If you wear an Apple Watch, your wrist can become a lifeline when the unthinkable happens on the road. The crash detection feature is designed to identify severe car crashes and trigger a response ranging from an audible and haptic alert to an automatic emergency call if you are unable to react.
In this guide, you'll learn how to set up, understand, and manage every detail of crash detection on your Apple Watch and compatible iPhone. including compatible models, how the system responds, how to notify your contacts, and how your data is protected. You'll also see how it relates to other safety features like Fall Detection and what options you have if there's no cellular or Wi-Fi coverage.
Models and requirements for using crash detection
Car crash detection works in conjunction with specific system models and versions. On iPhone, you need an iPhone 14 or later (any variant) with iOS 16 or later; on Apple Watch, it works on Apple Watch Series 8 or later, Apple Watch SE (2nd generation), and Apple Watch Ultra or later with watchOS 9 or later.
The feature is enabled by default on supported devices, So you don't have to dig into advanced settings to start taking advantage of this. Still, it's a good idea to review your medical data and emergency contacts settings so that all critical information is shared correctly.
To make the call to emergency services, your nearby Apple Watch or iPhone must have a cellular data connection or WiāFi calling with the internet, as applicable. If you're in an area without coverage, there are additional options when you're carrying an iPhone 14 or later (see details below).
What exactly does the system detect and how does it work?
The feature is designed to recognize serious car accidents, including frontal, side, rear-end, and rollover impacts involving passenger vehicles such as sedans, vans, SUVs, and pickup trucks, among other passenger vehicles.
When the system detects a serious crash, it triggers an alert on your iPhone and/or Apple Watch with a loud audible alert and a 10-second countdown on the screen, designed to let you confirm you're okay or ask for help. iPhone can even read the alert aloud if you can't see the screen.
The interaction varies depending on which device you have operating at the time: If you only have your iPhone, you'll see a slider for Emergency Call on your phone screen; if you only have your Apple Watch, a similar control will appear on your watch, and if you have cellular data or are on Wi-Fi, it can make the call itself.
How to respond to the alert: immediate options
If you can react after the initial alert, you're in control. You can slide the slider to call emergency services from the device that displays the option or dismiss the alert if you don't need help. The goal is to prevent inadvertent calls when the situation doesn't require it.
If the call has already been initiated but you do not require assistance, do not hang up immediately: Wait for them to respond and explain that you don't need help. This is the best way to avoid the unnecessary deployment of emergency resources.
You can also start the call manually at any time if the detection does not activate on its own. by sliding the Emergency Call slider on your iPhone or Apple Watch, depending on which device you have on hand.
Countdown and automatic call if you don't answer
If you do not touch anything in the first 10 seconds, the device enters a second phase with a 30-second countdown, During this time, the signals increase to capture your attention. The iPhone emits very loud sounds, vibrates intensely, and flashes its LEDs; the Apple Watch also plays an alarm and sends forceful taps on your wrist.
When the countdown ends without a response, the call is automatically made to the emergency services, And if you have emergency contacts added, they will be sent a message with your approximate location indicating that you have been in a serious car accident.
During the automatic call, the device plays a looping audio message addressed to the emergency services, reporting that an Apple device has detected a serious car accident and that you are unresponsive. The message includes your approximate latitude and longitude coordinates along with a search radius.
This message is broadcast in the primary language of the country you are in and is repeated every five seconds; After the first playback (at maximum volume), the volume is reduced to allow you or someone nearby to speak to the operator. You can stop the recorded message at any time from the device.
Share location, medical data and alerts with your contacts
The key to ensuring your contacts and emergency services receive what they need is to pre-set up your medical information and emergency contacts in the Health app on your iPhone, so that the system knows who to notify and what clinical information to display if necessary.
When the device contacts emergency services after a serious accident, it includes your location in the call with approximate coordinates, and does so even if location is disabled, in accordance with the exceptions provided for emergencies.
If you want to share your location with your emergency contacts too, turn on Location Services for Emergency SOS on iPhone, by going to Settings > Privacy & security > Location Services > System services and making sure Emergency calls is turned on.
The Medical Data slider also appears on the screen for easy access to your relevant clinical information. to emergency teams when the situation requires it. If you have allowed the sharing of medical data during an emergency call, that information is automatically transmitted to the appropriate services.
Configure and manage: activate, deactivate and key settings
On supported models, crash detection is enabled by default, So, you don't need to do anything to get it working. However, it's a good idea to check your medical information and emergency contacts in the Health app.
If at any time you decide to disable alerts and automatic calls after detecting a serious accident, you can do so; Please note that if you disable these options on one of your paired devices, they will also be disabled on all other devices linked to the same account.
Additionally, you can always make a manual emergency call from the slider if the situation requires it, Regardless of whether auto-detection is active or not, as long as you have a connection to make the call.
Coverage: Mobile, Wi-Fi, and what happens if there's no signal
To call emergency services, your nearby Apple Watch or iPhone needs cellular or WiāFi calling with internet access, depending on your settings and your operator.
If there's no cellular coverage or Wi-Fi and you have an iPhone 14 or later near your Apple Watch, crash detection can rely on Emergency SOS via satellite, provided this feature is available in your region. In that case, iPhone manages sending the notification to emergency services via satellite.
Fall detection: complement your safety
Fall Detection is another safety feature of the Apple Watch that can save you at home, on the street, or during sports, and interacts with emergency services in much the same way when you don't respond.
If the watch detects a hard fall and you remain motionless for about a minute, it vibrates, sounds an alarm, and displays a warning on the screen; If you don't respond, a 30-second countdown begins with increasing alerts before automatically calling emergency services.
When the call is made due to a hard fall, the Apple Watch plays an audio message similar to that of accidents, Indicating that a fall has been detected and sharing your location in latitude and longitude with the operator. After the first pass at maximum volume, the alert reduces its volume to facilitate conversation.
Once the call ends, a message is sent to your emergency contacts with your location, reporting what happened. If there are multiple emergency numbers in your country, the watch automatically selects a single number to dial.
Fall Detection is automatically activated if you indicated on your health record that you are 55 years of age or older; If you're between 18 and 55, you can manually activate it and choose whether you want it to be always active or only during workouts.
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone and go to the āMy Watchā tab.
- Tap āSOS Emergencyā.
- Turn Fall Detection on or off and choose Always On or Only During Workouts.
For automatic calling to work, turn on Wrist Detection on your Apple Watch. Go to Settings > Passcode and make sure the option is enabled. Falls are recorded in the Health app unless you specifically indicate that you didn't fall when prompted by the watch.
As with accidents, if there's no coverage and you're carrying an iPhone 14 or later, Fall Detection can use Emergency SOS via satellite when available, so you also have assistance outside the mobile and Wi-Fi networks.
Remember that Apple Watch doesn't detect absolutely all falls, and high-intensity impacts during some activities can be mistaken for a fall. so it is normal for false positives or undetected situations to exist.
