UK Emergency Alert Test Shakes Phones Nationwide: Here’s How to Turn It Off

Millions of mobile phones across the UK buzzed and blared yesterday (Sunday, September 7, 2025), as the government carried out its long-planned national Emergency Alert test at 3pm.

Phones connected to 4G and 5G networks emitted a loud siren sound and vibrated for up to 10 seconds, while a message appeared confirming that the alert was only a drill.

The Cabinet Office said the system is designed to warn the public during life-threatening emergencies, such as extreme weather, fires, or major security incidents. Officials stressed that the test was timed to minimise disruption.

This was the largest UK-wide safety drill of its kind, building on the last national test in April 2023. Since then, real emergency alerts have been used five times — including in Storm Éowyn earlier this year and the Plymouth evacuation during the discovery of a WWII bomb.

Turning Off Emergency Alerts

For those who wish to avoid future alerts, the system can be switched off in phone settings:

Android: Search for emergency alerts in settings and disable severe alerts and extreme alerts.

iPhone: Go to Settings > Notifications > Messages and toggle off Critical Alerts.

Other devices: Check under Wireless Emergency Alerts or Emergency Broadcasts in your phone’s settings.

The government emphasises, however, that staying opted in is strongly recommended, as the system could save lives during an actual emergency.