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For all the people saying that Siri only reacts to the voice of the owner, it does, but many people don't tutn off the 'on and off button' option where if you hold your on and off button it'll activate Siri without the need for password. I just tested it and it's always worth a shot, hold the ON button and say 'hey Siri call...'
That depends on the phone. You could, when finding the phone, use a search engine such as google, or if you can travel back in time and use alta vista or ask geeves, you would be able to find the answer
If it’s an iPhone, go to the health app, click the profile picture in the top right, then click medical ID and fill it out, adding your emergency contacts.
People are saying it’s voice specific? Not from my experience!! Both of my kids use their little toddler voices to engage Siri and it works. I feel I need to clarify that my voice is not at all similar…
I found a cell phone in the pre-smartphone days. I went through the contacts to try to find the best person to call to arrange to return the phone. I found "Mom" in the contacts and called her. It was the owner's mom alright, but she was elderly and senile and could not for the life of her understand why someone was calling her talking about a lost phone.
Does nobody know about medical ID and emergency contacts on iPhone?
Edit: to set this up, go to the health app
If you find an iPhone, when you’re at the screen it asks for the PIN press emergency and then press medical ID.
https://preview.redd.it/fabpe2j8xi1d1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=357cbac7f558962cc9d6417dda4cc146fa0a60b6
On most phones nowadays. Just looked into my settings because of this post - I have it set up but don't remember doing it and didn't know how to access it from the lock screen. Might be more helpful if the button on the lock screen said something like "emergency options" rather than "emergency call" to make it more obvious that there is more than calling the emergency services available behind the button.
Android user here.
On my phone, on the password/pin/pattern screen there's a button that just says "emergency". Pressing that opens a dialer but it also shows my full name and a button that says "view emergency info" which then shows my blood type, allergies, address, and emergency contacts (which can be called without unlocking the phone).
Just gotta make sure to put someone else's number. The amount of people I've had to explain to why putting their own number is a bad idea is toooo many haha
Same here, my wife's number is on my phones lock screen and hers is on mine. I've found lots of phones at work that I can't get back to their owner. This thread gives me some ideas to try next time. We had a cellular enabled iPad last year that still had service on it. I kept charging it up in hopes that someone would come looking for it with the find my iPhone feature. We even brought it to the local cell phone store so it would be easier to find. I don't think they ever did find the owner.
Holding Power + Volume Down gives you a slider to access Medical ID from anywhere, and doesn’t require you going to the emergency dialer first. This is the same for Apple Watch when holding Side Button (not crown)
Thank you for this but not for your intended purpose lol. I’ve had my iPhone for almost a year now and I finally have a way to fully power cycle my device without having to scroll thru settings.
HA no way, did you think they just removed the power off slider when they moved Siri to the side button? You can long hold those same buttons to force restart if you’re completely frozen up too
No I’ve just had android since smartphones have been a thing up until now and I never bothered to look for the shortcuts. I assume Siri could even turn off my device if asked? I’ve never thought to.
Which is silly. A lost phone is NOT an emergency and many people won't touch it because they don't want to call 911/999/etc. "In case of emergency or lost device" maybe.
Android lets you put a contact information message on your lock screen.
1. Lock phone
2. Hold finger down (instead of double tapping)
3. It will have you unlock it
4. Type in something like "If found call \_\_\_\_" or "If found email ____"
Can also use emergency contacts, but not really necessary if you see that.
The android "find my phone" feature also lets you display a message and contact info after you have lost it. It even lets the finder dial the contact number without unlocking. This got me my phone back, to my great amazement, when I lost my phone while on vacation.
Ok so first this only works if you have an iPhone, which I don't. So even if every iPhone user knew about the emergency settings you'd still run the risk of someone like me picking it up, I don't even know what my emergency settings are one a OnePlus 12.
It works on Android too, and ICE contacts have been a thing since flip phones. Regardless, mostly only used by people whose Moms saw it on a slow day on the local news and told them about it.
https://www.androidpolice.com/how-to-add-medical-information-android/
https://www.androidpolice.com/how-to-set-up-emergency-sos-features-on-android/
You are the person this LPT is for, you don’t even know your own phone so, now you know how to set it up on android and accessing it on iPhone is but a google search away.
On Android, on the lock screen you should see an Emergency button. Use the kebab menu in the Emergency screen to edit your emergency contacts from there, it will prompt you to unlock your phone.
Back in like 2007ish, my mom found a flip phone in a parking lot and it was not locked so she called the mom contact. Turns out some college aged son lost his cellphone and his mother was super happy that someone found it and made plans to return it.
The family was so over joyed that we found it that they donated a whole set up clubs and golf lessons to my elementary school for a school fundraiser auction. Til siri and voice assistances became common place, I used to keep my phone unlocked just in case that ever happened to me. Now it's a lot easier with the voice commands :)
That probably only works if you a) have an iPhone and b) have your mother's number stored as "mom" in your contacts. I don't have either of those.
