Solution 1: Use Android’s Native Built-in Safety Features (No Apps Required)
Modern Android devices running Android 12 or newer ship with a built-in Personal Safety / Emergency SOS system. It handles alerting loved ones, sharing location, and capturing video. It can also call emergency services.
What it does:
- Trigger: Rapidly press the Power button 5 times.
- Action:
- Sends a text message to designated emergency contacts with real-time location sharing.
- Automatically starts recording continuous video (up to 45 minutes) via the camera, auto-backing it up to the user’s Google account and sharing a view link directly with those contacts.
Setup Instructions (Stock Android / Pixel / Samsung):
- Open Settings Safety & emergency.
- Tap Emergency SOS.
- Select Emergency Contacts and add your recipient.
- Enable Send location info and Record emergency video.
Solution 2: Manufacturer-Specific Hardware Shortcuts (Samsung Galaxy)
If the device is a Samsung Galaxy phone, Samsung includes an extra native routine option via Modes and Routines + SOS Messages:
- Go to Settings Safety and emergency Send SOS messages.
- Turn it On and set the emergency contact.
- Enable Attach pictures: This natively captures pictures from both the front and rear camera simultaneously and texts them alongside your location link and emergency text.
- Set the trigger (e.g., press the Side key 3 or 4 times).