About Emergency Alerts

Emergency Alerts are warnings about emergencies that represent a severe threat to life and/or property. Messages are broadcast to a defined area, detailing the emergency and actions for people to take.

Emergency Alerts will be sent across all mobile networks, including the mobile virtual networks (e.g. Asda, Lebara, GiffGaff).

Find out more about UK government information about Emergency Alerts

When an Emergency Alert comes through, it’ll pop up on your device's home screen. You’ll need to acknowledge it before you can use your phone as usual. These alerts come with a loud, siren-like sound and a vibration to grab your attention.

These alerts may include a phone number or a link to gov.uk/alerts for more information. Only emergency responders or the Government can send these alerts.

Read the message carefully. You’ll often find a link to gov.uk/alerts for more information and a helpline. These alerts are sent to warn you when lives are at risk, and sometimes for testing purposes.

You shouldn’t read or respond to an emergency alert while driving or riding a motorcycle. Find a safe and legal spot to stop before checking the message. If you can’t find a safe place and you’re alone in the vehicle, tune into live radio for updates until you can pull over safely.

Remember, it’s illegal to hold a mobile phone while driving or riding a motorcycle. Make sure you have hands-free access, like voice command or a dashboard holder, and that your device doesn’t block your view of the road.

Emergency Alerts require no personal information (such as telephone number, identity or location). Emergency alerts are one-way and do not provide feedback on the recipients’ location or whether they received an alert. The recipients’ telephone numbers and specific locations are not required, known or used, and no personal information on recipients of Emergency Alerts is shared by the Mobile Network Operators and the government or the Mobile Network Operators gather no personal information.

There are no charges to receive Emergency Alerts. Alerts are sent on a channel that is separate from normal text and data traffic. While the alerts may look like text messages, they are not and will not be charged to your bill. Additionally, if you use Pay-As-You-Go and find yourself out of credit, you will still receive alerts.

The primary language is English. Sending dual language English/Welsh messages is also possible for alerts in Wales. We will continue to investigate the use of the technology for messages sent in other languages to increase the effectiveness and reach of the service.

Emergency Alerts should be received on the majority of mobile handsets. However, you won’t get an alert if your device:

• connects to 3G or a 2G signal as it needs to be on 4G or 5G to receive the alert
• does not have the latest software update
• is not 4G/5G enabled or has been locked to 3G or 2G
• is switched off or in airplane/flight mode
• is not connected to a mast broadcasting the Emergency Alert. However, if the device connects to a mast which is broadcasting before the alert is cancelled, it will receive the alert and show it to its user

4G/5G-enabled tablets that support a SIM can receive alerts. Some Apple Watches will receive alerts depending on whether they are attached to a phone or not.

The following options will be visible when you update your phone to the latest software.

For iPhones

• Open Settings
• Select Notifications
• At the bottom of that screen, make sure the Extreme and Severe Alerts toggles are on.

For Samsung phones

Individual phones may vary, depending on software version.

• Android 11: Settings > Search for “emergency alerts” OR Settings > Notifications > Advanced Settings > Emergency Alerts
• Android 10 and older OS versions: Messages app > Settings > Emergency Alert settings > Emergency Alerts

For other Android Phones

The Emergency Alert settings are dependent on the manufacturer and model. Generally the settings can be found through one of the following ways:

• Open Settings > Sounds > Advanced. You should see an option for Emergency Broadcasts
• Open Settings > Wireless & Networks > More. You should see an option for Cell Broadcasts
• Open Settings > General Settings. You should see an option for Emergency Alerts
• Open the text message app and select Message Settings. You should see an option for Emergency Alert Settings
• Your alert settings may be called a number of different names including: Emergency Alerts, emergency broadcasts, or extreme threats or severe threats

For Huawei phones

Individual phones may vary, depending on software version. Please note that Emergency Alerts are turned on by default.

• EMUI 12: Settings and search for “emergency alerts” OR Settings > Sounds & vibration > More settings > Cell broadcasts. Make sure the Emergency Alerts toggles are on
• EMUI 11 and older OS versions: Settings and search for “emergency alerts” OR Settings > Sounds & vibration > More settings > Cell broadcasts. Make sure the “Extreme threats” and “Severe threats” toggles are on

Emergency Alerts are just one of the ways the Government keeps you informed during emergencies. This service will provide vital information in life-threatening situations. Don’t worry if you don’t have a mobile; you’ll still receive updates through the news and local emergency services.

Alerts will be limited to extreme weather events like flooding. Future messages are expected to include these as well as fires, public health emergencies and other life-threatening or major incidents.

The likelihood of receiving a message in any given year is low. The most frequent use is expected to be for flooding, but frequency depends on your personal proximity to threats.

You can opt out of receiving all emergency alerts in your phone’s settings. It’s not possible to opt out of alerts by type of hazard, for example only receiving messages about flooding but not for industrial accidents. See gov.uk/alerts for more details.

Mobile network operator tests

To opt out of mobile network operator tests, search your settings for ‘emergency alerts’ and turn off Test alerts.

Android phones and tablets

• To opt out, search your settings for ‘emergency alerts’ and turn off Severe alerts and Emergency alerts.
• On Huawei devices running EMUI 11 or older, search your settings for ‘emergency alerts’ and please turn off “Extreme threats”, “Severe threats” and “Show amber alerts”.
• If this does not work, contact your device manufacturer.

Apple iPhone

To opt out, search your settings for ‘emergency alerts’ and turn off Severe alerts and Emergency alerts

If this does not work, contact your device manufacturer. For further advice go to gov.uk/alerts to see how emergency alerts work.

If you get an alert and you're unsure about it, check out gov.uk/alerts as all legitimate alerts will be posted here. You can also ask your neighbours, friends, or family if they’ve received it too.

If you think you've received a scam SMS, forward it to 7726. Please don’t click on any links in the message. Remember, you can’t forward a genuine Emergency Alert message.

Messages are usually sent during normal waking hours, but in urgent situations, like severe flooding, alerts may be sent overnight to keep you informed. A public test of the system won’t happen overnight.

You will not receive an alert. However, once your phone has power, is switched on and connected to the network, it will receive the Emergency Alert assuming it is being broadcast at that time and the threat has not passed.