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How to Enable Android Earthquake Alerts After Expansion

Turn on and test Android earthquake alerts now covering over 200 regions. Confirm settings, run the demo, and understand Be Aware, Be Ready, and Take Action.

October 20, 2026 Yum News

Android phones can warn you seconds before strong shaking arrives. Google expanded the Android Earthquake Alerts System from 98 regions to more than 200 on 15 October 2026. New areas include Panama and Guatemala. The system has already delivered over one billion alerts since 2021.

If you live in a newly supported region or just bought a phone, check that the feature is active. Alerts are often on by default, but location and connectivity must be enabled for them to work. This guide shows the exact steps, the three alert types, and how to test the sound and screen.

Confirm the feature is available

Open Settings and search for “earthquake”. On most Pixel and stock Android devices running Android 12 or later the path is Settings > Safety and emergency > Earthquake alerts. Samsung devices use Settings > Safety and emergency > Earthquake alerts as well. Older phones may place it under Location > Advanced.

If the toggle is missing, your region may not be supported yet or your phone is offline. The expansion rolls out over the following week after 15 October. Keep your device updated and connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data.

Android smartphone on a desk

Turn the alerts on and run the demo

Open the Settings app.
Search for “earthquake” or go to Safety and emergency.
Tap Earthquake alerts.
Switch the toggle on if it is off.
Tap the demo or “See a demo” button if it appears.

The demo plays the distinctive tone and shows the full-screen Take Action style warning. Use it so you recognise the alert immediately. Make sure Location is enabled and the phone has an internet connection. Alerts require both.

For more on how the system detects shaking, see our earlier post on the expansion: Android earthquake alerts expand to 200 regions.

Understand the three alert types

Google now describes three levels:

Be Aware — ordinary notification for estimated light shaking. It follows your normal volume and Do Not Disturb rules.
Be Ready — detailed alert for stronger shaking. In the coming months this will include a map of the shaking radius, estimated magnitude, and a link for more information.
Take Action — full-screen warning for moderate to heavy shaking. It turns the screen on, plays a loud sound, and ignores Do Not Disturb so you notice it.

Take Action is the one that can wake you. Drop, cover, and hold on when you see it.

Person checking phone notifications

What the system needs to work

Your phone uses its built-in accelerometer to sense the first, faster P-waves. When enough nearby devices report the same motion, Google’s servers estimate the location and strength, then push alerts. The system works on Android phones; it is not available on iPhone.

You need:

Android device with the feature enabled
Location turned on
Wi-Fi or mobile data
A supported region

In California, Oregon, and Washington the alerts also incorporate data from the USGS ShakeAlert network. Everywhere else the phone sensors form the detection network.

Tips for reliable alerts

Keep the phone charged and connected. A phone that is completely powered off or in airplane mode cannot receive or contribute data. If you travel, the feature follows your location, so check the setting after you arrive in a new country.

Do not disable Location Accuracy if you want the most precise contribution to detection. You can still receive alerts if you limit other location uses, but the system works best when location services are active.

Test the demo once a year or after a major system update. The sound and visual design can change slightly.

Conclusion

The expansion to more than 200 regions means more people can receive seconds of warning before damaging shaking. Open Settings, confirm Earthquake alerts is on, run the demo, and keep location and connectivity active. Those few steps turn a phone you already own into part of the world’s largest mobile earthquake detection network.