JUMP TO Section Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.- Understanding emergency alerts on iPhone
- How to turn emergency alerts on or off on iPhone
- How to enable or disable test alerts
Redeem now - Emergency alerts on your iPhone are turned on by default.
- You can choose to turn those emergency alerts on or off in the Settings app.
- Presidential alerts and other high-priority alerts can't be turned off, regardless of your settings.
When an emergency hits, it's crucial to be in the know as soon as possible. That way, you can be ready for what comes next, whether that means adhering to safety protocols or prepping for a possible hurricane.
If you have any iPhone, or any Apple Watch, you're in luck. You have the option to control your emergency alerts in a few simple steps. For enhanced safety, check out our guide to the best iPhones, as the iPhone 14 series introduced a slate of new safety features like Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via Satellite.
It's important to know that some alerts may not be available in your country or region. For example, AMBER (America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) alerts are active for folks who live in the US. Your geographical location can also determine whether you are alerted. For instance, if a child was last seen in New York, the Amber Alert would be sent to everyone in the vicinity of New York City.
In other regions such as Japan, J-Alerts are issued by the government to typically notify the public from natural disasters or even from nuclear attacks. Whatever the nature of the alert may be, this is a feature that can prevent injury and save lives.
Quick tip: Be aware that certain high-priority emergency alerts, such as Presidential alerts, will bypass your iPhone's settings and any Do Not Disturb mode you've enabled.
With this in mind, here's how to turn emergency alerts on or off on an iPhone.
Understanding emergency alerts on iPhone
If you live in the United States, there are three types of government alerts you might get on your iPhone:
- AMBER alerts
- Emergency alerts
- Public safety alerts
By default, these options will all be turned on. A fourth alert setting, called Test alerts, is disabled by default.
If you want to turn these alerts off, or set them up again, here's how to get it done.
How to turn emergency alerts on or off on iPhone
1. Open your Settings app.
2. Tap Notifications.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the screen. You'll see a section marked Government Alerts.
4. Choose the option you want to edit the settings for and turn it on or off, as desired.
If you turn all of those options on, you'll be able to get important alerts about inclement weather and other important news.
Are there exceptions to turning off emergency alerts?
The iPhone's Do Not Disturb mode silences calls, alerts, and notifications when the phone is locked. However, that isn't the case for all emergency alerts.
High-priority Presidential alerts are a special class of alerts that the US government can send during a national emergency. Even if you've turned off all government alerts, Presidential alerts can ignore your settings or Do Not Disturb mode, if the emergency is deemed urgent enough.
Regardless of the mobile device you're using, you should always expect to see such alerts come through if you live in the US. Some countries can also dictate which alerts you can turn off, so you may not see the exact options listed above, either.
How to enable or disable test alerts
You can also toggle test alerts apart from the Settings app. By default, test alerts are turned off. But if you decide that you want to change those settings and you live in the US or Puerto Rico, you can turn test alerts on or off with a dial code:
1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap the keypad icon.
3. To turn it on, enter *5005*25371# and tap the green call icon.
4. To turn it off, enter *5005*25370# and tap the green call icon.
After completing step three or four, you'll get an alert telling you that you've enabled, or disabled, the feature.
Devon Delfino Devon Delfino is a Brooklyn-based freelance journalist specializing in personal finance, culture, politics, and identity. Her work has been featured in publications such as The Los Angeles Times, Teen Vogue, Business Insider, and CNBC. Follow her on Twitter at @devondelfino. Read more Read lessncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonyowcidnKxnpJqwqXvEppyrn5WjsLp5wKWcq6xdnr2pu82e