How to Activate SOS Messages on Your Samsung Galaxy Devices

This feature in your smartphone and smart watch settings can assist you raising an alert in an emergency situation and can be set up in three easy steps

LONDON, UK – 16th March 2021 – The Samsung Galaxy SOS messages feature, which has been available on Samsung Galaxy smartphones since 2016, allows you to reach out for help if you find yourself in a situation where you do not feel safe and need to raise an emergency alert.

The feature enables you to auto-call and message up to four designated contacts without having to dial them.

Once activated, you can raise an alert by clicking your lock button three times. This will automatically send an SOS message and a Google map link of your location to your designated contacts. The feature also shares pictures from both the front and rear cameras of your smartphone, as well as a five-second audio recording.

Here’s how you can activate Samsung Galaxy SOS messages:

Samsung Galaxy smartphone^[1]

1. Go to Settings.
2. Go to the Advanced Features, and select Send SOS messages.
3. You can select the recipient from your contact book or create a new contact, adding the mobile number for the recipient so they can receive your message

To disable this feature, follow the same steps above: Settings > Advanced Features > Send SOS messages > OFF.

Samsung Galaxy smart watch^[2]

1. Open the Galaxy Wearable app
2. Go to Send SOSes, and then tap the switch to enable SOS messages
3. You’ll be asked to add an emergency contact. You can either create contact or select from contacts, and then add or create your designated contact.

Once activated, you can raise an alert by clicking your home button on your Samsung Galaxy smart watch three times. This will automatically send an SOS message followed by a link to your location.

If you would like the option of cancelling if activated accidentally, swipe to activate the Count down before sending feature, which waits five seconds before sending SOS messages and calls to allow them to cancelled.

To disable this feature, follow the same steps above: Open Galaxy Wearable app> Send SOSes > OFF.

[1] Feature available on Samsung Galaxy smartphones running on Android Nougat software onwards

[2] Feature available on Samsung Galaxy smart watches running on Tizen.5.5 software onwards