Apple Crash Detection Function | How Does It Work?

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    Apple Crash Detection Feature – A Game Changer For Car Accidents

    Written by Tyler Lally

    Written by Tyler Lally

    Last updated on November 3, 2025

    In Apple’s most recent event on 7th September 2022, they announced that their new devices would come equipped with a brand new feature: Crash detection.

    Apple Crash Detection

    How does the crash detection work?

    When a severe car accident is detected, an iPhone or Apple Watch that is supported by the crash detection system will sound an alarm and display an alert. If the user is able to do so, they can call emergency services either by swiping the Emergency Call slider on their iPhone or Apple Watch or else dismiss the displayed alert entirely.

    However, if the user does not respond at all to the alerts within 10 seconds of it being presented to them, the device will begin another countdown lasting for 10 seconds. If there has still been no response from the user whatsoever, the device will automatically call the emergency services.

    • If you’ve added emergency contacts, your device sends a message to share your location and let them know that you’ve been in a severe car crash.

    Circumstances for crash detection?

    Crash Detection is specifically designed to identify severe car crashes, such as front-impact, side-impact and rear-end collisions, as well as rollovers. It works with saloons, minivans, 4X4s, pickup trucks and other passenger cars.

    Devices with crash detection

    Crash Detection works on these iPhone and Apple Watch models:

    Emergency calls use a mobile data connection or Wi-Fi Calling with an internet connection from your Apple Watch or iPhone.

    Apple Watch

    The new high G-force accelerometer samples data four times faster than the previous model and is capable of measuring up to 256g of force. Apple also built a fusion algorithm that’s trained on car accident data. In addition to motion sensors, Crash Detection also uses a barometer, GPS, and the microphone on your iPhone to detect patterns of a severe crash.

    Apple Watch

    iPhone

    The new iPhone 14 models, similar to the Apple Watch Series 8, include upgraded hardware that can identify 256g of force. They come with a high-dynamic range gyroscope and a new dual-core accelerometer. If you have a new Apple Watch and a new iPhone, they will work together to help you should you ever need it in a car accident.

    Apple Phone
    Does it actually work?

    The question everyone is asking is ‘does it actually work?’.

    The new crash detection feature is not something you can just try out, or particularly would want to.

    Thankfully, a longstanding tech YouTuber, TechRax, answered everybody’s questions and curiosity by testing out the crash detection function on the new iPhone 14.

    In the video, he attached the iPhone 14 to the inside of a car and simulated a real-life car crash. Watch the video below to see what happened.

    Set up your device for an emergency

    On supported iPhone and Apple Watch models, Crash Detection is turned on by default. You can also take these steps to make sure your device is able to share the information that your emergency contacts and emergency responders need.

    To alert your emergency contacts and share your Medical ID with emergency responders, set up your Medical ID and your emergency contacts in the Health app.

    To share your location with your emergency contacts, turn on Location Services for Emergency SOS:

    • On your iPhone, tap Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services, and make sure Emergency Calls & SOS is turned on.
    How to turn off apple crash detection

    Some cars already have crash detection technology built in, and some people would rather not add to the confusion by having both their car and phone trying to report an accident should it happen.

    Turn off on iPhone:

    • 1. Open the Settings app
    • 2. Tap Emergency SOS
    • 3. Turn off Call After Severe Crash

    Turn off on apple watch:

    • 1. On your iPhone, open the Apple Watch app
    • 2. In the My Watch tab, tap Emergency SOS
    • 3. Turn off Call After Severe Crash

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