How to change wireless emergency alert settings on a Google Pixel (Android 17)

Device

Android

Shown on

Google Pixel 10a, Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005)

App

Settings

Path

Settings › Notifications › Wireless emergency alerts: Allow alerts

Real screenshots

3 of 3 steps

What we did

Looked at each screen; changed nothing

Checked

October 2026

Sources

2 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open Wireless emergency alerts

   Open Settings and tap Notifications. Scroll to General: Wireless emergency alerts is below Flash notifications. Ours said On. Tap it.

   Done

2. 

   Allow alerts and pick the alerts

   Allow alerts (Receive wireless emergency alert notifications) turns all of them on or off. Under Alerts, Extreme threats, Severe threats and AMBER alerts were on on ours, and Test alerts was off. Tap a switch to change it.

   Done

3. 

   Set the alert preferences

   Scroll down past Emergency alert history. Under Alert preferences, Vibration was on, Alert reminder said Never and Always alert at full volume was off. That switch says it ignores Do Not Disturb and other volume settings.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• No Test alerts switch? Google's Android help says to turn on Developer options (tap Build number 7 times), then turn Test alerts on or off under Notifications, Wireless emergency alerts. Its Pixel help says some regions also have state and local tests. Source: Get help in an emergency using your Android phone · Source: Manage Wireless Emergency Alerts
• No Public safety messages? Google's Pixel help lists Extreme threats, Severe threats, AMBER Alerts and Public safety messages as common options. Our Pixel 10a with Android 17 showed only the first three and Test alerts. Source: Manage Wireless Emergency Alerts
• Alerts you didn't choose? The page on ours says that when you're roaming or don't have an active SIM, you may get some alerts that aren't included in these settings.

If this does not work

• Alert sounded in Do Not Disturb? Always alert at full volume was off on ours. Its line says that when turned off, the most critical alerts may still sound at full volume. See Do Not Disturb on a Pixel.
• Alert sound keeps repeating? Tap Alert reminder. Google says the reminder can sound once, every 2 minutes, every 15 minutes or not at all. Ours said Never. Source: Manage Wireless Emergency Alerts
• Can't turn an alert off? Google says that in some countries, like the United States, you can't turn off certain national alerts, such as presidential announcements. Source: Manage Wireless Emergency Alerts

About this guide

Google says wireless emergency alerts let you manage certain emergency messages, like disaster warnings, threat notifications and AMBER alerts. On a Pixel they have their own page, with a switch for each type of alert.

The screenshots are from our Google Pixel 10a with Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005), in Dark mode. We only looked at these pages and changed nothing.

Good to know

Google says wireless emergency alerts always show up on top of any other screen. For Emergency SOS, Car Crash Detection and the rest of the page: Emergency SOS and safety settings on a Pixel.

Developer options: how to turn them on. Other Android phones: Emergency SOS on Android. On a Xiaomi: emergency alerts on a Xiaomi phone.

In short: Settings, Notifications, Wireless emergency alerts: Allow alerts, the alert switches, then Vibration, Alert reminder and Always alert at full volume.