What works in each situation
- No signal or Wi-Fi: Family Ready’s Emergency Card opens normally. It is saved on your iPhone and never needs the network or a subscription check.
- Phone locked: Family Ready’s card is protected and opens after you unlock. Apple’s Medical ID is designed for lock-screen access, so set it up as well.
- Phone lost, broken or out of battery: no app can help. This is why a printed card in your wallet, on the fridge and in your kit matters.
A simple three-layer setup
- Set up Medical ID in Apple’s Health app for lock-screen basics.
- Keep a fuller Emergency Card in Family Ready for contacts, medications and instructions.
- Print a copy with our free Emergency Card maker or from the app, and reprint it when something changes.
How Family Ready protects the offline copy
The card is encrypted with AES-GCM using a key kept in the iPhone Keychain for this device only, and stored with iOS complete file protection. That is why it opens only after the phone is unlocked. Your information isn’t uploaded unless you choose to sign in and share it with people you trust.
Common questions
How can I access emergency information without internet?
Keep a copy that is stored on the device itself, not just in a cloud account, and keep a printed copy. Family Ready saves your Emergency Card on your iPhone so it opens in Emergency Mode without a connection.
Can someone open the Family Ready card from my locked phone?
No. Family Ready stores the card with Apple’s strongest file protection, so it can be read only after the phone is unlocked. For information that must be available from a locked phone, use Medical ID in Apple’s Health app and carry a printed card.
Does the offline card need a subscription?
No. The Emergency Card and Emergency Mode are free and never check a subscription before opening.
Official sources
General preparedness guidance. Always follow instructions from your local emergency authority. Family Ready is not affiliated with or endorsed by these organizations.