People can alter the settings on their devices so that they do not receive the Emergency Alert
The alert is going to sound on phones across the UK at 3pm on Sunday, September 7(Image: PA)
The UK government is testing the Emergency Alert system by sending a notification to mobile phones and tablets this weekend.
It marks the second time the system has been tested on a nationwide scale, with the first test taking place in April 2023. Since the first test, it has been deployed in real emergencies on five separate occasions – such as during severe weather events.
The idea for an alert system was originally developed in the Netherlands during the early 2000s, but the United States was the first to adopt it nationwide in 2012 with its Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system.
Testing the alert system ensures that the UK is prepared for unexpected situations like storms or floods, and the government wants to ensure that the alert system is working as it should so that people can be warned when there is a danger to life nearby.
The government has warned that while most phones will sound the alarm, not all devices will. Older phones or devices not connected to 4G or 5G networks may not be compatible with the system.
The alert is set to go off on Sunday, September 7, at 3pm across the UK. Motorists have been warned not to interact with their phones if they are driving while the alert goes off, rather wait until they have stopped in a safe place with the engine off to acknowledge the alert.
Brits can choose to turn off the Emergency Alerts(Image: PA)
The government is encouraging most people to keep the alerts on. On gov.uk, it states: “Emergency alerts contain life-saving information and should be kept switched on for your own safety.”
However, some people may want to opt out of receiving the emergency alert. For example, victims of domestic abuse are being encouraged to turn off the alerts on any hidden devices to prevent their abuser from finding them.
There is a simple way to opt out of the alarm. Below, we explain how you can do so on iPhone and Android devices.
How to opt out of Emergency Alerts
Anyone with a smartphone can turn off the Emergency Alerts using the settings in their phone. Here’s how to switch it off for iPhone users and Android users.
To opt out of alerts on an iPhone:
- Go to your settings and select the ‘notifications’ menu.
- Scroll to the bottom.
- Turn off ‘severe alerts’ and ‘extreme alerts’.
To opt out of alerts on Android phones:
- Search your settings for ‘emergency alerts’.
- Turn off ‘severe alerts’ and ‘extreme alerts’.
To opt out of alerts on other mobile phones and tablets, you may need to search for different settings.
Depending on the manufacturer and software version of your phone, emergency alerts settings may be called different names, such as ‘wireless emergency alerts’ or ‘emergency broadcasts’.
According to gov.uk, the settings can usually be found in one of the following ways.
- Go to ‘message’, then ‘message settings, then ‘wireless emergency alerts’, then ‘alert’
- Go to ‘settings’, then ‘sounds’, then ‘advanced’, then ‘emergency broadcasts’
- Go to ‘settings’, then ‘general settings’, then ‘emergency alerts’
Then turn off ‘severe alerts’, ‘extreme alerts’ and ‘test alerts’.
The government advises that anyone who is still getting alerts after opting out should contact the device manufacturer for help.