112 India App and Phone SOS Button: How to Use Them

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The short answer

Dial 112 for any emergency anywhere in India. The government's 112 guidance says to press a smartphone's power button three times quickly for a panic call, or long-press 5 or 9 on a feature phone. Android's Emergency SOS uses five or more presses, and iPhones in India use three quick presses of the side button. The free 112 India app sends your location to the state control room and your contacts.

112 is India's single emergency number, live in all 36 states and union territories.
Smartphones: press the power button three times quickly. Feature phones: long-press 5 or 9.
Set up Emergency SOS and emergency contacts on your phone before you need them.
The 112 India app's SHOUT feature alerts registered volunteers nearby for women and children.
Phone SOS needs battery, signal and a free hand, so plan for moments when you lack one.

This guide is for anyone in India who wants to be able to call for help in seconds, and for families setting up phones for parents, daughters and sons. It explains how 112 works, how to set up the 112 India app, how the panic shortcut on your phone works, and how to switch on Emergency SOS on Android and iPhone, step by step.

What is 112 in India?

112 is India's single emergency number for police, fire and medical help. It runs through the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS), which the Ministry of Home Affairs oversees through its Women Safety Division and which is funded under the Nirbhaya Fund. ERSS has now been set up in all 36 states and union territories.

ERSS brings older numbers such as 100 (police), 101 (fire), 108 (ambulance) and 181 (Women Helpline) together under 112. Each state and union territory capital has a Public Safety Answering Point that receives requests, dispatches the nearest police, fire or medical vehicle, and tracks it in real time. In many places the older numbers still connect, but 112 is the one to teach everyone in your family, from a grandmother in Lucknow to a student in Bhubaneswar.

How do you call 112, and what should you say?

Dial 112. On a locked iPhone, tap Emergency on the passcode screen first.
Say what is happening in one sentence, for example: "A man is following me outside the Sector 18 metro station."
Give your location with a landmark, even though ERSS can identify a caller's location automatically.
Give your name and stay on the line if it is safe to do so.
Keep your phone on and the ringer audible, so responders can call you back.

How do you set up and use the 112 India app?

The 112 India app is the official app of ERSS, published by C-DAC and free on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. When you raise an SOS, it sends an alert with your details (name, age and emergency contacts) and your location, along with a call to 112, to your state's emergency control room and to your emergency contacts.

Install "112 India" from the Play Store or App Store, and check that the developer is C-DAC.
Register and select your state. The App Store listing says the app works in most states; if yours is not yet covered, rely on calling 112 and your phone's built-in SOS.
Complete your profile, including your name and age, because these go out with every alert.
Add your emergency contacts.
Allow location access, so the control room and your contacts can see where you are.
In an emergency, open the app and press the SOS button.

For women and children, the app has a SHOUT feature that alerts registered volunteers near you. Volunteers receive a sound and visual alert and can mark that they will help; their name, photo and contact number are then sent to you. Members of the public can sign up as volunteers through the same app.

How does the panic button on your phone work in India?

The government's 112 guidance gives a shortcut for every type of phone. On a smartphone, press the power button three times in quick succession to activate a panic call. On a feature phone, long-press the 5 or 9 key. Apple's iPhone guide uses the same three quick presses of the side button for India.

On Android, the behaviour depends on the brand and software version. Google's own Emergency SOS uses five or more presses, and some phones let you choose. Open your settings, find out which method your phone uses, and practise carefully. If a practice run does connect to 112, Apple's advice applies to every phone: do not hang up. Wait for the call taker and explain that you do not need help.

How do I send an SOS from an Android phone in India?

Emergency SOS is available on Android 12 and later. Menu names vary slightly by brand.

Open Settings, then Safety and emergency, then Emergency SOS.
Tap Start setup and set the emergency number to 112.
Add your emergency contacts and choose what to share with them, such as your location.
Allow location access, and turn on emergency recording if you want video recorded.
Choose how SOS starts: touch and hold a red circle for three seconds, or start automatically after a countdown, with or without an alarm sound.
To trigger it, press the power button five times or more.

Once triggered, your phone can call 112, share your location with your emergency contacts and record video, depending on the options you chose.

How do I use Emergency SOS on an iPhone in India?

Press the side button three times quickly until the sliders appear.
Your iPhone plays a warning sound and counts down, then calls emergency services.
When the call ends, your emergency contacts get a text message with your current location, unless you cancel, and they receive updates if your location changes for a period afterwards.
If you have turned on Accessibility Shortcut, press and hold the side button and either volume button together instead.

