How Earthquake Alerts Work On Android - And How To Make Sure They're Enabled On Your Phone

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

The adjacent clip you get an alert connected your Android phone, it mightiness conscionable beryllium life‑saving information.

Google researchers report that since rolling retired nan Android Earthquake Alerts System successful 2021, it has detected and issued warnings for complete 2,000 earthquakes, delivering anyplace from 10 to 60 seconds of beforehand announcement earlier nan strongest shaking arrives. In total, astir 790 million alerts person been sent to phones worldwide.

Also: Storms and bad weather? How to prep your tech up of imaginable emergencies

For instance, during a magnitude 6.7 earthquake successful nan Philippines successful November 2023, Google's strategy sent retired nan first alert conscionable 18.3 seconds aft nan quake started, notifying astir 2.5 million people.

Last fall, Google expanded its earthquake alert system -- Android earthquake alerts are now disposable successful each 50 US states and six US territories. And successful June, Samsung introduced its ain version. Here's really these captious alerts activity and really you tin alteration them.

How to move connected Google's earthquake alerts connected Android

Earthquake alerts are often connected by default. To check, travel nan steps below. Also, beryllium judge that your instrumentality is connected to Wi-Fi aliases mobile information and that location services are enabled.

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

Once nan shaking is beardown capable (typically M 4.5+), it pushes either a Be Aware banner to your Android telephone for ray shaking aliases a full-screen Take Action informing for stronger shaking, often giving you 10 to 60 seconds to drop, cover, and clasp connected earlier nan much damaging S‑waves arrive.

Can I extremity my Android telephone from contributing to earthquake detection?

Yes. Just move disconnected your phone's Google Location Accuracy.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Location > Location Services > Location Accuracy.
3. Turn Improve Location Accuracy off.

How do Samsung's ain earthquake alerts work?

Starting successful June, Samsung's One UI 8 update (rolling retired to its latest handsets, from nan S bid to nan A bid and Z series) offers its ain earthquake alert strategy alongside Google's. It detects adjacent quakes and displays a full‑screen informing pinch an audible reside conscionable earlier shaking arrives. 

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Beyond simply notifying you of nan magnitude and timing, Samsung's type lets you preview alerts connected demand, reappraisal a history of past warnings, group abstracted strength thresholds for time and night, and quickly entree adjacent emergency shelters arsenic good arsenic your stored emergency contacts and aesculapian accusation for first responders.

Here's really to usage Samsung's earthquake alerts:

9to5Google / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

1. Open Settings and spell to Safety and emergency.
2. Tap Earthquake Alerts (Samsung) to unfastened nan Samsung‑specific earthquake settings.
3. Preview an alert by tapping "See a demo" to familiarize yourself pinch nan full‑screen informing and tone.
4. Review past alerts successful nan History aliases Log conception to spot erstwhile earthquake notifications.
5. To customize thresholds, group abstracted seismic‑intensity levels for Day and Night nether Detection settings.
6. Scroll to Emergency Resources to position a database of Nearby shelters.
7. Enable Emergency Info to show your Emergency contacts and Medical specifications connected nan fastener surface erstwhile an alert fires.

Also: The champion outer phones: Expert tested and reviewed

Both Android's and Samsung's notifications purpose to pass you earlier you consciousness shakes, giving you precious seconds to activity cover.

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