ICE Emergency Contact: How to Set It Up on iPhone and Android (2026)

ICE stands for “In Case of Emergency”. The idea, started in 2005 by UK paramedic Bob Brotchie, was simple: save a contact named “ICE” in your phone so ambulance crews can quickly reach your family. Today phones are locked with a PIN or face scan, so a contact name alone isn’t enough. Here’s how to set up an ICE emergency contact that responders can actually see in 2026.

Quick answer: On iPhone, open the Health app > your profile > Medical ID, add emergency contacts and turn on Show When Locked. On Android, go to Settings > Safety & emergency (or About phone > Emergency information) and add contacts and medical info. Responders can then tap Emergency on your lock screen to see them. Also save a contact named “ICE – Name” as a backup.

Set up an ICE emergency contact on iPhone

1. Open the Health app and tap your profile picture.
2. Tap Medical ID > Edit (or Get Started).
3. Add your emergency contacts, plus allergies, medications and blood type if you want.
4. Turn on Show When Locked and Share During Emergency Call.
5. Tap Done.

To view it from a locked iPhone, press Emergency on the passcode screen, then Medical ID.

Set up an ICE emergency contact on Android

1. Open Settings > Safety & emergency (on Pixel, open the Personal Safety app). On Samsung, go to Settings > Safety and emergency > Medical info and Emergency contacts.
2. Add emergency contacts and medical information.
3. Turn on the option to show emergency info on the lock screen.

Menu names vary by brand, so search Settings for “emergency” if you can’t find it.

The classic ICE contact method

• Add a contact named “ICE – Mum” or “ICE – David” with their number.
• Use ICE1, ICE2 for more than one person.
• Tell your ICE contacts you’ve listed them and what medical info they should know.
• Write ICE details on a card in your wallet too, in case your phone is damaged or dead.

Extra safety features worth turning on

• Emergency SOS: press the side button several times (Android) or hold side and volume buttons (iPhone) to call emergency services and alert contacts.
• Crash and fall detection on newer phones and smartwatches.
• Lock screen message: some people set a wallpaper with an ICE number.

Your ICE emergency contact works alongside other phone safety tools, such as wireless emergency alerts on iPhone. Read more on Apple’s Medical ID guide.

FAQ

Do paramedics really check ICE contacts?

Many responders check the lock screen Medical ID or emergency info first. A saved ICE contact helps if they can access the phone.

Can someone see my Medical ID without unlocking my phone?

Yes, if Show When Locked is on. That’s the point, so only add info you’re comfortable sharing.

How many ICE contacts should I have?

Two or three is ideal, so someone is reachable if the first contact doesn’t answer.