For decades, standard texting etiquette has included the phrase, “Text me when you get home so I know you’re safe.” And for decades, people have notoriously forgotten to send that text, resulting in anxious phone calls from worried parents or friends hours later.
With iOS 17, Apple introduced a brilliant safety feature built directly into the Messages app called “Check In.” Instead of relying on your memory, you can tell your iPhone where you are going. If you arrive safely, your iPhone automatically sends a silent text message to your friend confirming your arrival. More importantly, if you do not arrive on time, your iPhone automatically alerts your friend and securely shares your current location, battery level, and cellular signal strength so they can send help if necessary.
This guide explains how to initiate and configure a Check In session on your iPhone.
Requirements
Because this is a deeply integrated privacy feature, there are a few strict requirements before it will work:
- Both you and the person you are texting must be running iOS 17 or newer.
- You can only send a Check In via iMessage (blue bubbles), not standard SMS (green bubbles).
- You must have Cellular Data and Location Services enabled on your device.
How to Start a Check In
You initiate the feature directly from within the text message thread of the person you want to notify.
- Open the Messages app and select a conversation with a friend or family member.
- Tap the “+” (Plus) button to the left of the text input field.
- A menu of apps will appear (Camera, Photos, Audio, etc.). Swipe up on this menu to reveal more options.
- Tap on Check In (the icon is a yellow location pin with a checkmark inside).
- A yellow box will appear inside your text message field. It will default to a timer (e.g., “When I arrive at my destination”).
Choosing Your Destination or Timer
Before you send the message, you must configure the parameters of your trip. Tap the yellow Edit button inside the Check In box.
You have two distinct options for how the feature monitors your safety:
Option 1: When I Arrive (Location Based)
This is the most common use case. Tap the “When I Arrive” tab at the top. Use the search bar to type in your specific destination (e.g., your home address). You must then choose your method of transit: Driving, Transit, or Walking. The iPhone will calculate an estimated ETA based on real-time traffic data. If you arrive at that location, the session ends automatically.
Option 2: After a Timer (Time Based)
This option is perfect if you are not traveling, but rather doing something potentially risky, like meeting a stranger from an online marketplace or going for a run in a secluded park. Tap the “After a timer” tab and set a duration (e.g., 45 minutes). When the timer expires, your phone will prompt you. If you do not interact with your phone to cancel the prompt, it will trigger the emergency alert to your friend.
What Happens During an Emergency?
If your location-based ETA is delayed by more than 15 minutes, or if your time-based timer expires, your iPhone will buzz and present a full-screen prompt asking if you are okay.
If you do not respond to that prompt within 15 minutes, the Check In session escalates. It automatically sends an urgent iMessage to your friend. Depending on the privacy settings you chose during setup, your friend will receive either:
- Limited Data: Your current location, your iPhone’s battery percentage, and your cellular signal strength.
- Full Data: Everything above, plus the exact route you drove and the location where your iPhone was last unlocked or your Apple Watch was removed.
This data is heavily encrypted. Apple cannot see it, and it is only shared if you fail to arrive at your destination.