Can you opt out of the Emergency Alert test on your phone?

1st September 2025

At 3:00pm on Sunday 7th September 2025, the Government will be running a national test of the emergency alert system, sending an alert to all mobile phones and tablets with 4G and 5G compatibility.

This system is in place to give everyone a warning against a life-threatening emergency, like wildfires, severe flooding or extreme storms.

On Sunday, this alert may make your mobile phone or tablet:
– Make a loud siren-like sound, even if it’s on silent
– Vibrate
– Read out the alert

The alert will include a phone number or a link to the Gov.uk website for more information.

What if I have secret devices?
If you have any secret devices that you need to keep safe, you may want to either switch off your device or put it on airplane mode.

You can also opt-out of receiving emergency alerts, though this is not advised in case of a real emergency. To find out how to do this, click here.