# NIU Safe — Official NIU Safety App

> Official safety app for Northern Illinois University students and staff. (iPhone/iPad app by Northern Illinois University.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/niu-safe/id1474384616 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Northern Illinois University](https://appshunter.io/developer/439798392)
- Category: Education
- Price: Free
- Rating: 3.60/5 from 5 App Store ratings · 1 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 10.0 · 43 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2019-07-30
- Data updated: 2026-06-04
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/niu-safe/id1474384616/reviews.md

## What is NIU Safe?

NIU Safe is the official safety app of Northern Illinois University. It is the only app that integrates with Northern Illinois University's safety and security systems. NIU Department of Police and Public Safety has worked to develop a unique app that provides students, faculty and staff with added safety on the NIU campus. The app will send you important safety alerts and provide instant access to campus safety resources.

NIU Safe features include:
 
- Emergency Contacts: Contact the correct services for the NIU area in case of an emergency or a non-emergency concern

- Panic Button / Mobile Bluelight: Send your location to Public Safety in real-time in case of a crisis 

- Friend Walk: Send your location to a friend through email or SMS on your device. Once the friend accepts the Friend Walk request, the user picks their destination and their friend tracks their location in real time; they can keep an eye on them to make sure they make it safely to their destination.

- Tip Reporting: Multiple ways to report a safety/security concern directly to NIU Public Safety.

- Virtual WalkHome: Allow NIU Public Safety to monitor a user’s walk. If a user feels unsafe when walking on campus, they can request a Virtual WalkHome and a dispatcher on the other end will monitor their journey until they reach their destination.

- Safety Toolbox: Enhance your safety with the set of tools provided in one convenient app.
      - Chat with Security: Communicate live with safety staff at NIU via chat.      
      - Notification History: Find previous Push Notifications for this app with the date and time.
      - Share Map with your Location: Send your location to a friend by sending them a map of your position.
      - I’m OK!: Send your location and a message indicating that “You’re OK” to a recipient of your choosing.

- Campus Maps      
      - Campus Map: Navigate around the NIU area.      
      - Transit Map: Find transit routes currently in service.

- Emergency Plans: Campus emergency documentation that can prepare you for disasters or emergencies. This can be accessed even when users aren’t connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data.

- Support Resources: Access support resources in one convenient app to enjoy a successful experience at NIU.

- Safety Notifications: Receive instant notifications and instructions from NIU Public Safety when on-campus emergencies occur.

Download today to ensure you’re prepared in the event of an emergency.

## Key features

- Emergency Contacts
- Panic Button / Mobile Bluelight
- Friend Walk location sharing
- Tip Reporting to Public Safety
- Virtual WalkHome monitoring
- Safety Toolbox with live chat
- Campus and Transit Maps

## Recent user reviews (1 of 1)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/niu-safe/id1474384616/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Can’t use it anymore

*2020-01-12*

I downloaded this app as a parent after we were recommended to do so at freshmen orientation last summer. I was able to see/utilize all features, but had some notifications of unsafe events not come through during the fall semester. I did report it through the app and received timely responses, even though the issue wasn’t entirely resolved. Just recently, another unsafe event happened near campus over winter break and I did not receive a notification. I went to the app and it kept crashing on me. I repeatedly tried to open it with no luck. I went to delete the app and reinstall it hoping that would resolve the crashing issue. After reinstalling, I am now prompted to login with only NIU credentials. That was not the case before. I am no longer able to use this app as a concerned parent. I also have no way to contact anyone for assistance through the app as I was able to before. A help link just directs me to the general NIU website. Disappointed.

## Frequently asked questions about NIU Safe

### What is NIU Safe?

NIU Safe is the official safety application for Northern Illinois University. It integrates with the university's safety systems to provide students, faculty, and staff with enhanced campus security.

### Does NIU Safe have ads?

No, NIU Safe does not contain advertisements. As a free application developed by Northern Illinois University, it focuses on providing safety features without commercial interruptions.

### How does the Panic Button feature work in NIU Safe?

The Panic Button, also known as Mobile Bluelight, allows users to send their real-time location to Public Safety in case of a crisis. This feature is designed for immediate assistance during emergencies.

### Can I use NIU Safe offline?

Some features of NIU Safe, such as Emergency Plans, can be accessed even when users are not connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data. This ensures critical information is available in various circumstances.

### What kind of support resources are available in NIU Safe?

NIU Safe provides access to a variety of support resources within the app. These are designed to help users have a successful and safe experience at Northern Illinois University.

### How often is NIU Safe updated?

The latest version of NIU Safe is 1.2, last updated on August 28, 2021. While the app was released in 2019, specific update frequency beyond this is not detailed.

### What devices support NIU Safe?

NIU Safe is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices. It is designed to run on Apple's iOS operating system.

### How can I report a safety concern with NIU Safe?

NIU Safe offers a Tip Reporting feature that allows users to report safety or security concerns directly to NIU Public Safety through multiple methods within the app.

## Version history (last 2 releases)

### 1.2 — 2021-08-28

Performance improvements.

### 1.0 — 2019-07-28

No release notes.

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## More apps by Northern Illinois University

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All apps by Northern Illinois University: https://appshunter.io/developer/439798392

## Related topics

[niu safe](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/niu-safe) · [niu](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/niu)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-04.*