How to disable Crash Detection on your iPhone or Apple Watch

Rollercoaster enthusiasts, take note.
 By 
Cecily Mauran
 on 
crash detection feature on iPhone 14 and Apple Watch against backdrop of rollercoaster
Get an adrenaline rush from the rollercoaster, not the cops showing up. Credit: Mashable composite: Apple / Getty Images

If you're an Apple user who loves amusement parks, you might want to disable Crash Detection. That's because there have been several reports of the emergency feature being triggered on rollercoasters.

Aside from this unintended use case, Crash Detection, which is available on the new iPhone 14 line, as well as the Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra, has already been proven to work. And it could very well be a lifesaver in the event of a car accident, so you might not want to disable it.

Nonetheless, there is a way to turn it off. Here's how.


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1. Go to settings

Open Settings on your Apple Watch Series 8/Ultra or iPhone 14 device. Scroll down and tap "Emergency SOS."

2. Scroll down and disable "Crash Detection"

In the "Emergency SOS" section, you'll find several settings related to emergency settings. Find the setting called "Crash Detection" and toggle it off.

Screenshot of Crash Detection toggle in iPhone 14 Pro settings
Find the Crash Detection toggle in Emergency SOS settings. Credit: Apple

3. Confirm Crash Detection is disabled

Next, you'll be prompted with a disclaimer explaining that turning off the feature will prevent your device from automatically making an emergency call. Tap "Turn Off."

screenshot of warning for turning off crash detection feature
Make sure you understand the risks before turning off Crash Detection. Credit: Apple

And that's it. Just remember to turn Crash Detection back on when your amusement park joy ride's over.

Mashable Image
Cecily Mauran
Tech Reporter

Cecily is a tech reporter at Mashable who covers AI, Apple, and emerging tech trends. Before getting her master's degree at Columbia Journalism School, she spent several years working with startups and social impact businesses for Unreasonable Group and B Lab. Before that, she co-founded a startup consulting business for emerging entrepreneurial hubs in South America, Europe, and Asia. You can find her on X at @cecily_mauran.

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