UK testing the Emergency Alerts system on Sunday 7 September at 3pm

General Chat Chat / Discussions
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This Sunday…

Public testing of the Emergency Alerts system

Upcoming national test on 7 September 2025

The government will be carrying out a national test of the UK Emergency Alerts system on 7 September 2025 at 3pm.

The test alert will be sent to all compatible 4G and 5G mobile phones and compatible tablets across the UK.

This follows the first successful national test in April 2023.

Information about the upcoming national test is available in British Sign Language (BSL) and Easy Read formats.

Why the test is taking place

Regular testing ensures the system is functioning correctly, should it be needed in an emergency.

The test is not intended to alert you to real danger and you will not need to take any further action.

What the test will look and sound like

An emergency alert looks and sounds very different to other types of messages you might receive on your phone. You’ll hear a loud, siren-like sound and your phone or tablet will vibrate.

If you have a vision or hearing impairment, audio and vibration attention signals will let you know you have received the test.

Opt out of the test

You can opt out of emergency alerts, including the national test, but you should keep them switched on for your own safety. Learn more about how to opt out of emergency alerts.

Emergency Alerts is a UK government system that provides warning and advice in a life threatening emergency.

The government will be running a national test of the Emergency Alerts system on Sunday 7 September 2025.

The government does not need to know your phone number or location to send you an alert.

Reasons you might get an alert

You may get alerts about any type of life threatening emergency, such as:

  • wildfires
  • severe flooding
  • extreme storms

There are simple and effective steps you can take to be more prepared for an emergency in your area. Visit gov.uk/prepare for more information.

Emergency alerts will only be sent by:

  • the emergency services
  • government departments, agencies and public bodies that deal with emergencies

What happens when you get an emergency alert

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 sound and vibration will last for about 10 seconds.

An alert will include a phone number or a link to the GOV.UK website for more information.

You’ll get alerts based on your current location - not where you live or work. You do not need to turn on location services to receive alerts.

What you need to do

When you get an alert, stop what you’re doing and follow the instructions in the alert.

If you’re driving or riding when you get an alert

Do not read or respond to an emergency alert while driving or riding.

Find somewhere safe and legal to stop before reading the message. If there’s nowhere safe and legal to stop, and nobody else is in the vehicle to read the alert, you can listen to news on live radio to find out about the emergency.

It’s illegal to use a hand-held device while driving or riding.

If you cannot receive emergency alerts

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.

Emergency Alerts will not replace local news, radio, television or social media.

If you’re deaf, hard of hearing, blind or partially sighted

If you have a vision or hearing impairment, audio and vibration attention signals will let you know you have an emergency alert if accessibility notifications have been enabled on your mobile phone or tablet.

Alert languages

Emergency alerts will be sent in English. In Wales, they may also be sent in Welsh.

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No problem with this, but how long will it be before someone starts with the conspiracy theories?

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We in Scotlands Central belt had a ‘Severe alert’ sent to Our phones in January warning Us of 90-100 mph winds…scared the hell out of Me…At least this time around we’ll know when & what to expect.

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What’s there to test? Isn’t this as old as the hills anyway?

I already get occasional messages from Police and emergency services warning of fires, criminals on the loose and lost people…

I don’t understand why a proven system needs testing, hasn’t this been done before?

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Well, I suppose it’ll be quicker than getting the fire beacons lit when the Armada comes up the Channel.

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Not sure about that, I can’t hear my phone half the time (deaf) but I think I would notice a fire beacon.

They used to use fire beacons to signal that a Southerly Buster had reached Jervis Bay so that the Sydney Observatory could hoist a flag and the Tower in the Post Office would light a red lamp to say cooler weather was on its way. It only took a few minutes for the signal to reach Sydney 100 km north.

Oh have you not heard –
And the thing seems absurd,
Though the citizens knew to their cost –
As they dragged through the street
In the sweltering heat –
That old Southerly Buster was lost!
Oh! We stared for an hour
At the Post Office tower,
Where the red lamp was plainly in view:
Where it hangs from the rope
Like a signal of hope
When old Southerly Buster is due.

Henry Lawson 1914

Perhaps someone will write a poem about the UK’s Emergency Alert System?

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How are they going to alert me without a mobile phone or a compatable tablet? maybe they might put the alert in the post and I will get it the next week.
I have answered their questionare and asked to have the alert sent by post to people such as myself.

This is the state how bad this country has become. These brain dead people assume everyone has the equipment needed to receive these alerts. They don’t learn from history about how people were alerted about air raids during the war with sirens on roof tops, it worked back then ok

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Don’t the fire Brigade still use the sirens, sounding the “All Clear” to bring the firemen in?

Anyway old people are expendable especially if they don’t know how to use a smart phone.

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Hmmmm, nothing would surprise me!!

I’ve opted out :044:

iPhone

To opt out:

  1. Go to your settings and select the ‘notifications’ menu.
  2. Scroll to the bottom.
  3. Turn off ‘severe alerts’ and ‘extreme alerts’.

Android phones

To opt out:

  1. Search your settings for ‘emergency alerts’.
  2. Turn off ‘severe alerts’ and ‘extreme alerts’.
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Hmmm. Not entirely convinced that the powers are trying to recreate some kind of re-enactment of Orson Welles’ radio broadcast of the War of the Worlds.

But then again, who knows what shenanigans they might get up to while we’re muting our phones and reading whatever message they’ve sent? Could well be a Penn & Teller Fool Us distraction.

Anyway, I’m opting out of it all while I get some weedkiller ready in case the Triffids fall from the skies :wink::blush:

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BE ALERT…(Your Country Needs Lerts) :wink:

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I’ll probably be out, and I don’t make a habit of taking my mobile with me.

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can’t wait for it, see if something works, just in case the snow off the pennines melts comes rushing down