UK Emergency Alerts Test - Sunday 7 September at 3pm.
- Healthwatch Wokingham
- 18 hours ago
- 2 min read
The UK Government will carry out a national test of the Emergency Alerts system on Sunday 7 September 2025 at 3:00pm. It is a system designed to warn people about life-threatening events, such as severe flooding, fires, etc. However, this test may pose a significant risk to people experiencing domestic abuse who use a hidden mobile phone or device as part of their safety plan.
What happens when you get an emergency alert?
All compatible 4G and 5G mobile phones and tablets will receive an alert if the device/s is/are on silent or low volume. The alert:
will make a loud siren-like sound, even if it’s set on silent
will vibrate
may read out the alert
devices do not need to be connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data to receive the alert
the sound and vibration will last for about 10 seconds.
For most people, this is a simple safety test but for anyone keeping a secret phone or tablet hidden from an abusive partner, this alert could reveal the device and compromise safety.
According to gov.uk, you will not receive the alert if your phone is:
Turned off
Connected only to a 2G or 3G network
Wi-Fi only (with no SIM)
Not compatible with the alert system
Advice for Survivors
If you are using a hidden phone or tablet as part of your personal safety planning, take steps now to stay safe during the alert:
Switch off your hidden phone or device before 3:00pm on Sunday 7 September
Alternatively, set the phone to Aeroplane Mode, which also prevents the alert from coming through
You can also opt out of emergency alerts in your phone’s settings:
On iPhones: Settings → Notifications → scroll to the bottom → turn off Emergency Alerts
On Android: Settings → Safety & Emergency → Wireless Emergency Alerts → turn off Emergency Alerts.
Important:
If your hidden phone or device is turned on and not silenced in one of these ways, the alert will sound, potentially putting you at risk. Even if someone has already opted out of emergency alerts, it is safest to switch off hidden devices or enable aeroplane mode to guarantee they remain silent during the alert test.
