National testing of the UK’s Emergency Alerts system

The government will be carrying out a national test of the UK Emergency Alerts system on 7 September 2025 at 3pm.

The test alert will be sent to all compatible 4G and 5G mobile phones and compatible tablets across the UK.

Why the test is taking place

Regular testing ensures the system is functioning correctly, should it be needed in an emergency.

The test is not intended to alert you to real danger and you will not need to take any further action.

What the test will look and sound like

An emergency alert looks and sounds very different to other types of messages you might receive on your phone. You’ll hear a loud, siren-like sound and your phone or tablet will vibrate.

If you have a vision or hearing impairment, audio and vibration attention signals will let you know you have received the test.

Opt out of the test

You can opt out of emergency alerts, including the national test, but you should keep them switched on for your own safety. Learn more about how to opt out of emergency alerts.

You can opt out of emergency alerts. For example, victims of domestic abuse with a concealed phone may find it appropriate to turn off alerts.

How you opt out depends on your device, if you still get alerts after opting out, contact your device manufacturer for help.

iPhone

To opt out:

1. Go to your settings and select the ‘notifications’ menu.
2. Scroll to the bottom.
3. Turn off ‘severe alerts’ and ‘extreme alerts’.

Android phones

To opt out:

1. Search your settings for ‘emergency alerts’.
2. Turn off ‘severe alerts’ and ‘extreme alerts’.

Other mobile phones and tablets

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’.

The settings can usually be found in one of the following ways. Go to:

• ‘message’, then ‘message settings, then ‘wireless emergency alerts’, then ‘alert’
• ‘settings’, then ‘sounds’, then ‘advanced’, then ‘emergency broadcasts’
• ‘settings’, then ‘general settings’, then ‘emergency alerts’

Then turn off ‘severe alerts’, ‘extreme alerts’ and ‘test alerts’.

Find out more