How to Turn Off Emergency Alerts in the UK [iPhone & Android]

The UK government is introducing a new emergency alert system designed to inform citizens of life-threatening situations such as floods and wildfires. While this service has the potential to be useful and even life-saving, some users may want to disable alerts for various reasons. In this blog post, I will provide a technical guide on how to turn off emergency alerts on various devices, including iPhones, iPads, and Android smartphones.

On April 23, 2023, the UK government will test an emergency alert system, sending a message accompanied by a loud alarm to millions of mobile phones at 3 PM. The purpose of this test is to raise awareness of the new service, which aims to warn the public of nearby life-threatening emergencies. This system is modeled after similar schemes found in the United States, Canada, Japan, and the Netherlands.

What is Emergency Alert?

Emergency Alert is a notification system that sends urgent messages to your phone during critical situations, such as natural disasters or severe weather. Helps keep you informed and safe by providing timely information and instructions to protect yourself and others.

Benefits

• Timely information: Emergency alerts provide fast, up-to-date information during critical situations.
• Wide reach: Alerts can reach a large number of people at once, ensuring widespread awareness.
• Location-based: Alerts are often tailored to specific areas, making them relevant to areas directly affected.
• Risk reduction: Timely alerts help reduce potential risks by allowing people to take appropriate action to protect themselves and their property.

Reasons

• Severe Weather: Warnings of extreme events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods.
• Natural Disasters: Alerts for earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions.
• Evacuation orders: Instructions to leave an area due to imminent danger or ongoing emergencies.

Emergency Numbers Around the World

Country	Emergency Number
United Kingdom	999 or 112
United States	911
Canada	911
Australia	000 or 112
Germany	112
France	112
Japan	110 (Police) & 119 (Fire & Ambulance)
India	112
Brazil	190 (Police), 193 (Fire) & 192 (Ambulance)
Spain	112
Italy	112
New Zealand	111
South Africa	10111 (Police) & 10177 (Ambulance)

How to Turn Off Emergency Alerts on iPhone & iPad

To turn off emergency alerts on your iPhone & iPad, follow these simple steps:

• Launch the Settings application on your iPhone & iPad.
• Navigate to Notifications and scroll down to the bottom of the page.
• Select the “Emergency Alerts” option.
• You will see choices for “Severe Alerts” and “Emergency Alerts.” Turn off both selections to entirely disable the alerts.

Please note that by deactivating these alerts, you will not receive any emergency notifications, even in real-life emergency situations. As a result, it is advised that you re-enable alerts as soon as the test is over or when you feel it is safe to do so.

How to Turn Off Emergency Alerts on Android

Turning off emergency alerts on Android smartphones such as Samsung, Huawei, OnePlus and other devices is a slightly different but still simple process. Follow these steps:

• Launch the Settings app on your device.
• Use the search bar to search for “emergency alerts” or locate the Safety & Emergency option.
• Select the result that says “Emergency Alerts” or “Crisis Alerts.”
• You’ll find an option for “Emergency Alerts” or “Crisis Alerts.” Toggle off this option to disable the alerts.

Alternative Methods to Disable Emergency Alerts in the UK

Instead of completely disabling emergency alerts, you can choose to turn off your device or activate airplane mode during nationwide testing is planned. This will stop you from receiving the alert, and you can restart your device or deactivate Airplane Mode later.

In summary, while turning off emergency alerts may be helpful during tests or if they create unnecessary stress, it’s vital to bear in mind their main function: to keep you informed and safe in emergencies. Consider re-enabling these alerts once the test is over or when you feel it is safe to do so, as they can provide important information in a real emergency situation.