What you need to know about the first-ever U.K. Emergency Alert test

On April 23, 2023, the U.K. government will test a new mobile alert warning system, whereby all mobile phones in the U.K. will receive a notification. The purpose of the test is to let people know what to expect in the case of a real alert being sent during a national emergency, such as an adverse weather event. Similar systems are already in place in other countries like the U.S., France, and Japan. Research shows that these kinds of alerts can save lives and reach more people than other formats, like warnings on radio or television.

Some social media users have spread misleading or false information about the alert system. Logically Facts has created this short guide to let people know what to expect and to answer any common questions related to the alert.

What is the U.K. emergency alert system?

The alert is a free service provided by the U.K. government to be used to warn the public about large-scale emergencies such as extreme weather warnings like floods or wildfires. All phones in the U.K. will receive the alert. This includes people in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and England.

When will the emergency alert take place?

People in the U.K. will receive the alert at 3 p.m. GMT on Sunday, April 23.

What will the alert involve?

A notification message on your phone and a high-pitched noise that will last for about 10 seconds, even if your phone is on silent mode. All you need to do is swipe the message to dismiss it, similar to a low-battery notification.

Video: How the emergency alert test will look and sound. Source: Cabinet Office/YouTube.

Can I unsubscribe from these alerts?

Yes, you can unsubscribe from the alerts at any time. If you don’t wish to receive the alert you can go to the settings in your phone, find the “Test alerts” or “Emergency alerts” setting, and switch them off. However, if you do unsubscribe you may miss a life-saving alert.

If you are a survivor of domestic abuse and have a secret or secondary phone, you will need to unsubscribe from the alerts or turn off your phone.

Do I have to respond to the emergency alert?

No, you do not have to take any action when you receive the alert.

Will the alerts affect the performance of my phone or network connection?

No, it won’t affect the performance of your phone. Some social media users have spread the false claim that the speed and capacity of your phone will be limited if you don’t respond to the emergency alert, but this isn’t true. You don’t need to take any action, and it won’t affect your phone. You can read our fact check about this here.

The key things to remember are: 

• You do not need to respond to the alert
• You will be able to unsubscribe from the alerts if you don’t wish to receive them
• The alert will make a noise even if your phone is on silent mode - if you don’t want to receive the notification, put it in aeroplane mode, unsubscribe, or turn your phone’s power off
• They will not affect the battery life of your phone
• They will not affect the speed or capacity of your phone connection