The Accidental Dial
To ensure you can get help quickly in a crisis, Apple built a physical shortcut into the iPhone. By default, if you press and hold the side Power button and either Volume button simultaneously for five seconds, the iPhone will automatically dial local emergency services (like 911) and begin blasting a loud countdown siren. While this is a critical safety feature, it is incredibly easy to trigger by accident. If your phone gets wedged awkwardly into a tight car seat, or if you simply grip the phone too tightly while trying to take it out of a heavy protective case, you will inadvertently dispatch the police to your location. You must disable the automatic countdown.
How to Turn Off Auto Call
You can force the iPhone to wait for a manual screen swipe via the Emergency SOS settings.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap on Emergency SOS.
- Look for the master toggle switch labeled Call with Hold and Release (on older iOS versions, this may simply be labeled “Auto Call”).
- Toggle this switch to the Off position (the green background will disappear).
Manual Confirmation Required
The change takes effect immediately. The physical buttons will still work, but they will no longer dial automatically. If your phone gets crushed in the car seat and the buttons are held down, the screen will simply display a red “Emergency SOS” slider. The phone will patiently wait for you to physically swipe your finger across the glass screen to confirm the call, completely eliminating the risk of accidental pocket dials.