You can turn off most emergency alerts, but not all of them
Your phone receives emergency alerts through a system called Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). These are messages about severe weather, missing children, or imminent threats sent by local authorities to all phones in an area. You can disable most of them in your phone's settings, but the system is designed so that you cannot turn off every type — some alerts, like Presidential Alerts during a national emergency, cannot be silenced.
The steps differ between iPhone and Android, and the names of the settings vary by phone manufacturer and carrier. The good news is that the setting exists in the same general location on most phones: in your Messages app or Notifications settings.
Key Takeaways
- Most emergency alerts can be disabled through your phone's settings, but Presidential Alerts cannot be turned off under any circumstances.
- On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > Government Alerts and toggle off the types you do not want to receive.
- On Android, the location varies by manufacturer — check Settings > Apps > Messages or Settings > Notifications > Advanced, then look for "Emergency Alerts" or "Wireless Emergency Alerts".
- Disabling alerts means you will not receive warnings about severe weather, Amber Alerts, or public safety threats in your area.
How to disable alerts on iPhone
Open the Settings app and tap Notifications. Scroll to the bottom of the screen — you will see a section called "Government Alerts" with three toggle switches: Extreme Threats, Severe Threats, and Amber Alerts. Each toggle can be turned on or off independently.
Extreme Threats covers imminent danger like tsunamis or active shooters. Severe Threats covers things like flash floods or tornado warnings. Amber Alerts are notifications about missing children. Turn off whichever categories you do not want to receive. Note that even if you disable all three, your phone can still receive a Presidential Alert, which cannot be silenced.
How to disable alerts on Android
The exact location depends on your phone's manufacturer. On most Android phones, open Settings and look for Notifications or Apps. From there, find the Messages app (sometimes called SMS or Messaging). Inside the Messages app settings, look for a section called "Emergency Alerts," "Wireless Emergency Alerts," or "Alert Settings."
If you cannot find it in Messages, try going to Settings > Notifications > Advanced or Settings > Safety and Emergency. Once you find the emergency alerts section, you will usually see toggles for Extreme Threats, Severe Threats, and Amber Alerts — the same categories as iPhone. Turn off the ones you do not want.
Some Android phones from Samsung, Google, or other manufacturers may label these settings differently. If you cannot locate the setting, search your phone's Settings app for the word "alert" — most phones have a search function at the top of the Settings menu.
What happens when you disable alerts
When you turn off a category of alerts, you will no longer receive notifications for that type of threat in your area. This means you might miss a tornado warning, a flash flood alert, or an Amber Alert about a missing child. Your phone will not vibrate, sound an alarm, or display a banner — you simply will not know the alert was sent.
If you live in an area prone to severe weather or have other reasons to stay informed, you may want to keep at least Extreme Threats and Severe Threats enabled. You can disable just Amber Alerts if you find those notifications disruptive but still want to receive weather and safety warnings.
Why you cannot disable Presidential Alerts
Presidential Alerts are messages sent directly by the President of the United States during a national emergency. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) designed the system so that these alerts cannot be disabled, silenced, or filtered. This is intentional — the system assumes that in a true national emergency, every person needs to receive the message.
In practice, Presidential Alerts are extremely rare. The system has existed since 2012, and as of now, it has never been used. Even if you disable all other alert categories, your phone will still receive and display a Presidential Alert if one is ever sent.
Controlling how alerts sound and appear
Even if you keep alerts enabled, you can change how they behave. On iPhone, go back to Settings > Notifications > Government Alerts and look for options to change the sound, vibration, or notification style. You can set alerts to appear silently, with a banner, or with a full-screen notification.
On Android, the options vary by phone. In the emergency alerts settings, look for "Notification Settings" or "Sound and Vibration." You may be able to choose a custom sound, turn vibration on or off, or change whether the alert interrupts what you are doing. Some phones let you set a separate sound just for emergency alerts, different from your regular notification sound.
What to do if alerts keep appearing after you disable them
If you have disabled alerts but they keep coming through, the setting may not have saved properly. Go back to the alerts section and confirm the toggle is actually in the off position — sometimes the change does not stick until you close and reopen the Settings app.
If the toggle appears off but alerts still arrive, restart your phone. This forces your phone to reload all settings and can fix a glitch where the setting was not properly applied. If alerts continue after a restart, contact your carrier — they may have a network-level setting that overrides your phone's local setting, though this is uncommon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off emergency alerts just for one type of threat?
Yes. Both iPhone and Android let you disable alerts by category. You can turn off Amber Alerts while keeping weather warnings on, or disable Severe Threats while keeping Extreme Threats enabled. You control each type separately.
Will disabling alerts affect 911 or other emergency services?
No. Turning off emergency alerts does not change your ability to call 911 or receive calls from emergency services. It only stops the broadcast alerts sent to all phones in an area.
Do I have to disable alerts on every phone I own?
Yes. The alert settings are stored on each individual phone, not on your account. If you have a work phone and a personal phone, you need to change the settings on both if you want them to behave the same way.
What if I change my mind and want alerts back on?
Go back to the same settings location and toggle the alerts back on. The process is the same whether you are turning them off or back on.
Why do emergency alerts sometimes make a loud noise I cannot silence?
Emergency alerts are designed to interrupt whatever you are doing and get your attention. Even if your phone is on silent or do not disturb mode, an active emergency alert will usually override those settings and play a loud tone. This is intentional — the system prioritizes making sure you notice the alert over respecting your phone's current mode.