Medical ID should be short, accurate and clinically relevant; it is not a complete medical record and may be visible from the lock screen.
Useful information
- Critical allergies
- Important medical conditions
- Essential current medicines
- Emergency contacts
- Communication needs or implanted-device information where relevant
Information to avoid
Do not add speculation, obsolete medicines, full identity documents, financial information or unnecessary private history. Incorrect information can be worse than leaving a field blank.
How it is accessed
On supported iPhones, Medical ID can be viewed from the emergency screen when Show When Locked is enabled. Android manufacturers use different emergency-information screens. Availability to responders and automatic sharing vary.
Review schedule
Update it after medication, diagnosis, contact or phone changes. Ask a clinician when unsure how to describe a condition or medicine.
Keep wording readable under pressure
Use plain names, recognised medicine names and short notes. Avoid unexplained abbreviations. If a detail is uncertain or no longer current, remove it until it can be verified.
Write for a responder who has seconds, not for a full medical consultation
Use concise, current facts that may affect immediate treatment: critical allergies, important conditions, current high-impact medicines and communication needs.
- Use plain names and avoid unexplained abbreviations.
- Include an emergency contact who has agreed and knows relevant context.
- Do not list an uncertain blood type as fact.
- Check lock-screen visibility and decide what privacy trade-off is acceptable.
Set a reminder to review Medical ID periodically. The phone cannot know when a medicine, diagnosis or contact becomes outdated.
Official sources
Facts checked: 26 July 2026. Menu paths, safety features, account procedures and network support can change. Recheck the current instructions for the exact device, software version, account and mobile provider before acting.
