Emergency Alert Test: 7th September 2025

The second-ever national test of the Emergency Alert system will take place on Sunday 7 September at around 3pm.

This important system ensures we can communicate critical safety information during emergencies.

A loud siren will sound from millions of mobile phones across the UK at 3pm on Sunday 7 September as the government conducts its second nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System – a vital tool that has already proven its worth in real-life emergencies.

Since the first national test of the system in April 2023, Emergency Alerts have helped protect communities during five genuine crises, including warning residents about an unexploded World War II bomb in Plymouth and providing critical safety information during localised flash flooding in Cumbria.

During the test on 7 September, your mobile phone will:

- Make a loud siren sound for about 10 seconds (even if on silent)

- Vibrate

- Display a clear message stating this is only a test

This test alert is expected to reach approximately 87m compatible mobile phones and tablets across the UK.

The date of the national test was announced alongside the government’s comprehensive new Resilience Action Plan, designed to strengthen the UK’s emergency preparedness and response capabilities.

A public information campaign will run nationwide ahead of the test, with specific communications for vulnerable groups including domestic abuse victims and materials in British Sign Language.

For more information, visit gov.uk/alerts.