How to Enable Earthquake Alerts on iPhone

Get notifications for seismic activity in your area

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Last Updated: December 5, 2024

If you live in California, Oregon, or Japan, you can enable earthquake alerts. These alerts come when an earthquake occurs and shaking in your area is imminent. If you do not live in any of these areas, you can still receive alerts through a free app by the University of California Berkeley called MyShake. This wikiHow will show you how to enable earthquake alerts on your iPhone.^{[1]
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Seismic activity releases primary (P) waves and secondary (S) waves. The P waves travel much faster (at about the speed of sound) than S waves and seldom cause any damage; hence if one is detected an earthquake is likely in progress. Secondary waves cause most earthquake-related injuries and damage. Using information from multiple sensors and the fact that light travels faster than sound, earthquake early warning systems can provide anywhere from a few nanoseconds to tens of seconds of warning before shaking strikes. This time is enough for automated systems to perform actions that minimize damage and for everyone to prepare for strong shaking.

Enabling iPhone Earthquake Alert

If you live in California, Oregon, or Japan, open Settings and choose Notifications. Scroll down and toggle "Government Alerts" and/or "Public Safety Alerts" to "on." If you live elsewhere, download the "MyShake" app and enable notifications and location services.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

In California, Oregon, or Japan

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This app has a settings gear on a gray background.
This is the first item in the second section.

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Look for the section called "Government Alerts".
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Toggle "Emergency Alerts" and/or "Public Safety Alerts" to
. This will enable all emergency alerts, including earthquake and tsunami alerts.
- You will receive notice of earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.0 or higher and seismic intensity of 4 (on the Mercalli scale in California) or 5-/5 lower (on the Shindo scale in Japan).

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

With an iPhone App

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Open the App Store
. This app has an A on a blue background.
This will open up the search page.
Then click on Search.
This will download the MyShake app to your iPhone.
This app has a network of circles connected with lines.
For you to use the app to view or receive earthquake alerts, you must accept the licensing agreement.
This is required for the app to function. Without it, you will not receive alerts when strong tremors are imminent.

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Earthquake early warnings may also air on TV, radio, or other emergency systems.

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Warnings

Earthquake early warning systems do not predict earthquakes; they warn you when an earthquake in progress is likely to affect your area.

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Earthquake early warning systems may give false alarms from time to time.

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Earthquake early warning systems may only give you a few seconds to prepare.

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Please refer to React During an Earthquake for information on how to protect yourself when you receive one of these alerts.

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