Android Emergency Contacts: what are they and how to set up

It is crucial that you enable some contacts on your Android smartphone as emergency contacts. These contacts are people that can be reached even when your device is locked with any security (Pin, Passcode, or Pattern). Although no one is praying for bad times, sometimes one can be in an emergency state, and someone nearby may need to contact a relative or close friend to help out in such situations. When a smartphone is locked with fingerprint, PIN, or password, there’s no way anyone can gain access into the device; however, when you set up emergency contacts; such contacts can be reached without unlocking your phone.

Setting up an emergency on Android smartphones

This is quite easy to set up on new Android devices running on Nougat, Oreo, Pie, or Android 10. All you need do is to follow the steps below;

Method One: from device settings

• Go to your device settings and navigate to “system” or “advanced settings.” The option differ on devices
• Then click on “About Phone.“
• Select “Emergency Information“
• Fill in the form with the necessary/important details and also add the contacts you want to be your emergency contacts

Method two: from Android lock screen

• Swipe on the screen to display the number pad
• Click on the “Emergency” button
• Double-click on “Emergency information” button
• Now click on the “Edit” icon to set up your emergency information and contacts

That’s all; you can add as many contacts as possible. However, you should ensure that you add contacts that are actually close to you; that is, people from your family, your wife, spouse or girlfriend/boyfriend. Any contact listed as your emergency contact can be reached even when your device is locked with any form of security; face unlock, fingerprint, pin, or password.

How to access emergency contact from Android lock screen

If someone had an accident and you were privileged to get hold of his/her Android smartphone, below is how to access the person’s emergency information. Also, if your friend is having a serious health issue and you needed to get to his/her family, follow the steps below to access your friends emergency contacts. In fact, if you’re ever in a scene where someone is in an emergency, kindly get the person’s Android device and access their emergency info.

• Swipe on the lock screen to display the dial pad
• Click on the “Emergency” button
• Further click on the “Emergency Information” button two times
• On the next screen, you will be able to view the person’s health information
• Also, toggle to “Contacts” to view the person’s emergency numbers; call anyone and inform them about your friend’s current emergency.

Why emergency contacts are important

If you’re diagnosed with a critical ailment, it is advisable to ensure that you set up emergency contacts on your Android smartphone. This will help people to reach out to your family or close friends when you’re in an emergency.

Also, it is important that everyone activates this feature on their Android device because uncertainties are quite inevitable for humans. Now that you know this, won’t you mind sharing with others?

Originally posted on February 19, 2020 @ 5:04 am