An emergency alert will be sent to every UK phone this year as the Cabinet Office has issued a new statement in preparation for a nationwide test.
The alert is sent by the Government in emergency situations and was first launched in 2023.
Government officials have said the alerts will be used to inform Britons of any emergency, including severe weather and war threats.
Although the exact date of this year's test is yet to be announced, Britons have been told that the system will be tested at least once every two years.
In a fresh statement about the emergency alerts, a Cabinet Office spokesperson said: "This system is not designed to cause panic, but to ensure people are aware of imminent threats and can act quickly.
"This test is part of building national resilience and saving lives in future crises."
So far, only two alerts have been successfully sent.
The first was a test of the system issued in 2023, while the second came at the tail end of 2024, with Scots being issued a red wind warning via the Met Office due to the threat from Storm Darragh.
A 10 second siren will be sent to every UK phone later this year
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When the first test took place in 2023, those on the Three Mobile network - one of the biggest networks in the UK - reported not getting the alert.
A spokesman for the company said at the time: "We're aware that a number of customers have not received the test alert.
"We're working closely with the Government to understand why and ensure it doesn't happen when the system is in use."
The Government explained that the exact timings of the alerts depended on operators' networks, which all have different speeds.
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The alarm will be sent
GETTYA Cabinet Office spokesman acknowledged that the alert did not reach some mobile phones, adding it "will be looking at this as part of our review of the test".
Although it is not known what the content of the upcoming test will be, it is likely to follow a similar format to the example sent in 2023.
The 2023 alert said: "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.
"In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe.
"Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information. This is a test. You do not need to take any action."
The alert is also issued in Welsh
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The Government has also published guidance for drivers who receive the warning.
According to the Cabinet Office, if you’re driving or riding when you get an alert, you should not read or respond.
"Find somewhere safe and legal to stop before reading the message.
"If there’s nowhere safe and legal to stop, and nobody else is in the vehicle to read the alert, you can listen to news on live radio to find out about the emergency.
"It’s illegal to use a hand-held device while driving or riding."
Lorna Lee, AA Campaigns Manager, said ahead of the first alert in 2023: "The testing of a national alert system is very welcome. This kind of warning system could be very useful in certain situations, such as extreme weather or extensive flooding.
"The test does bring certain risks though, which need to be managed. For drivers in particular, awareness of the test is vital to avoid any panic when it sounds.
"If you are driving when the alert sounds, you must not touch your phone to stop the alert as the normal driving laws still apply.
"Instead, wait for a safe place to pull over (not the hard shoulder nor Emergency Area), acknowledge the alert, and continue your journey.
"Some drivers may prefer to switch their phone off in advance if they know they will be driving during the alert test."
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