How to turn on Fall Detection on an Apple Watch

2 min read · 5 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

Fall Detection is one of the most useful safety features of an Apple Watch, especially for older people or anyone who cycles or works alone. It is on automatically only if the age in your Health profile is 55 or over.

These steps are for recent versions of watchOS. The pictures are simplified diagrams of the watch screen, not screenshots.

Step by step

1. Open the Watch app on the iPhone

   Stay on the My Watch tab.

   Done

2. Tap Emergency SOS

   Scroll down to find it.

   Done

3. Switch on Fall Detection

   Choose Always On, or Only On During Workouts.

   Done

4. Add emergency contacts

   Open the Health app on the iPhone, tap your picture, Medical ID, Edit, and add contacts. They receive a message with your location after an emergency call.

   Done

5. Know what happens after a fall

   The watch taps your wrist, sounds an alarm and shows an alert. Tap "I'm OK" if you are fine, or slide Emergency Call. If you do not move or respond for about a minute, it calls by itself.

   Done

Good to know

The call needs a connection: the paired iPhone nearby, a known Wi-Fi network with Wi-Fi Calling, or a watch with its own mobile plan.

It needs an Apple Watch SE or Series 4 or later, and Wrist Detection must be on, under Passcode in the Watch app.

Very active sports can trigger false alarms. The alert gives you time to cancel.

Set up your Medical ID as well: how to set up Medical ID on an iPhone.

In short: Watch app, Emergency SOS, Fall Detection, Always On.