Walking home alone late at night, embarking on solo road trips, or commuting through unfamiliar areas often involves texting loved ones: “Let me know when you get home safely.” However, forgetting to send that follow-up text can cause unnecessary anxiety. In iOS 17, Apple introduced Check In directly into the Messages app. Check In monitors your journey automatically, notifying your designated friend or family member the moment you arrive at your destination or alerting them with vital telemetry if your progress unexpectedly stalls.
Requirements for Using Check In
Check In requires the following criteria to function:
- Both the sender and recipient must be running iOS 17 or later.
- The conversation must be an active iMessage thread (indicated by blue chat bubbles, not green SMS).
- Location Services must be enabled on the sender’s iPhone.
- End-to-end encryption protects all transmitted data; Apple cannot view your location, battery status, or travel route.
How to Start a Check In Session in Messages
Initiating a Check In takes less than thirty seconds:
- Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
- Open the chat thread with the trusted friend or family member you wish to notify.
- Tap the + (Plus) button located to the left of the text message input field.
- Tap More, then select Check In.
- A yellow Check In preview card will appear in your text compose box.
- Tap Edit on the card to choose between two trigger modes:
- When I Arrive: Search and set your destination (e.g., your home address or hotel). Select whether you are driving, taking transit, or walking. Check In calculates expected travel duration and automatically includes a buffer for traffic.
- After a Timer: Set an arbitrary countdown duration (such as 45 minutes for a short jog or blind date).
- Tap the blue Send arrow to start your session.
What Happens During and After Your Journey
Check In operates seamlessly in the background without requiring manual check-ins:
- Automatic Arrival Notification: When your iPhone detects that you have physically reached your specified destination, Check In automatically notifies the recipient with a message reading: “Check In: Arrived safely.”
- Unprompted Delay Prompts: If you stop moving for an extended period or fail to make progress, your iPhone will buzz with an on-screen prompt asking if you are okay and offering a 15-minute journey extension.
- Emergency Escalation: If you do not respond to the safety prompt within 15 minutes, Check In automatically dispatches an alert to your recipient containing your last known location, cellular network signal strength, iPhone battery percentage, and the route you travelled.
Choosing Between Limited and Full Data Sharing
You can customize the sensitivity of shared safety telemetry in Settings > Messages > Check In Data:
- Limited: Shares your current location, network connectivity details, and battery level.
- Full: Shares all Limited metrics plus your complete travelled route, the location where your iPhone was last unlocked, and where the Apple Watch was removed.