Guide · Stay alerted
Turn on emergency alerts on your phone
Your phone can warn you about a tornado, flash flood or storm surge headed your way, even if it's on silent and you don't have any weather app. It takes about a minute to make sure these alerts are turned on.
Last reviewed October 2026
Pick your phone
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Notifications.
- Scroll all the way to the bottom, to Government Alerts.
- Turn on Emergency Alerts, AMBER Alerts and Public Safety Alerts.
- Tap Emergency Alerts. If you see Always Deliver, turn it on so alerts make a sound even when your phone is on silent or in a Focus mode.
- On iOS 26.2 or later, also tap Enhanced Safety Alerts (just above) and turn on Imminent Threat Alerts.
Drawing of the settings screen. Yours may look a little different depending on your phone and software version.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Notifications.
- Tap Wireless emergency alerts. On some versions it's under Safety & emergency instead.
- Turn on Allow alerts, then Extreme threats, Severe threats, AMBER alerts and Public safety messages.
- Set Alert reminder so a missed alert repeats, and leave Vibration on.
Drawing of the settings screen. Yours may look a little different depending on your phone and software version.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Safety and emergency.
- Tap Wireless emergency alerts.
- Turn on Allow alerts and every alert type: Extreme threats, Severe threats, AMBER alerts and Public safety messages.
- Tap Alert reminder to choose how often a missed alert repeats. This screen also has your Emergency alert history.
Drawing of the settings screen. Yours may look a little different depending on your phone and software version.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap the search bar at the top and type emergency.
- Open Wireless emergency alerts. It's usually under Notifications or Safety & emergency.
- Turn on Allow alerts and every alert type, especially Extreme threats and Severe threats.
- Can't find it? On some older phones the setting is in the Messages app, under Settings, then Emergency alerts.
Drawing of the settings screen. Yours may look a little different depending on your phone and software version.
What these alerts are
Wireless Emergency Alerts are short warnings sent by the National Weather Service, emergency managers and other officials to every phone in a danger area. They're free, there's nothing to sign up for, and they don't need an app.
Alerts are sent to cell towers in the threatened area, so you get warnings for wherever you are right now, even when you're traveling or evacuating. They make a loud, distinct sound and vibration so they stand out from regular notifications.
The types of alerts
- Extreme and severe alertsThe most dangerous weather warnings, like tornado, flash flood, storm surge and extreme wind warnings. On iPhone these are called Emergency Alerts. Keep them on.
- AMBER AlertsChild abductions in your area.
- Public safety alertsImportant but less urgent information, like boil-water notices or shelter openings.
- Test alertsPractice messages from local officials. Optional.
- National alertsSent by the President or FEMA. These can't be turned off.
Make sure alerts can reach you
- Keep your phone charged and nearby, especially overnight. Many tornado and flash flood warnings come at night.
- Don't worry about silent mode once these are on. Emergency alerts are designed to break through, and on iPhone the Always Deliver setting makes sure of it.
- You need a cell signal. Alerts come through cell towers, so a phone on Wi-Fi only, in airplane mode or without service won't get them.
- Alerts in Spanish: if your phone's language is set to Spanish, you'll get alerts in Spanish when officials send a Spanish version.