How do you call 911 if you do not know where you are?
Call 911 anyway. Your phone can often help locate you: on many Android phones, Emergency Location Service sends your location to emergency services when you call or text an emergency number, where it's supported, and Apple says emergency providers may access an iPhone's location during an emergency call in some regions. Then help the dispatcher with what you can see: road or trail names, landmarks, mile markers, and which direction you came from.
How to help 911 find you
01Call first, work out your location second
Don't delay the call to figure out where you are. Dispatchers are trained to find callers, and your phone may already be sending location data. Say what's wrong first, then tell them you're not sure of your location.
02Turn on location services if you can
On iPhone, Apple's Medical ID guidance tells you to make sure Emergency Calls & SOS is turned on under Location Services > System Services. On Android, Google says Emergency Location Service can briefly turn location on for the emergency call even if it was off, where ELS is available.
03Read out what's around you
Street signs, building names, trail junction signs, park names, mile markers on a highway or bike path, bridges and bodies of water all help. Tell them the last place you're sure you passed and roughly how long ago.
04Get coordinates from your map app
On Android 14 and later, Google says the emergency call screen can show your address, a plus code or latitude and longitude for you to read aloud. On any phone, you can also open your maps app and tap the blue dot or drop a pin to see coordinates. Read the numbers slowly if the dispatcher asks for them.
05Stay put and keep your phone alive
Once they know roughly where you are, stay where you are unless you're in danger. Moving makes you harder to find. Lower your screen brightness and close other apps so your phone lasts for a callback.
Related questions
What should I say first?
Lead with the emergency, then the location problem. For example: "I've fallen on a hiking trail and I think my ankle is broken. I don't know exactly where I am. I started at the Mill Creek trailhead about an hour ago and went uphill." Answer the dispatcher's questions, and don't hang up until they tell you to.
Is my location sent automatically when I call 911?
Often, but not always precisely. Android's Emergency Location Service sends a location where it's supported by local emergency services and carriers. Apple says location may be accessed in certain countries or regions. Always describe where you are as well, in case the location is rough.
What if I can't talk?
Some areas accept texts to 911, but not all, and 911 centers ask you to call whenever you can. If you can't speak, stay on the line so the dispatcher can listen. Our page on whether you can text 911 explains more.
How can I make this easier before I go out?
Share a live location with someone at home. If you can't explain where you are, they can pass your last known location to 911 from the map. With Holler, Guardians see your live link in any browser and your SOS sends them your location, though it does not contact 911. Our guide on what to do when you lose cell service hiking covers remote areas.
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Sources, checked September 2026: Android: Emergency Location Service, Android: How Emergency Location Service works, Phone app Help: Share your location during an emergency call, Apple Support: Use SOS to contact emergency services on your iPhone, Apple Support: Set up your Medical ID in the Health app on your iPhone, Wikipedia: Text-to-911 (availability, FCC registry, bounce-back messages), NYC Text-to-911: call if you can, text if you can't.
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