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<p style="text-align: left;">googling tells me it some sort of android update and thar if the power button is held down it calls 911. it keeps doing this despite having a proper cover on</p>
I've searched settings to try and disable it, can't find it, I did find 'what number to call for sos' and changed it from 911 to my wife's number thinking I'd sorted it
just checked my calls, it seems my phone called 911 again this morning on the school drop off.
short of taking a hammer to it, has someone found how to disable this bloody stupid feature?
Google is not helping me
What make and model of phone? Some companies have already issued an update to revert this.
What's the phone? My work Samsung S20 fe does this all the time if I'm a bit sweaty and it's in my jersey pocket. It pocket dials 999 with alarming regularity. It's because it doesn't have a proper proximity sensor in it so the 'in the pocket detection' is done via software taking inputs from tilt sensors and camera I believe. Anyway, it often gets it wrong and lights up the screen in my pocket and do the touch screen is active when in my pocket. The moisture gives false touches.
Quite a few xiaomi's and poco phones do it as they don't have a physical proximity sensor either.
Assuming Android:
Safety app
Features => emergency sos
Either disable or looks like you can now add a confirm step.
My pixel does that if you hit the power button more than 5 times in quick succession. Embarrassing when it happened on a ride over rough ground when phone was in a bar bag. If I lock the screen it stops it though.
it's a Samsung a52 (I think).
I don't have the option to disable SOS calls or add a confirmation stelp that I can find.
had a message from the police saying they had had multiple calls from me, and they could see where I was and hear me talking to my kids so assumed it was OK. junior parkrun....phone in pocket
emergency services must be getting swamped with calls
My iPhone would pocket dial. Disabled tap to wake. No more issues
A52 does indeed have virtual proximity sensing rather than an actual sensor. It's hopeless I'm afraid, frequent pocket dials.
I have a Samsung and am worried about the same thing. Like the OP, i can’t disable or add a confirmation step. One idea I’ve had (which might not work) is to change the emergency SOS number to something daft which won’t actually call anyone?
change the emergency SOS number to something daft which won’t actually call anyone?
Mine seems to call the emergency services if in the long string of random screen presses it's done it's managed to get 999 or 911 or 112 in sequence
Looks like Samsung have gone for a crap option with their latest update.
At best a 10 second countdown which doesnt seem to serve much use but probably worth enabling just in case a random key press also disabled it.
On Samsung its come in on a recent Android update, "press the side button 5 times to call for help" trouble is in their wisdom Samsung on some of their phones have disabled the ability to turn it off. Was on all the news sites back in June as the update rolled out to enough phones to increase the problem.
Only thing you can do for now until Samsung patch it, is set a custom number to call, I've set mine to my operators voicemail number.
Phone OfCom and have them change the number from 999 to 0118 999 881 999 119 725 3
That'd work, then you'd get tech support instead.
I set a custom number (my wifes) or at least thought I did, however the bloody thing still phoned 911 this morning
going to get blacklisted the amount of times its calling.
only option I can think of is to turn it off whilst it's in my pocket, but then I can't listen to music.
it's been fine for the last year or sos ownership so it's definitely to do with a recent update.
Phone OfCom and have them change the number from 999 to 0118 999 881 999 119 725 3
🤣
What’s the phone? My work Samsung S20 fe does this all the time if I’m a bit sweaty and it’s in my jersey pocket. It pocket dials 999 with alarming regularity. It’s because it doesn’t have a proper proximity sensor in it so the ‘in the pocket detection’ is done via software taking inputs from tilt sensors and camera I believe. Anyway, it often gets it wrong and lights up the screen in my pocket and do the touch screen is active when in my pocket. The moisture gives false touches.
I had the same problem with an s20fe. It only happens when the phone has the screen facing my sweaty thigh - facing it outwards and it stops..
It's a well known feature and was on the Beeb website a few weeks back too.
On oneplus there's an option in the settings to choose 3 quick presses or 5 quick presses (the default) of the power button or disable it altogether.
I disabled it.
I have had this as well on my S21 following some update or other. There's a setting that allows emergency calls via some sort of touch on the lock screen which I had to disable. Still did it once or twice though so I ended up carrying it in my pocket with the screen facing outwards i.e. not towards my damp flesh. Not ideal but it works.
My wife has had it and we’ve come up with an ingenious solution as none of the settings worked.
A bit of cardboard cut to the shape of the screen and held in place with a couple of elastic bands - she uses it whenever she’s out for a run.
Ludicrous but necessary 🤣
emergency services must be getting swamped with calls
Yes we are. Driving us potty. We've gone from 101 calls outnumbering 999 calls by 5:1 to now it's 1:1.
The other great thing is that Android didn't let emergency services know they were releasing this update so the first we knew was when call volumes went through the roof.
Android: clearly superior to iOS… /s
https://www.google.com/search?q=false+emergency+calls+apple
About 17,500,000 results (0.41 seconds)
I had this too and got called back by the Met too check I was OK.😳 s21, it was emergency dialing from 5 power button presses. I managed to disable it in settings. I felt really embarrassed and stupid to have wasted emergency operators time.
Oh ffs, I've just checked the settings and the last update must have removed the disable option! Why?! Now set to 30 seconds countdown, warning sound and dialing 00000000. It really shouldn't be necessary!
I have an A52s and it has been doing it for about 6 months. I got one of those granny wallets and it seems to be protecting the button sufficiently to have stopped doing it. I hope there is a proper update so I can ditch the wallet
My emergency 5 tap call is off. Has been for a while.
My earthquake notification is on!
Android 13 on Pixel 6 and my Emergency Call is disabled.
CountZero
Android: clearly superior to iOS…
Nothing to do with the operating system though, so a bit of a shit attempt at sarcasm.
It's the implementation by handset manufacturers that is poor.
My Pixel 4a doesn't have this issue.
I've suffered with this on multiple occasions.
Interested in a solution, I'm nearly on first name terms with the emergency operators.