Personal Safety App ‘Are You Dead?’ Hits IPhone Charts: Here's How It Works

Personal Safety App ‘Are You Dead?’ Hits iPhone Charts: Here’s How It Works

Last updated: 2026/01/13 at 7:46 AM

News Room Published 13 January 2026

A morbid-sounding iPhone app called Are You Dead? has proven a viral hit and now sits in the top 10 most-downloaded paid-for services, according to Apple’s US chart. In China, the app is the most downloaded paid-for app on iPhone.

The safety app is a dead man’s switch designed for users who live alone and may not have someone local to regularly check on their wellbeing.

If you download the app, you must hit a green button with a ghost symbol in the center every two days. If you fail to do so, it’ll send an email to your emergency contact on the third day for them to check on you.

The app first launched back in May last year, but in recent weeks it has begun to gain momentum hitting the top spot in China. It also peaked in position six in the US charts, although it has since dropped down to position eight.

The app first launched as a free app but soon switched to a paid service. It costs $0.99 in the US. It also changed its name outside of China where it’s called Demumu instead of Are You Dead?

Demumu says the service is made for anyone living alone and isn’t exclusively useful for older people.

It says, “Whether you’re a solo office worker, a student living away from home, or anyone choosing a solitary lifestyle, Demumu serves as your safety companion.” It also says it wants to “make solitary life more reassuring.”

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There’s no sign of an Android version of Demumu. As noted by Android Authority, Google’s own Personal Safety app on Android phones has a Safety Check feature which works in a similar way.

The check-in timer will tell your emergency contacts your location if you miss its notifications. You can’t set up a recurring version on this software, so you’d have to do the same each day if you want to work it in a similar way to Demumu.

If you prefer Demumu’s automatic features, try Android alternatives like Life360 and Snug Safety.