How to opt out of the emergency warning test next Sunday
How to avoid alarmageddon: An emergency warning test will sound on mobile phones across Britain next Sunday – this is how you can opt out
- Emergency sirens will ring out from our phones in a Government trial on April 23
- The UK system is designed to give alerts on extreme weather, flooding and fires
- It will sound at 3pm and for up to 10 seconds even if your phone is on silent
An emergency warning test will sound on mobile phones across Britain next Sunday – but it is easy to stop your device from receiving it.
The alarm is a rehearsal for the Government’s Emergency Alerts service nationwide response to a national crisis or disaster, such as a terror attack or major flooding.
The so-called Armageddon Alert siren, due to sound at 3pm, will last up to ten seconds even if your phone is on silent. Alerts will sound on nearly all devices on 4G or 5G networks. But you can ensure you don’t get the message ahead of the test – and this is as easy as turning your device off or on.
On iPhones, users can open Settings, tap Notifications, scroll to the bottom and switch off the ‘Extreme Alerts’ and ‘Severe Alerts’. Android users must open Settings, search for Emergency Alerts and switch them off.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Oliver Dowden said: ‘Getting this system operational means we have a vital tool to keep the public safe in life-threatening emergencies. It could be the sound that saves your life.’
Emergency sirens will ring out from phones across the UK in a Government trial on April 23
But there are concerns it could shock people – particularly among crowds at Premier League matches and shopping centres.
It could also pose a risk for domestic abuse victims who keep a secret phone as a lifeline which could then be discovered by perpetrators.
West Midlands Victims’ Commissioner was among those who expressed concern for abuse victims, as previously reported in a MailOnline article.
She said: ‘I know first hand of many victims of domestic abuse who have a concealed phone as a lifeline, allowing them to keep in touch with friends and family or to be used in an emergency.
‘While the emergency alert system is understandable, it is also vital we raise awareness that this can be switched off for those who need it.
‘I urge anybody who has a concealed phone for their own safety to switch off these alerts.’
Domestic abuse charity Refuge has also prepared a guide on how to opt out, with tips for securing a secret device, at refugetechsafety.org.
Others also suggest that the sudden siren sound could cause crashes on the road if drivers are panicked by what they hear.
The UK system is designed to give alerts on extreme weather, flooding and fires (file picture)
As a result, the Government has advised that drivers should not read or respond to the alert while travelling in the car or on a motorcycle.
It said: ‘If you are driving, you should continue to drive and not respond to the noise or attempt to pick up the mobile phone and deal with the message.
‘Find somewhere safe and legal to stop before reading the message. If there is nowhere safe or legal to stop close by, and nobody else is in the vehicle to read the alert, tune into live radio and wait for bulletins until you can find somewhere safe and legal to stop.’
Phone users will not receive an alert if their phone is turned off or in airplane mode, the Government added as well.
The test coincides with the London Marathon and Premier League 2pm ties between Bournemouth and West Ham and Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur.
Being connected to 2G, 3G or WiFi-only will prevent phone owners from being notified as well.
Vibration and audio alerts will be issued to those with hearing and vision impairments respectively.
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