But I do have message on the lock screen that says "if found please call ###-###-####".
If you ever lose your phone, and have a Google account associated with your number, you can type "find my phone" into the search bar and it gives you the option to call your phone, locate it via GPS and set a message on the screen. You can also do a factory reset if you suspect it's been stolen
You can set relationships - eg “Siri: Joan Smith is my mother”.
Also, a lot of women I know actually just have their parents in their phones as “mom/mommy” and “dad/daddy”.
I have mine with their real names, but I do have relationships set. A stranger would def be able to “Siri call mom” on my phone.
My living mother has been using my dead fathers phone for a year and it's still in my phone as 'Dad', even tho he's dead and it's actually my Mom. Lol they'd be all sorts of confused.
my android has an emergency call button on the lock screen, and you can add emergency contacts, you can also put in medical info that you feel comfortable with having in an unlocked document.
to add an emergency contact you press on the emergency call button, then you press the + sign, it will ask you to unlock your phone, and then once you do you can add contacts from your saved contacts.
to add medical info that is accessed from the emergency call button go into your contacts app, and select your profile, it is the big picture at the top of your stuff, and once you do you will be able to add medical info such as allergies, conditions, and regular medications, as well as any extra info you feel would be important to any doctors, nurses, or ems that need to look at it.
This is built into iOS since iOS 8. You can hold the button to activate siri, then say "Hey siri, who does this phone belong to" and then you don't have to worry about "mom" being in the contacts.
But im Uber Mom
so I fixed it for her. 🥰
Called her boyfriend .. got dudes name , and phone number arranged a pick up spot
All better :-). Almost as easy as kidding her knee with a scrape.
She’s mid 20’s - super responsible and barely needs me ever … so it was kinda nice honestly !
I used to make my kids wear bracelets with my cell phone on them when in nyc , big fairs , concerts. Or note under the sole of their sneakers
Yep I was THAT mom
or, y'know, check to see if the phowner was smart enough to set emergency contacts.
emergency contacts can be called, or a pre-set message sent, from the lock screen without unlocking the phone.
Android phones also have a customizable lock screen message and voice commands can be activated too. No idea whether a finder could use it to initiate a call though.
Another option is.
My google Pixel has an option to write something at the very bottom of the lock screen.
I set mine to say "Ring xxxxxxxxxx if found"
Did this a few weeks ago. Tried several prompts but they were not working. No name of owner. No home number. Finally call mom and got to the owners mom.
Also scored some awesome home made shortbread cookies.
I found an iPhone a few days ago and was able to get it back to the owner quickly. WhatsApp message notifications were visible on the lockscreen and I could send a message from there without unlocking the phone.
I did this once. I found a phone in a cab. I was delighted to help - I love helping. Siri called mom, the kid got in touch with me….and then the shenanigans because. She kept flaking on me and then was trying to cajole me into bringing it to her at NYU. I’m a woman and not a mother I wasn’t having it. Needless to say she eventually picked it up, without a thank you. I wish I could say I was disillusioned but I do like helping. Just not pandering, babying, functioning as a doormat or perpetuating the spoiling cycle. Siri call mom is a great trick just cross your fingers mom didnt raise an entitled brat.
Had the same thought when a young co-worker passed out at work, unfortunately she called me mom and had me listed as such in her phone. Honestly the most love and anger I've ever felt at the same time.
Isn't there another Life Pro Tip which literally states that you should change your family contact names to their normal names so that people who got a hold of your phone could not call for ransom or scams?
I am a phone magnet. I find one almost every time I go out. I have 100% return rate. One I even had to buy a charger for to be able to turn it on so they could track it and I could call "home", "mom", or "dad".
Ladies, do NOT set your phone on top of the toilet paper holder. That is the number 1 place I find them. Men, do not set your phone in the shopping cart or on the shelf when looking at something.
I try not to give it to customer service until I contact the owner and tell them it's there. I don't want something to happen to it.
I left my phone in the bathroom at a Taylor Swift concert last year so I thought for sure it was a goner. Until my husband got a phone call from me. Some little girls in the bathroom went into my emergency contacts to find out who to call. The kids are alright ☺️
Don't get me wrong, this is a great tip. I just immediately thought of all the women I've dated and know who have their mother/father saved in their phone by their first name.
But at the same time, this is exactly why my home screen has my partner's and my sibling's phone numbers on the lock screen; the 2 people who are most likely to answer.
Side Story: I once dated a very insecure young woman who questioned the (at the time singular) phone number on my lock screen. She didn't believe my reasoning even after showing my sibling's contact matched the number so I challenged her to call it from her phone.
Sister: Hello?
Girl: Hey, I found a phone with your number on the -
\[sister interrupts\]
Sister: It's my brother's. Where did you find it and where are you?
