Some owners of iPhones and Apple Watches have discovered that their device’s Crash Detection feature unexpectedly activates during activities that do not involve any accidents. For instance, the automated calls have caused fire stations in Japan near ski resorts to receive more emergency calls than usual.
Because Crash Detection will automatically contact emergency services on your behalf, some users might want to disable the feature—at the very least temporarily—while they engage in activities that require rapid acceleration and abrupt stops in order to avoid any misunderstandings or to avoid clogging up local emergency services.
Here is how you can Disable Crash Detection on iPhone and Apple Watch
Do this to Disable Crash Detection on iPhone
iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro, as well as future iPhone models, support crash detection:
- Open the ‘Settings’ app on iPhone
- Go to Emergency SOS
- Turn off ‘Call After Severe Crash’
With Crash Detection turned off, your iPhone will no longer call emergency services when you are engaged in other activities other than car crashes.
When you’re done with your activity, you might wish to turn on the feature once more. To do this, return to the same settings and switch “Call After Severe Crash” back to the ON position.
The best way to turn off crash detection on the Apple Watch
Crash Detection is available on the latest Apple Watch Series 8 or SE 2 devices or higher model:
- On Apple Watch, launch the Settings app (or the Watch app on iPhone)
- Locate SOS
- Toggle “Call After Severe Crash” off in Crash Detection.
The Apple Watch is now disabled on crash detection.
Note: This feature is undoubtedly helpful and well-intentioned so try leaving it ON when driving. However it’s less helpful to have emergency services improperly alerted while you’re bicycling, skiing, or engaging in any other activity that requires you to move quickly and stop suddenly in a safe way.
