Open Settings, tap Medical ID, and edit your information

Your Medical ID lives in the Health app on your iPhone, not in Settings. Open the Health app, tap the profile icon in the top right corner, then tap Medical ID. From there, tap Edit and change any information you need to update — your name, date of birth, medical conditions, medications, allergies, emergency contacts, or organ donor status. When you finish, tap Done to save.

The Medical ID you create here is visible on your lock screen when someone swipes up from the bottom during an emergency, even if your phone is locked. This means paramedics or bystanders can see critical health information without needing your passcode.

Key Takeaways

  • Medical ID is stored in the Health app, not Settings — open Health, tap your profile icon, then Medical ID.
  • You can update medical conditions, medications, allergies, emergency contacts, and organ donor status all in one place.
  • Your Medical ID appears on the lock screen during emergencies, so keep it current whenever your health changes.
  • Emergency contacts in Medical ID are separate from your regular contacts — add them specifically in the Health app so responders see them.

What information you can store in Medical ID

Medical ID holds eight categories of information. You can add your name, date of birth, medical conditions (such as diabetes or heart disease), current medications, allergies (including drug allergies), blood type, height and weight, and emergency contacts with their phone numbers. You can also indicate whether you are an organ donor.

Not every field is required. Add only what you think emergency responders need to know. If you have no known allergies, you can leave that blank. If you do not take regular medications, skip that section. The more relevant information you include, the more useful your Medical ID becomes in an actual emergency.

How to add or remove emergency contacts

Emergency contacts in Medical ID are different from the people in your phone's Contacts app. When you edit Medical ID, you will see a section for emergency contacts. Tap the plus icon to add a contact, then enter their name and phone number. You can add multiple people — typically a spouse, parent, adult child, or close friend.

To remove an emergency contact, open Medical ID, tap Edit, find the contact you want to delete, and swipe left on their name. Tap the red Delete button. Make sure you keep at least one emergency contact listed so responders know who to call.

Updating your information after a health change

If you start a new medication, develop a new allergy, or have a significant health change, return to Medical ID and update it. Open the Health app, tap your profile icon, tap Medical ID, tap Edit, and make your changes. This takes less than a minute and could be critical information in an emergency.

Many people update their Medical ID when they fill a new prescription, after an allergic reaction, or after a diagnosis. Set a reminder to review your Medical ID once a year, even if nothing has changed, to make sure the information is still accurate and your emergency contacts are still current.

Making sure your Medical ID is visible on the lock screen

For your Medical ID to appear on your lock screen, you must have it enabled in the Health app settings. Open Health, tap your profile icon, tap Medical ID, and make sure the toggle next to "Show When Locked" is turned on (it should be green). Without this toggle on, responders will not see your Medical ID even if they swipe up on your lock screen.

You can also control whether your Medical ID shows your photo. In the same Medical ID settings, toggle "Show Photo" on or off depending on your preference. Some people include a photo so responders can confirm they have the right person; others prefer not to.

Editing Medical ID on different iPhone models

The steps are the same on all iPhone models running iOS 10.2 or later. Open the Health app (the white icon with a red heart), tap the profile icon in the top right, tap Medical ID, and tap Edit. On older iPhones or iPads running earlier versions of iOS, the Health app may not have Medical ID, or it may be in a different location — check your device's iOS version first.

If you use an Apple Watch, your Medical ID syncs automatically from your iPhone. You do not need to set it up separately on the watch. When you update Medical ID on your phone, the watch updates within a few minutes.

What happens if you do not set up Medical ID

If you never create a Medical ID, responders will not have access to your health information through your lock screen. They will have to wait for you to regain consciousness, find your emergency contacts another way, or make decisions without knowing your medical history. Setting up Medical ID takes five minutes and could prevent serious medical errors in an emergency.

Even if you think you are healthy, Medical ID is worth setting up. Include your blood type, any drug allergies, and at least one emergency contact. You can always add more information later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone see my Medical ID if my phone is locked?

Yes. Medical ID is designed to be visible on your lock screen without a passcode. Swipe up from the bottom of the lock screen and tap Medical ID to see it. This is intentional — responders need access to your health information in emergencies without waiting for you to unlock your phone.

Will my Medical ID information sync to iCloud?

Medical ID does not sync to iCloud. It stays on your device only. If you get a new iPhone, you will need to set up Medical ID again on the new phone. Your Health app data can sync to iCloud if you turn on Health data backup in Settings, but Medical ID itself is not included in that backup.

Can I edit Medical ID from my Apple Watch?

No. You must edit Medical ID on your iPhone using the Health app. Changes you make on your phone sync to your watch automatically. The watch displays your Medical ID but does not allow you to edit it directly.

What if I do not want to show my photo in Medical ID?

Open Health, tap your profile icon, tap Medical ID, tap Edit, and toggle "Show Photo" off. Your Medical ID will still appear on your lock screen with all your health information, just without your picture.

Can I add notes or additional details to Medical ID?

Medical ID has set categories — you cannot add free-form notes. Stick to the fields provided: medical conditions, medications, allergies, blood type, height, weight, emergency contacts, and organ donor status. If you need to communicate something specific, include it in one of these fields or tell your emergency contacts directly.