How to send messages via satellite on your iPhone or Pixel

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With Hurricane Milton acceptable to go the 2nd large hurricane to deed the US successful nether a month, the nation’s infrastructure is nether strain. In the aftermath of a earthy disaster, erstwhile powerfulness and cellphone work are out, connecting to 911 and friends and household from your smartphone via outer tin beryllium a literal lifeline.

Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite (on the iPhone 14, 15, and 16) and Google’s Satellite SOS (on Pixel 9 phones) can link you with exigency services erstwhile you don’t person compartment work oregon Wi-Fi. These services don’t necessitate immoderate setup — conscionable dial 911 from a supported telephone to scope exigency services implicit substance connection utilizing outer communication.

A new Messages via satellite feature connected newer iPhones launched this period with iOS 18. (There is nary equivalent diagnostic for Google Pixel.) This is not designed for emergencies similar the SOS service, but it tin link you with friends and household erstwhile needed. It’s presently disposable connected iPhone 14 models and newer running iOS 18. People affected by Hurricane Helene person posted connected societal media to stock however this work helped them get the connection retired that they were good pursuing the disaster.

You’ll request to bash immoderate things earlier you tin usage the iPhone’s outer messaging (see below), but it works with iMessage oregon SMS, provided you’re successful the US oregon Canada, your SIM paper is active, and your bearer supports it. The Verge has confirmed it works with Verizon and AT&T, and we’ve contacted T-Mobile.

The Apple and Android outer SOS features enactment connected iPhone 14 and newer and Pixel 9 models, respectively, and bash not necessitate bearer support.

All of these outer services are disposable to anyone with the supported hardware and are presently free. They necessitate a wide presumption of the unfastened entity to work, truthful you indispensable beryllium outside, distant from trees oregon ample buildings, and debar unreality cover.

Below, we’ll screen exigency outer messaging and past explicate however to acceptable up the caller messaging work disposable successful iOS 18. We’ll besides amusement you however to stock your determination via outer from your iPhone.

Emergency outer messaging: iPhones and Pixels

How to usage Emergency SOS messaging connected an iPhone

iPhone 14 surface showing illustration telling idiosyncratic to crook toward absorption of satellite.

Testing the Emergency SOS work connected an iPhone.

Photo by Victoria Song / The Verge

You tin contact 911 utilizing an iPhone 14 oregon aboriginal without compartment work oregon Wi-Fi. No anterior setup is required, but, arsenic with each outer services, you volition request a wide presumption of the sky.

Dial 911 first. If the telephone fails, pat Emergency Text via Satellite to substance exigency services.
Alternatively, spell to the Messages app and substance 911 oregon SOS, past pat Emergency Services.
Tap Report Emergency and travel the onscreen instructions.

The substance speech volition see accusation similar your Medical ID and exigency interaction information, location, questionnaire responses, and remaining artillery life. If you’ve acceptable up exigency contacts successful the Health app, you tin besides take to stock accusation with them automatically.

If your contacts don’t person iMessage connected an iPhone moving iOS 16.1 oregon higher, they’ll get a substance alert. If they do, they’ll get a transcript with your messages to exigency services and a representation of your location.

How to usage Satellite SOS messaging connected a Pixel 9

Calling 911 connected Google Pixel 9 devices (Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold) tin usage satellite connectivity erstwhile there’s nary cellphone work oregon Wi-Fi. Here’s however to bash it.

Make definite Google Messages is your default messaging app.
Dial 911 — if you don’t person compartment work and aren’t connected to Wi-Fi, you’ll spot a Satellite SOS option. Tap Satellite SOS > Use Satellite SOS > Start.
You’ll past beryllium asked to capable retired an exigency questionnaire.
Once you’re finished, you’ll beryllium fixed the enactment to notify your exigency contacts.
Next, a bid of onscreen prompts volition assistance you purpose your telephone astatine the satellite. (Google adds that transportation and effect times volition alteration based connected “location, tract conditions, and different factors.”)
Stay extracurricular successful wide presumption of the entity portion you hold for an exigency work supplier to reply via text.

Satellite messaging: iPhone

How to acceptable up outer messaging connected an iPhone

The caller outer messaging diagnostic works connected iPhones 14 oregon newer moving iOS 18. It indispensable beryllium enabled earlier you are retired of service, truthful acceptable it up present to beryllium definite it’s disposable erstwhile you request it. You tin also demo the work earlier you’re disconnected the grid.

Upgrade to iOS 18.
Make definite iMessage is turned on; spell to Settings > Apps > Messages > iMessage.
Have your friends and household upgrade to iOS 18. The idiosyncratic you connection needs to beryllium connected iOS 18 to nonstop an iMessage to you. Otherwise, it volition default to SMS.
Update your Family Sharing group and emergency contact. Once you’ve sent a connection implicit satellite, that idiosyncratic tin reply, but you tin lone person a connection earlier sending 1 from idiosyncratic successful your household radical oregon exigency contact.
If your recipient does not person iOS 18, your connection volition beryllium sent arsenic an SMS. To guarantee this volition work, spell to Settings > Apps > Messages and crook connected Send arsenic Text Message.

Simulated iPhone screenshot showing Messages via satellite

Image: Apple

How to usage outer messaging connected an iPhone

Go to the Messages app.
A outer punctual volition automatically look if there’s nary cellular work oregon Wi-Fi.
Tap Use Messages via Satellite.
Follow the instructions to link to a satellite. A greenish dot and a outer icon volition look astatine the apical of your phone.
If your transportation is weak, it volition crook orangish and an arrow volition constituent successful the absorption you request to determination to find a signal.
Type your connection and property send. It whitethorn instrumentality a fewer minutes to transmit. Anyone you connection volition spot a presumption notifying them that you are messaging via satellite.

How to stock your determination via outer connected an iPhone

You tin share your determination via outer utilizing the Find My app, but you request to acceptable this up successful beforehand and usage an iPhone 14 oregon newer moving iOS 16.1 oregon later.

Go to the Find My app connected your iPhone and crook connected Share My Location.
When extracurricular compartment and Wi-Fi service, unfastened the Find My app.
Tap Me astatine the bottommost of the screen.
Tap Send My Location and travel the onscreen instructions; you tin nonstop your determination erstwhile each 15 minutes.

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