How to Turn Off Emergency Alerts on iPhone: What Apple Allows Users to Disable

iPhone users can turn off certain emergency and government alerts through the device’s notification settings, but the exact options depend on the country, region, iPhone model, iOS version, and carrier support.

On supported iPhones, the path is simple: open Settings, tap Notifications, then scroll to the bottom of the screen to the Government Alerts section. From there, users can turn eligible alert categories on or off.

Depending on the market and device configuration, this section may include alert types such as Emergency Alerts, AMBER Alerts, and Public Safety Alerts. On some iPhones, Apple also provides an Emergency Alerts submenu with additional options such as Local Awareness.

Apple also separates some newer safety-related features under Enhanced Alerts. In supported regions, users may see Enhanced Safety Alerts settings with controls for Earthquake Alerts, Imminent Threat Alerts, and Improve Alert Delivery. Apple says these settings have different defaults, with some turned on automatically and others turned off by default.

There is an important limitation: not all government alerts can be disabled everywhere. Apple says that in some countries or regions, users may not be able to turn off Government Alerts at all. Carrier support also matters, because government alerts require a SIM from a supported carrier.

Users should also distinguish between emergency alerts and Emergency SOS. Turning off government or safety alert notifications does not disable Emergency SOS features. Emergency SOS is managed separately under Settings > Emergency SOS, where users can control options such as Call with 5 Presses and other emergency calling settings.

For most users, the simplest answer is this: go to Settings > Notifications, scroll to the bottom, and switch off any alert types your iPhone allows you to disable. If those toggles do not appear, or if some categories cannot be changed, the limitation is usually tied to regional rules, software support, or carrier compatibility rather than a fault with the iPhone.

How to Turn Off Emergency Alerts on iPhone

1. Open Settings
2. Tap Notifications
3. Scroll to the bottom of the screen
4. Look for Government Alerts
5. Turn off any alert categories your iPhone allows you to disable

If available on your device:

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap Notifications
3. Scroll down to Enhanced Alerts
4. Tap Enhanced Safety Alerts
5. Adjust Earthquake Alerts, Imminent Threat Alerts, or Improve Alert Delivery

What You Cannot Always Turn Off

Not every iPhone user will see the same alert settings. Apple says some countries and regions do not allow Government Alerts to be disabled. Some features also depend on supported carriers and newer iOS safety tools, so your menu may differ from someone else’s even on a similar device.

Emergency Alerts vs Emergency SOS

This is a common point of confusion. Emergency alerts are incoming government or safety notifications. Emergency SOS is Apple’s emergency calling feature. Disabling alert notifications does not turn off Emergency SOS, and changing Emergency SOS settings does not automatically disable government alerts.

Final Answer

Yes, iPhone users can turn off some emergency alerts in Settings > Notifications, but Apple does not allow every alert type to be disabled in every country or region. What you can change depends on your location, carrier, device, and supported features.

References

1. Apple Support — Government, Emergency, and Enhanced Safety Alerts on iPhone. Apple says users can manage Government Alerts in Settings > Notifications, and on supported devices can also manage Enhanced Safety Alerts such as Earthquake Alerts, Imminent Threat Alerts, and Improve Alert Delivery. Apple also notes that Government Alerts may not be able to be turned off in some countries or regions. (Apple Support)
2. Apple iPhone User Guide — Change notification settings on iPhone. Apple’s user guide states that users can go to Settings > Notifications, scroll to Government Alerts, and turn on the alerts they want to receive. It also notes an Emergency Alerts submenu with Local Awareness on supported devices. (Apple Support)
3. Apple Personal Safety User Guide — Make an emergency call or text on iPhone or Apple Watch. Apple explains that Emergency SOS settings are managed separately in Settings > Emergency SOS, including options such as Call with 5 Presses. (Apple Support)
4. Apple Support — Use Emergency SOS via satellite on your iPhone. Apple describes Emergency SOS as a separate safety feature for contacting emergency services when outside cellular and Wi-Fi coverage on supported iPhone models, reinforcing that it is distinct from standard government alert notifications. (Apple Support)