Amber Alerts on Android can be turned off in your emergency alert settings, though the process differs slightly by phone manufacturer and Android version
Amber Alerts are emergency broadcasts about missing children. Your Android phone receives them through the same system that sends weather warnings and public safety alerts. Unlike regular notifications, these come through your carrier and the government's Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system, so they bypass your normal notification settings.
To stop receiving them, you need to enter your phone's emergency alert menu rather than your notification panel. The exact location varies: Samsung phones keep this setting in a different place than Google Pixel phones, and older Android versions organize it differently than newer ones. This guide covers the most common paths.
Key Takeaways
- Amber Alerts come through your carrier and cannot be silenced through your regular notification settings — you must access emergency alert settings instead.
- On Samsung phones, go to Messages, tap the menu button, select Settings, then Notifications, then Emergency Alerts, and uncheck Amber Alerts.
- On Google Pixel and most other Android phones, open Settings, go to Apps and Notifications (or Safety and Emergency), then Emergency Alerts, and toggle Amber Alerts off.
- If you cannot find the emergency alert menu, your carrier may control these settings — contact them directly to confirm whether they allow disabling Amber Alerts.
- Disabling Amber Alerts does not affect weather warnings, emergency broadcasts, or other public safety alerts unless you turn those off separately.
How to disable Amber Alerts on Samsung phones
Samsung devices route emergency alerts through the Messages app rather than the main Settings menu. Open the Messages app (the one you use for text messages). Tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner, then select Settings.
Look for Notifications in the settings menu. Tap it, then find Emergency Alerts or Wireless Emergency Alerts. You will see a list of alert types: Severe Weather, AMBER Alert, and Emergency Alert. Uncheck the box next to AMBER Alert. The other alerts remain on unless you turn them off separately. Tap the back arrow or home button to save and exit.
If you do not see an Emergency Alerts option in Messages settings, your phone may be running an older version of Android. Try opening the main Settings app, then search for "emergency alerts" using the search bar at the top. If that returns no results, your carrier controls these settings and you will need to contact them.
How to disable Amber Alerts on Google Pixel and most other Android phones
Open the main Settings app on your phone. Scroll down and tap Apps and Notifications (some phones label this Safety and Emergency or just Notifications). Look for an option called Emergency Alerts, Wireless Emergency Alerts, or Cell Broadcast.
Tap that option. You will see a toggle or checkbox for each alert type. Find AMBER Alert and toggle it off or uncheck it. Weather alerts and other emergency broadcasts remain active unless you disable those separately. Exit Settings — the change takes effect when ready.
If you cannot find Emergency Alerts in Settings, try using the search function. Open Settings, tap the search icon at the top, and type "emergency alerts". If nothing appears, your phone model may not have a user-facing control for these alerts, and your carrier manages them instead.
What happens when you disable Amber Alerts
Turning off Amber Alerts stops only those specific notifications. You will no longer receive alerts about missing children. Weather warnings, extreme wind alerts, tsunami warnings, and civil emergency messages continue to arrive unless you turn those off separately.
The setting applies only to your phone. If someone else uses your device, they see the same setting you chose — there is no per-user control. If you later want to turn Amber Alerts back on, return to the same menu and toggle or check the box again.
If you cannot find the emergency alert menu
Some carriers and phone manufacturers do not expose emergency alert controls to users. If you have searched Settings thoroughly and cannot find an Emergency Alerts option, contact your carrier directly — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or whoever provides your service. Ask whether they allow customers to disable Amber Alerts on your specific phone model.
Some carriers allow it through their own app instead of the phone's Settings. For example, Verizon has a separate app called Verizon Messages that may contain these controls. Check your app drawer for any carrier-branded messaging or alert apps, open them, and look for notification or alert settings.
The difference between Amber Alerts and other emergency notifications
Amber Alerts are one type of Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA). Your phone also receives Severe Weather Alerts, Public Safety Alerts, and Emergency Alerts through the same system. These are sent by the government and your carrier, not by apps or contacts, so they bypass your normal notification settings.
Each type has its own on/off switch in the emergency alert menu. You can disable Amber Alerts while keeping weather warnings on, or turn off everything except civil emergencies. The menu shows you all available alert types so you can choose which ones you want to receive.
Why Amber Alerts interrupt even when your phone is silent
Amber Alerts are designed to reach you regardless of your phone's volume or Do Not Disturb setting. They use a special broadcast channel that bypasses normal notification rules because they involve when ready danger to a child. This is why they cannot be silenced through your notification panel — they are treated as a critical system alert, not a regular notification.
When you disable Amber Alerts in the emergency alert menu, you are telling your phone not to receive them at all, rather than telling it to be quiet about them. This is the only way to prevent them from interrupting you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disabling Amber Alerts affect my weather warnings?
No. Amber Alerts and weather alerts are separate toggles in the emergency alert menu. You can turn off Amber Alerts and keep weather warnings on, or vice versa. Check the menu to see which alert types are available on your phone and turn off only the ones you do not want.
Can I disable Amber Alerts for specific times of day?
Most Android phones do not offer time-based controls for emergency alerts. Your only options are to turn them completely on or off. If you want to receive them during the day but not at night, you would need to manually toggle the setting each time, which is not practical for most people.
Do I have to disable Amber Alerts on each phone I own?
Yes. Emergency alert settings are stored on each individual phone, not in your Google account or carrier profile. If you own multiple Android devices, you need to change the setting on each one separately.
What if my phone receives an Amber Alert even though I turned it off?
This usually means the setting did not save properly. Return to the emergency alert menu and confirm that the Amber Alert toggle is actually off — sometimes the change does not stick on the first try. If it is off but you still receive alerts, contact your carrier, as they may override user settings for certain alert types.
Can I turn off Amber Alerts without turning off all emergency alerts?
Yes, as long as your phone has individual toggles for each alert type. Most Android phones show Severe Weather, AMBER Alert, and Emergency Alert as separate options. You can disable only AMBER Alert and leave the others on. If your phone groups them together with no individual controls, you would have to turn off all emergency alerts to stop Amber Alerts.