National Emergency Alert testing – Sunday 7 September 2025
Please be aware if you have a second device as part of a safety plan
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On Sunday 7 September at 3pm, there’ll be a national test of the UK Emergency Alerts Service. Please be aware if you, or somebody you know, has a second device for their own safety.
Emergency Alerts is a UK government service that warns you if there’s a danger to life nearby. In an emergency, you’ll get an alert on your mobile phone or tablet (either a loud siren, vibration or an alert that’s read out) with advice about how to stay safe. It doesn’t matter what setting your device is in (silent, flight mode or off), you’ll still get an alert and a message.
Emergency alerts are only sent by the emergency services, government departments, government agencies and public bodies.
However, while alerts can help save lives, they can put vulnerable victims of crime (or someone in an abusive relationship) who keep a second device for their own safety, at risk.
That’s because an alert, or a test like the upcoming one, could potentially tell an abuser about another phone or tablet they didn’t know about.
This government information will take you through how to turn the notifications off on iPhones, tablets and Android devices.
You shouldn’t turn off notifications on your main device, as everyone will get an alert, and it might look strange if you don’t get one.
Find out more about the UK Emergency Alerts service.