Be ready in five minutes.
Crisis Connect works best when it is set up once, before you need it. The four steps below prepare the app for everyday use and for the moment networks fail — no screenshots, because the steps don't depend on your OS version.
Install the app and open it once
Get Crisis Connect from Google Play or the App Store and open the inbox once. That first launch makes the phone ready before the network is gone.
Grant permissions by intent
Allow Bluetooth and Nearby Devices so phones can find each other, the location permission Android requires for Bluetooth scanning, and notifications so you don't miss messages. On Android, exempting the app from battery optimization keeps the link alive in the background.
Add trusted people with QR codes
Scan QR codes face to face with family and the people you truly need to reach. This pairing is the key to private messaging without internet — and it cannot be done mid-crisis, so do it ahead of time.
Send a test message
Try a short offline message with someone you added: watch it arrive while both phones have internet turned off. Knowing what works before an emergency is the most valuable preparation there is.
The full guide lives inside the app — and works offline
A comprehensive emergency guide — earthquake, fire, first aid, the 72-hour bag — ships inside the app and always opens without internet. You never have to rely on a web page during a crisis; this page is for preparation only.
Stuck on something?
Short answers about range, permissions, battery, and the SOS flow are on the FAQ page; technical detail lives in the architecture pages.