Android · Accounts & Family
Store medical details for first responders on the lock screen
Emergency Information lets you store medical conditions, allergies, medications, and emergency contacts so they are visible from the lock screen without unlocking the device, giving first responders critical information quickly.
How to open Emergency Information / Medical ID
- Open Settings
- Tap Safety & emergency (or search Emergency information)
- Tap Medical info and enter conditions, allergies, and medications
- Tap Emergency contacts and add trusted contacts
- Confirm the info is visible from the lock screen's emergency call screen
What you should know
- Accessible from the lock screen via an 'Emergency' or 'Emergency information' link
- Stores medical notes, allergies, medications, and blood type
- Lists emergency contacts that can be called directly from the lock screen
- Does not require the device to be unlocked to view
Why it matters
In an accident or medical emergency, seconds matter, and a locked phone can otherwise be a barrier to first responders learning about allergies, medications, or who to contact. Because this information displays without unlocking the device, it closes a real safety gap for a feature that costs nothing to set up but can materially change outcomes in an emergency.
Best practices
- Fill in at least emergency contacts and any life-threatening allergies or conditions
- Keep the information updated after any major medication or condition change
- Tell a trusted family member the information exists so they know to check it during an emergency
- Avoid including sensitive information you would not want visible to a stranger who finds a lost phone
Common problems and fixes
- Emergency info does not appear on the lock screen
- Confirm the lock screen 'Emergency' shortcut is enabled and that at least one field was saved
- Information is missing after a phone reset
- Emergency information is stored locally, not backed up to the cloud, so it must be re-entered on a new device
Tips and tricks
- Add a secondary emergency contact in case the first is unreachable
- Include chronic conditions like diabetes or epilepsy even if seemingly minor, since they can change emergency treatment
Frequently asked questions
Can this information be seen without unlocking the phone?
Yes, that is the entire purpose; it is accessible directly from the lock screen's emergency call screen.
Does it sync across devices?
No, it is stored locally per device and must be set up on each one.
Can I hide it after setting it up?
The emergency call option itself cannot be hidden, but you can remove the information you've entered at any time.
Related settings
- Add AccountThe Add Account flow lets you sign in to a new Google Account or other supported account type (Microsoft Exchange, personal IMAP email, corporate work profile) so its data can sync with apps on the device.
- Family Link SupervisionFamily Link connects a child's supervised Google Account to a parent's device, allowing approval of app downloads, screen time limits, content filters, and location checks directly from Android Settings or the Family Link app.
More Accounts & Family guides for Android
- Google Account SyncAccount sync keeps Gmail, Calendar, Contacts, Photos, and other Google app data updated automatically across your devices, tied to your signed-in Google Account.
- Digital Wellbeing & Parental ControlsDigital Wellbeing shows exactly how much time you spend on your phone and in each app, with tools like app timers, Focus mode, and Bedtime mode to help rebalance that. The same dashboard connects to Family Link, letting a parent set screen time limits, app approval, and content filters on a child's supervised device.
- Multiple Users / Guest ModeMultiple users lets several people share one Android device while keeping separate apps, accounts, wallpapers, and settings in fully isolated profiles. Guest mode offers a lighter, temporary alternative for a one-off borrower, with everything discarded once that guest session ends.
- Sync Individual Account DataBeyond the master account sync switch, each added account has granular toggles for what actually syncs, such as Contacts, Calendar, Gmail, Drive, or Photos, letting you keep some data local-only while syncing the rest.
- Autofill ServiceThe Autofill Service setting selects which app, such as Google Password Manager or a third-party password manager, automatically fills in saved passwords, addresses, and payment details across apps and browsers.
- Google One / Device BackupThis setting controls the automatic cloud backup of app data, call history, device settings, and photos to your Google Account, optionally using additional Google One storage, so everything can be restored when setting up a new device.