You can disable Amber Alerts in your phone's settings, but the steps differ by device and carrier
Amber Alerts are emergency notifications sent by law enforcement when a child is reported missing or abducted. On most phones, you can turn them off through the same settings menu where you manage other emergency alerts. The exact location of this setting varies: on iPhones it lives in Settings > Notifications, while Android phones typically have it under Settings > Apps & Notifications or Settings > Safety & Emergency.
Disabling Amber Alerts is different from silencing them. If you turn off the alert entirely, your phone will not receive or display the notification at all. If you want to receive the alerts but silence the sound and vibration, you can adjust the notification settings to mute the sound while keeping the visual notification. Some carriers also allow you to disable Amber Alerts through their own apps or customer portals, though the phone's built-in settings are usually the primary control.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications and scroll to find Government Alerts, where you can toggle Amber Alerts off.
- On Android, the setting is usually in Settings > Apps & Notifications > Notifications > Advanced > Wireless Emergency Alerts, though the exact path varies by manufacturer.
- Disabling Amber Alerts removes the notification entirely, while muting the alert sound keeps the notification but silences the alarm.
- Some phones allow you to disable Amber Alerts but keep other emergency alerts like tornado warnings and presidential alerts active.
How to disable Amber Alerts on iPhone
On an iPhone, open Settings and tap Notifications. Scroll to the bottom of the list and look for a section labeled Government Alerts. You will see three toggle switches: one for Emergency Alerts, one for Extreme or Severe Alerts, and one for Amber Alerts. Tap the toggle next to Amber Alerts to turn it off. The toggle will turn gray when disabled.
If you do not see Government Alerts in your Notifications menu, your iPhone model or iOS version may not support this feature. iPhones running iOS 6 or later generally have this option, but older devices may not. You can also check whether your carrier has restrictions on disabling Amber Alerts — some carriers do not allow customers to turn them off entirely, though this is uncommon.
How to disable Amber Alerts on Android
On Android, the path to Amber Alerts varies by manufacturer and Android version. The most common route is Settings > Apps & Notifications > Notifications > Advanced > Wireless Emergency Alerts. Once you open Wireless Emergency Alerts, you should see a toggle for Amber Alerts. Tap it to turn the alert off.
If that path does not work on your phone, try Settings > Safety & Emergency > Wireless Emergency Alerts, or search your Settings app for "emergency alerts" or "wireless alerts" to find the right menu. Samsung phones sometimes place this setting under Settings > Apps > Messages, since Samsung's Messages app handles emergency alerts. Google Pixel phones use Settings > Apps & Notifications > Notifications > Advanced > Wireless Emergency Alerts. If you cannot find the setting after checking these locations, your phone or carrier may not allow disabling Amber Alerts.
The difference between disabling and muting Amber Alerts
Disabling an Amber Alert removes the notification from your phone entirely — you will not see it or hear it. Muting the alert keeps the notification on your screen but silences the sound and vibration. If you want to receive Amber Alerts but do not want them to interrupt you with loud sounds, muting is the better option.
To mute an Amber Alert instead of disabling it, go to the same Government Alerts or Wireless Emergency Alerts menu and look for a notification sound or vibration setting. On iPhone, you can tap the Amber Alerts toggle to access more options, then turn off the sound. On Android, the Wireless Emergency Alerts menu usually has a separate setting for alert tone and vibration. You can disable the sound while leaving the alert itself active.
What happens when you disable Amber Alerts
When you disable Amber Alerts, your phone will not receive notifications about missing children in your area. Law enforcement will still send the alerts to other phones on the same carrier and network, but yours will not display them. This means you will not be notified if a child abduction occurs near you, even if the case is active and ongoing.
Disabling Amber Alerts does not affect other emergency alerts. You can turn off Amber Alerts while keeping Emergency Alerts (for immediate threats like tornadoes or active shooters) and Extreme or Severe Alerts (for hurricanes, floods, and other weather events) turned on. Most people who disable Amber Alerts do so because they find the notifications disruptive, not because they want to disable all emergency communications.
Whether your carrier allows you to disable Amber Alerts
Most carriers allow customers to disable Amber Alerts through their phone's settings. However, some carriers — particularly smaller regional carriers — may not support this option. If you try to disable Amber Alerts and the toggle is grayed out or missing, your carrier may have locked the setting.
If your carrier does not allow you to disable Amber Alerts through your phone's settings, you can contact them directly to ask whether they offer a way to turn them off. Some carriers have customer portals or apps where you can manage alert preferences separately from your phone's built-in settings. If neither option works, muting the sound and vibration is the closest alternative to disabling the alert entirely.
Re-enabling Amber Alerts if you change your mind
If you disable Amber Alerts and later want to turn them back on, the process is the same as disabling them. Go back to Settings > Notifications > Government Alerts on iPhone, or Settings > Apps & Notifications > Wireless Emergency Alerts on Android, and toggle Amber Alerts back on. The toggle will turn blue or green when enabled.
There is no waiting period or approval process to re-enable Amber Alerts. Your phone will start receiving them again immediately after you toggle the setting on. If you have disabled the sound and vibration, you may also want to re-enable those at the same time so you actually notice when an alert arrives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disabling Amber Alerts affect other emergency alerts?
No. You can disable Amber Alerts while keeping Emergency Alerts and Extreme or Severe Alerts turned on. The three alert types are controlled separately, so turning off one does not affect the others.
Can my carrier force me to receive Amber Alerts?
Most carriers allow you to disable Amber Alerts, but some regional carriers may not support this option. If your carrier locks the setting, contact them to ask whether they offer a workaround or alternative way to manage the alerts.
What is the difference between an Amber Alert and an Emergency Alert?
An Amber Alert is sent when a child is reported missing or abducted. An Emergency Alert is sent for immediate threats like tornadoes, active shooters, or civil emergencies. Emergency Alerts are typically louder and more urgent than Amber Alerts.
If I disable Amber Alerts, will law enforcement know?
No. Law enforcement does not have access to information about which phones have Amber Alerts enabled or disabled. Disabling the alert is a private setting on your device.
Can I disable Amber Alerts for only certain times of day?
Most phones do not offer time-based controls for Amber Alerts specifically. However, you can use your phone's Do Not Disturb or Focus mode to silence all notifications during certain hours, which would include Amber Alerts. The alert would still arrive, but your phone would not make a sound or vibrate.