How To Turn On Your Emergency Alerts On Iphone

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) is a public safety notification system that enables authorized agencies to send text-like messages to consumers with capable wireless devices to alert them of emergencies in their area.

For more information, read about WEA on the FCC website and see T-Mobile's information and list of capable devices on www.t-mobile.com/wea.

Types of alerts

There are four types of messages:

Presidential Alerts
Imminent Threats to Life and Property Alerts
AMBER Alerts
Public Safety Messages

Authorized state and/or local government agencies may send test alerts to mirror actual alert conditions. These agencies are expected to include conspicuous language that make it clear that these messages are only tests and do not reflect actual emergencies. State and Local Test Alerts are disabled by default on all WEA-capable devices.

How to turn off alerts

Select your device type below to see steps for the latest devices.
Check your user manual for additional questions about turning off or receiving Emergency Alerts on your device.
Find support for your T-Mobile device, including user manuals, with our online Device support - just search for your device.
You can't disable alerts issued by the President.

Settings can usually be found in the following two locations:

Search your Settings app for Emergency or Wireless Alerts.
In the messaging app, tap the Menu icon with three dots, then select Settings > Emergency Alerts.

Adjust alert settings

Tap Settings > Notifications.

Opt in or out of WEA test messages

Dial *5005*25371# and tap the Call icon to turn on.
To turn off, dial *5005*25370# and tap the Call icon.

Wireless Emergency Alert FAQs

My neighbor got an alert but why didn't I?

Make sure your phone supports emergency alerts. For a list of capable devices, visit www.t-mobile.com/wea.
Alerts are geographically targeted, so only those in the threat area will receive the alert.
Example: If an alert is sent in New York, a customer with a capable device who lives in that area won't receive the alert if they're in Chicago at the time the alert is sent. Similarly, someone with a capable device visiting New York from Chicago when the alert is sent would receive the alert.
Some WEA-capable devices may support enhanced geo-targeting, which is intended to improve delivery accuracy of WEA messages to those within a targeted alert area. See www.t-mobile.com/wea for more information, and to determine if your device is capable of this advanced WEA functionality.

How do I report an emergency?

Call 911 to report an emergency.

I received an emergency alert and I have additional questions. Who do I contact?

Contact your local public safety agencies as soon as possible. You can also visit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) website or the FEMA website to try and locate an alternate point of contact. Authorized government agencies (such as state and local emergency management organizations and public safety agencies) determine the content of the WEA messages broadcast by T-Mobile, and T-Mobile is unlikely to have additional information about particular alerts.