UK emergency alarm test on Sunday 7 September 2025

At 3pm this Sunday (7 September), phones and tablets in the UK will sound an alarm at the same time. There’s no need to be worried - it’s just a safety test.

The government will send a test emergency alert to all compatible 4G and 5G devices. When it happens, your phone or tablet may:

• Show and read out a message
• Vibrate
• Make a loud, siren-like sound for around 10 seconds – even if it’s on silent

This is only a test to check the system works so there is no need to worry.

If you’re driving or riding when the alert goes off:

• Stop in a safe and legal place before checking the message
• If you can’t stop safely, you can listen to live radio for updates about the test
• Remember: it’s illegal to use a hand-held phone or tablet while driving or riding

If you’re deaf, hard of hearing, blind or partially sighted:

Your device will use audio and vibration signals to make sure you know about the test alert, if you have accessibility notifications enabled.

To find out more about emergency alerts, please visit gov.uk/alerts