How to Turn Off AMBER Alerts on Android

Manage all of your emergency alert settings

By
Tricia Goss
Tricia Goss
Tricia Goss
Writer
  • Pima College
Tricia Goss has been a writer and editor for 10+ years. She's written tips and tutorials for Microsoft Office applications and other sites.
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Updated on February 10, 2023

What to Know

  • Settings > Apps and Notifications > Advanced > Emergency Alerts > toggle AMBER Alerts switch
  • Each version of Android might be slightly different, but these steps below should get you there.

This article explains how to turn off AMBER alerts on various versions of the Android operating system.

How to Turn Off AMBER Alerts on a Stock Android Phone

On most Android devices, you can disable alerts in the phone's settings.

Some versions of Android and Android phones from different manufacturers might use slightly different steps, but this should get you most of the way there if your device/version is a little different.

  1. Choose Settings from your Home screen.

    Make sure your Settings menu is displayed in List view. If not, select the menu button in the upper-right corner and choose List View.

  2. Scroll down and select Apps and Notifications.

  3. Scroll to the bottom, and select Advanced.

  4. Select Emergency Alerts.

  5. Clear the checkbox next to AMBER alerts. You can also disable alerts for Extreme threats and Severe threats.

    Steps to turn off AMBER alerts on Android.

How to Turn Off AMBER Alerts on a Samsung Galaxy S10 or Samsung Galaxy S9

The Settings menu lets you disable alerts.

  1. Go to Settings.

  2. Tap Connections.

  3. Tap More connection settings.

  4. Tap Wireless Emergency Alerts.

    Screenshots showing the location of Wireless Emergency Alerts on Galaxy S9 and S10.

  5. Tap the Settings menu (three dots) for Wireless Emergency Alerts.

    The menu icon for Wireless Emergency Alerts on Samsung S9 and S10.

  6. From the options that appear, select Settings.

  7. Select Alert types.

  8. Select the alerts you want to disable.

    Where to disable Amber Alerts in Galaxy S9 and S10.

How to Turn Off AMBER Alerts on an Older Android Phone

The alert settings are in the Messaging window.

  1. Open Messaging from any Home screen.

  2. Select the Menu button in the upper-right corner, and choose Settings.

  3. Select More under Advanced.

  4. Choose Emergency Alerts at the bottom of the list of options.

    Screenshots show how to access Amber Alert notifications on older model Android devices.

  5. Clear the checkbox next to AMBER alerts. You can also disable or enable alerts for the following:

    • Imminent extreme alerts
    • Imminent severe alerts
    • Public Safety Alerts
    • State/Local test alerts

If you want to receive AMBER alerts without the loud noise that accompanies them, scroll down on the alerts menu and disable the Alert sound slider. You can leave Alert vibration on if you want the phone to vibrate when there is an alert or disable this setting for a text notification only.

AMBER and Emergency Alerts Explained

The AMBER Alert system is a voluntary partnership between law enforcement, broadcasters, transportation agencies, and the wireless industry to inform citizens of serious child-abduction cases in their area.

Along with AMBER alerts, most phones feature settings for other types of alert notifications. Wireless Emergency Alerts are sent by authorized government alerting authorities through your mobile carrier. Wireless customers do not pay any connection or data fees when receiving WEA messages.

Weather alerts include warnings sent for:

  • Tsunamis
  • Tornado and Flash Flood Warnings
  • Hurricane, Typhoon, Dust Storm and Extreme Wind Warnings

State/Local alerts include notifications for:

  • Emergency requiring evacuation
  • Emergency requiring immediate action

State and local testing alerts are disabled by default. You can enable them in your emergency notifications settings if desired.

Presidential alerts will only occur during a national emergency. According to FEMA, Presidential alerts cannot be disabled.

FAQ
  • How do I turn off all notifications on Android?

    Notifications are turned off on an app-by-app basis. If you want to disable notifications on the lock screen, go to: Settings > Apps & notifications > Notifications > On the lock screen. If you want to learn how to turn off notifications for each app, read how to so do here: How to Turn off Notifications on Android.

  • How do I see past notifications on Android?

    On Android 11, go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Notifications > Notification History and toggle it On. If you are using an older version of Android, check out our article on How to See the Notification History on Android.

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