How to Turn Off Emergency and Amber Alerts on iPhone

See the alerts; don't be frightened by them

By
Sam Costello
Sam Costello
Sam Costello
Writer
  • Ithaca College
Sam Costello has been writing about tech since 2000. His writing has appeared in publications such as CNN.com, PC World, InfoWord, and many others.
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Updated on December 31, 2022
Reviewed by
Jon Fisher
Jon Fisher headshot
Reviewed by Jon Fisher
  • Wichita Technical Institute
Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek.
lifewire's editorial guidelines

What To Know

  • Go to Settings > Notifications > Government Alerts. Use the toggle switches to enable or disable what you want.
  • Do Not Disturb doesn't silence government alerts, like Amber Alerts, and you can't change their tone.

This article explains how to disable notifications about extreme weather, missing children (Amber alerts), or Presidential Alerts that warn of a variety of emergencies. This article applies to iPhone users in places that have Emergency Alert or Amber Alert system; these notifications are not available in all countries.

How to Turn Off Emergency and Amber Alerts on iPhone

  1. Tap the Settings app to open it, then tap Notifications.

    Settings and Notifications on an iPhone

  2. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and find the section labeled Government Alerts. Amber, Emergency, and Public Safety Alerts set to on/green by default. To turn them off, move the sliders to off/white.

    The Government Alerts section in iPhone Notification settings

  3. You can choose to have any combination of the alerts turned off or on. Pick whichever settings you prefer.

Got an Apple Watch? Check out how to avoid notification overload, including notifications from emergency alerts.

Can Do Not Disturb Silence Emergency and Amber Alerts on iPhone?

Usually, the iPhone's Do Not Disturb feature lets you silence any alert so that it doesn't interrupt you. Do Not Disturb doesn't work with Emergency and Amber alerts. Because they signal an emergency that could affect your life and safety or someone else's, Do Not Disturb can't block these alerts. There is no way to block or silence these alerts except by turning them off.

Can You Change Emergency and Amber Alert Tones on iPhone?

While you can change the sound used for other alerts, you can't customize the sounds for Emergency Alerts and Amber Alerts. Yes, the noise for these alerts id very unpleasant and may even be scary, but it's worth remembering that these noises are unpleasant because they're supposed to get your attention.

Why You Shouldn't Disable Emergency and Amber Alerts on iPhone

Even though these alerts can sometimes be surprising or unwelcome, you should leave them on—especially the Emergency alerts. These messages arrive when there is dangerous weather or another severe health or safety event imminent in your area. If a tornado, flash flood, or other potential natural disaster is heading your way, you'll want to know so that you can take action.

Emergency and Amber Alerts go out rarely and only in specific situations. Given that, the disruption they cause is minor compared to the benefits they offer.

FAQ
  • What is a Blue Alert on iPhone?

    Blue Alerts are sent out when a local law enforcement officer is injured or missing. Like Amber Alerts, Blue Alerts are intended to help aid the community and law enforcement agencies.

  • How do I turn off voicemail and text message alerts on my iPhone?

    To turn off iPhone notifications, go to Settings > Notifications > Show Previews > Never. If you just want to turn off voicemail and text message alerts, disable alerts for the Phone and Messages app.

  • How do I use satellite emergency SOS on my iPhone?

    To use emergency SOS via satellite on your iPhone, try to call emergency services normally. If your phone can’t connect, it will give you the satellite option. Tap Emergency Text via Satellite and follow the on-screen prompts to establish a satellite connection.

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