The UK Government tested its emergency alert system on Sunday afternoon at 3pm, but there were some hiccups in the system. Not only was there an error in the Welsh language version - many people didn't get the alert at all.
For most people, 3pm saw their phones emit a loud beeping noise and display a message saying: "This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there's a life-threatening emergency nearby."
Some mobile phone operators have acknowledged problems with the alerts being sent out on their networks, including for many Three mobile users. Some people also reported receiving the alert multiple times, some a significant time after the first alert at 3pm.
Read more: Welsh language blunder on emergency test alert sent out by UK Government
The system has been in the works for years and the UK Government hopes the test will help ensure it works in the future. Here's everything you need to know about the missed alerts and what to do if your phone didn't sound the alarm on Sunday:
What is the emergency alerts system for?
The emergency alerts system is the UK Government's way of warning you if there's any impending danger. It's a new system and sends out alerts to people's phones and tablets, and was tested at 3pm on Sunday.
It's been confirmed emergency alerts will only be sent by emergency services, government departments, agencies and public bodies that deal with emergencies. The alert should take the form of your phone or tablet making a siren-like sound, vibrating, and in some cases reading the alert out loud.
Why didn't I get the emergency alert on Sunday?
There are a few reasons you might not have got the emergency alert. If your device was turned off or in aeroplane mode, connected to WiFi only, or connected to a 2G or 3G network, you may not have received the alert.
You didn't need to have mobile data switched on for the alert to work, but you did need a mobile signal. Similarly, although alerts are based on your location, you actually don't need location services switched on for them to work.
It's possible your phone wasn't up-to-date enough for the alert to come through. Emergency alerts only work on iPhones running iOS 14.5 or later and mostly Android devices running Android 11 or later - although some earlier Android versions can still receive alerts. You can search your device settings for "emergency alerts" to find out whether your phone is compatible.
After the test, many people using the Three mobile network reported issues with the alert, so this could also be why. A Three spokesperson told the Independent: "We are aware that a number of customers have not received the test alert. We are working closely with the government to understand why and ensure it doesn’t happen when the system is in use."
When will the emergency alerts system be used for real?
The UK Government gives several reasons for things the emergency alerts system might be used for in the future. Examples include severe flooding, fires and extreme weather. Specifically, the UK Government says it will warn you "if there's a danger to life nearby."
The official advice is to stop what you're doing and follow the instructions in the alert. If you're in a car, stop driving to read it or use the radio instead to find out the emergency.
The UK Government doesn't need to know your exact location to send the alert, and says if you don't have a compatible device, "the emergency services have other ways to warn you when there is a threat to life." If you have a vision or hearing impairment, audio and vibration from your phone should let you know about the alert.
What should I do if I didn't get the emergency alert?
If you didn't get the alert, your first port of call should be to check whether your phone was in the correct condition to receive it, as per the information above. Check whether your mobile signal is working and whether there's a 4G or 5G signal in your area, and search "emergency alerts" in your phone settings to see whether they're switched on (as they should be automatically).
Your phone or tablet settings should also have an "about" section where you can check whether your operating system is up-to-date enough. The UK Government is also looking into why some people didn't receive the alert.
A spokesperson said: "We have effectively completed the test of the UK-wide Emergency Alerts system, the biggest public communications exercise of its kind ever done. We are working with mobile network operators to review the outcome and any lessons learned.
"While the vast majority of compatible phones received the alert, we are aware that a very small proportion of mobile users on some networks did not receive it and will be looking at this as part of our review of the test."
Some people also received the alert at the wrong time, or multiple alerts. The spokesperson added: "We will also review any other information like the time at which people received the alert."
The UK Government is also carrying out a survey asking people whether they received the alert. It doesn't gather a great deal of data about your circumstances or device, but if you want to give feedback, you can do it here.
Which other countries have emergency alert systems?
Several other countries have similar systems. The USA has a system of Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) which work in a similar way, with a unique sound and vibration sent out to phones with a short message about the emergency. In 2018, a false alarm was sent out saying a ballistic missile was inbound and would hit Hawaii. Nearly 40 minutes after the alert, it was confirmed there had been a miscommunication during a drill.
Several EU countries have launched similar systems. The Netherlands has the NL-Alert system, Spain has recently activated ES-Alert, and France now has FR-Alert.
Can I opt out of emergency alerts or switch them off in the future?
You can opt out of emergency alerts, but the UK Government says you should keep them switched on "for your own safety." You can turn them off by searching your settings for "emergency alerts," and turning off "severe alerts" and "extreme alerts."
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