How to Set Up Emergency Alerts on Your Phone in the UK

UK Emergency Alerts are the government's way of warning your phone when there is a danger to life nearby, such as severe flooding, a wildfire or an extreme storm. When an alert goes out, compatible phones in the affected area make a loud siren-like sound and vibrate for about ten seconds, even if the phone is on silent. This guide explains how the system works, how to check your phone will receive alerts, and how to turn them off if you need to.

What UK Emergency Alerts are

Emergency Alerts are sent by the government and the emergency services to mobile phones in a specific area where there is a danger to life. The message appears on your screen with advice about what to do, and it often includes a phone number or a link to GOV.UK for more information. The system is used for events such as severe flooding, wildfires and extreme storms.

The government does not need your phone number or your location to send an alert. The message is broadcast to every compatible phone connected to a mobile network in the area, which is why it can reach people the authorities have no contact details for. A genuine alert will never ask you to reply, give personal details or make a payment. If a message claiming to be an emergency alert asks for any of those things, it is a scam.

The system has been tested nationwide twice, first in April 2023 and again on Sunday 7 September 2025 at 3pm, when phones across the UK sounded for around ten seconds. Test alerts say clearly that there is no emergency and no action is needed.

How to check your phone will receive alerts

Most phones running recent versions of iOS or Android can receive Emergency Alerts. Your phone needs to be connected to a 4G or 5G mobile network. You will not receive an alert if your phone is switched off, in flight mode, or connected only to an older network, and Wi-Fi-only tablets cannot receive them.

There is nothing to install and no app to download. If your phone is compatible and connected to a 4G or 5G network, alerts are switched on by default. On an iPhone, go to Settings, then Notifications, and scroll to the bottom of the page, where you should see Emergency Alerts with toggles for severe alerts and extreme alerts. On most Android phones, open Settings and search for "emergency alerts". The setting is usually under Safety and emergency or Notifications, and may be labelled Wireless emergency alerts.

If you cannot find the setting, your phone may be too old to receive alerts. The government's guidance says to contact your device manufacturer for help in that case.

How to turn emergency alerts off on iPhone

The government recommends keeping alerts switched on, because they may contain life-saving information. There are good reasons to turn them off, though. The main one is safety: if you keep a second phone hidden from an abusive partner, an alert would make it ring loudly and could reveal it. Charities such as Refuge and Women's Aid advise switching alerts off on any hidden phone.

To opt out on an iPhone, go to Settings, then Notifications, and scroll to the very bottom of the page. Turn off Severe alerts and Extreme alerts. That is all it takes. If you change your mind later, go back to the same place and switch them on again.

How to turn emergency alerts off on Android

On most Android phones, open Settings and search for "emergency alerts". Turn off Severe alerts and Extreme alerts. The exact wording depends on the manufacturer: on some phones the options are called Extreme threats and Severe threats, and there may also be a Show amber alerts option to switch off.

If searching settings does not find the option, the government suggests a workaround for some older Android phones: open your phone app, use the keypad to enter the code *#*#2627#*#*, then search settings for "emergency alerts" again and switch off the test alerts, exercise alerts and operator alerts listed there. On Huawei devices running EMUI 11 or older, search settings for "emergency alerts" and turn off Extreme threats, Severe threats and Show amber alerts.

What to do when an alert sounds

When an alert arrives, your phone will make a loud sound and vibrate, and the message will stay on screen until you acknowledge it. Read the message first. It will tell you what the danger is and what to do, such as moving to higher ground, staying indoors or avoiding an area.

Do not call 999 unless you need urgent help. The alert itself is information, not a request to phone the emergency services. If you are driving when an alert sounds, do not pick up your phone or read the message. Pull over somewhere safe first, in the same way you would for any other notification.

A test alert is different: the message will say it is a test and that no action is needed. If you receive an alert and you are not sure whether it is genuine, check GOV.UK or the website of your local council or emergency service for confirmation, and never follow instructions in a message that asks for money or personal details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my phone not receive the Emergency Alert test?

The most common reasons are that the phone was switched off, in flight mode, connected only to Wi-Fi, or on an older network rather than 4G or 5G. Very old phones cannot receive alerts at all. If alerts are switched off in your settings, you will not receive them either. Check in Settings, then Notifications, on iPhone, or search settings for "emergency alerts" on Android.

Do Emergency Alerts work when my phone is on silent?

Yes. An alert will sound and vibrate even if your phone is on silent or Do Not Disturb. You can stop the sound by acknowledging the alert on your screen. The only way to stop alerts arriving is to switch them off in settings, or to switch the phone off.

Can I opt out of UK Emergency Alerts?

Yes. On an iPhone, go to Settings, then Notifications, scroll to the bottom and turn off Severe alerts and Extreme alerts. On Android, search settings for "emergency alerts" and turn off the same options. The government advises keeping them on, and charities advise switching them off on any phone you need to keep hidden.