How to Set Up and Use Fall Detection on the Apple Watch

By Supreeth Koundinya Published September 27, 2023

One of Apple’s goals with putting a device on your wrist is to save you from injuries and get you help from emergency services as quickly as possible. The Fall Detection on the Apple Watch is one such feature. Your Apple Watch detects when you’ve taken a hard fall and gets in touch with the emergency services.

How to Enable Fall Detection on Apple Watch

While god forbid we get to use any of these features, it is still essential to have them enabled on your Apple Watch. In this article, we want to show you how to enable the Fall Detection feature on your Apple Watch and everything you need to know about it.

Also Read: How to set up and use Emergency SOS on iPhone

What Is Fall Detection on the Apple Watch

The sensors, combined with a few software algorithms on the Apple Watch, detect the moment you fall hard. Your Apple Watch will tap your wrist multiple times and alert you with an alarm that you’ve fallen. The alert will wait for you to respond and ask if you are okay or need to contact emergency services.

However, if your Apple Watch does not detect any motion for a minute, it will call emergency services and the emergency contacts you’ve set up on your Medical ID. Your Apple Watch will play an audio message, letting them know you’ve taken a fall and providing them with the location coordinates.

How Does Fall Detection Work on Apple Watch

The Apple Watch is equipped with an accelerometer and gyroscope. These sensors measure both motion and orientation when you are wearing the watch. When you fall, your body goes through rapid motions and changes in orientation. The Watch uses data from these sensors to detect unusual movements.

The Watch uses a specialized algorithm to analyze the data from the sensors continuously. It looks for signs of a fall, such as a sudden, hard impact followed by a period of inactivity. The algorithm differentiates between normal activities like sitting down or dropping the Watch and an actual fall.

Additionally, the falls are recorded in the Health app automatically unless you select that you didn’t fall when Apple Watch asks you the same.

Fall Detection is indeed helpful with accidents that happen when you’re alone. Moreover, if you own an iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max, or iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro Series, it will contact emergency service via the Emergency SOS if it doesn’t find cellular connectivity.

Which Apple Watches Have Fall Detection

The Fall Detection feature on the Apple Watch was introduced in 2018 with the Apple Watch Series 4 launch. So, all the iWatches launched after that support the Fall Detection feature. Here’s the complete list.

Apple Watch SE and SE 2
Apple Watch SE 2
Apple Watch Series 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9
Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2

How to Set Up Fall Detection on Apple Watch

Here’s how you can set up Fall Detection on your Apple Watch. You can use the Watch app on your iPhone or enable it directly from your Apple Watch.

Note: Apple Watch enables the Fall Detection feature by default if you are 55 years or older and entered your age during the setup or in the Health app.

Enable Fall Detection on Your Apple Watch

Step 1: Press Digital Crown once to enter the App Library and go to the Settings app on your Apple Watch.

Step 2: Tap on SOS.

Step 3: Tap on Fall Detection.

Step 4: Turn on the toggle for Fall Detection.

Step 5: Additionally, you can select whether you want it enabled all the time or only during a workout.

Using the Watch App on iPhone

Step 1: Open the Watch app on your iPhone

Step 2: Tap on Emergency SOS.

Step 3: Turn on the toggle for Fall Detection.

Step 4: Select whether you want it enabled always or only during a workout.

Note: You can access your fall history via the Health app on your iPhone. Go to the Health app on iPhone > the Browse tab > select Other Data > tap Number of Times Fallen.

That is everything you need to know about Fall Detection on your Apple Watch.

If you have any further questions, look at the FAQ section below.

FAQs on Apple Watch Fall Detection

1. Is Apple Watch Fall Detection available in all countries?

Yes, it is available in all countries. With regions that have multiple emergency service numbers, Apple Watch will contact the ambulance services.

2. Is Apple Watch Fall Detection free to use?

Yes, Fall Detection on Apple Watch is free to use.

3. Which emergency contact does Apple Watch contact during Fall Detection?

Apple Watch uses the contacts you set up on the Medical ID on your iPhone.

4. How to test the Fall Detection feature on Apple Watch?

We do not recommend testing the Fall Detection feature. You may injure yourself and damage your Apple Watch in the process.

5. Are Apple Watches with Fall Detection covered by insurance?

By default, Apple Watches with Fall Detection are not protected by any insurance by Apple. If you have purchased third-party insurance, you must check their coverage policy for the Apple Watch.

Save Yourself From Injuries

The Apple Watch isn’t just a shiny device that shows you notifications, weather, and fancy widgets on your wrist – it can indeed prevent a severe injury by getting immediate medical attention. Features like the Fall Detection make it a worthy investment. If you are interested in buying an Apple Watch, check out the latest Apple Watch Series 9 edition and how it is different from its predecessor.