How to Set Up Medical ID and Emergency Information on Your Phone in the UK

If you were in an accident and could not speak for yourself, would a paramedic be able to find your allergies, your medical conditions and someone to call? On most modern phones, the answer can be yes, if you set it up in advance. Both iPhone and Android have a built in feature that shows key medical details and an emergency contact from the lock screen, without unlocking the phone. It takes a few minutes to fill in, it costs nothing, and it is one of those settings you hope you never need, but will be glad you set.

This guide walks through Medical ID on iPhone and emergency information on Android, as they work in most recent versions. It also covers what to include, what to leave out, and how to test that the information is actually reachable from the lock screen. You are in control of what you share: only add details you would be comfortable with a first responder seeing in an emergency.

Step 1: Decide what to include, and what to leave out

Before you open any settings, think about the handful of facts that would help someone treating you in an emergency. Useful details usually include allergies, especially to medicines such as penicillin, medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes or epilepsy, current medicines if you take them regularly, and your blood type if you know it for certain. Add one or two emergency contacts with their relationship to you, such as partner, parent or close friend, and make sure those people know they are listed.

Step 2: Set up Medical ID on iPhone

On iPhone, open the Health app, which comes preinstalled. Tap your profile picture or initial in the top corner, then choose Medical ID. Tap Edit in the top corner, then fill in the fields you want to include: name, date of birth if you wish, medical conditions, allergies and reactions, medicines, and blood type. Scroll down to Emergency Contacts, tap Add Emergency Contact, choose a person from your contacts, and pick their relationship to you. You can add more than one contact if you wish.

The most important switch on this screen is Show When Locked. Make sure it is turned on. Without it, the information is stored on your phone but cannot be reached from the lock screen, which defeats the purpose in an emergency. When you have finished, tap Done. Your Medical ID is now saved, and it will be available to anyone who opens the emergency screen on your locked phone. Take a moment to check the spelling of medicine names and allergy details, because a small typo here could cause confusion later.

Step 3: Set up emergency information on Android

On Android, the exact menu names vary a little by phone maker and version, but the feature is usually in Settings under Safety and emergency, or About phone and then Emergency information. Open Settings, search for "Emergency information" or "Medical information" using the search bar at the top of Settings, and open the result that matches. You should see fields for name, blood type, allergies, medicines, medical conditions and other notes, plus a place to add emergency contacts.

Step 4: Test it from the lock screen

Do not assume the setup worked. Test it now, while you are calm and at home. Lock your phone, then open the emergency screen the way a stranger would. On iPhone, press and hold the side button and either volume button, or swipe up and tap Emergency, depending on your model, then tap Medical ID on the emergency call screen. On Android, swipe up on the lock screen and tap Emergency call or Emergency, then look for Medical info, Emergency information or a similar button.

Check three things. First, does the screen open without your passcode? Second, are your allergies, conditions and medicines readable and correct? Third, does tapping an emergency contact offer a way to call them? If any of those fail, go back into settings and fix it before you forget. Ask a family member to try the same test, because they will approach it the way a stranger would, and they may spot a confusing label or a missing contact that you overlooked. Testing takes less than a minute, and it is the difference between a setting that exists and a setting that actually helps.

Step 5: Keep it updated and tell the right people

Medical information changes, so treat this as a living entry, not a one off task. Update it whenever you start or stop a regular medicine, develop a new allergy, or change your emergency contact. A good habit is to check it at the same time as something else you already do, such as when you renew a prescription, change phones, or update your phone software. If you switch phones, set up Medical ID or emergency information on the new phone before you wipe the old one, because the entry does not always transfer automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can anyone see my Medical ID if they pick up my phone?

They can see only the details you put in Medical ID or emergency information, and only from the emergency screen on the lock screen. They cannot unlock your phone, open your apps, or see your messages from that screen. That is why you should keep the entry short and limited to emergency relevant facts.

Should I include my NHS number or home address?

No, there is no need. A first responder in an emergency needs allergies, conditions, medicines and a contact to call. Your NHS number and address do not change immediate treatment, and adding them increases the amount of personal information visible on a locked phone.

Does Medical ID work if my phone is switched off or out of battery?

No. Like any phone feature, it needs the phone to be switched on and charged. That is why a medical alert bracelet or card in your wallet is still a good backup for serious conditions, especially if you spend time outdoors, travel alone, or have a condition where fast treatment matters.