Free · Ad-free · No cloud

Your silent guardian in an emergency

Dead Man's Switch watches in the background whether your phone is moving. If it stays still too long, the app automatically raises the alarm – with sound, vibration, a call, or an SMS with your location.

Get it free on Google Play How it works

4.4 stars · 400+ reviews 10,000+ installs No tracking

Dead Man's Switch app: main screen showing 'No movement detected' with the four alarm types vibration, sound, SMS and call

SMS with location

Call with speakerphone

As featured in dpa Süddeutsche Zeitung Lippische Landes-Zeitung Mindener Tageblatt and numerous other outlets

How it works

Three steps to peace of mind

No account to set up, no complicated configuration – ready in a few minutes.

Set up your alarms

Choose sound, vibration, call and/or SMS – each with its own time without movement before it triggers.

Start monitoring

Your phone's motion sensor takes over. Runs as its own background service, even if the app screen is closed.

Move to cancel, stillness alarms

Move your phone and everything's fine. Leave it still, and the alarms you configured go off one after another.

Four alarm types

Combine freely, time each one separately

For each alarm type you set separately how long without movement triggers it.

Vibration

A noticeable first cue before things get louder.

Sound

A loud warning tone to get your attention.

SMS

To up to 3 numbers, with a Google Maps link to your location.

Call

Dials a saved number and switches on the speakerphone automatically.

Configure alarms: SMS alarm with phone numbers, emergency message and pre-warning time

Fully customizable

Set up exactly the way you need it

Your own timing per alarm type

Vibration after 5 minutes, SMS after 15, a call as the final escalation – whatever fits your situation.

GPS location in the alert SMS

When the alarm triggers, the app automatically fetches your location and adds a Google Maps link.

Optional pre-warning

A visual warning before any alarm protects you from false alarms if you're still moving.

Reliable in the background

Runs exactly when it matters

Starts automatically after a reboot

Even after restarting your phone, monitoring is active again right away.

Pauses automatically while charging

No false alarm just because the phone is plugged in.

Activity log

A complete overview of when monitoring was running and which alarms were triggered.

App settings: motion sensitivity plus options for charging and boot behaviour

Who's it for?

An extra safety net for many situations

Anywhere someone should find out quickly if something goes wrong.

Lone workers

Trades, gardening, workshops, field service and night shifts – when no one else is around.

Seniors & family

An alternative or addition to a classic medical alert system – peace of mind for everyone involved.

Outdoor activities

Hiking, climbing, cycling and running off the beaten path or in areas without signal.

Health conditions

For anyone who might not be able to call for help themselves in an emergency.

Working from home & daily life

Anywhere you're on your own and no one else would notice if something happened.

Privacy & technology

Built with data minimalism from day one

Dead Man's Switch doesn't store your data in the cloud. Your location and emergency message go only to the contacts you set up yourself.

No cloud

All settings stay local on your device.

No tracking

No movement profiles are created or analyzed.

Ad-free

No banners, no pop-ups, no analytics SDKs.

Full transparency

Details on permissions and data processing are in the privacy policy.

Frequently asked questions

Still have questions?

Is Dead Man's Switch really free?

Yes. The app is completely free to use, with no ads and no in-app purchases.

Does moving my phone cancel the alarm automatically?

You can configure this exactly the way you want in the app: either detected movement resets the alarm automatically, or you stop the monitoring manually in the app instead.

Does the app work without an internet connection?

Motion detection itself doesn't need the internet. The call and SMS alarms need a normal mobile network connection, just like any call or text.

Does monitoring use a lot of battery?

Reading the motion sensors themselves is implemented to be as battery-friendly as possible. The battery-hungry GPS location is only triggered once an emergency has actually been detected.

Does Dead Man's Switch replace a professional medical alert service?

No. The app doesn't replace a professional emergency response chain, but it can be an additional safety net in everyday life – for you or for your loved ones.

Can I use the app in a business or company setting?

Yes, business and workplace use is explicitly allowed and just as free as private use. A voluntary donation is of course always appreciated.

Is there a version for iPhone?

No, and there are no plans for one. On iPhone it's very hard to keep reading the sensors reliably while the app isn't in the foreground, and iOS won't let an app send an SMS without direct user interaction – which is exactly the problem in an actual emergency. A backend-and-webhook approach would be technically possible, but it's a lot of extra complexity and still wouldn't solve the background-sensor problem.

Set up your first alarm in 2 minutes

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