This iPhone feature is helping families communicate as cell service is down in Hurricane Helene aftermath

People with an iPhone 14 or later have access to a feature that could be lifesaving.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, people left without power or cell service are transforming their iPhones into satellite phones.

Several social-media posts have urged those affected by Hurricane Helene to update to iOS 18 if they’re able. For those who own an iPhone 14 or later, it could be a lifeline to loved ones or rescuers.

An X thread by Matt Van Swol, an Asheville, North Carolina, resident, demonstrated just how helpful the satellite-messaging iPhone feature had been for those without WiFi or cellular service. Van Swol said he’d “never been more thankful to be an iPhone user,” and more chimed in with their praise of the iOS 18 feature.

“Due to the lack of cell service, EVERYONE in Asheville NC right now on iOS 18 has been able to get messages out and in with the Satellite messaging feature,” Van Swol, the head of subscription growth at Wyze, wrote. “This is literally saving lives.”

I used it to contact my family in GA and let them know that we were alright. It’s so awesome.

— Mike Monti (@MikeMonti) September 30, 2024

Van Swol didn’t immediately respond to a request for an interview.

He wasn’t the only one who said the satellite-messaging feature was a lifesaver. Another user said they could still communicate as fallen trees and power lines left him stuck.

Those who were unaware of the feature or didn’t have access to it weren’t as fortunate. Jeneane Nicodemus wrote for B-17 that she lost contact with her daughter in Asheville for three days when the hurricane hit North Carolina.

As of Monday at 9 a.m. ET, about 370 of North Carolina’s 1,452 cell sites were out of service because of a lack of power, the Federal Communications Commission said.

As the storm tore north, how-to videos and calls to action began circulating on TikTok to ensure people in its path knew how to activate the satellite feature on iOS 18.

And it’s not an iPhone-exclusive tool. Some Google Pixel models also have access to satellite messaging.

Many said they used it to let family members know they were safe, though Apple’s official site advises against that in emergency situations. Instead, Apple says iPhone owners should use it to text emergency services if they need urgent help.

Still, Van Swol said it’s making a difference.