Check security check can make all the difference In an emergency situation, it not only allows you to quickly alert your trusted contacts, but also automates critical actions such as sharing your real-time location, calling emergency services, or recording video when something goes wrong.
In this article you will see, step by step and without unnecessary technical jargon, How to set up and use Safety Check and the rest of Google's security features (Personal Safety app / Emergencies, SOS Emergency, Alert or Emergency sharing, crisis alerts, earthquake alerts, ELS, etc.) so that your mobile phone becomes a real protection tool in case of danger.
What is Safety Check and how does it fit into the Personal Safety / Emergency app?
Google integrates its emergency features into the app Personal Safety or Emergencies (the name may vary depending on the device and language)Within this app are several key tools: Safety Check (Verification or Safety Check / Check your status), Emergency alert or Emergency sharing, Emergency SOS, crisis alerts, earthquake alerts and management of your emergency information and contacts.
On the latest Pixel phones and some compatible Android phones, Safety Check is part of the Personal Safety app's feature packageThe idea is very simple: you schedule a safety check for a specific time (for example, when you're coming home from a party or walking alone in an unfamiliar area) and, if you don't confirm that you're okay, the phone automatically alerts your emergency contacts and shares your location.
On some Pixel models you can also use the Google Assistant to start or stop Safety Check and Emergency Alert with your voiceso you don't even have to touch your phone to activate these functions in a pinch.
Safety Check requirements and compatibility and emergency functions
Before you start configuring anything, it's a good idea to be clear about what you need so that Safety Check and the rest of the safety tools are functioning correctlyNot all settings depend solely on the phone: the country, carrier, and Android version also play a role.
In general, to make the most of these features, Your device must meet several basic requirements.: have the Personal Safety or Emergency app installed, have active location services, have internet access (mobile data or Wi-Fi) and, in many cases, have at least one emergency contact configured.
Some options, such as Emergency SOS, Security Check or Emergency Alert with real-time locationThey are usually available on Android 12 or later versions. Furthermore, the traffic accident detection and certain automatic emergency call features require an active SIM card and may not work in airplane mode or with battery saver enabled.
How do I access and configure the Personal Safety / Emergencies app?
On most recent Android phones, the security app appears as Personal Safety or Emergencies in Settings and in the Play StoreIn the app drawer it may simply appear as "Security" or "Emergencies", but internally it is the same Google tool.
To begin configuring it, you will usually have to Open the app from Settings > Security and emergency > Personal safety / EmergenciesOr you can search for it by name in the app drawer. On Pixel devices, you can also swipe up from the home screen and tap the "Safety" or "Personal Safety" app directly.
The first time you log in, the app may ask you to whether you sign in with your Google account or use it without an accountWith an account you'll have more advantages (syncing and backup of some data), but you can also use certain features locally if you choose to continue without an account. See how if you'd like. strengthen the security of your Android.
In the interface you will normally see two main tabs: "Features" or "Characteristics" for security functions (SOS, Safety Check, Emergency sharing, alerts, etc.) and "Your info" or "Tu información"where medical information, emergency contacts, and preferences such as access to your data from the lock screen are managed.
Set up your emergency information and trusted contacts
A key part of Safety Check and the entire safety app is that Make sure your medical information and emergency contacts are properly configuredWithout that, many functions lose their meaning or simply fail to activate.
In the "Your information" section of the app, you can Add or edit your basic medical informationName, blood type, allergies, medications you take, address, relevant medical notes, whether you are an organ donor, and other information that may help emergency services make quick decisions. For a practical guide on using your mobile phone in emergencies, see [link to relevant guide]. What to do with your mobile phone in an emergency situation.
You can also access that section from there. Add one or more emergency contacts already saved in your address bookUsually, it's enough to tap "Emergency contacts" > "Add contact" and select the people you want to receive alerts and your location in a risky situation.
In addition, the app lets you decide whether This information will be visible on the lock screenBy activating the "Show when device is locked" option within "Emergency information access", anyone who picks up your phone will be able to see that data without unlocking it, which can be crucial if something happens to you and you can't communicate, although it also means that certain sensitive information is always visible.
Configure Safety Check
Safety Check, also called Safety check, Check your status or Safety check Depending on the system language, it is intended for specific moments when you want the mobile to check if you are okay and notify your contacts if you do not respond.
After defining the reason and duration, the assistant will ask you to Select which emergency contacts you want to involve in that verificationOnce selected, simply press "Start" to activate Safety Check: from then on, the phone will remind you when to check.
As the scheduled time approaches, the mobile phone will display a notification and a sound alert for about 60 secondsIt asks you to confirm your status. It usually offers several options on the screen: "I'm OK", "Share now", or call the local emergency number (for example, 112 or 911, depending on the country).
