SOS Morse Code
Everything on this page runs in your browser — nothing you type is sent anywhere.
SOS Morse Code
Everything runs in your browser — nothing you type is sent anywhere.
SOS Morse Code Generator
... --- ...
Flashlight Morse Signal
Device flashlight control works only on some Android Chrome devices with a rear torch. On every other device the screen itself flashes instead — that simulation always works. The flashlight is never turned on automatically; it starts only when you press Start.
Flashlight not started. Compatibility is checked when you press Start.
About this tool
SOS in Morse Code is three dots, three dashes, three dots: ... --- ..., sent as one continuous pattern. The whole point of SOS is that it cannot be mistaken for anything else. Three short signals, three long signals, three short signals again — that rhythm is the international distress signal, recognised by radio operators, sailors, pilots and rescue teams around the world, and it is deliberately simple so that it can be sent with a torch, a whistle, a tapped wall or a radio key by someone who knows no other Morse at all.
A common misunderstanding is that SOS stands for three words, such as Save Our Souls. It does not. The pattern was chosen because it is unmistakable and easy to send under stress, not because it abbreviates a phrase, and in Morse it is normally sent as a single prosign without gaps between the three letters. That is why this page treats SOS as one unit: one button plays it, one button flashes it, and the WAV download contains the whole pattern ready to use.
Use the tools on this page to learn the pattern properly, not just to read it. Play the audio a few times until the rhythm — short short short, long long long, short short short — is something you recognise without counting. Then flash it with the lamp and watch the same rhythm as light. If you have a compatible Android phone, the flashlight button tries your device torch as well, falling back to the screen flash on every other device, because a signal you can only practise on one phone is not much use in an emergency.
One important note: this page is for learning and practice. In a real emergency, use whatever communication you actually have — a phone call, a radio, a whistle, a light — and send SOS by any means that will be noticed. Knowing the pattern is a useful backup skill, but it is not a substitute for calling for help through the fastest channel available to you.
How to use it
- Press Play SOS Audio to hear the pattern, or Flash SOS Signal to see it.
- Press Copy SOS to copy ... --- ... for use elsewhere.
- Download SOS audio (WAV) to keep the signal as a file.
- On a compatible Android device, try Flashlight SOS for the device torch.
Examples
- The SOS pattern:
SOS → ... --- ... - SOS repeated:
SOS SOS → ... --- ... / ... --- ... - Help:
HELP → .... . .-.. .--.
Frequently asked questions
What is SOS in Morse Code?
SOS is ... --- ... — three dots, three dashes, three dots, sent as one continuous pattern.
Does SOS stand for Save Our Souls?
No. The pattern was chosen for clarity and ease of sending, not as an abbreviation. It is a distress prosign, not three words.
How do I send SOS with a torch?
Flash three short flashes, three long flashes, then three short flashes, and repeat. The flashlight tool on this page practises exactly that rhythm.
Can I download the SOS sound?
Yes. The Download SOS audio (WAV) button creates a WAV file in your browser that you can keep or play anywhere.
Should I use this in a real emergency?
In a real emergency, use the fastest help channel you have, such as a phone call. SOS in Morse is a backup signal, not a replacement for calling for help.