Bury Times
·Aug 2026
Why Some Phones Didn't Receive Friday's Emergency Alert
The UK Government’s emergency alert system issued a severe wildfire warning on Friday evening, prompting loud alarms on many mobile phones but not reaching everyone. Alerts are broadcast from nearby mobile masts to compatible devices on UK 4G and 5G networks, without requiring registration, an app, or mobile data. Phones may miss alerts if they are switched off, using 2G or 3G, in airplane mode, Wi-Fi-only, or incompatible with the system; supported devices generally include iPhones running iOS 14.5 or later and Android devices running Android 11 or later. The Government and emergency services do not need recipients’ phone numbers, and no personal or location data is stored through the system.