An iPhone has two different kinds of SOS, and they do different jobs. Emergency SOS, built into iOS, calls emergency services. Orma's SOS alerts the people in your circle and shares your live location with them. It does not call emergency services. For the best protection, turn on both. This guide shows you how.
The difference at a glance
| iPhone Emergency SOS | Orma SOS | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it contacts | Emergency services, such as 911, 999 or 112 | Everyone in your Orma circles |
| What they get | A call from you | An urgent alert with your location |
| Where you set it up | iPhone Settings › Emergency SOS | The Safety screen in Orma |
| Triggered by | Side button and volume button, or five side-button presses | Holding the SOS button for 2 seconds, the Action Button, or Back Tap |
Think of them as two layers. Emergency SOS gets professional help on the line. Orma SOS gets the people who know you, and who may be close by, moving. They do not replace each other.
Set up Emergency SOS on your iPhone
Apple explains this in Use Emergency SOS on your iPhone. The short version:
- Open iPhone Settings and tap Emergency SOS.
- Check that Call with Hold and Release is on. With it, you hold the side button and either volume button until the sliders appear and the countdown ends, then release.
- If you like, turn on the five-press option. Pressing the side button five times quickly then starts the countdown. In some regions, such as India, Apple uses three presses instead.
- Add emergency contacts in the Health app. Tap your profile picture, then Medical ID, then scroll to Emergency Contacts and tap Edit.
Once an emergency call ends, your iPhone texts your emergency contacts, unless you cancel. It shares your location with them and, for a while afterwards, sends updates when your location changes.
Set up Orma SOS
Orma's SOS is a hold-to-send button on the Safety screen.
- Open Orma and go to Safety.
- Find the large SOS button. Hold it for 2 seconds. The hold is deliberate, to prevent accidental alerts.
- Everyone in your circles gets an urgent alert with your location. SOS alerts come through even when their phone is locked or on a Focus.
- Your location stays shared until you slide to say you are fine.
Your screen shows Your circles have been alerted. People in your circle can reply that they are on their way, and you will see who is coming.
Put SOS on the Action Button or Back Tap
Reaching for an app is slow in a stressful moment. You can trigger Orma's SOS from a physical gesture instead. Tap Use the Action Button or Back Tap on the Safety screen to open a short setup guide, or follow these steps.
Action Button (iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and the iPhone 16 family and later):
- Open iPhone Settings and tap Action Button.
- Swipe to Shortcut.
- Tap the button below it and choose Send SOS under Orma.
Apple's guide to the Action button notes that for Shortcut you need to select a specific option, otherwise the button does nothing.
Back Tap (iPhone 8 or later):
- Open the Shortcuts app and add Orma's Send SOS shortcut.
- Go to Settings › Accessibility › Touch, then tap Back Tap.
- Choose Double Tap and select Send SOS.
Apple has more on Back Tap. If Double Tap fires by accident, for example in a pocket or with a thick case, choose Triple Tap instead.
You can also say "Send an SOS with Orma" to Siri.
When any of these fire, Orma opens so you can see that the alert went out. If it was a mistake, slide to say you are fine.
Test it without scaring anyone
Before you test Orma SOS, tell your circle. Say you are going to send a test and that it is only a test. Then:
- Hold the SOS button for 2 seconds.
- Ask your family to confirm they received it.
- Slide to say you are fine.
Repeat once for each trigger you set up, such as the Action Button or Back Tap. Do not test Emergency SOS by letting the call go through. If a call does start, stay on the line and explain it was a mistake.
What someone sees when you send SOS
When your circle receives your SOS, the alert screen includes a button to call the local emergency number. That is deliberate. Orma alerts your circle and then helps them reach emergency services if you need it. It does not make the call for you.
The details are on support. For where your location goes and who can read it, see the privacy policy. SOS alerts are end-to-end encrypted like everything else in a circle.
FAQ
Does Orma SOS call 911, 999 or 112?
No. Orma alerts your circle, not emergency services. To reach emergency services from your iPhone, also turn on Emergency SOS in iPhone Settings.
Do I need both Emergency SOS and Orma SOS?
They cover different needs, so yes, we recommend both. Emergency SOS puts you in touch with responders. Orma SOS tells the people who know you and shares where you are until you say you are fine.
Can I stop an Orma SOS I sent by accident?
Yes. Open Orma and slide to say you are fine. Your location then stops being shared as part of the SOS. It is a slide rather than a tap on purpose, so a panicked or accidental touch cannot end it.
Will SOS reach my family if their phone is on Focus or locked?
Yes. SOS alerts are time-sensitive, so they still come through when Focus is on. Your family must have notifications enabled for Orma in iPhone Settings › Notifications.