UK mobile phone emergency alert – when is it? And how do you turn it off?

4 minute read|3rd Sep 2025

The UK Government has announced that it will be sending out its second national emergency alert next week.

Mobile phones will receive an alert and siren at 3pm on Sunday 7th September.

This will happen to all devices on a 4G or 5G network, and it will last 10 seconds.

The text message alongside the alert will make the public aware that this is purely a test.

They will also outline that the public will not need to take any action.

The Emergency Alerts system is used to warn if there is potentially any national danger to life nearby, including extreme weather.

Regular testing ensures the system is functioning correctly, should it need to be used in a life-threatening emergency.

The government has activated the alert system on five occasions to deliver genuine warnings to the public.

During Storm Darragh last December, around 3.5 million individuals across Wales and the south west of England received emergency notifications.

Then in January during Storm Eowyn, residents in Scotland and Northern Ireland were warned of hazardous weather conditions.

And it isn’t just weather warnings.

In February 2025, approximately 50,000 mobile phones were alerted after a large, unexploded bomb from the Second World War was discovered in a garden in Plymouth.

Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: “On Sunday, September 7, we will hold a UK-wide test of the Emergency Alerts system to ensure it works when we need it most.

“It is a vital tool for keeping the nation safe when lives are on the line – and every minute matters.

“We do not use the system often, but like the fire alarm in your home, it is always on standby should we need to act.”

Members of the public can turn off the emergency alert in the mobile device settings.

For iPhone users, they will need to go to ‘notifications’ menu, scroll to the bottom, and turn off ‘severe alerts’ and ‘extreme alerts’.

For those with Android phones, search the settings menu for ‘emergency alerts’, and then turn off ‘severe alerts’ and ‘extreme alerts’.

RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis said: “Anyone driving on Sunday afternoon needs to be ready for the 3pm emergency alert test, so we’d encourage people to share the message far and wide with anyone they know. The loud siren-like sound that will be emitted by millions of phones is, of course, designed to get everyone’s attention but it’s important drivers stay focused while it’s going off for 10 seconds or so."

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