You can review these options in Settings, then Emergency SOS.

How do I set up emergency contacts and medical information?

Emergency contacts are what turn an SOS from a call into a message your family actually receives.

Android: Google's instructions use the Safety app. Open it, tap Your info, add medical details such as blood group, allergies and medicines, add your emergency contacts, and turn on Show when locked. Some brands keep these options in Settings instead, so search your settings for "emergency".
iPhone: open the Health app, tap your picture, then Medical ID. Tap Get Started or Edit, add your details, tap Add Emergency Contact, and turn on Show When Locked so first responders can see it from the lock screen.

Choose contacts who keep their phones on at night and know what you would want them to do, and tell them they are on your list.

Can you send an SMS or email to 112?

The government lists voice calls, SMS, email, SOS signals, the 112 India app and state ERSS web portals as ways to reach ERSS. How text and email requests are handled can differ from state to state, so treat them as backups and check your state's 112 page for the exact method. If you can speak, call. If you cannot, the app's SOS button sends your details and location without you saying a word.

What are the limits of phone SOS and 112?

Network. A call or SOS needs a mobile network. An iPhone tries other carriers' networks if yours is unavailable, but a basement, a lift or a remote stretch of highway may have no signal at all.
Battery. A dead phone sends nothing. Carry a charged power bank on long days and late nights.
You have to act. Pressing a button three or five times needs a free hand, a phone within reach and a moment of calm. If your phone is in a bag or has been snatched, or you freeze, it may not happen.
App coverage. The 112 India app is not yet live in every state, so check yours when you register.
Accidental calls. Repeated presses in a pocket can trigger a call. If that happens, stay on the line and explain.

When does a dedicated SOS device help?

A dedicated device helps in exactly the moments listed above: when the phone is out of reach, locked, or too fiddly to use under stress. A good one works with one squeeze, needs no unlocking, and is designed so it does not go off by accident.

Kavach is one example, and it is coming soon. You press and hold both edge buttons together; a 130 dB siren and strobe start, and an SOS with your name, the time and a live location link goes to your emergency contacts by app notification and SMS through your paired phone. 112 is one tap away on the alert screen, but Kavach does not call 112 for you and is not a replacement for emergency services. You can see how it works, or compare options in our buyer's guide to personal safety devices.

Whatever you carry, set up 112 and your phone's SOS first, and save the other numbers in our list of women helpline numbers in India. If you need to report a crime afterwards, our Zero FIR and e-FIR guide explains how to report at any police station or online. This is general information, not legal advice.

If you or someone near you is in immediate danger, call 112. It works across India.

Questions people ask

What happens if I press the power button 3 times in India?

The government's 112 guidance says that pressing a smartphone's power button three times in quick succession activates a panic call. On iPhones in India, three quick presses of the side button start Emergency SOS, which counts down and then calls emergency services. Android phones vary by brand, and Google's Emergency SOS uses five or more presses, so check your settings.

Is the 112 India app free?

Yes. The 112 India app is free on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. It is published by C-DAC as part of the Emergency Response Support System, a Government of India initiative. Its App Store listing says it works in most states and that it will reach the rest soon, so check that your state is supported when you register.

What is the SHOUT feature in the 112 India app?

SHOUT is a feature of the 112 India app for women and children. When you raise an alert, it notifies registered volunteers in your vicinity with a sound and visual alert. A volunteer who agrees to help is shown to you with their name, photo and contact number. It works alongside the alert sent to your state's emergency control room and your contacts.

Can I send an SMS to 112 in India?

The government lists SMS, along with voice calls, email, the 112 India app and state ERSS websites, as ways to reach the Emergency Response Support System. How text requests are handled can differ between states, so a voice call or the app's SOS button is the more dependable first choice. Check your state's 112 web page for its exact SMS method.

How do I turn on Emergency SOS on an Android phone?

On Android 12 and later, open Settings, then Safety and emergency, then Emergency SOS. Tap Start setup, set your emergency number to 112, add emergency contacts, allow location access, and choose whether SOS starts with a three-second hold or an automatic countdown. After that, pressing the power button five times or more starts Emergency SOS. Menu names vary slightly by brand.

Does 112 work in every state in India?

Yes. The Emergency Response Support System with the single number 112 has been established in all 36 states and union territories. Calls go to the state's emergency response centre, which dispatches police, fire or medical help. Some older numbers such as 100 still connect in places, but 112 is the one number everyone in your family should remember.

Sources

Checked on 3 October 2026. Helpline numbers and rules change, so confirm with the official source before you rely on them.

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