How to use satellite messaging and SOS services on your iPhone or Pixel

Hurricane Milton is expected to be the second major hurricane to hit the United States in less than a month, straining the nation’s infrastructure. When power and cell phone service go out in the aftermath of a natural disaster, connecting to 911 and friends and family via satellite from your smartphone can be a literal lifeline.

Apple’s Emergency SOS via Satellite (on iPhone 14, 15, and 16) and Google’s Satellite SOS (on Pixel 9 phones) help you connect to emergency services when you don’t have cellular service or Wi-Fi. . These services require no setup. Simply dial 911 from a supported phone to contact emergency services via text message using satellite communications.

The new messaging via satellite feature on new iPhones was released this month with iOS 18. (Google Pixel does not have an equivalent feature). It’s not designed for emergencies like the SOS service, but it can help you connect with friends and family when you need it most. Currently available for iPhone 14 and newer models running iOS 18. People affected by Hurricane Helen are posting on social media to share how the service helped them know they were safe after the disaster.

There’s some work you need to do before you can use satellite messaging on your iPhone (see below), but as long as you’re in the US or Canada, your SIM card is active, and your carrier supports it, you can use iMessage or Works with SMS. . The Verge We have confirmed that it works with Verizon and AT&T and have contacted T-Mobile.

The Apple and Android Satellite SOS features work on iPhone 14 and later and Pixel 9 models, respectively, and do not require carrier support.

All of these satellite services are available to anyone with supported hardware and are currently free. You’ll need a clear view of the sky to work, so you’ll need to be outdoors, away from trees and large buildings, and away from cloud cover.

Below, we’ll discuss emergency satellite messaging and then explain how to set up the new messaging service available in iOS 18. We’ll also show you how to share your location via satellite from your iPhone.

Even if you don’t have cell service or Wi-Fi, you can still call 911 using your iPhone 14 or later. No prior setup is required, but like all satellite services, a clear view of the sky is required.

1. Please dial 911 first. If the call fails, tap Emergency text message by satellite Send a text message to emergency services.
2. Or go to the Messages app, text 911 or SOS, and tap . emergency services.
3. tap emergency call Follow the on-screen instructions.

Text conversations include information such as medical ID and emergency contact information, location, survey responses, and battery life. If you have emergency contacts set up in the Health app, you can also choose to automatically share information with them.

If your contact doesn’t have iMessage on an iPhone running iOS 16.1 or later, they’ll receive a text notification. You will then receive a record of your message to emergency services and a map of your location.

When you call 911 on a Google Pixel 9 device (Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold), you can use a satellite connection even if you don’t have cell service or Wi-Fi. Here’s how:

1. Make sure Google Messages is your default messaging app.
2. Dial 911 — If you don’t have cell service and aren’t connected to Wi-Fi, you’ll see a satellite SOS option. tap Satellite SOS > Use Satellite SOS > Start.
3. You will then be asked to fill out an emergency questionnaire.
4. Once completed, you will have the option to notify your emergency contacts.
5. Next, a series of on-screen prompts will help you point your phone at the satellite. (Google adds that connection and response times vary depending on “location, site conditions, and other factors.”)
6. Stay outdoors with a clear view of the sky until the emergency service provider responds by text message.

The new satellite messaging feature works on iPhone 14 and later running iOS 18. You need to enable it before the service becomes unavailable, so set it up now to ensure it’s available when you need it. You can also demo the service before going off-grid.

1. Upgrade to iOS 18.
2. Make sure iMessage is turned on. go to Settings > Apps > Messages > iMessage.
3. Ask a friend or family member to upgrade to iOS 18. To send iMessages, the person you’re sending the message to must be using iOS 18. Otherwise, SMS is used by default.
4. Update your family sharing group and emergency contacts. When you send a message via satellite, that person can reply, but they can only receive messages from someone in your family group or emergency contacts before you send them a message.
5. If the recipient doesn’t have iOS 18, the message will be sent as an SMS. To ensure this works, please visit the following site: Settings > Apps > Messages and turn on Send as text message.

1. Go to the Messages app.
2. If you don’t have cell service or Wi-Fi, the satellite prompt will automatically appear.
3. tap Using messages via satellite.
4. Follow the instructions to connect to the satellite. You will see a green dot and a satellite icon at the top of your phone.
5. If the connection is weak, it will turn orange and an arrow will point in the direction you need to move to find a signal.
6. Type your message and press send. Sending may take several minutes. The person you sent the message to will see a status notifying them that you are sending the message via satellite.

You can use the Find My app to share your location via satellite, but you must set it up in advance and use an iPhone 14 or later running iOS 16.1 or later.

1. Go to the Find My app on your iPhone and turn it on share my location.
2. If you’re outside of your phone or Wi-Fi service, open the Find My app.
3. tap myself It’s at the bottom of the screen.
4. tap send my location Follow the on-screen instructions. You can send your location every 15 minutes.