Civil Protection Alerts in Spain: How they work and how to set them up on your mobile
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2024 9:05 am
Find out how Civil Protection notifications work in Spain and how to check that your smartphone is ready to receive them. We explain the steps to follow on Android and iOS devices, and why the ES-Alert system is key in emergency situations.
Introduction to Civil Protection alerts
Emergency alerts keep the population informed and safe in risky situations. In 2022, the European Union established a regulation requiring all member countries to implement an alert system based on mobile networks. In Spain, the ES-Alert system, active since the beginning of 2023, sends notifications to all mobile devices in risk areas to alert citizens in the event of an emergency.
What is the ES-Alert system and how does it work?
This system relies on the mobile phone network to send emergency notifications to all devices within a specific coverage area. Alerts are transmitted through the network antennas and appear as highlighted notifications on the mobile screen. ES-Alert uses 4G and 5G networks, covering more than 90% of the population thanks to the coverage of these networks in Spain.
There are three levels of Civil Protection alerts:
Level 1 : These alerts are automatic and do not require user panama phone number data configuration. They are only issued in immediate threat situations and are enabled by default on all compatible devices. These alerts cannot be disabled by the user.
Level 2 : These alerts require manual activation by the user in the phone settings. According to the Ministry of the Interior, this level is not currently used in Spain, but it is important to know how to configure it for possible future uses.
Level 3 : These alerts are used to warn citizens, such as in cases of child abduction, public health alerts or public safety incidents, although they are not currently in use in Spain. They also require configuration by the user.
Level 1 alerts are enabled by default on mobile devices with the following operating system versions or later:
iOS 15.6 or later.
Android 11 or later.
So, unless you have an old or outdated phone, you should receive these level 1 security alerts. According to the Civil Protection agency , devices with Android version 8 or lower will not receive the alerts, and in the case of Android 10, they will be displayed, but without the corresponding title.
We recommend keeping your mobile devices updated to the latest version available. If you have any questions, you can find out how to do so in the following content.
How to set up level 2 and 3 alerts
Below are the steps to activate Level 2 and Level 3 alerts:
From an iPhone:
Go to “ Settings ”.
Scroll down until you find “ Notifications ”
At the bottom of the list of applications, activate the “ Civil Protection Pre-Alerts ” option.
Photo Alert Civil Protection
To activate them on Android devices:
Go to “ Settings ”
Enter the “ Notifications ” section.
Tap on “ Wireless Emergency Alerts ” if you can’t find it, you should look at the end for “ Advanced Settings ”.
Enable “ Allow alerts ”.
On some phones the option is located in: Settings > Security and emergencies > Wireless emergency alerts .
Screenshot of alerts settings
How to receive these alerts on your phone
Civil Protection alerts will appear as text messages on the phone screen, with alert sound and vibration to capture the use.
Introduction to Civil Protection alerts
Emergency alerts keep the population informed and safe in risky situations. In 2022, the European Union established a regulation requiring all member countries to implement an alert system based on mobile networks. In Spain, the ES-Alert system, active since the beginning of 2023, sends notifications to all mobile devices in risk areas to alert citizens in the event of an emergency.
What is the ES-Alert system and how does it work?
This system relies on the mobile phone network to send emergency notifications to all devices within a specific coverage area. Alerts are transmitted through the network antennas and appear as highlighted notifications on the mobile screen. ES-Alert uses 4G and 5G networks, covering more than 90% of the population thanks to the coverage of these networks in Spain.
There are three levels of Civil Protection alerts:
Level 1 : These alerts are automatic and do not require user panama phone number data configuration. They are only issued in immediate threat situations and are enabled by default on all compatible devices. These alerts cannot be disabled by the user.
Level 2 : These alerts require manual activation by the user in the phone settings. According to the Ministry of the Interior, this level is not currently used in Spain, but it is important to know how to configure it for possible future uses.
Level 3 : These alerts are used to warn citizens, such as in cases of child abduction, public health alerts or public safety incidents, although they are not currently in use in Spain. They also require configuration by the user.
Level 1 alerts are enabled by default on mobile devices with the following operating system versions or later:
iOS 15.6 or later.
Android 11 or later.
So, unless you have an old or outdated phone, you should receive these level 1 security alerts. According to the Civil Protection agency , devices with Android version 8 or lower will not receive the alerts, and in the case of Android 10, they will be displayed, but without the corresponding title.
We recommend keeping your mobile devices updated to the latest version available. If you have any questions, you can find out how to do so in the following content.
How to set up level 2 and 3 alerts
Below are the steps to activate Level 2 and Level 3 alerts:
From an iPhone:
Go to “ Settings ”.
Scroll down until you find “ Notifications ”
At the bottom of the list of applications, activate the “ Civil Protection Pre-Alerts ” option.
Photo Alert Civil Protection
To activate them on Android devices:
Go to “ Settings ”
Enter the “ Notifications ” section.
Tap on “ Wireless Emergency Alerts ” if you can’t find it, you should look at the end for “ Advanced Settings ”.
Enable “ Allow alerts ”.
On some phones the option is located in: Settings > Security and emergencies > Wireless emergency alerts .
Screenshot of alerts settings
How to receive these alerts on your phone
Civil Protection alerts will appear as text messages on the phone screen, with alert sound and vibration to capture the use.