How to Turn off AMBER Alerts on Android

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. While awareness is important, you might want to know how to turn off AMBER Alerts so they do not go off at inappropriate times.

Android phones provide the option to disable AMBER Alerts as well as other emergency alerts, such as severe weather warnings. The process will vary depending on the type of phone you are using.

These instructions apply to stock Android phones and Samsung Galaxy versions 10 and 9.

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 older devices might not be capable of receiving wireless emergency alerts. Check your device's owner's manual or contact your wireless carrier if you are not receiving AMBER alerts and other wireless alerts but you think you should be.

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.
Scroll down and select Apps and Notifications.
Scroll to the bottom, and select Advanced.
Select Emergency Alerts.
Clear the checkbox next to AMBER alerts. You can also disable alerts for Extreme threats and Severe threats.

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

The Settings menu lets you disable alerts.

Go to Settings > Connections > More connection settings and tap Wireless Emergency Alerts.
Tap the Settings menu (three dots) for Wireless Emergency Alerts.
From the options that appear, select Settings.
Select Alert types.
Select the alerts you want to disable.

How to Turn off AMBER Alerts on an Older Android Phone

The alert settings are in the Messaging window.

Open Messaging from any Home screen.
Select the Menu button in the upper-right corner, and choose Settings.
Select More under Advanced.
Choose Emergency Alerts at the bottom of the list of options.
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.

Emergency Alerts Explained

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: