How to SMS and SOS Through Satellites on IPhone

Have you ever wondered what you would do if you were somewhere with no cellular service or Wi-Fi and needed emergency help?

Supported iPhones have a feature called Emergency SOS via satellite that can allow you to communicate with emergency services when a normal cellular or Wi-Fi connection isn't available. Instead of connecting to a nearby cell tower, the iPhone can communicate with a satellite.

This Instructable will show you how to access satellite emergency communication works and how to practice using the feature safely through the demo.

Important: Never activate Emergency SOS just to test it in a real emergency call. Apple provides a demonstration mode that lets you practice the satellite connection process without contacting emergency services.

1. Compatible iPhone with satellite features
2. Charged iPhone
3. Latest available version of iOS
4. Outdoor location with a clear view of the sky

Before going somewhere that may not have cellular service, there are a few things you should do.

Make sure you have:

1. A charged iPhone
2. The latest available iOS version
3. Emergency Contacts configured
4. Medical ID configured if appropriate
5. Important information available offline
6. A way to navigate if you lose cellular service

It's much better to learn how the satellite system works before you actually need it.

Apple provides a way to practice connecting to a satellite without contacting emergency services.

On a supported iPhone, open:

Control Menu → Connections

Look for the option related to Satellite and select the demo option if it is available. Only use the demonstration option for the sake of this tutorial. In a real event, be sure to select the option that will best help your situation.

Follow the instructions displayed on your iPhone.

The exact menu names can change between iOS versions, so use the wording displayed on your device.