How to switch OFF the emergency phone siren the Government is set to test in just a few weeks

Terrifying ‘Armageddon’ sirens will be ringing from our phones within weeks as the government tests its new emergency warning system.

Ten-second alerts will blare from phones across the country on April 23, regardless of whether you’ve turned the volume up or down.

But with just a few taps, users can choose to disable it ‘danger to life’ warnings ahead of major trial.

The trial forms the basis for telephone disaster warnings, focusing on life-threatening weather, floods and fires in the UK.

While the government believes this will be an “essential tool” to help improve emergency response, both iPhone and Android owners can simply opt out if they wish.

For an iPhone, the turn off options are in the Notifications tab of the Settings menu.

Once selected, users must scroll to the bottom of the page where a small menu of emergency alerts will be seen.

If the phone is running on iOS 14.5 or later updates, users have the option to Disable both Severe Alerts and Emergency Alerts.

To stop sirens on an Android device, users can similarly search for “emergency alerts” in the Settings menu.

Here too, both Emergency and Severe alerts can be disabled, but then the device must run on Android 11 or more recent software.

However, if you own a Huawei device with EMUI 11 software, users should disable “Extreme Threats”, “Serious Threats”, and “Show Amber Alerts” in the Settings tab.

Labor has been campaigning for such a warning system for more than a decade, and ministers have pledged to introduce one since 2013.

Similar warning frameworks have already been implemented around the world in countries such as Japan and the Netherlands.

QuakeAlertUSA – an app that vibrates when counting down to significant vibrations – is also available to smartphone users in California.

Still, the upcoming court case in the UK has sparked concerns among victims of domestic violence, with some suggesting a siren could enable abusers to find hidden phones.

Nicky Brennan, the West Midlands Victims Commissioner, said: ‘I know firsthand many victims of domestic violence who have a hidden phone as a lifeline, which allows them to keep in touch with friends and family or be used in an emergency .

‘While the emergency alarm system is understandable, it is also vital that we raise awareness that it can be turned off for those who need it.

“I urge anyone with a hidden phone to disable these alerts for their own safety.”

Others also suggest that the Sudden siren sound can cause road accidents if drivers are panicked by what they hear.

AA president Edmund King called the planned alarm a “threat of distraction” to people on the road.

According to The sunhe said, “If they have the phone in the car and there’s a strange noise, there could be some form of panic.

“Even with a hands-free system, the strange sound could mean they’re reaching for the phone.”

As a result, the government advises motorists not to read or respond to the warning while traveling in a car or motorcycle.

It said, “If you’re driving, keep driving and don’t respond to the sound or try to pick up the cell phone and deal with the message.”

“Find a safe and legal place to stop before reading the message. If there is nowhere near a safe or legal place to pull over, and no one else is in the vehicle to read the alarm, tune in to live radio and wait for bulletins until you find a safe and legal place to to stop.’

Importantly, the government also shared that users will not receive a warning if your phone is turned off or in airplane mode.

Being connected to 2G, 3G, or just Wi-Fi prevents phone owners from being notified as well.

Vibration and sound alerts are issued to the hearing and visually impaired, respectively.