Use Emergency SOS via satellite on your Apple Watch Ultra 3
With Apple Watch Ultra 3, you can use Emergency SOS via satellite to text emergency services when you're off the grid with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.
How Emergency SOS via satellite works
Emergency SOS via satellite can help you connect with emergency services under exceptional circumstances when no other means of reaching emergency services are available. If you call or text emergency services and can't connect because you're somewhere with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, your Apple Watch Ultra 3 tries to connect you via satellite.
To connect to a satellite, you need to be outside with a clear view of the sky and horizon. Your Apple Watch Ultra 3 also needs to be dry — if your watch is wet, its ability to connect to satellites might be impacted. When you use a satellite connection, the experience is different than sending or receiving a message via cellular. Learn more about connecting to a satellite with your Apple Watch Ultra 3.
Emergency SOS via satellite is free for two years after the activation of an Apple Watch Ultra 3, and you can use this satellite feature even without an active carrier plan. Learn more about the feature's requirements and availability.
If your Apple Watch detects a severe car crash or a hard fall and you're unresponsive, an automatic Crash Detection or Fall Detection notification to emergency services may be communicated by your Apple Watch Ultra 3 using Emergency SOS via satellite. This feature requires that you're outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage and that your Apple Watch Ultra 3 has line of sight to a satellite.
Before you go off the grid
If you're going somewhere with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, here are some ways to be prepared to use Emergency SOS via satellite:
For quick access to satellite features, add the satellite control to Control Center and add the satellite complication to your watch face.
Set up your Medical ID and add emergency contacts in the Health app. When you use Emergency SOS via satellite, you can share your Medical ID and notify your emergency contacts. You need to set up this information in the Health app on your iPhone before going somewhere with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. This information appears on your Apple Watch after you set it up on your iPhone.
Make sure you have the Messages app on your Apple Watch Ultra 3. You can redownload Messages if you've deleted it.
Text emergency services via satellite
First, try calling your local emergency number.1 Even if your nomal cellular carier network isn't available, you might be able to make the call. If your call won't connect, you can text emergency services via satellite by tapping Emergency Text via Satellite. You can also go to Messages to text the local emergency number2, then tap Emergency Services. Remember that while off-grid, satellite features aren't available on Apple Watch Ultra 3 if your iPhone is nearby and in Airplane Mode.
Tap Report Emergency.
Using simple taps, answer the emergency questions to best describe your situation.
Choose to notify your emergency contacts that you contacted emergency services, along with your location and the nature of your emergency.
To connect to a satellite, follow the onscreen instructions.
After you're connected, continue following the onscreen instructions to stay connected while you send your message to emergency services.
Once you’re connected, your Apple Watch Ultra 3 starts a text conversation with emergency responders by sharing critical information like your Medical ID and emergency contact information (if you have set them up), the emergency questionnaire answers, your location (including elevation), and remaining battery life for your watch.
You might be asked to respond to additional messages. This service supports English, Spanish, Canadian French, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Portuguese.
Share information with your emergency contacts
If you set up emergency contacts in the Health app, you can choose to notify and share information with them when you text emergency services with Emergency SOS via satellite. When you choose to share this information, your emergency contacts get these messages automatically.
If your emergency contacts use iMessage on iOS 16.1 or later, you can share a live transcript of your conversation with emergency services. This transcript includes:
Your answers to the emergency questionnaire.
A map with your location.
The messages that you exchange with emergency services.
If your emergency contacts have a non-Apple device or don't have iOS 16.1 or later, they receive a text message that alerts them about your emergency. In the U.S. and Canada, this message comes from the number 767911. In Europe, this message comes from 767112. In Japan, this message comes from 0005990037.
The message says, "You're receiving this message because someone you know chose you as an emergency contact and used Emergency SOS via satellite."
To receive additional text messages, your emergency contacts need to respond "YES" to the first message within 48 hours. If they respond "NO" or "STOP," they won't receive any more messages about Emergency SOS via satellite notifications (either for the current emergency or future emergencies).
If your emergency contact responded "NO" or "STOP," they can receive future messages about Emergency SOS via satellite notifications again by texting "RESTART" to the same number.
The additional messages include your name, the time that you contacted emergency services, your location, and the information that you provided about your emergency.
Your emergency contacts can't respond to the messages, other than replying "YES" or "NO" when necessary. They don't need to contact emergency services, because emergency services has already been contacted for the emergency.
End an Emergency SOS via satellite session that you started accidentally
If you started an Emergency SOS via satellite session but don't need emergency services, don't quit the session. Instead, wait until a responder answers and then explain that you don't need help.
Access other satellite features
When you're somewhere with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, you can tap the satellite icon
on your watch face or in Control Center to see all available satellite features. You can also open the Settings app on your Apple Watch Ultra 3 and tap Satellite.
Satellite doesn't appear in Settings unless you're off the grid.
Emergency SOS via satellite requirements and availability
You need an Apple Watch Ultra 3.
You need to be in a place with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.
You need to connect to a satellite with your Apple Watch Ultra 3.3
Emergency SOS via satellite is available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, the U.K., and the U.S.4
Availability in other regions is subject to regulation by government agencies, necessary approvals, and other market specific requirements. Apple is working to bring these capabilities to more regions as soon as possible.
International travelers who visit a country or region where Emergency SOS via satellite is available can use the feature while visiting, except if they bought their iPhone in certain countries or regions.5
In the U.S. and Canada, call or text 911. In Australia, call or text 000. In Austria, call or text 112, 133, and 144. In Belgium, call or text 100 and 101. In France, call or text 112, 15, 17, 18, 114, 119, 191, and 196. In Germany, call or text 112 and 110. In Ireland and the U.K., call or text 999 or 112. In Italy, call or text 112, 113, 115, 118, and 1530. In Japan, call or text 110, 118, and 119. In Luxembourg, call or text 112, 113, 12112, and 12113. In New Zealand, call or text 111. In Spain, call 112. In Switzerland, call 112.
In the address field of the new message, you can also type "emergency," "emergencies," "SOS," "help," or "send help" to text emergency services via satellite.
Satellite network for Apple features provided by Globalstar, Inc. and its affiliates or third-party network providers.
Including the Archipelago of Madeira, Ashmore and Cartier Islands, the Azores, the Balearic Islands (Ibiza, Formentera, Mallorca, and Menorca), the Canary Islands (El Hierro, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, La Palma, Lanzarote, and Tenerife), the Collectivity of Saint Martin, Saint Pierre & Miquelon, Corsica, Coral Sea, Guadeloupe, Islands of Sicily and Sardinia, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Martinique, Orkney Islands, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Scottish Hebrides, Shetland Islands, Sovereign states of San Marino and Vatican City, Torres Strait, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Satellite connectivity isn't offered on iPhone models purchased in Armenia, Belarus, China mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, or Russia.