If you answer "I'm fine" or manually stop the verification before the time is up, No emergency alert is sent Except, in some cases, a notification that the monitoring has ended. If you don't respond within those 60 seconds, an Emergency Alert or Emergency Sharing is automatically initiated with your contacts, sharing your location and, depending on the settings, additional data such as the remaining battery percentage.
Extend, manage, and stop a Security Check
Once Safety Check is active, you may need to extend the monitoring period if your plans changeThe app allows you to extend the time of an ongoing verification, as long as the total limit of 24 hours from the original start time is not exceeded.
To add time, you can take action from several places. On the one hand, within the app itself: Personal Safety / EmergenciesBy going into the "Security Verification" section and tapping on "Add time"; there you choose how many extra minutes or hours you want to add.
Another convenient way is to do it from the security verification notification which appears in the top bar of your phone. If you open the notification, you'll also see an "Add time" option to extend the control without having to open the entire app.
On compatible connected watches, if you also have the Security app installed on the smartwatch, You can manage and extend Safety Check directly from your wrist.which is very practical when you can't take your mobile phone out of your pocket.
If at any time you no longer need the control to remain active, You can stop Safety Check manually You can complete the verification process from the notification or the relevant section within the app. Once you do this, the verification is complete, and if you had enabled the option to notify your contacts, they will receive a message that everything is finished.
What happens if you don't respond to Safety Check and how are your contacts notified?
The most important thing about Safety Check is what happens when you don't confirm that you're okay at the appointed timeIn that case, the system assumes there may be a problem and initiates the configured emergency actions.
Normally, your emergency contacts will receive One or more text messages with your name, the reason and duration of the security verification, in addition to a link to view your real-time location on Google Maps and the phone's battery status, provided there is a data connection and location services active.
If you had previously activated Emergency Alert or location sharing, Real-time location can continue to be shared for up to 24 hoursor until you manually stop the notification or loses connection the device. If your phone turns off or loses signal before the scheduled time, the verification will still be scheduled and, at the time of the check, your last known location will be shared.
On some Pixel and newer versions, you can ask the Google Assistant to start or stop a security check with voice commands such as "Hey Google, start security check" or "Hey Google, stop security check." If you don't specify a time, the Assistant will ask you how long it should last, up to a maximum of 24 hours.
How to use Emergency Alert or Emergency Sharing?
In addition to Safety Check, the app includes a specific function for Share your real-time location with your emergency contacts for a limited period: Emergency notice or Emergency sharing.
To start an alert from the app, you normally need to Open Personal Safety / Emergencies and tap on "Emergency alert" or "Emergency sharing"Then you choose who you want to share your location with (one or more contacts) and, if you wish, add a short message explaining the situation.
Clicking on "Share" activates the notification and Your contacts receive a link to track your live locationalong with other information such as the phone's remaining battery life. In many cases, this notification runs automatically for up to 24 hours, unless you stop it sooner.
To end the Emergency Notice, you can Return to the app, tap on "Emergency alert" and select "Stop" or "Stop sharing"At that point, you can also add a note to explain that you are now well or the reason why you have decided to end the alert.
If you're using a compatible Pixel, it's also possible Activate or stop Emergency Alert using Google Assistant with phrases like "Hey Google, start the emergency alert" or "Hey Google, stop the emergency alert".
SOS Emergency: Power button, emergency calls and video
Emergency SOS is the function that turns your power button into a shortcut to Ask for help, share your location, and, if you've set it up, record video of the situationIt is probably the most critical tool in the security suite.
To configure it, go to the Phone settings > Security and emergencies > Emergency SOSThere you can start a step-by-step guide that asks you to configure the emergency services number (by default the local one, but it can be changed), which contacts will be notified and what data you want to share with them.
In the assistant you can also choose whether Do you want to activate emergency video recording?If you enable this feature, you'll need to grant the Security app permission to use the camera while Emergency SOS is running. Additionally, you can allow the video to be automatically shared with your emergency contacts via a link after it's backed up to your device.
In the final part of the SOS setup, the system will give you a choice How do you want the actions to start when you press the power button?You can either press and hold to confirm, or have the actions run automatically after a 5-second countdown. You can also enable or disable the alarm sound when the function is triggered.
Once everything is ready, using Emergency SOS is as simple as Press the power button quickly 5 times or moreOn some models, you will then have to hold down a red circle for 3 seconds to confirm the emergency call; on others, the countdown makes the call automatically if you do not cancel it.
Emergency recording, backups, and video sharing
The emergency video function is intended for serious situations where you want Record what's happening while the system calls emergency services and shares your locationIt's a very powerful tool, but it should be used responsibly.
When emergency recording begins, You can continue using the phone for other taskssuch as checking messages, tracking your shared location, or speaking with emergency services. If you open another app that uses the camera, recording will pause and the recording screen will turn gray. To resume recording, simply return to the Emergency app or tap the notification at the top.
