UK government to test emergency alert on mobile devices- here’s when Manchester can expect to hear it

The UK government is set to issue an emergency alert to mobile phones across the country- including throughout Manchester. The alert will be a loud siren and a message will be seen and heard on devices.

The test will be an example of what will be used for emergency situations in the future. Examples of these include severe flooding, fires or extreme weather.

The full message is set to read: "This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there’s a life-threatening emergency nearby. In an actual emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe. Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information. This is a test. You do not need to take any action."

Fortunately, if you don’t fancy receiving the test, which is due to go out on the afternoon of  Sunday April 23, 2023, there’s hope. For IOS devices, you will be able to locate the Emergency Alerts through the Notifications section of settings.

You will find the Emergency Alerts options located at the bottom of the page, including extreme and severe alerts. If they are turned on, the toggle to the left should appear green. To turn them off, you simply tap the toggle, which should then go grey.

For those with Android devices, you can locate emergency alerts through the Apps & Notifications section in your settings. Emergency alerts should be listed at the bottom of the page. Once selected, it will take you to a new page which you can then toggle off extreme threats and severe threats as well as amber alerts.