With Hurricane Milton taking aim at nearly the entire Gulf Coast of Florida, with a probable late Wednesday landfall, evacuees and others might want to make sure they download iOS 18 — specifically to get the new Messages via satellite capability.
That way, if power, Wi-Fi and cellular coverage all get knocked out, you can still communicate via satellite on your iPhone with family and friends. And of course you’ll also have the option of using the related Emergency SOS via satellite if you need to reach emergency services.
For disaster prep, make sure you have iOS 18 with Messages via satellite
Emergency SOS via satellite has already saved the lives of victims with no other way to communicate, like lost hikers. Add to that iOS 18’s new Messages via satellite, and you can keep in touch with family and friends when communications go down, like they might with Hurricane Milton when it slams into Florida. The new functionality made Cult of Mac‘s top 5 list of best new Messages features in iOS 18.
With Messages via satellite, you can send and receive texts, emojis, and Tapbacks over iMessage and SMS. To connect to a satellite, you need to be outside with a clear view of the sky and horizon. And make sure you review Apple’s instructions for connecting to a satellite. And for a quick look at Messages via satellite, see below.
Get acquainted with iOS 18’s Messages via satellite
Photo: Apple
After installing iOS 18, you can sample Messages via satellite by taking a few easy steps, below. Note that you need an iPhone 14 or newer for satellite connectivity.
- Open the Settings app
- Click on Apps > Messages
- Scroll down and select Satellite Connection Demo
- View how to establish a satellite connection to send messages.
Hurricane Milton is fast approaching. If you’re in Central Florida and have an iPhone 14 or later, you can use Emergency SOS via satellite to reach emergency services even when cell service is down. This feature lets you make calls and send texts through satellite connection.… pic.twitter.com/7OAvH4vI33
— Andrew Clare (@andrewjclare) October 7, 2024
