What time is the emergency alert test and what happens?

THE government is testing its Emergency Alert system in April 2023 – the first of its kind in the country.

Here, we look at what you can expect on the day, and why this is happening.

What time is the UK Emergency Alerts test?

The Emergency Alerts test will take place at 3pm on April 23, 2023.

The alert will work on all 4G and 5G phones in the UK, as well as iPhone’s on iOS 14.5 or later, and phones and tablets running with Android 11.

If you do not have a compatible device, you’ll still be informed about an emergency.

The emergency services have other ways to warn you when there is a threat to life.

What happens during the Emergency Alert test?

When the Emergency Alert test takes place, there are a number of ways that the message will reach you on your phone.

Your mobile phone or tablet may:

• make a loud siren-like sound, even if it’s set on silent
• vibrate
• read out the alert

The message will say: “This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there’s a life-threatening emergency nearby.

“In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe.

“Visit  for more information.

“This is a test. You do not need to take any action.”

Emergency alerts will mostly be received in English, with some also in Welsh.

What is the UK Emergency Alerts service?

The alert will be sent to people’s phones in the event of a disaster, such as extreme weather, major flooding or forest fires nearby.

This will bring the UK in line with other countries, including the US and Canada, who already have their own systems in place.

Can I opt out of the Emergency Alerts service?

There are a few ways to turn off the Emergency Alerts.

There is no legal requirement to receive the alerts, meaning it’s up to you whether or not you receive them.

The UK Government has said that they have worked with domestic abuse charities to ensure vulnerable people are not adversely affected by the alert.

Can I turn off Emergency Alerts on my phone?

You can turn off emergency alerts on your phone at any time.

On iPhone, go to settings, then notifications, with switches at the bottom where you can turn off extreme and severe alerts.

On an Android phone, the toggle for emergency alerts is under settings, then notifications, then wireless emergency alerts.