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Emergency alerts will be tested on all UK phones on 7 September

08/08/2025
Gov emergency mobile phone alert test on 7 September

With one month to go, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden, is rallying the nation to get ready for the second ever national test of the UK’s Emergency Alerts system.

On Sunday 7 September at around 3pm, mobile phones on 4G and 5G networks across the country will vibrate and emit a loud siren-like sound for up to ten seconds. A test message will appear on screens, making it clear the alert is a drill.

The test will be just the second of its kind and follows a government commitment to test the system regularly to make sure it works optimally and familiarise the public with the alerts. This is in line with standard practice in other countries, such as Japan and the USA.

Reasons you might get an alert

You may get alerts about any type of life threatening emergency, such as:

  • wildfires
  • severe flooding
  • extreme storms

There are simple and effective steps you can take to be more prepared for an emergency in your area. Visit gov.uk/prepare for more information.

Emergency alerts will only be sent by:

  • the emergency services
  • government departments, agencies and public bodies that deal with emergencies

Read the press release at gov.uk

To spread awareness, the Government have produced a video in British Sign Language (BSL) to share with the deaf community.

Find out more at Gov.uk/alerts

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