- Hurricane Milton could cause power and cell phone service disruptions in Florida.
- iPhone 14 and later models with iOS 18 offer satellite messaging when cellular service is unavailable.
- Satellite messaging helped users communicate during the aftermath of Hurricane Helen.
Hurricane Milton threatens to destroy power lines and cell phone service in Florida, but you may have a handy emergency feature right in your pocket: your iPhone.
Anyone who owns an iPhone 14 or newer model with iOS 18 can use satellite messaging on their device if cellular service is unavailable. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helen, iPhone owners praised this ability to communicate without WiFi or cellular coverage.
“With no cell phone service available, anyone in Asheville, NC who is currently using iOS 18 can now send and receive messages using the satellite messaging feature,” said Matt from Asheville, NC. Mr. Van Swole said: I wrote “This is literally lifesaving.”
Here’s how to make sure your iPhone is set up to send satellite messages if Hurricane Milton knocks out connectivity in your area.
There are some things you should definitely prepare for in front You lose your cell phone and WiFi.
- Turn on iMessage functionality.
- Make sure your iPhone and the iPhones of your contacts are updated to iOS 18.
- Make sure you’ve recently communicated via iMessage (within the past month, according to Apple) with the iPhone you want to send a satellite message to.
According to Apple’s website, you can also send satellite messages to non-iPhone mobile phone numbers via SMS, but you must send the message to the other person first before the message can be delivered.
If you need to find a way to send text messages when your cell phone site is out of range, here’s how to use Apple’s satellite messaging on your iPhone.
Satellite messages will be listed as such in your Messages app. apple
- Go to the Messages app.
- If you are out of range of your phone and WiFi, a prompt will appear automatically. Tap “Use satellite messaging.”
- Follow the instructions to connect your iPhone to the satellite. You’ll need to be outdoors with an unobstructed view of the sky, and you may need to move to higher ground for a better connection.
- Type your message and send.
Satellite messaging is not an iPhone-only tool. Some Google Pixel models and Android also have access to this feature.
Apple’s website states that in case of an emergency, iPhone owners should use the Emergency SOS feature to contact emergency services.
Still, satellite messaging can help families stay connected and let each other know they’re safe during Hurricane Milton.