Text-to-911: Where It Works, When to Use It, and What a Bounce-Back Message Means
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How we wrote this: A plain-English summary of the FCC consumer guide "What You Need to Know About Text-to-911," checked October 29, 2026. In an emergency, call 911 by voice if you can.
Text-to-911 lets you send a text message to 911 call takers from a mobile phone. It's a lifeline when speaking isn't safe or possible, but the FCC is clear about its limits.
Call if you can, text if you can't
The FCC says voice calls give 911 centers more information, so you should always make a voice call during an emergency whenever possible. Even where texts are accepted, voice 911 is still the most reliable and preferred way to reach help.
Texting makes sense when you're deaf, hard of hearing or speech disabled, or when a call would put you in danger. If text-to-911 isn't available and you're deaf, hard of hearing or speech disabled, the FCC says to use a TTY or telecommunications relay service if possible.
It's not available everywhere
Text-to-911 is only available in certain locations. Each 911 call center decides whether and how to accept texts. What the FCC requires:
- All wireless carriers and other providers of text messaging apps in the U.S. must deliver emergency texts to call centers that request them.
- Once a call center requests text-to-911, providers must deliver the service in that area within six months.
To check your area, the FCC publishes a list of areas supporting text-to-911, updated monthly, linked from its guide.
Bounce-back messages
If you text 911 where it isn't available, FCC rules require carriers and text providers to send an automatic "bounce-back" message telling you to contact emergency services another way, such as a voice call or relay service. If you get one, don't wait for a reply; call.
Apps that don't have to support it
The FCC's rules don't apply to messaging apps that can't text to and from U.S. phone numbers, or apps that only message other app users or go through social media. Use your phone's built-in texting to reach 911.
For small businesses
If your team works alone, at night or in noisy places, a one-line note in your safety plan helps: call 911 first, text only if you can't talk, and check that your area accepts texts. Also see our guides to Wireless Emergency Alerts and VoIP 911 and Kari's Law.