How to Turn Off AMBER Alerts on iPhone

Q: Can I turn AMBER Alerts back on later?

Yes. Open Settings > Notifications , scroll to Government Alerts , and turn AMBER Alerts back on. If the switch is gone, check your SIM/eSIM, carrier support, region, and iOS version.

Home / Blog / How to Turn Off AMBER Alerts on iPhone: 2026 Guide

How to Turn Off AMBER Alerts on iPhone: 2026 Guide

Kirk McElhearn

Published: August 4, 2025

Updated: May 22, 2026

7 min read

Need to turn off AMBER Alerts on iPhone? Open Settings > Notifications, scroll to Government Alerts, then turn off AMBER Alerts. You can also manage Emergency Alerts and Public Safety Alerts in the same section, if your country, region, and carrier allow it.

One caveat before you flip every switch: some government alerts cannot be turned off. Apple says the exact options depend on your SIM or eSIM, carrier, and location. So if your screen looks different, your iPhone is probably not broken. The rules around alerts are messy.

How to turn off AMBER Alerts on iPhone: quick answer

The fastest way to turn off AMBER Alerts on iPhone is through the Government Alerts section in Notifications.

Open Settings.
Tap Notifications.
Scroll all the way to the bottom.
Find Government Alerts.
Turn off AMBER Alerts.

That stops AMBER Alerts from appearing on your iPhone where the setting is available and user-controllable. AMBER Alerts are issued for abducted-child emergencies, so treat this as a personal safety choice, not a random notification cleanup task.

If you only hate the siren, check the sound option before disabling alerts completely. Some iPhones let you keep alerts visible while reducing the sound.

What are Government Alerts on iPhone?

Government Alerts are emergency notifications sent through supported carriers and public alert systems. On iPhone, they usually appear near the bottom of Settings > Notifications.

You may see different toggles depending on your location:

AMBER Alerts: alerts about abducted-child emergencies.
Emergency Alerts: alerts about urgent threats like extreme weather, evacuation notices, or other immediate safety issues.
Public Safety Alerts: alerts that may not be as urgent as Emergency Alerts, but still come from authorized public agencies.
Test Alerts: test messages used by carriers or public agencies, usually off by default in supported regions.
Enhanced Safety Alerts: newer safety alerts Apple documents for some regions and iOS versions.

Apple's wording changes by country and iOS version. Carriers also add their own wrinkles, because apparently one settings screen was too merciful.

How to turn off Emergency Alerts on iPhone

You can turn off Emergency Alerts on iPhone from the same Government Alerts section, if your region allows it.

Open Settings.
Tap Notifications.
Scroll to Government Alerts.
Turn off Emergency Alerts.

This is separate from AMBER Alerts. Turning off AMBER Alerts does not automatically turn off Emergency Alerts, Public Safety Alerts, or other government alert types.

Apple says some government alerts cannot be disabled in some countries or regions. If a toggle is missing, locked, or turns itself back on after an update, the limit may come from your carrier, local emergency-alert rules, or iOS support for that region.

How to mute Emergency Alerts instead of turning them off

If your iPhone shows Always Play Sound, you can reduce the noise without fully disabling supported emergency alerts.

Open Settings > Notifications.
Scroll to Government Alerts.
Tap Emergency Alerts, if your iPhone shows a submenu.
Turn off Always Play Sound.

This can keep the alert visible while stopping the loud override sound in supported setups. Do not assume every iPhone has this option. Apple and carriers control which alert settings appear.

Use this if your main problem is the blast of sound during sleep, meetings, or travel. It is the better compromise when you still want important alerts on screen.

Why Government Alerts might be missing on your iPhone

If you do not see Government Alerts, the usual reason is carrier or regional support. Apple says Government Alerts require a SIM or eSIM from a supported carrier.

Check these first:

Your iPhone has cellular service. Government Alerts are carrier-based. A Wi-Fi-only iPhone setup may not show the same controls.
Your SIM or eSIM is active. The alert menu may not appear without supported carrier service.
Your country supports the alert type. Apple says AMBER Alerts and Public Safety Alerts are not available everywhere.
Your carrier supports the setting. Some carriers expose fewer controls than others.
Your iPhone is updated. Newer iOS versions may add, rename, or move alert options.

If the toggle is still missing, check your carrier's support page or Apple's Government Alerts documentation. Verizon, for example, documents the same general path: Settings > Notifications > Government Alerts.

