How emergency alerts work
In an emergency, mobile phone masts in the surrounding area will broadcast an alert. Every compatible mobile phone or tablet in range of a mast will receive the alert.
Your mobile phone or tablet does not have to be connected to mobile data or wifi to get alerts.
Emergency alerts are free. You do not need to sign up for them or download an app.
Reasons you will not get an alert
You will not receive alerts if your device is:
- turned off
- connected to a 2G or 3G network
- wifi only
- not compatible
You may not receive alerts if your device is:
- in airplane mode
Compatible mobile phones and other devices
Make sure your device has all the latest software updates.
Emergency alerts work on:
- iPhones running iOS 14.5 or later
- Android phones and tablets running Android 11 or later
If you have an earlier version of Android, you may still be able to receive alerts. To check, search your device settings for 鈥榚mergency alerts鈥�.
Other phones that do not run iOS or Android may also receive alerts.
If you want to see an alert again
To see an alert again, go to current alerts or past alerts.
You can also search for emergency alerts on your mobile phone or tablet.
If you get reminders about an alert
Android phones and tablets may get more than one reminder about the same emergency alert. You can turn these reminders off through the 鈥榚mergency alerts鈥� settings on your device.
Opting out of emergency alerts
You can opt out of emergency alerts, but you should keep them switched on for your own safety. If you still get alerts after opting out, contact your device manufacturer for help.
There鈥檚 a different way to opt out of operator test alerts.
iPhones and Android phones
To opt out:
- Search your settings for 鈥榚mergency alerts鈥�.
- Turn off 鈥榮evere alerts鈥� and 鈥榚xtreme alerts鈥�.
Other mobile phones
Depending on the manufacturer and software version of your phone, emergency alerts settings may be called different names, such as 鈥榳ireless emergency alerts鈥� or 鈥榚mergency broadcasts鈥�.
The settings can usually be found in one of the following ways. Go to:
- 鈥榤essage鈥�, then 鈥榤essage settings, then 鈥榳ireless emergency alerts鈥�, then 鈥榓lert鈥�
- 鈥榮ettings鈥�, then 鈥榮ounds鈥�, then 鈥榓dvanced鈥�, then 鈥榚mergency broadcasts鈥�
- 鈥榮ettings鈥�, then 鈥榞eneral settings鈥�, then 鈥榚mergency alerts鈥�
Then turn off 鈥榮evere alerts鈥�, 鈥榚xtreme alerts鈥� and 鈥榯est alerts鈥�.
Your personal data
The emergency services and the UK government do not need your phone number to send you an alert.