Back in 2013 or so or so I went to a football game and found a brand new iPhone on the ground and did just this. The mother ended up answering, told her the deal and was able to coordinate meeting up with the girl who lost her phone. It felt good getting it back to the owner, though her very subdued “thanks” and prompt walk away was a little less the reaction I was expecting. Either way, good karma was built up.
Oof. I still have my mom’s phone number in my favorites even though she died over 4 years ago. I just haven’t been able to bring myself to remove her. (Sigh…) I have at least updated my emergency contact info, though.
This happened to my friend a long time ago, before screen locks and passcodes. They lost their phone and the person went through the address book and called "mom."
Same thing happened to me. I received a call from someone who found my daughters phone. I called her husband and they were able to get it back. See? There are still some nice people.
I've had my immediate family in my phone as mom, father, sister, brother, etc since this happened to my cousin back in the early 2000s and the guy called her mom to get it back to her lol.
I did this after I found a phone downtown Charleston in South Carolina. I read this advice from another thread and got through to the person's Mother who directed me to the person's dorm where it was promptly returned.
My ex was:
“ douchbag- weenie man , baby face crying loudly “.
For about 6 months.
Siri announcing calls and reading texts with this preface really helped me get through 😂😂
Had someone do this with my friends daughters phone. Exactly like u said. It was in a themepark about a 2hour drive. Luckily we were still there when they called. No one noticed the phone missing either
When I found a phone in an uber, I just charged it to keep it from going off and waited for the person it belonged to to call. She did call 15 minutes right after, I answered and told her where to meet me so I can give her the phone. Simple as that.
Why is everyone able to talk to everyone’s siri and i have to have the screen unlocked, apps closes, 0 ambient sound, perfect lighting, mic to my lips, an absolutely precise atmospheric ration of gasses in my mouth and vocal folds, and just be having one of those once a year great days for my own siri to pay any attention to me?
A better lpt.. would be to add your mom's number to the emergency contacts. It will make it so even if the phone is locked it will allow a person to place a call to te person in the emergency contact list
My mom is dead and even when she was alive she was in my phone as “home”. But I did read something similar and it was “call my last missed call” which could be helpful if the person who lost the phone had someone close to them call it to find it - and hopefully the last missed cal wasn’t a scammer lol
Lost my phone at Mardi Gras, I guess it was unlocked. The guy that found it looked in my contacts and called “asshole” to let my ex know he had my phone. Thankfully, he made a second phone call to “Dad” so I eventually got it back. With some paragraphs of BS. lol.
On my Lock Screen, I saved a pic that has my hubby’s phone number on it (“If found, call __”). That way, all anyone has to do is look at the screen to know how to get in touch.
Wherever I go to concerts, I take a selfie when I’m going to/ at the venue and set that as my Lock Screen. If I lose it in the pit, I pray that’s enough up find its way back. Worked the one time I dropped it
Lock Screen phone numbers are good.
Lost my phone on the slopes last spring and someone called my parents, who in turn called my roommate and told him to ask me where my phone is. After some pocket patting we drove up to the lift.
But yeah, have phone numbers on lock screen. I also have my blood type and donor info there.
My dad's in his late 80's but still very active. He had taken his scooter to the bus and dropped his phone near the local Jr High. I'm his ICE contact. I get a random call from the cross country coach that a student had turned it in.
Dad hadn't even told my mom he'd lost it yet because he was supposed to be doing something else that morning instead of going to the store via the bus.
All that to say.... ICE is the way.
Let me understand this- this guy found a phone and asked siri on this phone to call mom? Does your daughter have a manly voice just like the guy that found the phone? I thought Siri used the voice of the owner? If not, why do we voice match with Siri in set up?
Something similar happened in college in 2008. Someone accidentally put their phone in my purse at a party. When I found it, I called their mom and she knew immediately how to contact her daughter to meet up with me to get it.
(In (C)ase of (E)mergency contacts should be a thing on all smartphones as far as I know.
That does require that people have set it up themselves beforehand though.
when i was out hiking last year, i came across a phone on the trail. i asked siri to call the last number dialed and was able to reach the owner's friend, who came to pick it up. it's such a relief when someone takes the time to return a lost phone - that person's daughter is lucky to have someone so thoughtful looking out for her.
I did that last time I found a phone when running! It was a shattered screen iphone, the mom sounded VERY pissed lol But at least the son got his phone back!
I found a run over iPhone in the street and was able to put my corded headphones in the headphone Jack and double click the volume toggle on the cord to call the last number called and left a message with my phone number. I was able to get the phone back to the owners and they were so grateful, even though it was smashed.
You can do this with both Samsung and Pixel phones, too. Except you just hold down the power button. You don't have to say anything for Google.
That's if the option is set. I have it on both of mine for emergencies.
This is a great tip. I actually did this a couple months ago for a phone I found on a park bench. Unfortunately the kids mom‘s name wasn’t under mom so I had to do call dad! They were on the way to Verizon and were very happy to not have to pay $1000 for a new phone
Psshh... Just call 911.
