Government emergency alert tests

Published: Friday 21 April 2023

At 3pm on Sunday 23 April, the Government will test the UK's emergency alert system. This will send a message to all mobile phones, and cause them to emit a loud siren noise - even if they're on silent.

The real system will be used to let people know of life-threatening emergencies close by, but the test on Sunday is just being sent to check the system.

Don't be alarmed by the noise; it will only last about 10 seconds and you can swipe or tap your screen to clear it.

The domestic abuse charity, Refuge, has advice for survivors of domestic abuse who may have hidden phones in their homes. Find out how to disable the alerts to make sure your phone stays safe at Emergency Alerts | Refuge Tech Safety