HEADING home after a night out? There’s a handy feature that lets your friends and family make sure you’re getting back safely.

It could save you if you’re lost, incapacitated, or during a dangerous kidnapping situation where you’ve been snatched by someone.

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There are features available for this on both iPhone and Android.

So it’s important to familiarise yourself with how they work before you ever need to use them.

Importantly, these features are handy for keeping loved ones up-to-date with your movements, even if you’re not in danger.

And they’re free to use, so you might want to switch them on during all trips home late at night.

IPHONE CHECK IN

On an iPhone, the feature is called Check In.

It was added in 2023 with iOS 17, so there’s a good chance you have it. You can check your iPhone’s iOS version by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

You’re meant to activate Check In when you’re on your way somewhere.

The idea is that Check In will automatically notify a friend that your iPhone has arrived at a destination.

And you can choose what details that person sees if you don’t successfully “complete” the Check In.

That might include your location, battery percentage, and phone signal.

To send a Check In, you’ll want to go into the Messages ap.

Then tap on the chat button and add a recipient – or open an existing conversation.

Now tap on the + (plus) symbol, and choose More > Check In > Edit.

You’ll be able to choose between two options: When I Arrive or After A Timer.

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If you pick When I Arrive, you’ll log your destination, how you’ll get there (like driving, public transport, or walking), and add any extra time.

The Check In feature will monitor your journey and then warn your friend if your iPhone stops progressing for an “extended period of time” – or if it doesn’t get to the destination as expected.

If you do make it to your destination, Check In will automatically “complete” and let your friend know.

If you choose After A Timer, you’ll be able to specify a certain amount of time.

HOW TO CHANGE YOUR CHECK-IN SHARING DETAILS

Here’s what to do…

Go into Settings > Apps > Messages on your iPhone.

Then scroll down the page and tap on Check In Data.

You’ll be able to choose the details that you want to share if your Check In isn’t completed.

The first option is called Limited.

This will only show your current location, as well as your phone signal and battery details.

The second option is Full.

This shares all of the info in Limited, as well as the route that you’ve travelled, your iPhone’s last unlock time, and when you most recently removed your Apple Watch.

Picture Credit: Apple

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This is useful if you’re not going somewhere, but are meeting someone new – like on a date.

If you don’t end the Check In before the timer runs out, Check In will warn your friend.

Once you’ve made your decision, tap the blue Send arrow to deliver the Check in.

If you don’t get to your destination or the Check In isn’t cancelled – and you don’t respond to any prompts – the details of your iPhone’s journey will be sent to your friend.

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You can also add time to your Check In at any point – just go back to the Check In, tap Details > Add Time, and then choose an option.

With Full Sharing, Check In will show:

• Current location
• Network signal
• Battery details
• The route you’ve travelled
• The last time you unlocked your iPhone
• The last time you removed your Apple Watch

That should give a friend or family member enough info to make a decision about your safety.

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If you’re worried that you’re in immediate danger, contact the emergency services.

Read our guide on how to use the “call quietly” feature on iPhone for more subtle emergency phone calls.

ANDROID SAFETY CHECK

There’s a very similar feature to Check In on Android called Safety Check.

“If you want your phone to check on you and let your emergency contacts know if anything is wrong, you can schedule a safety check,” Google explains.

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“For example, you can use a safety check when you walk in an unfamiliar area or go to a party.”

You can find it on Android phones inside the Safety app.

This is a standard Google app built into newer versions of Android.

Go into the Safety app and then tap on Safety Check.

Then you’ll want to choose your Reason and Duration, with a check period lasting anything up to 24 hours.

Now tap Next, select your chosen contacts, and tap Start.

If you activate notifications for your emergency contacts, they’ll be told when your Safety Check has been scheduled – as well as when it ends.

Once the time comes for you to complete your Safety Check, you’ll get an alert 60 seconds before.

HOW TO USE EMERGENCY SHARING

Here’s what you need to know…

You can use Emergency Sharing on Android even if you’re not using Safety Check.

Safety Check is for automating the feature – but you can just activate Emergency Sharing right away.

Just go into the Safety app, tap Emergency Sharing, and then choose contacts to share real-time location info with.

You can also add a message if you like.

Now tap Share and a notification banner will show up that you can tap to find details on your sharing.

You can stop it at any time.

Picture Credit: Google

If you mark yourself safe then the emergency sharing will be cancelled.

But if you don’t choose an option in that 60-second period, the emergency sharing will begin.

The options include:

• I’m OK
• Start sharing now
• Call 911

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If your phone is switched off or loses signal during a Safety Check, it will still remain active.

When the emergency sharing begins, it’ll deliver your last-known location at the check-in time instead.

The emergency sharing will include a link to track your real-time location, as well as your phone’s remaining battery percentage.

If you feel like you’re in immediate danger, contact the emergency services.