OR... if you find a rare lock-less phone. You replace the background and lock screen with a photo of I huge black wiener.
Then, tell Siri or Google to show the directions "home" and save that address.
Next, change the ringer and alarm to the loudest orgasm scream sound clip that you can find online. (Make them two separate sound files in case they're able to find and delete one or the other) After that, set reoccurring reminders to go off for the next 12 months. Back up the phone to their default email (so some settings will carry over to any new device when logged in to your email).
Next, make a bunch of random fetish searches on multiple apps so that their interest-based-ads will start showing crazy ads.
Then, in the settings menu, scroll down and change the default "language" to some super rare language that nobody knows. Then, you deactivate Siri and OK Google, so they'll have to take it in store for help
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For all the people saying that Siri only reacts to the voice of the owner, it does, but many people don't tutn off the 'on and off button' option where if you hold your on and off button it'll activate Siri without the need for password. I just tested it and it's always worth a shot, hold the ON button and say 'hey Siri call...'
I turned that off years ago, does that mean this trick won't work for me if my phone is lost?
The finder would just have to access your emergency call screen and call the emergency contact you set up.
Which you do by…
That depends on the phone. You could, when finding the phone, use a search engine such as google, or if you can travel back in time and use alta vista or ask geeves, you would be able to find the answer
*blows the dust off Netscape* Time to log back in to Myspace
"I've missed you" - Tom
Fuck yeah. I’m so happy we’re starting to normalize “Google it” again. People have been using discussion forums as a search engine for too long.
How to shrink hemorrhoids fast
Reminds me of 'look it up in the dictionary'. Now I get to reverse the roles on my parents and say 'google it'.
Don't forget dogpile
I HAD FORGOTTEN, thank you for this
Going to the contact and add them as emergency contact….
If it’s an iPhone, go to the health app, click the profile picture in the top right, then click medical ID and fill it out, adding your emergency contacts.
Google it
https://www.howtogeek.com/768576/how-to-set-an-emergency-contact-on-iphone-and-why/ https://www.wikihow.com/Add-Emergency-Contacts-and-Information-to-Android Easy enough
What do you mean siri only reacts to the voice of the owner my siri reacts to my friend and my mom saying hey siri and those are the ones i know
Mine doesn't react to my boyfriend's voice and vice versa. But when we click the turn off button, it's working.
People are saying it’s voice specific? Not from my experience!! Both of my kids use their little toddler voices to engage Siri and it works. I feel I need to clarify that my voice is not at all similar…
I found a cell phone in the pre-smartphone days. I went through the contacts to try to find the best person to call to arrange to return the phone. I found "Mom" in the contacts and called her. It was the owner's mom alright, but she was elderly and senile and could not for the life of her understand why someone was calling her talking about a lost phone.
But you got good person life karma :-)
Lmao, if that's how it works, I must have done a lot of bad shit in a previous life.
Does nobody know about medical ID and emergency contacts on iPhone? Edit: to set this up, go to the health app If you find an iPhone, when you’re at the screen it asks for the PIN press emergency and then press medical ID. https://preview.redd.it/fabpe2j8xi1d1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=357cbac7f558962cc9d6417dda4cc146fa0a60b6
On most phones nowadays. Just looked into my settings because of this post - I have it set up but don't remember doing it and didn't know how to access it from the lock screen. Might be more helpful if the button on the lock screen said something like "emergency options" rather than "emergency call" to make it more obvious that there is more than calling the emergency services available behind the button.
That’s what I always thought this was. I’d be cautious to activate it thinking I was calling 911 emergency services
Android user here. On my phone, on the password/pin/pattern screen there's a button that just says "emergency". Pressing that opens a dialer but it also shows my full name and a button that says "view emergency info" which then shows my blood type, allergies, address, and emergency contacts (which can be called without unlocking the phone).
I have the same on my iPhone. The Emergency option pops up when it gets a face it doesn’t recognize.
On my Android, you can add text to your lockscreen. I've added "if found, contact .... on ......."
Just gotta make sure to put someone else's number. The amount of people I've had to explain to why putting their own number is a bad idea is toooo many haha
Same here, my wife's number is on my phones lock screen and hers is on mine. I've found lots of phones at work that I can't get back to their owner. This thread gives me some ideas to try next time. We had a cellular enabled iPad last year that still had service on it. I kept charging it up in hopes that someone would come looking for it with the find my iPhone feature. We even brought it to the local cell phone store so it would be easier to find. I don't think they ever did find the owner.
Holding Power + Volume Down gives you a slider to access Medical ID from anywhere, and doesn’t require you going to the emergency dialer first. This is the same for Apple Watch when holding Side Button (not crown)
Thank you for this but not for your intended purpose lol. I’ve had my iPhone for almost a year now and I finally have a way to fully power cycle my device without having to scroll thru settings.
