If you say “17” to Siri, it will attempt to call emergency services in your region. This happens because 17 is an emergency number in some countries, such as France, and Siri is programmed to recognize certain numbers as distress signals.
Why Does Siri Call Emergency Services?
- In France, dialing 17 connects to the police emergency line.
- Siri is designed to route emergency calls based on location, so when you say “17,” it may trigger an emergency response even if you’re not in France.
- Once you say “17,” Siri will start a 5-second countdown, giving you time to cancel before the call goes through.
What Other Numbers Trigger Siri’s Emergency Response?
Siri recognizes various emergency numbers used worldwide, including…
- 911 (U.S., Canada)
- 112 (Europe, India, and many global regions)
- 999 (UK, Hong Kong, Malaysia)
- 000 (Australia)
- 110 (China, Japan)
- 119 (Japan, South Korea)
These numbers will trigger Siri to prepare a call to local emergency services.
What Should You Do If You Accidentally Activate It?
- Tap “Cancel” within 5 seconds to stop the call.
- If the call goes through, stay on the line and tell the dispatcher it was an accident.
- Avoid repeating the command as a joke, as false emergency calls can tie up real emergency responders.
Is This an Easter Egg or a Real Feature?
- Some people think saying “17” (or “14”) is a Siri Easter egg or prank, but it’s a real emergency feature.
- It’s designed to help people in distress and connect them to emergency services quickly.
Saying “17” to Siri will initiate an emergency call in many regions. This is a serious feature, not a joke or hidden trick. If you accidentally trigger it, cancel the call immediately to avoid misusing emergency services.
