A loud 10-second siren will hit every UK phone in a nationwide emergency test later this year

Get ready to jump. Every mobile phone in the UK will soon erupt in a blaring 10-second siren as part of a nationwide emergency alert test — and it’s expected to be impossible to ignore.

The government has confirmed it will re-test its emergency warning system this year in a move designed to prepare the public for real-life disasters, including extreme weather, terror threats, or even war. The alert will vibrate, light up screens, and let loose a shrieking alarm — whether you’re mid-conversation, scrolling in bed, or standing on a crowded train.

Phones will display:

“Severe Alert. This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there’s a life-threatening emergency nearby.”

The message urges: “Follow instructions in a real emergency. This is just a test. No action required.”

Although no official date has been set, officials say these tests will occur every two years as part of Britain’s growing national resilience programme. The last one, in April 2023, sparked panic and flooded social media with shocked reactions.

“That alert just scared the f*** out of me,” one user tweeted at the time.
Others said: “It sounded like a Dalek!” and “My whole office froze.”

Despite the drama, the system is based on tech used successfully in the US and Japan, credited with saving lives in wildfires, tsunamis, and terror attacks.

But it’s not all smooth sailing. The first trial saw some phones fail to receive the signal, raising doubts over whether the system can truly reach the entire population. Officials insist those bugs are being ironed out.

A Cabinet Office spokesperson reassured the public:

“This system is not designed to cause panic. It’s about preparing the nation to react quickly in a crisis. These alerts could save lives.”

The UK isn’t alone in its disaster prep. Across Europe, governments are issuing guidance to citizens to stockpile supplies. The EU recently urged its 450 million citizens to gather emergency kits with bottled water, high-calorie food, torches, and waterproof IDs — enough to last 72 hours without help.

France has already published 20-page survival guides, covering everything from nuclear fallout to cyber attacks. Meanwhile, the EU is drawing up a crisis handbook covering conflict, pandemics, and climate disasters.

Back home, conspiracy theories and misinformation have swirled online — ranging from fears of government surveillance to bizarre claims that the alerts can be used to control behaviour. Experts say the reality is far less sinister: alerts are broadcast from cell towers, not personalised.

Still, for many, the thought of a government alert shrieking from every phone in the country feels dystopian.

But as floods rage, war looms, and cyber threats escalate, officials argue being unprepared is no longer an option.

So, when the siren hits your mobile later this year, don’t panic — it’s only a test.

But next time… it might not be.