Your Phone Can Speak for You
Set Up Emergency Medical Info on iPhone & Android

Why Set This Up

Picture this: you feel faint in a grocery store and go down. Someone calls 911. When paramedics arrive, you can't tell them your name, the medications you take, your allergies or who to call.

Your phone can fill that gap. iPhones and Android phones can show medical details and emergency contacts on the lock screen, without anyone needing your passcode.14 Responders know to look for it.

This guide covers iPhone, Google Pixel and most Android phones, and Samsung Galaxy. It also covers what to share, how others reach it, and a backup plan for when the phone isn't available.

Decide What to Share First

You Choose How Much to Say About HIV

Listing HIV is never required. Any of these choices is valid:

• List it plainly. For example, "HIV, on treatment" under conditions, with your medications. This gives the clearest picture in an emergency.
• List medications only. Medical staff will likely recognize HIV medications by name, but a casual reader may not.
• Keep it minimal. List allergies and emergency contacts, and add a note such as "Medication list in wallet" or "Call my clinic" with the number.
• Contacts only. Let a trusted person who knows your health history speak for you.

If you take PrEP, you can list it the same way, by medication name, if you choose.

iPhone: Set Up Medical ID

Medical ID lives in the Health app, which comes on every iPhone.1

1. Open the Health app.

2. Tap your profile picture or initials at the top right.

3. Tap Medical ID, then Get Started (or Edit if you've set one up before).

4. Fill in only the fields you want: medical conditions, medications, allergies, blood type and notes.

5. Under Emergency Contacts, tap the + button, choose a contact and pick their relationship.

6. Turn on Show When Locked so responders can see it without your passcode.

7. Turn on Share During Emergency Call if you want your Medical ID sent automatically when you call or text 911.

8. Tap Done.

Good to know: Automatic sharing with 911 isn't available in every country or region, and Apple says it can't read the information that's shared.1 After an Emergency SOS call ends, your iPhone also texts your emergency contacts with your location, unless you cancel.3

Google Pixel and Most Android Phones

On Pixel and many other Android phones, emergency info lives in the Safety app. It's listed as "Personal Safety" in the Play Store.4

1. Open the Safety app and sign in to your Google Account if asked.

2. Tap Your info.

3. Tap Medical information, then add what you choose: blood type, allergies or medications.

4. Go back and tap Emergency contacts, then Add contact, and pick someone.

5. Tap Emergency info access, then Show when locked.

Menus differ a little between phone makers and Android versions. If you don't see the Safety app, open Settings and search for "emergency."

Samsung Galaxy

Samsung keeps emergency info in Settings.56

1. Open Settings, then tap Safety and emergency.

2. Tap Medical info (tap Confirm if asked). Add what you choose: conditions, allergies, current medications, blood type.

3. Tap Save, then turn on Show on Lock screen.

4. Go back to Safety and emergency, tap Emergency contacts, then Add emergency contact.

5. Choose a contact, tap Done, and turn on Show on Lock screen.

How Paramedics, Staff and Others See It

Paramedics and emergency staff are trained to check for this information. The steps are short, and nobody needs your passcode.

On an iPhone

1. Wake the phone. Swipe up from the bottom (on iPhones with Face ID) or press the Home button.

2. Tap Emergency in the lower left of the passcode screen.

3. Tap Medical ID.2

On Pixel and Most Android Phones

1. Wake the phone and swipe up on the lock screen.

2. Tap Emergency.

3. Tap View emergency info.4

On a Samsung Galaxy

1. Wake the phone and tap Emergency call on the lock screen.

2. Tap View medical info for medical details. Emergency contacts appear on the keypad screen and can be tapped to call.6

If You're Helping Someone

If someone collapses near you, in a store, at work or on the street:

• Call 911 first and follow the dispatcher's instructions.
• Check the lock screen only if it helps, for example if the dispatcher asks about allergies or medications, or to call an emergency contact.
• Hand the phone to paramedics when they arrive, and tell them it has emergency info on it.
• Respect the person's privacy. Don't photograph or share what you read, and don't go through the rest of the phone.

Your Backup Plan

A phone can be dead, cracked, left at home or overlooked. Ready.gov advises keeping important contact numbers somewhere besides your cell phone.8 A simple paper backup covers those gaps.

• Carry a wallet card. List your emergency contacts, medications and doses, allergies, and your clinic's phone number. Ready.gov offers a free plan you can print as a wallet-size card.8
• Consider medical ID jewelry, such as a bracelet or necklace engraved with key details or "See wallet card."
• Brief a trusted person. Make sure at least one of your emergency contacts knows your medications, your clinic and what you want them to share.
• Keep photos of your prescription labels in cloud storage, so your information survives a lost phone.

Our HIV emergency preparedness guide walks through a full one-page plan, including medications, contacts and evacuation.

Test It and Keep It Current

• Test it today. Lock your phone and follow the steps above to make sure your info appears.
• Update it when anything changes: a new medication, a dose change, a new allergy or a new emergency contact.
• Review it twice a year. Pairing it with a routine date, such as your birthday or a clinic visit, makes it easy to remember.
• Tell your emergency contacts that you listed them.

Need help paying for medication or finding care? Visit our medication assistance guide or the HIV care locator.

Common Questions

Can paramedics see my Medical ID without my passcode?

Yes, if you turned on Show When Locked on iPhone, or Show when locked or Show on Lock screen on Android and Samsung. They tap Emergency on the lock screen, then open your medical information.

Do I have to list HIV in my emergency medical info?

No. You decide what to include. Some people list HIV and their medications, some list medications only, and some list only emergency contacts. Anyone who picks up your phone can see what you enter, so share only what you're comfortable with.

Does 911 get my medical information automatically?

On iPhone, turning on Share During Emergency Call sends your Medical ID when you call or text 911, where the feature is available. It isn't available in every country or region.

What if my phone is dead or locked away?

Carry a backup. A wallet card with your emergency contacts, medications and allergies works when a phone doesn't. Ready.gov offers a free plan you can print as a wallet card.