Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
On a U.S. iPhone, go to Settings → Notifications, scroll to the bottom, open Government Alerts, and turn off AMBER Alerts. Apple manages this preference from the iPhone, and changing it also changes AMBER Alerts for a paired Apple Watch.
Turn off AMBER Alerts on iPhone
- Open Settings.
- Tap Notifications.
- Scroll all the way to the bottom, past your installed apps.
- Under Government Alerts, switch AMBER Alerts off.
This separate AMBER Alerts switch is primarily documented for supported U.S. carriers and devices. The available labels can vary by country, carrier, SIM or eSIM, iPhone model, and software version. Apple’s current guidance is available in its Government and Emergency Alerts documentation.
Does this also turn off AMBER Alerts on Apple Watch?
Yes. For a paired Apple Watch, Apple says the Government Alert preference is managed on the iPhone. Turning an alert on or off for the iPhone also applies to the Apple Watch; there is not normally a separate live AMBER Alerts switch in the Watch app or on the watch itself.
Do not look under Watch app → My Watch → Notifications for this control. Those settings manage ordinary app notifications, not the dedicated Government Alerts preference.
#1 Best Overall
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/416RQ0rtsUL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
A supported cellular Apple Watch may receive Government Alerts while away from the iPhone if it has an eligible cellular plan and carrier connection. That affects delivery, not where you manage the preference. See Apple’s Government Alerts information for Apple Watch.
AMBER Alerts are not the same as every other alert
In the U.S., Apple lists several Government Alert categories separately, where supported:
| Alert type | Separate control? | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| AMBER Alerts | Yes | Missing-child alerts. |
| Public Safety Alerts | Yes | Public-safety information. |
| Emergency Alerts | Yes | Includes severe and extreme imminent-threat alerts in Apple’s U.S. documentation. |
| National Alerts | May appear separately | A separate U.S. government-alert category. |
| Test Alerts | Yes | Carrier-supported tests, not live AMBER Alerts. |
| Enhanced Safety Alerts | Yes | A separate Apple-delivered alert system on supported newer software. |
Turning off AMBER Alerts does not automatically turn off Public Safety Alerts, Emergency Alerts, National Alerts, Test Alerts, or Enhanced Safety Alerts. Avoid disabling all Government Alerts when the interface lets you change only AMBER Alerts.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteRank #2
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Light Blush Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31caPPnRysL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
Can you silence the sound but keep AMBER Alerts?
There is no documented separate control that keeps live AMBER Alerts enabled while simply muting their distinctive alarm sound. Silent mode, Focus, Do Not Disturb, Notification Summary, and ordinary app-sound settings are not substitutes for the Government Alerts control, and Apple treats government and emergency alerts as special categories.
If you turn AMBER Alerts off, understand the trade-off: you may no longer receive those missing-child alerts on either the iPhone or paired Apple Watch. If you want to receive them, leave the setting enabled.
Enhanced Safety Alerts are a different setting
On supported software, Apple’s current documentation says Enhanced Safety Alerts are separate from carrier-delivered Government Alerts. In the United States and Taiwan, Apple says these features require iOS 26.2 or later on iPhone and watchOS 26.2 or later on Apple Watch.
Rank #3
![Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31YiTby0pOL._SL160_.jpg)
- GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
- A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
- GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*
When available, find them at Settings → Notifications → Enhanced Alerts → Enhanced Safety Alerts. Depending on the device and region, controls may include Earthquake Alerts, Imminent Threat Alerts, and Improve Alert Delivery. Turning these off does not necessarily change AMBER Alerts, and turning off AMBER Alerts does not necessarily change them.
Recommended Free Tools
Test Alerts are separate from live AMBER Alerts
If the sound you heard was a nationwide or carrier test, check Settings → Notifications → Test Alerts. Apple documents Test Alerts separately for supported U.S. carriers; they are off by default in its current guidance.
Turning off Test Alerts does not disable live AMBER Alerts. Likewise, turning off AMBER Alerts does not necessarily change Test Alert settings. Apple Watch devices configured through Family Setup can have additional test-alert management steps.
Rank #4
![Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31Gq8SToFJL._SL160_.jpg)
- GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
- A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
- GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*
Older Apple guidance for iOS 15.3 and earlier listed these carrier codes for Test Alerts:
- Disable Test Alerts:
*5005*25370# - Enable Test Alerts:
*5005*25371#
These are legacy Test Alert codes—not a current method for disabling live AMBER Alerts.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →What if AMBER Alerts is missing?
- You are outside the U.S.: AMBER Alerts may not be available, or the category may have a different name. Government Alert options and disablement rules vary by region.
- Your carrier or SIM/eSIM is unsupported: Government Alerts depend on supported cellular service.
- You are checking the Watch app: Look on the paired iPhone under Settings → Notifications instead.
- Your software is old: Update the iPhone and Apple Watch where possible.
- The device is managed: A work- or school-managed iPhone may restrict certain settings.
- Your region requires some alerts: Some Government Alerts cannot be disabled.
Apple’s regional Government Alert guidance explains why the list may differ between devices and countries.
Best Value
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41s72HIk5TL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
If alerts continue after you switch AMBER Alerts off
- Reopen Settings → Notifications and confirm that AMBER Alerts is visibly off.
- Identify whether the sound came from Emergency Alerts, Public Safety Alerts, Test Alerts, or Enhanced Safety Alerts instead.
- Restart the iPhone and Apple Watch.
- Install available software updates on both devices.
- Check another paired or Family Setup device if one is involved.
- Contact your carrier if Government Alerts is missing or the setting behaves unexpectedly.
Changing the iPhone preference is the documented way to control the paired Apple Watch, but network delivery and carrier behavior can vary.
Outside the United States
The steps above are primarily for a U.S. iPhone. Apple says AMBER Alerts are not available in every country or region, and some Government Alerts may be mandatory or impossible to disable. If you do not see an AMBER Alerts switch, use the Government Alerts categories available for your region rather than assuming the setting is hidden.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off AMBER Alerts only on Apple Watch?
Apple does not normally provide a separate live AMBER Alerts switch for Apple Watch. The documented preference is changed on the paired iPhone and applies to the watch.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallAre AMBER Alerts the same as Emergency Alerts?
No. In supported U.S. configurations, AMBER Alerts and Emergency Alerts are separate Government Alert categories with separate controls.
Can AMBER Alerts be disabled outside the U.S.?
Not necessarily. Availability and whether alerts can be disabled depend on the country or region, carrier, SIM/eSIM, device, and local rules.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