HA no way, did you think they just removed the power off slider when they moved Siri to the side button? You can long hold those same buttons to force restart if you’re completely frozen up too
No I’ve just had android since smartphones have been a thing up until now and I never bothered to look for the shortcuts. I assume Siri could even turn off my device if asked? I’ve never thought to.
It's often called ICE (in case of emergency).
Which is silly. A lost phone is NOT an emergency and many people won't touch it because they don't want to call 911/999/etc. "In case of emergency or lost device" maybe.
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Oh to the owner it might be. Dang it. I guess to the ambulance people it's only an emergency for the patient also. Shoot. Contradicting myself I am.
Android lets you put a contact information message on your lock screen. 1. Lock phone 2. Hold finger down (instead of double tapping) 3. It will have you unlock it 4. Type in something like "If found call \_\_\_\_" or "If found email ____" Can also use emergency contacts, but not really necessary if you see that.
Thanks! I didn't know this. Just updated mine.
This. I've been doing this for more than a decade. I think it's much clearer than using Siri or whatever.
This is awesome. Thank you so much. It just took me about 10 seconds using your instructions.
The android "find my phone" feature also lets you display a message and contact info after you have lost it. It even lets the finder dial the contact number without unlocking. This got me my phone back, to my great amazement, when I lost my phone while on vacation.
No I don’t., but given that you’re the top comment on this thread, maybe you could edit your comment and tell people how to access that
Have done now. I wasn’t expecting it to be a big comment.
I don’t no what you’re talking about but I’ll give it a Bing search later tonight
holding the lock button and the top volume button for a second or two will bring up the options to access your Medical ID
Ok so first this only works if you have an iPhone, which I don't. So even if every iPhone user knew about the emergency settings you'd still run the risk of someone like me picking it up, I don't even know what my emergency settings are one a OnePlus 12.
It works on Android too, and ICE contacts have been a thing since flip phones. Regardless, mostly only used by people whose Moms saw it on a slow day on the local news and told them about it.
https://www.androidpolice.com/how-to-add-medical-information-android/ https://www.androidpolice.com/how-to-set-up-emergency-sos-features-on-android/ You are the person this LPT is for, you don’t even know your own phone so, now you know how to set it up on android and accessing it on iPhone is but a google search away.
There are emergency settings in Android too🙄
On Android, on the lock screen you should see an Emergency button. Use the kebab menu in the Emergency screen to edit your emergency contacts from there, it will prompt you to unlock your phone.
I was coming to say the same thing.
If you call my mom I’ll still never get my phone.
Mine would have “ taught me a lesson” and after looking through my whole phone…. Yeah. Not always the correct play !
Back in like 2007ish, my mom found a flip phone in a parking lot and it was not locked so she called the mom contact. Turns out some college aged son lost his cellphone and his mother was super happy that someone found it and made plans to return it. The family was so over joyed that we found it that they donated a whole set up clubs and golf lessons to my elementary school for a school fundraiser auction. Til siri and voice assistances became common place, I used to keep my phone unlocked just in case that ever happened to me. Now it's a lot easier with the voice commands :)
Awe. I love this!
That probably only works if you a) have an iPhone and b) have your mother's number stored as "mom" in your contacts. I don't have either of those. But I do have message on the lock screen that says "if found please call ###-###-####".
How do you display a message on your lock screen?
Depends on what kind of phone you have. Look in the settings in the lock screen and you should find it.
You are a superstar!
If you ever lose your phone, and have a Google account associated with your number, you can type "find my phone" into the search bar and it gives you the option to call your phone, locate it via GPS and set a message on the screen. You can also do a factory reset if you suspect it's been stolen
I actually made a different wallpaper with that message on it. That can work too.
I do a family photo with one of us holding a card with my wife’s number on it. I change the photo whenever we go on vacation.
I have a Pixel 8 that has this option.
My lock screen has my husband's number
Does his phone Lock Screen have your number? 🫣😂😂
You can set relationships - eg “Siri: Joan Smith is my mother”. Also, a lot of women I know actually just have their parents in their phones as “mom/mommy” and “dad/daddy”. I have mine with their real names, but I do have relationships set. A stranger would def be able to “Siri call mom” on my phone.
You should be careful asking Siri to call daddy on a random person’s phone.
It probably will reach someone who can help return the phone either way
My parents are dead. Nobody’s getting through to them on the cell network.
My living mother has been using my dead fathers phone for a year and it's still in my phone as 'Dad', even tho he's dead and it's actually my Mom. Lol they'd be all sorts of confused.
Neither of my parents ever owned a cell phone. I’m 53. My parents would be 80ish if they were still around. Both passed 10-15 years ago.
Took me nearly two years to realize the 'please call' number I put on my lock screen was my own number.
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I have a samsung and bixby can do this as well, or u can ask it "who did i call last" and ask it to call that number
Yea my mom's dead and my dad's contact is "fuckface" so I'll be impressed if they somehow get a hold of either of em
I've got a Voldemort last name he who shall not be named in my phone.
That's genius. I have that in my calendar, but never thought about my phone.
