You can disable Amber Alerts through your phone's emergency alert settings, though the steps differ between iPhone and Android
Amber Alerts are emergency notifications sent to all phones in a geographic area when a child is reported missing under circumstances suggesting danger. Your phone receives these as a system-level broadcast, separate from regular text messages or app notifications. To stop receiving them, you need to access your phone's emergency alert settings rather than your Disney+ app or general notification controls.
The process takes about two minutes and does not affect other emergency alerts like severe weather warnings or public safety messages — unless you choose to disable those separately. Once you turn off Amber Alerts, you will not receive them until you turn the setting back on.
Key Takeaways
- iPhone users find the Amber Alert toggle under Settings > Notifications > Government Alerts, while Android users go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Advanced > Emergency Alerts.
- Disabling Amber Alerts does not affect weather warnings, emergency broadcasts, or other critical alerts unless you turn those off separately.
- The setting applies to your entire phone, not to individual apps like Disney+, so you will not receive Amber Alerts through any app once disabled.
- You can turn Amber Alerts back on at any time using the same menu path.
How to disable Amber Alerts on iPhone
Open the Settings app and tap Notifications. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and look for Government Alerts. Tap that option and you will see three toggles: Emergency Alerts, Severe Weather Alerts, and Amber Alerts. The toggle next to Amber Alerts is what you need to turn off. It will turn gray when disabled.
If you do not see Government Alerts at the bottom of your Notifications menu, your iPhone model or iOS version may display it differently. In that case, go to Settings > Notifications and scroll all the way down — Government Alerts should appear below all app-specific notification settings. On some older iPhone models, this setting may be under Settings > Sounds & Haptics instead. Once you find the Government Alerts section, the Amber Alerts toggle will be in the same location regardless of your iPhone model.
How to disable Amber Alerts on Android
Open the Settings app and tap Apps & Notifications (the exact wording varies by manufacturer, but look for anything mentioning apps or notifications). Look for an option called Advanced or More and tap it. Find Emergency Alerts or Wireless Emergency Alerts and tap that option.
Inside Emergency Alerts, you will see a list of alert types. Find Amber Alerts and toggle it off. Some Android phones also show this setting under Settings > Safety & Emergency or Settings > Notifications, depending on your manufacturer. If you cannot find it in the locations above, search "emergency alerts" in your phone's Settings search bar — most Android phones have a search function at the top of the Settings app. The search method works on nearly all Android devices and will take you directly to the right menu.
What happens when you disable Amber Alerts
Once you turn off Amber Alerts, your phone will no longer receive notifications when a child is reported missing in your area. You will not see the alert on your lock screen, and your phone will not make the distinctive emergency alert sound. This applies whether you are using your phone for calls, streaming on Disney+, or any other activity.
Disabling Amber Alerts does not affect other emergency broadcasts. Your phone will still receive severe weather warnings, extreme wind warnings, and emergency public safety messages — those are separate toggles in the same menu. If you want to disable those as well, you can toggle them off individually, but most people keep those enabled because they provide critical safety information about conditions in your area.
Why you might want to keep Amber Alerts on
Amber Alerts are designed to reach as many people as possible quickly when a child is in when ready danger. The system has helped locate missing children in thousands of cases. If you turned off Amber Alerts because they interrupt you frequently, consider that the alerts are usually brief and the information can be critical to someone nearby who might spot the child or vehicle.
If the alerts are going off during specific times — like while you are watching Disney+ in the evening — you can also manage this by putting your phone on silent or Do Not Disturb mode instead of disabling the alerts entirely. Do Not Disturb silences the sound and vibration but still delivers the notification to your lock screen, so you can see it if you glance at your phone. This way you remain aware of alerts without the interruption.
How to turn Amber Alerts back on
If you change your mind, you can re-enable Amber Alerts using the same path you used to disable them. On iPhone, go back to Settings > Notifications > Government Alerts and toggle Amber Alerts on. On Android, return to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Advanced > Emergency Alerts and toggle Amber Alerts back on.
The setting takes effect when ready — you do not need to restart your phone or confirm the change anywhere else. Once you toggle the setting back on, you will resume receiving Amber Alerts in your area just as you did before.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off Amber Alerts affect my Disney+ notifications?
No. Amber Alerts are a system-level emergency broadcast, completely separate from Disney+ or any other app. Disabling Amber Alerts will not change how Disney+ sends you notifications about new releases or account activity. You manage Disney+ notifications through the Disney+ app settings, not through your phone's emergency alert menu.
Can I disable Amber Alerts for only certain hours?
Not through the Amber Alert settings themselves. However, you can use your phone's Do Not Disturb or Focus mode to silence alerts during specific times while still receiving them visually on your lock screen. On iPhone, set up a Focus schedule in Settings > Focus. On Android, use Bedtime Mode or create a custom Do Not Disturb schedule in Settings > Sounds & Vibration.
Will I still get Amber Alerts if I have my phone on silent?
Yes. Amber Alerts override your phone's silent mode and will display on your lock screen and make the emergency alert sound even if your phone is set to silent. This is by design — the system prioritizes getting the alert to you over respecting your sound settings. Disabling the alert in settings is the only way to stop receiving them.
What is the difference between Amber Alerts and other emergency alerts?
Amber Alerts notify you about missing children in potential danger. Severe Weather Alerts warn about storms, floods, or extreme conditions. Emergency Alerts cover public safety threats like civil emergencies or law enforcement warnings. You can disable each type separately in your emergency alert settings.
Do I need to do anything else after turning off Amber Alerts?
No. Once you toggle off Amber Alerts in your phone's settings, the change is when ready and permanent until you turn it back on. You do not need to restart your phone or confirm the change anywhere else.