How to Remove the Emergency Call Button on Android

Last Updated: June 28, 2022 Tested

Are you tired of accidentally calling emergency services from your Android's lock screen? Because many regions require emergency call buttons on lock screens, there's no setting to turn the feature off. But don't give up hope—this wikiHow article will teach you how to disable the emergency call button on your Android by replacing your lock screen with an alternative app.

Steps

1
Remove your Android’s PIN or Pattern lock. Before you can install a new lock screen, you’ll need to disable the security feature that unlocks the home screen.^{[1]
X
Research source} The steps to do this vary depending on your Android’s manufacturer, but it'll generally look something like this:
- Open your Android’s Settings.
- Scroll down and tap Lock Screen and Security or Lock Screen.^{[2]
  X
  Research source} If you don't see this option, try tapping Security first.
- Tap Screen lock or Screen Lock Type.
- Confirm your current security PIN, password, or bio-method.
- Select None. If you don’t see this option, try Swipe instead.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to confirm the change.
2
Open the Play Store
. You’ll find this app in the app drawer and possibly on the home screen.

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3
Search for a lock screen app. Type lock screen into the search bar and tap the search button. A list of results will appear.
- Some options that don't have emergency call buttons are Q Lock Screen and AcDisplay.
4
Select a lock screen app. Make sure to select an app with at least 100,000 downloads and a 4-star rating or better. Check out the reviews to see what other people think of the app, too—you don't want to download an app that can break your device or expose you to ads or malware.
5
Tap Install. If prompted to give permission to the app to access your phone or tablet, be sure to do so. When the app is finished installing, the “Install” button will switch to "Open."
6
Tap Open. This launches the new lock screen app’s settings.
7
Follow the on-screen instructions to set up the lock screen. The steps vary by app, and you may have to tap a menu to start the process.
- During the setup, you'll need to give the app permission to things the lock screen normally needs access to, such as your notifications and the ability to take photos (if you want to place a camera icon on the lock screen).
- Depending on the app you selected, you may have to choose an option to disable the emergency call button. The two apps we suggest don't have emergency call buttons at all, but new apps often pop up with different options.
8
Set up a security type in the lock screen app. Different apps have different options for unlocking the phone or tablet. Since you're switching your lock screen to get rid of the emergency call button, you'll need to set up a new unlocking method to replace your Android's old lock screen. This option will be found in the lock screen app's settings.
9
Lock your Android’s screen. You can usually do this by pressing the power button once. Now when you view the lock screen, you will no longer see an emergency call button.

Community Q&A

Question

Why do people want to remove this feature?

Community Answer

Because this feature causes far too many accidental pocket dials to emergency services.