You can also put a message like that on the lock screen of a MacBook. Maybe other computers too.
You can associate certain contacts to be mom and dad for siri regardless of contact name actually. But yeah not everyone does.
Also most phones these days recognise your voice and don't activate for other people as a security feature
I do the same thing. I have a backup number to call and my name on my lock screen
I did this too. Except by habit I typed my own phone number on the lock screen. My SO won't let me forget about that to this day.
my android has an emergency call button on the lock screen, and you can add emergency contacts, you can also put in medical info that you feel comfortable with having in an unlocked document. to add an emergency contact you press on the emergency call button, then you press the + sign, it will ask you to unlock your phone, and then once you do you can add contacts from your saved contacts. to add medical info that is accessed from the emergency call button go into your contacts app, and select your profile, it is the big picture at the top of your stuff, and once you do you will be able to add medical info such as allergies, conditions, and regular medications, as well as any extra info you feel would be important to any doctors, nurses, or ems that need to look at it.
Emergency contacts and info on the lock screen are a great thing that some of y'all need to look into.
This is built into iOS since iOS 8. You can hold the button to activate siri, then say "Hey siri, who does this phone belong to" and then you don't have to worry about "mom" being in the contacts.
All that gives you is a name though
But im Uber Mom so I fixed it for her. 🥰 Called her boyfriend .. got dudes name , and phone number arranged a pick up spot All better :-). Almost as easy as kidding her knee with a scrape. She’s mid 20’s - super responsible and barely needs me ever … so it was kinda nice honestly !
Also, write your name and email address on a slip of paper and put it between your phone and its case.
I used to make my kids wear bracelets with my cell phone on them when in nyc , big fairs , concerts. Or note under the sole of their sneakers Yep I was THAT mom
I taught mine my number very easily by singing it to the tune of Jenny’s number. I think they had it in a day. Around Kindergarten age.
or, y'know, check to see if the phowner was smart enough to set emergency contacts. emergency contacts can be called, or a pre-set message sent, from the lock screen without unlocking the phone.
We are revamping our security settings.
Wouldn’t work on my iPhone, Siri will only respond to my voice. I suspect others have the same setting turned on.
If you hold down the lock button and speak, Siri will respond to anyone’s voice.
TIL!
You really don't come across sleuthing in the wild very often. Let alone sluthing.
I have Siri on my iPhone disabled if it is locked.
I have an android :/ but good to know!
Android phones also have a customizable lock screen message and voice commands can be activated too. No idea whether a finder could use it to initiate a call though.
On my android phone, I got a scrolling message on my lock screen showing what number to call if the phone is found.
Another option is. My google Pixel has an option to write something at the very bottom of the lock screen. I set mine to say "Ring xxxxxxxxxx if found"
Did this a few weeks ago. Tried several prompts but they were not working. No name of owner. No home number. Finally call mom and got to the owners mom. Also scored some awesome home made shortbread cookies.
I did this long ago before siri in the transistion period where landlines were still common, i found an entry called Home
I found an iPhone a few days ago and was able to get it back to the owner quickly. WhatsApp message notifications were visible on the lockscreen and I could send a message from there without unlocking the phone.
“Siri call mom’s hot friend”
What if you’re parents are gone?
You know what also works? “Siri, who’s phone is this”
I read "sleuthing" as slutting. Lol
I did this once. I found a phone in a cab. I was delighted to help - I love helping. Siri called mom, the kid got in touch with me….and then the shenanigans because. She kept flaking on me and then was trying to cajole me into bringing it to her at NYU. I’m a woman and not a mother I wasn’t having it. Needless to say she eventually picked it up, without a thank you. I wish I could say I was disillusioned but I do like helping. Just not pandering, babying, functioning as a doormat or perpetuating the spoiling cycle. Siri call mom is a great trick just cross your fingers mom didnt raise an entitled brat.
Why the heck did I read sluthing as slutting...
Slutting for you .. Ultimate Ai feature 😂
Had the same thought when a young co-worker passed out at work, unfortunately she called me mom and had me listed as such in her phone. Honestly the most love and anger I've ever felt at the same time.
The LPT seems to be have people learn how to use the functions on phones
Isn't there another Life Pro Tip which literally states that you should change your family contact names to their normal names so that people who got a hold of your phone could not call for ransom or scams?
Thought of this after it happened too. Siri call boss. Siri call husband. Suddenly, maybe not so “ Good Samaritan “
This is exactly how I managed to return a phone that I found at a shopping centre almost a decade ago now, only it was an Android.
Good idea. I have an I.C.E. number in my lock screen.
I just go to emergency call and check the emergency contacts. Please everyone have that set up.
I am a phone magnet. I find one almost every time I go out. I have 100% return rate. One I even had to buy a charger for to be able to turn it on so they could track it and I could call "home", "mom", or "dad". Ladies, do NOT set your phone on top of the toilet paper holder. That is the number 1 place I find them. Men, do not set your phone in the shopping cart or on the shelf when looking at something. I try not to give it to customer service until I contact the owner and tell them it's there. I don't want something to happen to it.