The maximum duration of each video is up to 45 minutes, with an approximate quality of about 10 MB per minute.This means you'll need some free space on your device to save the entire recording.
If you have the "automatically share" option enabled, After recording, a link will be generated and sent to all your emergency contacts.If, after those 15 seconds, you decide you don't want to share the video, you can cancel sending it. If you don't have any contacts set up, the video won't be shared with anyone.
Each video link has a 7-day expiration to protect your privacyOnly one active link can exist per recording. You can manually deactivate it from the Emergency app by going to "Your Info" > "Your Videos" and tapping "Stop Sharing" next to the corresponding clip. To renew or generate a new link, simply tap "Get Shareable Link."
Emergency recordings can be automatically uploaded to the cloud as Create a backup to avoid losing your data if your phone is damaged, lost, or destroyed during an emergency.To manage them, you can choose to share them or permanently delete them from your Google account in the "Your videos" section. Keep in mind that if you delete a file, there's no way to undo it.
Messages on the lock screen and accidental calls to emergency services
In addition to medical information, the Android system allows Add a fixed message to the lock screenIt's a small detail that can be very useful for someone to return your phone if you lose it, or for including instructions in case of emergency.
To add this text, go to Settings > Display > Lock screen > Add text to lock screen Enter the message you want (for example, an alternative contact number or a short note). Then tap "Save" and it will remain visible even when the phone is locked.
If you ever activate Emergency SOS or call emergency services by mistake, experts recommend that Don't hang up immediately.The correct procedure is to wait for the operator to answer and explain that the call was accidental and that you don't need assistance, to avoid mobilizing resources unnecessarily. If you are concerned about accidental calls, you can consult how remove the emergency call button.
Crisis alerts, wireless alerts, and earthquake warnings for Android
The Personal Safety / Emergencies app also integrates a system of crisis alerts for public emergencies or natural disastersWhen this feature is active, your mobile phone can display notifications about fires, floods, severe storms, or other relevant crises near your location.
To manage these alerts, access Settings > Security and emergencies > Crisis alertsFrom there, you can turn the feature on or off with a simple switch. If you receive an alert and tap on it, it usually opens Google Search with more information about the event.
Furthermore, Android integrates with the wireless emergency alerts and government alert systemssuch as AMBER alerts or serious threat warnings. These notifications always appear above all others, occupying the top of the screen, even if you're using other apps. In the priority hierarchy, wireless emergency alerts come first, then earthquake alerts, and finally regular app notifications.
In many countries, Android phones include the Android earthquake alert system and, in some US states, integration with ShakeAlertThe system detects earthquakes of approximately magnitude 4,5 or higher using the sensor network and the Android device network itself, and sends early warnings to mobile phones in the affected area.
Earthquake alerts are usually enabled by default, but you can manage them from Settings > Security and emergencies > Earthquake alertsIf you can't find that menu, they sometimes appear in Settings > Location > Advanced > Earthquake alerts. It's important to have Wi-Fi or mobile data enabled to receive these notifications in time.
Emergency Location Service (ELS) and automatic location transmission
Another less visible but very important piece is the Android Emergency Location Service, known as ELSThis feature allows your phone to automatically send your precise location to authorized services when you call or send an SMS to an emergency number (such as 112 or 911).
If ELS is available in your country and on your mobile network, and you haven't deactivated it, The device will use Google's location services and other data to calculate the most accurate position possible. during the call. This data (including, for example, the device's language) is sent directly to emergency services, not to Google's servers.
To activate or deactivate this service, you must go to Settings > Location > Location services > Emergency location service or Google Emergency Location ServiceThere you will find a switch to control whether you want the phone to automatically send that information when calling emergency services.
Once the call is over, The device can send usage data, statistics, and diagnostics about how ELS has performed to Google via Google Play Services.However, this does not include information that personally identifies you or your exact location. This use of data helps improve the system over time.
Quick access to emergency information from the locked screen
In a critical situation, another person may need Access your medical information or emergency contacts without knowing your PIN.That's why Android offers special access from the lock screen.
When you turn on the screen and swipe up, you'll see the option "Emergency" or "Emergencies" at the bottomIf you tap there and then on "View emergency information", the card with your medical data, emergency contacts and other information that you have configured to be visible when the device is locked will be displayed.
Remember that everything you allow to be seen in this section will be accessible to anyone who picks up your phone, so You must find a balance between privacy and utilityIt is best to include only the information that is truly relevant for first aid or so that they can locate your family members or trusted contacts.
Having Safety Check, Emergency Alert, Emergency SOS, crisis alerts, and emergency information properly configured transforms your mobile phone from a simple device into a A proactive personal protection tool that can alert, locate, and record what happens when you can't do it yourself..
Taking a few minutes to calmly adjust these options can save you serious scares in the future and give a lot of peace of mind to both you and the people who care about you. Share this guide and more users will know how Safety Check works at the most important moments.