Can you turn off all government alerts on iPhone?

You cannot always turn off all government alerts on iPhone. Apple says some alerts cannot be disabled in some countries or regions.

The safe rule is simple: if Apple shows you a switch, you can use it. If Apple does not show you a switch, do not expect a third-party app, Mac utility, or Windows tool to override that system alert.

No Softorino app is needed for this task. AMBER Alerts live inside iOS Settings, not media transfer software, ringtone tools, or file managers.

Does this also turn off alerts on Apple Watch?

Emergency, government, and public safety alerts can also appear on Apple Watch. Apple lists Apple Watch as part of its government-alert support guidance.

For most users, the iPhone is still the main place to manage Government Alerts. If your Apple Watch is paired to your iPhone, alert behavior may follow your iPhone, carrier, and regional support. If alerts keep appearing on the watch after you change iPhone settings, check Apple Watch notification settings and your carrier's alert rules.

Do not look for a magic Apple Watch app. Start with the iPhone setting first.

Other alert toggles you may see in 2026

Depending on your iOS version and location, your iPhone may show extra alert options beyond AMBER, Emergency, and Public Safety Alerts.

Toggle	What it means	Default behavior
Test Emergency Alerts	Carrier or public-agency test messages. Apple says these are available in the US, including Puerto Rico.	Usually off by default.
Enhanced Safety Alerts	Newer safety alerts Apple documents for the US and Taiwan on supported iOS versions.	Depends on iOS version and region.
Always Play Sound	Lets supported emergency alerts play sound even when your iPhone is muted or in Focus.	Depends on alert type and region.

If you do not see these toggles, do not force it. Your iPhone, carrier, or region may not support them.

Quick recap

What you want	Go here	What to turn off
Turn off AMBER Alerts	Settings > Notifications > Government Alerts	AMBER Alerts
Turn off Emergency Alerts	Settings > Notifications > Government Alerts	Emergency Alerts
Keep alerts but reduce sound	Settings > Notifications > Government Alerts > Emergency Alerts	Always Play Sound, if shown
Fix missing toggles	Check SIM/eSIM, carrier, region, and iOS version	No switch means iOS may not allow it
Turn alerts back on	Same Government Alerts section	Turn the switch on again

If you are cleaning up other iPhone interruptions, these guides may help: block a number on iPhone, block text messages on iPhone, and block apps on iPhone.

How to turn off AMBER Alerts on iPhone safely

You can turn AMBER Alerts off where iOS allows it, but think about why you are doing it. If the alert sound is the real problem, muting supported Emergency Alert sounds may be enough.

A practical setup for many people is:

Keep Emergency Alerts on.
Keep Public Safety Alerts on, if useful in your area.
Turn off Always Play Sound, if your iPhone shows it and you want less noise.
Turn off AMBER Alerts only if you understand what you are disabling.

You can change your mind anytime. Go back to Settings > Notifications > Government Alerts and turn the alert back on.

FAQ

Can I get AMBER Alerts without sound?

Maybe. AMBER Alerts and sound controls vary by region and carrier. If your iPhone shows Always Play Sound under Emergency Alerts, turning it off can reduce alert sound for supported alerts while keeping alerts visible.

Why is the Government Alerts section missing?

The Government Alerts section may be missing because your iPhone does not have a supported SIM or eSIM, your carrier does not expose the setting, or your country does not support that alert type. Update iOS first, then check carrier support.

Do I need an app to turn off AMBER Alerts on iPhone?

No. You do not need an app to turn off AMBER Alerts on iPhone. Use Settings > Notifications > Government Alerts. Third-party apps cannot override government-alert controls built into iOS and carrier systems.

Will disabling AMBER Alerts affect Emergency Alerts?

No, not by itself. AMBER Alerts and Emergency Alerts use separate toggles when both are available. Turn off only the alert type you want to disable.

Can I turn AMBER Alerts back on later?

Yes. Open Settings > Notifications, scroll to Government Alerts, and turn AMBER Alerts back on. If the switch is gone, check your SIM/eSIM, carrier support, region, and iOS version.

Why did an alert still come through after I turned one off?

Some government alerts cannot be turned off in some regions. You may also have turned off AMBER Alerts while leaving Emergency Alerts or Public Safety Alerts on. Check each toggle separately.