UK’s government has launched an alert system that sends emergency warning messages accompanied by a siren and vibrations. These messages are good to be used in case of emergencies. However, there could be occasions when these alerts could disturb the customers.
Recently, the government tested one such emergency warning message, which popped out on the users’ smartphone screens. Though the system is designed for warnings such as flooding or extreme weather conditions, it has received criticism from domestic abuse charities who fear the alerts will make others aware of the victim’s hidden phones.
Owing to this criticism, we’ve devised a guide on how to turn off emergency alerts on iPhone 13. The guide will help you avoid these unwanted messages, so you continue enjoying your mobile experience without any interruptions.
Table of Contents
What are Emergency Alerts?
All right, first thing first! Let’s start the blog by defining emergency alerts so you get a better idea of whether you need to turn them off.
According to the definition of the UK government, the Emergency alert is a UK government service that warns mobile users if there is a danger nearby. The government does not need your mobile number or location to alert you.
Smartphone users will likely get alerts on severe flooding, fires, or extreme weather conditions. Emergency warnings are likely sent by emergency services, government departments, agencies, and public bodies dealing with emergencies.
When you get the alerts, your phone or tablet will make a siren-like sound and read the alert loudly. The sound and vibration may last for 10 seconds, and the alert will include a phone number or a link to the UK government’s website for more information.
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How Does an Emergency Alert Work?
In case of an emergency, the mobile masts in the surrounding area will broadcast an alert to be sent to all the mobile devices connected to the mast.
If you are within the range of the mast, you do not need mobile data or Wi-Fi access to get the alert. The emergency alerts are free and cost nothing to receive on your devices.
You may not be able to receive the alerts if your device is in Airplane mode or you are connected to a 2G or 3G network. The devices compatible to get emergency alerts include iPhones running iOS 14.5 or later and Android phones and tablets running Android 11 or later.
How to Turn Off Emergency Alerts on an iPhone
To turn off the emergency alerts on your iPhone, go to the device settings and click through the notifications. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen to see the emergency alerts section with extreme and severe alerts. You will have a button on the right-hand side toggle the button to turn off the emergency alerts.
The emergency alerts are turned on for your device by default. You will receive alerts if you haven’t turned them off on your iPhone.
Turning off emergency alerts isn’t ideal since this might get you in trouble when a real emergency arrives. But if you are bothered by these alerts or concerned about your privacy, turning them off is your only choice.
Here’s how you can turn off emergency alerts on your iPhone.
- Go to the Settings menu.
- Click through the notifications option.
- Scroll to the bottom of the screen.
- Locate the emergency alerts section and toggle it off.
These steps will turn off emergency alerts on iOS so you keep unbothered by them.
How to Turn off Emergency Alerts on Your Android
To turn off emergency alerts on Android, go to the settings app on your device and navigate to the sounds and vibration section. You should see an option for “More settings”, tap on it to go to wireless emergency alerts. Navigate to allow alerts and turn it off so you don’t receive emergency alerts on your phone.
Here’s a step-by-step process to turn off emergency alerts on your Android.
- Open the Settings App
- Click on “Sounds & Vibration”
- Tap on more settings.
- Tap on Wireless emergency alerts.
- Click to Toggle off “Allow alerts”
Also Read: How to Block Calls on Android with Ease?
Bottom Line
Knowing how to turn off alerts on your iPhone or Android can give you greater control over the notifications you receive. While emergency alerts serve an important purpose in keeping us informed and safe, there may be situations where you prefer not to be constantly interrupted by these notifications.
The simple steps listed in the blog will help you disable emergency alerts on your iPhone and Android. Remember, it’s essential to consider the potential impact of disabling these alerts, and it’s recommended to keep them enabled in most cases to stay informed about critical situations.
However, if you find the alerts too frequent or disruptive, muting them temporarily might be a viable option. With these techniques at your disposal, you can strike the right balance between staying connected and maintaining control over the notifications that reach your iPhone.
FAQs
How Do I Turn Off the Emergency Alert?
To turn off emergency alerts, open settings, go to sound and vibration, and navigate to more settings. On this menu, you will find wireless emergency alerts; toggle the “Allow alerts” option to turn it off. To turn this off on your iPhone, go to settings, click on notifications, and open the emergency alerts section from the bottom of this screen. Toggle the button on the right-hand side to turn off emergency alerts on the iPhone.
How Do I Turn Off Emergency Alerts on My iPhone UK?
On your iPhone, go to the settings menu and press through the notification settings. Scroll to the end of the screen to see the emergency alerts option. Click on this option to turn it off.
