How to Text 911 for Help (& What to Do If You Can’t)

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Send a text message to 911 when you can't call
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Hopefully, you will never be in a situation where you need to call 911. However, emergencies do happen. But sometimes, a phone call to 911 is not an option, such as if you're in a dangerous situation where an aggressor would hear you making a call, or you're d/Deaf or hard of hearing. Fortunately, in many parts of the USA, you can now text 911 in an emergency. This wikiHow guide teaches you everything you need to know about sending a text to 911, including alternatives, with expert tips from police captain Saul Jaeger of the Mountain View Police Department.

Can you text 911? What to Know

Text-to-911 isn't available everywhere, but its popularity is growing. To text 911, compose a new text with 911 as the recipient, and type your location and a description of your emergency. If your local 911 team doesn't have a 911 text line, you'll receive a reply telling you to call 911 instead.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

How to Text 911

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  1. According to Sgt. Jaeger, sending a text message to 911 is a relatively new technology that is not yet available in all regions. [1] You can call your local police department/911 center using their ten-digit non-emergency number to see if you can text 911 in your area. You can also look up your city or county at https://text911.info .
    • If it's an emergency and you don't have time to check, simply try texting 911. You will receive a bounce-back text advising you to call 911 if the technology is not yet available in your area. [2]
  2. Open your phone's default text messaging app and enter 911 as the phone number. For prompt assistance, keep your message brief and concise, but ensure it includes the following information: [3]
    • Your address, or the nearest cross streets or landmark.
    • If you do not know your precise location, list roads, landmarks, and other clues that could help emergency services find you. For example, something like, "By a theater called Hilton's, somewhere on the west side of town."
    • The help you need and why you need that service. For example, "I need an ambulance at the corner of Sunset and Western due to a car accident ."
    • Try to include all the information right away. A dispatcher will want to get services to you as quickly as possible, so do not withhold necessary information.
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  3. Even in an area where a text can go through, texts to 911 have certain limitations. Understand these limitations before attempting to text 911:
    • According to Sgt. Jaeger, you cannot text a video to 911, but some emergency centers may be able to accept photos. [4] However, Google plans to introduce the ability to send video via text to 911 via Google Messages in the near future. [5]
    • Text in full words, as slang and abbreviations may not be understood. [6]
    • You cannot send emojis or other media to 911 via text. All you can include are letters, numbers, and punctuation.
    • You have to be in range of your cell phone's tower to text 911. Texts to 911 may not go through if you're roaming.
  4. Once you've composed your message, you can send it to 911. Hit the send button as you would when you text to any other number on your phone. [7]
  5. If your area can respond to texts to 911, you should get a response from a dispatcher. If you included all the necessary information, the dispatcher will alert you emergency services are on the way. If further information is needed, the dispatcher will request it via text. Text back as soon as you receive a response. [8]
    EXPERT TIP

    Saul Jaeger, MS

    Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department
    Saul Jaeger is a Police Officer and Captain of the Mountain View, California Police Department (MVPD). Saul has over 17 years of experience as a patrol officer, field training officer, traffic officer, detective, hostage negotiator, and as the traffic unit’s sergeant and Public Information Officer for the MVPD. At the MVPD, in addition to commanding the Field Operations Division, Saul has also led the Communications Center (dispatch) and the Crisis Negotiation Team. He earned an MS in Emergency Services Management from the California State University, Long Beach in 2008 and a BS in Administration of Justice from the University of Phoenix in 2006. He also earned a Corporate Innovation LEAD Certificate from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 2018.
    Saul Jaeger, MS
    Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department

    How Text to 911 Works: When you text 911, it routes your message to what's called a PSAP, a Public Safety Answering Point, which we [Mountain View PD] are. When we receive the text, we'll see a pop-up window with your message. We use this window to text back and forth with you.

  6. The FCC requires that all wireless carriers and other text message providers send out what are called "bounce back texts" if your area is not equipped to respond to 911 texts. This is to prevent customers from mistakenly thinking of emergency services areas on the way if a text fails to go through. A bounce-back text will come seconds after you text 911. [9]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Other Ways to Contact 911

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  1. If your local 911 doesn't have a text line, calling is the quickest and easiest way to contact a 911 dispatcher and receive necessary emergency services. "Be prepared to give them your location," Sgt. Jaeger advises. "The first question we'll ask you is, 'What is the address of your emergency?' and if you don't start with that, we're going to ask you over and over until you tell us where you are. [10]
    • If you need to be discreet, turn down your phone's volume all the way so nobody around you can hear what the dispatcher says. If the dispatcher hears anything over the line that sounds concerning, such as "Why are you in my apartment?" or "Can you put the knife down?" they will send help.
    EXPERT TIP

    Saul Jaeger, MS

    Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department
    Saul Jaeger is a Police Officer and Captain of the Mountain View, California Police Department (MVPD). Saul has over 17 years of experience as a patrol officer, field training officer, traffic officer, detective, hostage negotiator, and as the traffic unit’s sergeant and Public Information Officer for the MVPD. At the MVPD, in addition to commanding the Field Operations Division, Saul has also led the Communications Center (dispatch) and the Crisis Negotiation Team. He earned an MS in Emergency Services Management from the California State University, Long Beach in 2008 and a BS in Administration of Justice from the University of Phoenix in 2006. He also earned a Corporate Innovation LEAD Certificate from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 2018.
    Saul Jaeger, MS
    Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department

    If you call 911 and hang up, they'll call you right back. If you're trying to be discreet, don't hang up. Just put the phone down and leave it there so the dispatcher can hear what's happening in the room. If you say something like "don't shoot me," they'll know it's an emergency and they'll send help.