I left my phone in the bathroom at a Taylor Swift concert last year so I thought for sure it was a goner. Until my husband got a phone call from me. Some little girls in the bathroom went into my emergency contacts to find out who to call. The kids are alright ☺️
Don't get me wrong, this is a great tip. I just immediately thought of all the women I've dated and know who have their mother/father saved in their phone by their first name. But at the same time, this is exactly why my home screen has my partner's and my sibling's phone numbers on the lock screen; the 2 people who are most likely to answer. Side Story: I once dated a very insecure young woman who questioned the (at the time singular) phone number on my lock screen. She didn't believe my reasoning even after showing my sibling's contact matched the number so I challenged her to call it from her phone. Sister: Hello? Girl: Hey, I found a phone with your number on the - \[sister interrupts\] Sister: It's my brother's. Where did you find it and where are you?
Yeah, every time I find a lost phone this somehow blows everyone's minds lol. You can also ask who owns the phone to get a name.
TFW my mom is saved as birthgiver in my phone
Back in 2013 or so or so I went to a football game and found a brand new iPhone on the ground and did just this. The mother ended up answering, told her the deal and was able to coordinate meeting up with the girl who lost her phone. It felt good getting it back to the owner, though her very subdued “thanks” and prompt walk away was a little less the reaction I was expecting. Either way, good karma was built up.
She was likely embarrassed and knew she had a parental Lecture headed her way. Mom and dad were super happy!
You’re probably right, but great tip nonetheless. I’m a real world example of it absolutely working.
I just tried “ Siri, call dad” and my old neighbor johnson responded, not my dad ?
Oof. I still have my mom’s phone number in my favorites even though she died over 4 years ago. I just haven’t been able to bring myself to remove her. (Sigh…) I have at least updated my emergency contact info, though.
Hugs. There are kisses you don’t fully recover from. The price of loving big.
😂. Supposed to read … Losses not kisses. But there are big kisses that are life altering too!
This happened to my friend a long time ago, before screen locks and passcodes. They lost their phone and the person went through the address book and called "mom."
Same thing happened to me. I received a call from someone who found my daughters phone. I called her husband and they were able to get it back. See? There are still some nice people.
I've had my immediate family in my phone as mom, father, sister, brother, etc since this happened to my cousin back in the early 2000s and the guy called her mom to get it back to her lol.
If you don't want your mom to be called in a situation like this, change her contact name in your phone.
I did this after I found a phone downtown Charleston in South Carolina. I read this advice from another thread and got through to the person's Mother who directed me to the person's dorm where it was promptly returned.
So I did this same exact thing however the 8th graders girl put her mom in her phone as “Birth Giver” so it wouldn’t call Lolol!
First thing I always do with a new device is disable Siri and all speech to text functionality.
Going to just write my spouses number on the back of the phone
People list their parents as mom and dad in contacts? Everyone in my contacts is their actual names.
My ex was: “ douchbag- weenie man , baby face crying loudly “. For about 6 months. Siri announcing calls and reading texts with this preface really helped me get through 😂😂
Had someone do this with my friends daughters phone. Exactly like u said. It was in a themepark about a 2hour drive. Luckily we were still there when they called. No one noticed the phone missing either
When I found a phone in an uber, I just charged it to keep it from going off and waited for the person it belonged to to call. She did call 15 minutes right after, I answered and told her where to meet me so I can give her the phone. Simple as that.
Mine literally has an ICE number to call on the lock screen...
Siri only works with the voice of the owner. I wonder if this gentleman and your daughter has similar pitch? 🤔😬
How do you know either of them play cricket?
I think they compared their collections of tar.
then why does all the stupid TV commercials make the phone work.
Not if you hold the button in. Then it will answer to anyone.
Are you sure? With Android you can pick if "Hey google" works only with your voice or other's as well.
No, it’s a setting that can be set-up same with “Hey Google”
I'm not sure if it would be nice or terrfying if I tried that and she answered. Usually need a ouija board for that.
I’d love a line to heaven. So many questions I wish o had thought of when they were alive. Hugs. It’s never easy.
Someone posted this yesterday
Why is everyone able to talk to everyone’s siri and i have to have the screen unlocked, apps closes, 0 ambient sound, perfect lighting, mic to my lips, an absolutely precise atmospheric ration of gasses in my mouth and vocal folds, and just be having one of those once a year great days for my own siri to pay any attention to me?
A better lpt.. would be to add your mom's number to the emergency contacts. It will make it so even if the phone is locked it will allow a person to place a call to te person in the emergency contact list
Nobody sets up ICE contacts anymore?
My mom is dead and even when she was alive she was in my phone as “home”. But I did read something similar and it was “call my last missed call” which could be helpful if the person who lost the phone had someone close to them call it to find it - and hopefully the last missed cal wasn’t a scammer lol
I did this once. Found a brand new iPhone in a parking lot. Guy had it back in an hour.
