{"id":535,"date":"2005-08-12T23:14:00","date_gmt":"2005-08-12T17:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2005\/08\/12\/ice-on-mobile-phones-emergency-contact-information\/"},"modified":"2026-10-12T15:47:46","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T10:17:46","slug":"ice-on-mobile-phones-emergency-contact-information","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2005\/08\/ice-on-mobile-phones-emergency-contact-information\/","title":{"rendered":"ICE Emergency Contact: How to Set It Up on iPhone and Android (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>ICE stands for &#8220;In Case of Emergency&#8221;. The idea, started in 2005 by UK paramedic Bob Brotchie, was simple: save a contact named &#8220;ICE&#8221; 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&#8217;t enough. Here&#8217;s how to set up an <strong>ICE emergency contact<\/strong> that responders can actually see in 2026.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-64670\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/ice-emergency-contact-1024x538.webp\" alt=\"ICE emergency contact on phone\" width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/ice-emergency-contact-1024x538.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/ice-emergency-contact-300x158.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/ice-emergency-contact-150x79.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/ice-emergency-contact-768x403.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/ice-emergency-contact.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> On iPhone, open the Health app &gt; your profile &gt; Medical ID, add emergency contacts and turn on Show When Locked. On Android, go to Settings &gt; Safety &amp; emergency (or About phone &gt; 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 &#8220;ICE &#8211; Name&#8221; as a backup.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6adf90956489d\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6adf90956489d\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2005\/08\/ice-on-mobile-phones-emergency-contact-information\/#Set_up_an_ICE_emergency_contact_on_iPhone\" >Set up an ICE emergency contact on iPhone<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2005\/08\/ice-on-mobile-phones-emergency-contact-information\/#Set_up_an_ICE_emergency_contact_on_Android\" >Set up an ICE emergency contact on Android<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2005\/08\/ice-on-mobile-phones-emergency-contact-information\/#The_classic_ICE_contact_method\" >The classic ICE contact method<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2005\/08\/ice-on-mobile-phones-emergency-contact-information\/#Extra_safety_features_worth_turning_on\" >Extra safety features worth turning on<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2005\/08\/ice-on-mobile-phones-emergency-contact-information\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2005\/08\/ice-on-mobile-phones-emergency-contact-information\/#Do_paramedics_really_check_ICE_contacts\" >Do paramedics really check ICE contacts?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2005\/08\/ice-on-mobile-phones-emergency-contact-information\/#Can_someone_see_my_Medical_ID_without_unlocking_my_phone\" >Can someone see my Medical ID without unlocking my phone?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2005\/08\/ice-on-mobile-phones-emergency-contact-information\/#How_many_ICE_contacts_should_I_have\" >How many ICE contacts should I have?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Set_up_an_ICE_emergency_contact_on_iPhone\"><\/span>Set up an ICE emergency contact on iPhone<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Open the <strong>Health<\/strong> app and tap your profile picture.<\/li>\n<li>Tap <strong>Medical ID<\/strong> &gt; Edit (or Get Started).<\/li>\n<li>Add your emergency contacts, plus allergies, medications and blood type if you want.<\/li>\n<li>Turn on <strong>Show When Locked<\/strong> and Share During Emergency Call.<\/li>\n<li>Tap Done.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>To view it from a locked iPhone, press Emergency on the passcode screen, then Medical ID.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Set_up_an_ICE_emergency_contact_on_Android\"><\/span>Set up an ICE emergency contact on Android<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Open <strong>Settings<\/strong> &gt; Safety &amp; emergency (on Pixel, open the Personal Safety app). On Samsung, go to Settings &gt; Safety and emergency &gt; Medical info and Emergency contacts.<\/li>\n<li>Add emergency contacts and medical information.<\/li>\n<li>Turn on the option to show emergency info on the lock screen.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Menu names vary by brand, so search Settings for &#8220;emergency&#8221; if you can&#8217;t find it.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_classic_ICE_contact_method\"><\/span>The classic ICE contact method<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Add a contact named &#8220;ICE &#8211; Mum&#8221; or &#8220;ICE &#8211; David&#8221; with their number.<\/li>\n<li>Use ICE1, ICE2 for more than one person.<\/li>\n<li>Tell your ICE contacts you&#8217;ve listed them and what medical info they should know.<\/li>\n<li>Write ICE details on a card in your wallet too, in case your phone is damaged or dead.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Extra_safety_features_worth_turning_on\"><\/span>Extra safety features worth turning on<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Emergency SOS:<\/strong> press the side button several times (Android) or hold side and volume buttons (iPhone) to call emergency services and alert contacts.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Crash and fall detection<\/strong> on newer phones and smartwatches.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lock screen message:<\/strong> some people set a wallpaper with an ICE number.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Your ICE emergency contact works alongside other phone safety tools, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2013\/06\/iphone-wireless-emergency-presidential-alerts\/\">wireless emergency alerts on iPhone<\/a>. Read more on <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/105072\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Apple&#8217;s Medical ID guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_paramedics_really_check_ICE_contacts\"><\/span>Do paramedics really check ICE contacts?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Many responders check the lock screen Medical ID or emergency info first. A saved ICE contact helps if they can access the phone.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_someone_see_my_Medical_ID_without_unlocking_my_phone\"><\/span>Can someone see my Medical ID without unlocking my phone?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, if Show When Locked is on. That&#8217;s the point, so only add info you&#8217;re comfortable sharing.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_many_ICE_contacts_should_I_have\"><\/span>How many ICE contacts should I have?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Two or three is ideal, so someone is reachable if the first contact doesn&#8217;t answer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ICE stands for &#8220;In Case of Emergency&#8221;. The idea, started in 2005 by UK paramedic Bob Brotchie, was simple: save&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":64670,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-535","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/535","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=535"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/535\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64673,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/535\/revisions\/64673"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64670"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=535"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=535"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=535"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}