Disable Apple Watch SOS Completely

Question

Level 1

86 points

Disable Apple Watch SOS Completely

I do not like SOS.

I do not like it Sam I am.

Here's why:

Press and hold one of the buttons calls police but the other button turns it off. Press the wrong one and YOUR WATCH CALLS THE POLICE!!! Are you kidding me?

Press and hold the right button to turn it off but the print is so small you can read it unless you wear reading glasses so maybe you slide the Red one instead of the other.

Maybe you miss and slide the wrong one by accident and YOUR WATCH CALLS THE POLICE!!!

How about something simple like: Hey Siri - call the police!

Posted on Nov 13, 2016 8:38 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

238,145 points

Nov 13, 2016 8:50 PM in response to Gregg Green1

On the iPhone, go to the Watch app, General>Emergency SOS, and turn off Hold to Auto Call. You cannot turn it off completely. Power is always the top slider. SOS is the very bottom one. A little hard to confuse those.

However, if you wish to let Apple know about your feelings, since they do not participate here in this forum, which is a user to user forum, use the feedback link here, http://www.apple.com/feedback and click on the appropriate subject area.

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Answer 2

Nov 24, 2016 10:11 PM in response to Gregg Green1

I agree with you.

Before watchOS3, I wear my Watch during sleep to track sleep with an app.

But with SOS feature, I quit it because I don't want call police while I'm sleeping.

I disabled Auto Call, but still afraid of it.

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Answer 3

Gregg Green1 Author

Level 1

86 points

Nov 13, 2016 9:00 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

I did that. Listen I understand but just think about this.

When you shut off something, this is totally different than calling the Police.

It should not be on the screen. It's easy to swipe it in the wrong place and some people can see very well like my 80 year mother so it's really easy for someone to make the mistake.

At least make the buttons far apart from each other and put bigger print. Maybe confirm it. Are you sure you want to call the police. I just did it by accident.

So... as a result of calling the police by accident I personally don't want the feature at all. I don't want to worry about it.

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Answer 4

Gregg Green1 Author

Level 1

86 points

Nov 13, 2016 8:49 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

I know that but it's still a stupid feature to have it on by default and to be easily confused with shutting it off.

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Answer 5

Gregg Green1 Author

Level 1

86 points

Nov 13, 2016 8:53 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

Okay, how do you shut the watch off?

You hold the button that calls the police.

This is stupid!

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Answer 6

Feb 9, 2017 8:07 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

Well, I just spoke to a 911 operator by mistake on my new Apple Watch. My hand was partially in my pocket and the power button was being pushed continuously against my pocket rim. I'm left handed and the watch was on my right hand. I heard the siren sound and tried to power push the cancel in time but didn't get there in time.

She was very nice about it but I was so embarrassed. I took your tip and turned off the hold to auto call. Here's hoping it doesn't happen again!

I just wanted to add my two cents and to say that yes, you CAN call 911 by mistake with the default settings.

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Answer 7

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

238,145 points

Nov 13, 2016 8:50 PM in response to Gregg Green1

Just remember, stupid, my friend, is a subjective comment.

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Answer 8

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

238,145 points

Nov 13, 2016 8:54 PM in response to Gregg Green1

Yes, you hold the button, it brings up the slider, and you slide it to power off. If you turn off the Hold as I explained earlier, it will not call the police. I thought you said you understood that.

I've never accidentally called the police, and I've been able to turn my watch off without incident.

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Answer 9

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

238,145 points

Nov 13, 2016 9:06 PM in response to Gregg Green1

So, as a result of reading my earlier post, if you wish to tell Apple, the only people that could do anything about what you ask, you need to use the feedback link I provided. No one here could change anything.

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