UK to Test Emergency Mobile Alert System on 7 September

The UK government will run a nationwide test of its emergency mobile alert system for the second time on Sunday, 7 September at 15:00 BST.

The system is designed to issue warnings in life-threatening situations such as severe weather events, public safety threats, or terror attacks.

What Will Happen During the Test?

All compatible smartphones connected to 4G or 5G networks will receive a message accompanied by a loud siren-like sound and vibrations lasting around 10 seconds. Phones do not need to be connected to mobile data or Wi-Fi to receive the notification.

The message will read:
"This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a UK government service that will warn you if there’s a life-threatening emergency nearby. You do not need to take any action. In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe. Find advice at gov.uk/prepare or gov.uk/alerts."

The alert will also be available in Welsh.

Who Will Receive It?

• The government says around 95% of the UK population with access to 4G or 5G will receive the test message.
• Older devices and those still using 2G or 3G networks will not receive the alert.
• Phones switched off or in airplane mode will also miss it.

During the first trial in April 2023, technical glitches left some users without alerts, while others received duplicate messages. The government has since worked to fix those issues.

Can You Opt Out of Emergency Alerts?

Yes, users who do not wish to receive alerts can switch them off in their phone settings. However, the government strongly advises keeping them enabled, as they are designed to save lives in real emergencies.