Nationwide emergency alert to set off phones this Sunday

A nationwide emergency alert will set people's phones off for 10 seconds at 3pm on Sunday, April 23.

This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there's a life-threatening emergency nearby.

All compatible iPhones and Android devices, including most mobile phones and tablets, will sound the siren at the same time this weekend.

This is a test and you do not need to take any action.

Following the test, the government plans to roll-out this service to alert people in specific areas about emergencies, such as severe flooding, severe weather and fires.

These will be sent out by the emergency services and government agencies and public bodies that deal with emergencies, which do not need to know your phone number or location to sound the alerts.

However, some have raised concerns that the service alert could panic vulnerable people, district or cause safety risks for those driving, and could put those suffering from domestic abuse or violence at risk, as some people in these situations keep secret "lifeline" phones hidden from their abusers. Others have complained that the function in unnecessarily intrusive.

If you are concerned, you can switch off your phone before 3pm on Sunday or switch off emergency alerts on your devices. The alert will still sound if your phone is on silent mode.

On iPhones and Android phones and tablets, people can search settings for 'emergency alerts' and turn off 'severe alerts' and 'emergency alerts'.

On Huawei devices running EMUI 11 or older, search settings for 'emergency alerts' and turn off 'extreme threats', 'severe threats', and 'show amber alerts'.

However, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has this week pleaded with the public not to switch off their alerts, saying they are designed to help and protect the public.

Real-life alerts after this weekend's test will include a phone number or a link to the GOV.UK website for more information and the government advises that, on receiving an alert, you should stop what you're doing and follow the instructions.

You should not read or respond to the alerts while driving, but should instead stop when it is safe to do so.

Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information.