How to Turn Off Emergency Alerts on iPhone (What You Need to Know First)

Steps to Turn Off Alerts

That sudden siren, the vibration and a message you cannot dismiss without tapping OK. Emergency alerts are built to be impossible to ignore, which is exactly why many people want to switch them off. You can do it in under a minute. Before you do, though, it is worth knowing what you are giving up and whether a smarter setting could solve the problem instead.

Which Emergency Alert Types Can You Turn Off?

The list depends on where you live and which iPhone software you use.

• Extreme Alerts (UK): Warnings where there is a danger to life.
• Severe Alerts (UK): Warnings where there is a possible risk to life.
• AMBER Alerts (US and some countries): Missing child alerts.
• Public Safety Alerts (US): Recommended safety actions from authorities.
• Test Alerts: Some versions of iOS show an option for test messages sent by the authorities.

In some countries, the most serious category cannot be switched off at all. If you do not see a toggle for a particular alert, your region does not allow you to disable it.

What Emergency Alerts On iPhone Actually Are

Emergency alerts are messages sent by the government to every compatible phone in an area where there is a danger to life, such as severe flooding, fires or extreme weather. Your iPhone makes a loud siren style sound, vibrates for around ten seconds and shows a message on screen. Because they are designed to reach you at all costs, they can sound even when your phone is on silent or Do Not Disturb is switched on.

You do not need to switch on Location Services to receive them, and the government does not need your phone number. The alert is broadcast from mobile masts in the affected area, so any compatible phone connected nearby can receive it.

How To Turn Off Emergency Alerts On iPhone

These steps work on iPhones running iOS 17 and later, including iOS 26.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Notifications.
3. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page.
4. Find the Government Alerts or Emergency Alerts section.
5. Switch off Extreme Alerts.
6. Switch off Severe Alerts.

When a toggle is grey, it is off. That is all you need to do in the UK. You may not see any other options here.

The Quick Way: Use Settings Search

If you do not want to scroll, pull down on the Settings home screen and type emergency alerts into the search box. Tap the result and you will land in the right place, ready to switch the toggles.

How to Turn Off Only Severe Alerts and Keep Extreme Alerts On

If you want fewer interruptions but still want protection, this is the middle route:

1. Go to Settings, Notifications.
2. Scroll to the bottom.
3. Switch off Severe Alerts.
4. Leave Extreme Alerts switched on.

Severe alerts tend to cover situations with a possible risk, while extreme alerts cover immediate danger. Keeping the extreme option gives you the important warnings without the more frequent ones.

Why You Might Still Get Alerts After Turning Them Off

Occasionally an alert still appears. Try these fixes.

• Check both toggles. Turning off only Severe Alerts leaves Extreme Alerts active.
• Update your iPhone. Go to Settings > General > Software Update, because older versions can misbehave.
• Restart your phone. Hold the side button and a volume button, slide to power off, then switch it on again.
• Look for a second device. An iPad, an old iPhone or a work phone may still have alerts turned on.
• Contact Apple or your network. The government advises contacting your device manufacturer if alerts continue after you opt out.

Not sure which iPhone or software version you have? Our simple guide to find your iPhone model will tell you in seconds.

Why Some People Choose To Switch Alerts Off

Emergency alerts save lives, and the government strongly recommends keeping them on. However, there are genuine reasons to turn them off on a particular device:

• A hidden phone. People experiencing domestic abuse who keep a concealed phone can switch alerts off so the device does not reveal itself.
• Exams and tests. Schools and exam centres often ban devices, and a surprise siren is a real risk.
• Sleep and shift work. A loud siren at 3am is jarring if your phone is on your bedside table.
• Work phones in quiet settings. Theatres, courtrooms, hospitals and libraries may want alerts off on staff phones.
• Children’s devices. A frightening siren can upset very young children.

If you are turning alerts off, keep at least one other phone in your household switched on, so someone still receives the warning.

More Secure Options Than Disabling Notifications Entirely

You do not always need to remove the safety net. Consider these options first.

Use Do Not Disturb sensibly. Emergency alerts break through it, so it will not fully silence them. But it does quieten everything else, and our guide to Do Not Disturb settings shows how to control it properly.

Switch them off only when needed. Turn alerts off for a specific situation, such as an exam, and switch them back on straight afterwards. Set a reminder so you do not forget.

Use official warning apps. The Met Office app and Environment Agency flood warnings send weather and flood notifications, which you can control more precisely.

Leave the phone in another room at night. A basic alarm will still wake you. If you need help picking a gentler tone for the morning, see how to change iPhone alarm sound.

Emergency alerts only arrive when your phone has a mobile signal. They will not reach a phone in Airplane Mode, or one that is connected to WiFi only. If your iPhone is using a lot of mobile data and you are not sure why, take a look at how to check iPhone data left, so you know what your device is doing in the background.

How To Turn Emergency Alerts Back On

Changed your mind? Go back to Settings > Notifications, scroll to the bottom and switch Extreme Alerts and Severe Alerts back on. It takes the same 20 seconds.

Test it after switching on by making sure your phone is not in Airplane Mode and has a mobile signal. For the most current information about the UK service, visit gov.uk/alerts.

Need iPhones For Your Team, Event or Short Project?

If you hire phones for staff, exhibitors or a temporary team, you may need certain settings, such as alerts and Focus modes, to be handled consistently across every handset. That is much easier when your devices are managed centrally.

Our guide to MDM for rented devices explains how that works, and our iPhone rental for businesses service gives you ready to use iPhones for conferences, field teams and short projects, without the cost of buying them. Contact Hire Tablets today to get a quote and get your team set up quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions About Emergency Alerts on iPhone

Is it illegal to turn off emergency alerts on iPhone?

No. The UK government confirms you can opt out of emergency alerts, though it strongly recommends keeping them on because they exist to warn you when lives are in danger.

Will I still get emergency alerts in silent mode?

Yes, if alerts are switched on. They are designed to sound even when your iPhone is on silent or Do Not Disturb, so the only way to prevent the sound is to turn the alerts off in Settings.

Why does my iPhone not have the AMBER Alerts option?

That option only appears in countries that use it, such as the United States. If your iPhone is set up for the UK, you will normally see Extreme Alerts and Severe Alerts only.

Do emergency alerts use my mobile data?

No. Alerts are sent through the mobile network as a broadcast message, not as a data connection, so they do not use your data allowance. They also do not need Location Services.

Do emergency alerts work when I am abroad?

It depends on the country and the network you connect to. Some countries send alerts to visiting phones and others do not, so check what is available before you travel.