Lost my phone at Mardi Gras, I guess it was unlocked. The guy that found it looked in my contacts and called “asshole” to let my ex know he had my phone. Thankfully, he made a second phone call to “Dad” so I eventually got it back. With some paragraphs of BS. lol.
Sorry, I’m confused. Is it something I set up? I have “mom” saved as a contact. Would that be enough?
On my Lock Screen, I saved a pic that has my hubby’s phone number on it (“If found, call __”). That way, all anyone has to do is look at the screen to know how to get in touch.
Just tried it on a phone I found and it states that it must be unlocked for Siri to activate. So very ymmv
Some frat dudes found my phone at the bar and called my mom at 3am. Needless to say she was not pleased
Wherever I go to concerts, I take a selfie when I’m going to/ at the venue and set that as my Lock Screen. If I lose it in the pit, I pray that’s enough up find its way back. Worked the one time I dropped it
Great idea. I always take one of my kids before we go somewhere … so I know how they were dressed etc.
Lock Screen phone numbers are good. Lost my phone on the slopes last spring and someone called my parents, who in turn called my roommate and told him to ask me where my phone is. After some pocket patting we drove up to the lift. But yeah, have phone numbers on lock screen. I also have my blood type and donor info there.
My dad's in his late 80's but still very active. He had taken his scooter to the bus and dropped his phone near the local Jr High. I'm his ICE contact. I get a random call from the cross country coach that a student had turned it in. Dad hadn't even told my mom he'd lost it yet because he was supposed to be doing something else that morning instead of going to the store via the bus. All that to say.... ICE is the way.
Let me understand this- this guy found a phone and asked siri on this phone to call mom? Does your daughter have a manly voice just like the guy that found the phone? I thought Siri used the voice of the owner? If not, why do we voice match with Siri in set up?
I'm way too cynical and I watch too many true crime docs. I would assume that she's already been murdered.
And that’s how I met your daughter.
Google Pixel here On the lock screen i am able to leave a note for this exact reason, "If found #1234567"
Something similar happened in college in 2008. Someone accidentally put their phone in my purse at a party. When I found it, I called their mom and she knew immediately how to contact her daughter to meet up with me to get it.
(In (C)ase of (E)mergency contacts should be a thing on all smartphones as far as I know. That does require that people have set it up themselves beforehand though.
But how was he able to activate siri with his voice??
when i was out hiking last year, i came across a phone on the trail. i asked siri to call the last number dialed and was able to reach the owner's friend, who came to pick it up. it's such a relief when someone takes the time to return a lost phone - that person's daughter is lucky to have someone so thoughtful looking out for her.
Because all phones are iPhones, apparently
Not everyone has a mom tho.
This is literally why I have a note if found call *home number*" on the lock screen of my phone.
sometimes siri won’t even let me call my mom without unlocking my phone first 😭
I did that last time I found a phone when running! It was a shattered screen iphone, the mom sounded VERY pissed lol But at least the son got his phone back!
My mom is literally in my phone as lmao
Can confirm. I also found a phone on a trail, mom was very confused.
I found a run over iPhone in the street and was able to put my corded headphones in the headphone Jack and double click the volume toggle on the cord to call the last number called and left a message with my phone number. I was able to get the phone back to the owners and they were so grateful, even though it was smashed.
How about secure a “contact if lost” note to the phone?
But my mom is dead : (
unfortunately no mom to call..life hack fail
This is only going to work for the small minority that has iPhones. Most of us aren't that rich, lol.
You can do this with both Samsung and Pixel phones, too. Except you just hold down the power button. You don't have to say anything for Google. That's if the option is set. I have it on both of mine for emergencies.
I usually just call whoever is on top in their call log.
This is a great tip. I actually did this a couple months ago for a phone I found on a park bench. Unfortunately the kids mom‘s name wasn’t under mom so I had to do call dad! They were on the way to Verizon and were very happy to not have to pay $1000 for a new phone
Psshh... Just call 911. OR... if you find a rare lock-less phone. You replace the background and lock screen with a photo of I huge black wiener. Then, tell Siri or Google to show the directions "home" and save that address. Next, change the ringer and alarm to the loudest orgasm scream sound clip that you can find online. (Make them two separate sound files in case they're able to find and delete one or the other) After that, set reoccurring reminders to go off for the next 12 months. Back up the phone to their default email (so some settings will carry over to any new device when logged in to your email). Next, make a bunch of random fetish searches on multiple apps so that their interest-based-ads will start showing crazy ads. Then, in the settings menu, scroll down and change the default "language" to some super rare language that nobody knows. Then, you deactivate Siri and OK Google, so they'll have to take it in store for help
Why so complicated? My android phone shows my e-mail address on the lock screen.
Your future son in law is a switched on young dude. (There you are)