  2. If you don't have a cellular signal and you have an iPhone 14 or later, you can use Emergency SOS via satellite to text 911. For this to work, you will need to try calling 911 from your iPhone first, and the call will need to fail due to your carrier network not being available. [11]
    • It's best to set this feature up in advance. If you haven't already, set up your Medical ID and emergency contacts in the Health app under Summary > Medical ID .
    • In the event of an emergency, first try calling 911. When the call fails, you'll see a screen with an option called "Emergency Text" or "Emergency Text via Satellite."
    • Tap Emergency Text and select Report Emergency .
    • Follow the on-screen prompts to answer the questions and connect to a satellite. Once connected, follow the instructions to text the emergency service.
      • This will work best when you're outside and have a clear view of the sky and the horizon. [12]
  3. If you live in one of these US states, AccessSOS is a free app that allows you to contact 911 without having to speak aloud—you'll describe your issue by selecting icons and entering some information via text, and AccessSOS will contact your local 911 dispatcher for you. [13]
    • Install AccessSOS in advance to make sure you have it when you need it. If you have an Android, you can download it from the Google Play Store . On iPhone or iPad, download it from the App Store .
    • After installing, follow the on-screen instructions to set up the app.
  4. 4
    Ask someone else to call. If possible, ask someone else to call 911. You could ask a friend or family member to do so if you're hard of hearing, for example. If you're unable to talk due to a medical emergency, try to write down that you need someone to call 911 if possible.
  5. You may be texting 911 because you are in a situation where an aggressor is nearby. You do not want him or her to know you're contacting emergency services. In this case, you can text someone else to text 911.
    • As you would do when texting 911, let this other person know the nature of the emergency. Tell them where you are, what services you need, and why.
    • For example, you could text a friend, "Uber driver took me way off track, is becoming aggressive, we're on Highway 101 heading north near exit 43, call the police."
  6. With the Smart911 app, you can create a profile with your address and location information, gate or door codes, health info, key information about household members, and more. Then, when you call 911, this information will be sent to the dispatch agent, and you won't have to say it aloud. Smart911 is not available in all regions, so visit https://www.smart911.com/smart911/isSmart911InMyAreaForm.action to look up your region in advance. [14]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you text police for help?
    Saul Jaeger, MS
    Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department
    Saul Jaeger is a Police Officer and Captain of the Mountain View, California Police Department (MVPD). Saul has over 17 years of experience as a patrol officer, field training officer, traffic officer, detective, hostage negotiator, and as the traffic unit’s sergeant and Public Information Officer for the MVPD. At the MVPD, in addition to commanding the Field Operations Division, Saul has also led the Communications Center (dispatch) and the Crisis Negotiation Team. He earned an MS in Emergency Services Management from the California State University, Long Beach in 2008 and a BS in Administration of Justice from the University of Phoenix in 2006. He also earned a Corporate Innovation LEAD Certificate from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 2018.
    Saul Jaeger, MS
    Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department
    Expert Answer
    Include a location or address in your first text, since emergency vehicles are not deployed until a location is given.
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  • Question
    Can you text 911?
    Saul Jaeger, MS
    Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department
    Saul Jaeger is a Police Officer and Captain of the Mountain View, California Police Department (MVPD). Saul has over 17 years of experience as a patrol officer, field training officer, traffic officer, detective, hostage negotiator, and as the traffic unit’s sergeant and Public Information Officer for the MVPD. At the MVPD, in addition to commanding the Field Operations Division, Saul has also led the Communications Center (dispatch) and the Crisis Negotiation Team. He earned an MS in Emergency Services Management from the California State University, Long Beach in 2008 and a BS in Administration of Justice from the University of Phoenix in 2006. He also earned a Corporate Innovation LEAD Certificate from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 2018.
    Saul Jaeger, MS
    Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department
    Expert Answer
    Yes, to do that you would literally text 911. It connects to what's called a PSAP, a public safety answering point, which most police departments have. We will then see a little text window pop up on our end, and it's going to text back and forth with you. They will ask you the address of your emergency and will encourage you to call if you can. If you can't, they will ask you about your situation via text.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Tips

      • Although your location is automatically displayed to the 911 dispatcher when you call 911, texting 911 is not the same, and location information is not always sent.
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      • A voice call is your best option for contacting emergency services. If you accidentally leave out information in a text, a back-and-forth exchange can take a while. Even if you're in an area where texting 911 is an option, only use it when calling 911 is not possible.
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      Warnings

      • Do not contact 911 for anything other than legitimate emergencies. Doing so risks the lives of people who need emergency help, wastes community resources, and may subject you to criminal prosecution.
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      References

      1. ↑ Saul Jaeger, MS. Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department. Expert Interview. 21 February 2020.
      2. ↑ https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/what-you-need-know-about-text-911
      3. ↑ https://www.nena.org/page/911GeneralInfo
      4. ↑ Saul Jaeger, MS. Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department. Expert Interview. 21 February 2020.
      5. ↑ https://blog.google/products/messages/google-messages-rcs-911-emergency/
      6. ↑ https://www.nena.org/page/911GeneralInfo
      7. ↑ https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/what-you-need-know-about-text-911
      8. ↑ https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/what-you-need-know-about-text-911
      9. ↑ https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/what-you-need-know-about-text-911
      1. ↑ Saul Jaeger, MS. Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department. Expert Interview. 21 February 2020.
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/101573
      3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/101573
      4. ↑ https://accessos.io/how-it-works
      5. ↑ https://www.smart911.com/

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