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Setting Up Panic Shortcuts on iOS

GetHomeSafe allows you to trigger a Panic alert without needing to unlock your phone or open the app. By mapping our "Panic" action to your device's physical hardware buttons, you can signal for help quickly and safely in an emergency.

On iOS, GetHomeSafe integrates directly with the native Apple Shortcuts app. The app will launch an activity and trigger a panic as long as the phone's screen is awake.

Note on Discreet Panic: If your organisation has 'Discreet Panic' enabled, these shortcuts will be completely silent. You will instead feel vibrations to confirm your status:

  • 1 short vibration: Action sent
  • 3 short vibrations: Panic successfully activated

 

Note - If your organisation has Discreet Panic enabled, these shortcuts will be completely silent. You will instead feel vibrations to confirm your status:

  • 1 short vibration: Action sent
  • 3 short vibrations: Panic successfully activated

Step 1: Add GetHomeSafe to your Shortcuts Library

Before assigning a physical button, you must first add the GetHomeSafe action to your iPhone's shortcut library.

  1. Open your iPhone's native Shortcuts app and tap the + icon in the top corner.
  2. Tap Add Action, search for 'GetHomeSafe', and select Panic.
  3. Tap Done to save the shortcut.

Step 2: Set Up your Trigger Mechanism

Once the shortcut is saved, you can map to a trigger mechanism on your phone.
We recommend the Action Button if your device supports it, or Back Tap for older models.

Option A: The Dedicated Action Button (iPhone 15 or newer)

  1. Go to your iPhone Settings -> Action Button.
  2. Swipe through the options until you reach Shortcut.
  3. Choose the Panic shortcut you just created.
  4. To trigger: Simply press and hold the physical Action Button on the side of your phone.

Option B: Back Tap (iPhone 8 or newer)

  1. Go to your iPhone Settings -> Accessibility -> Touch -> Back Tap.
  2. Choose Triple Tap (this prevents accidental triggers better than Double Tap).
  3. Scroll down to the Shortcuts section and select Panic.
  4. To trigger: Press the power button once to wake the screen, then firmly tap the back of your phone three times.

Step 3: Shortcut Trigger Testing

We highly recommend practicing your chosen trigger to ensure it has been configured correctly.

  1. Open the GetHomeSafe App and navigate to Settings -> Panic Shortcut Setup.
  2. Tap the “Test Panic Shortcut” button at the bottom of the screen.
  3. While on this screen, activate your physical shortcut (hold the Action Button or Triple Tap the back of your phone).
  4. You will see a "Panic Shortcut Triggered!" confirmation screen indicating that your shortcut is working perfectly.

Shortcuts performed whilst on this specific screen ensures no actual alert is sent to your supervisors.