Emergency SOS on iPhone is a powerful safety feature, but it can be worrying or embarrassing if it triggers by accident. Whether you’ve set it off unintentionally or you just want to reduce the chances of false alarms, you can easily cancel Emergency SOS on iPhone 17 without turning your phone into a “dumb” device.

What Emergency SOS Does on iPhone

Emergency SOS lets you quickly call local emergency services and alert your emergency contacts using button shortcuts on your iPhone. Depending on your settings, it can be activated by:

• Pressing and holding the side button and one of the volume buttons.
• Rapidly pressing the side button five times (Call with Side Button).
• Certain crash or fall detection events on supported models.

This is great in real emergencies, but accidental activations are common—especially if you squeeze your phone in a pocket or case.

How to Cancel Emergency SOS When It Starts

If Emergency SOS has already started counting down or showing the SOS slider, you usually have a few seconds to stop it.

When you see the countdown and loud alarm

• If you triggered Emergency SOS by holding the side and volume buttons or pressing the side button repeatedly:
• ​Look for the countdown on the screen and the loud siren sound.
• On iPhone 8 or later, release the side button and volume button before the countdown finishes to cancel the call.

If you see an on‑screen “Stop” or “Cancel” option, tap it and confirm if asked.

If you successfully cancel in time, emergency services will not be called. ​

If the call has already started

If the call has already gone through to emergency services:

• Stay on the line and calmly tell the operator it was an accidental call.
• Follow any instructions they give you, as procedures can vary by region. ​ Hanging up without explaining can sometimes trigger a call‑back or even a welfare check, depending on local rules. ​

How to Turn Off or Adjust Emergency SOS

If you often trigger Emergency SOS by mistake, it’s better to adjust the settings rather than turning it off completely.

Step 1: Open Emergency SOS settings

• Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
• Scroll down and tap Emergency SOS.

Here you’ll see the options that control how Emergency SOS is activated.

Step 2: Turn off button shortcuts (optional)

You can disable specific triggers that cause accidental activations:

• Toggle off Call with Side Button to stop SOS from triggering when you press the side button five times quickly.
• On newer iPhones, you may also see Call with Hold and Release or similar options; toggle this off if you often squeeze the side and volume buttons by mistake. ​ With these off, the Emergency SOS slider is less likely to appear due to button presses.

Step 3: Turn off Auto Call (for fewer accidental calls)

If you want an extra layer of control:

• In Settings > Emergency SOS, look for Auto Call.
• ​Toggle Auto Call off. ​ When Auto Call is off, pressing the buttons will show the SOS slider on screen, but it won’t automatically dial unless you slide to call, greatly reducing accidental emergency calls.

Step 4: Keep other safety features if you can

Even if you turn off Auto Call or button shortcuts, you can still:

• Dial emergency services manually from the Phone app.
• ​Use satellite Emergency SOS on supported devices when you have no signal (by following the on‑screen prompts).

This way, you stay protected in real emergencies while cutting down on false alarms.

Tips to Avoid Future Accidental SOS Triggers

A few simple habits can make accidental SOS activations much less likely:

• Use a case that doesn’t press the side buttons too tightly, especially on snug pockets or bags. ​* Avoid gripping your iPhone by the side and volume buttons together for long periods, such as when carrying it.
• Consider disabling one shortcut (like five presses) while keeping another, so you still have a quick emergency option you’re comfortable with.

You can also try the Emergency SOS demo in Settings to familiarize yourself with how it works, without actually calling emergency services. ​

Final Thoughts

Emergency SOS is designed to help you in your worst moments, but it should never be a constant source of stress. By learning how to cancel the countdown, turning off Auto Call, and adjusting button shortcuts, you can keep the safety benefits while avoiding those heart‑stopping accidental alarms.

Spend a minute in Settings > Emergency SOS today and customize it to match how you hold and use your iPhone. That way, when you really need it, Emergency SOS will still be there—quiet in the background, ready to help, and far less likely to go off when you’re just trying to put your phone in your pocket.