Check if your phone is able to receive Emergency Mobile Alerts. If your phone is on the list, update the phone to the latest available operating system.

List of capable phones

Phones sold by 2degrees, Spark and Vodafone that are Emergency Mobile Alert capable are listed below.  If your phone is from overseas or parallel-imported, it may work in New Zealand. But your experience may differ from those sold in New Zealand.

  • The following Alcatel devices are supported. Please ensure your phone’s software is up to date.

    • Alcatel 1
    • Alcatel 1B
    • Alcatel 1E
    • Alcatel 1S
    • Alcatel 1V
    • Alcatel 1X
    • Alcatel 3026
    • Alcatel 3
    • Alcatel 3C
    • Alcatel 3V
    • Alcatel U3
    • Alcatel U5
  • The following Apple devices are supported (IOS11 or later). Please ensure your phone’s software is up to date.

    • Apple iPhone 5s
    • Apple iPhone 6
    • Apple iPhone 6 Plus
    • Apple iPhone SE
    • Apple iPhone SE (2nd Generation)
    • Apple iPhone 6s
    • Apple iPhone 6s Plus
    • Apple iPhone 7
    • Apple iPhone 7 Plus
    • Apple iPhone 8
    • Apple iPhone 8 Plus
    • Apple iPhone X
    • Apple iPhone XS
    • Apple iPhone XS Max
    • Apple iPhone XR
    • Apple iPhone 11
    • Apple iPhone 11 Pro
    • Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
    • Apple iPhone 12 
    • Apple iPhone 12 Mini
    • Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
    • Apple iPhone 13
    • Apple iPhone 13 Pro
    • Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
    • Apple iPhone 14
    • Apple iPhone 14 Pro
    • Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

    Check to see if your iPhone is set up for Emergency Mobile Alerts

    Open Settings, select Notifications, and at the bottom you should see a toggle for “Emergency Alerts”.

  • The following CAT phones are supported. Please ensure your phone’s software is up to date.

    • CAT S61
    • CAT B35
    • CAT S62 Pro
  • The following Doro device is supported. Please ensure your phone’s software is up to date.

    • Doro 6520
  • The following Huawei devices are supported. Please ensure your phone’s software is up to date.

    • Huawei Nova Lite
    • Huawei Nova 2 Lite
    • Huawei Nova 2i
    • Huawei Nova 3
    • Huawei Nova 3i
    • Huawei Nova 5T
    • Huawei Mate 10
    • Huawei Mate 20
    • Huawei P9 Lite
    • Huawei P9
    • Huawei P9 Plus
    • Huawei Mate 10 Pro
    • Huawei Mate 10 Pro (Porsche design)
    • Huawei Mate 20 Pro
    • Huawei Mate 30 Pro
    • Huawei P10 Lite
    • Huawei P10
    • Huawei P10 Plus
    • Huawei P20
    • Huawei P20 Pro
    • Huawei P30
    • Huawei P30 Pro 
    • Huawei P40
    • Huawei P40 Pro
    • Huawei Mate Xs
    • Huawei Y5 2019
    • Huawei Y5P
    • Huawei Y6 2018
    • Huawei Y6s
    • Huawei Y6 Pro 2019
    • Huawei Y7
    • Huawei Y9 Prime 2019
  • The following Mobiwire devices are supported. Please ensure your phone’s software is up to date.

    • Mobiwire Dakota
    • Mobiwire Kosumi
    • Mobiwire Sakari
    • Mobiwire Hakan
    • Mobiwire Kanuna
    • Mobiwire Ogima
  • The following Motorola devices are supported. Please ensure your phone’s software is up to date.

    • Motorola Moto C
    • Motorola Moto E5
    • Motorola Moto G5s
    • Motorola Moto G5s Plus
    • Motorola Moto G6
    • Motorola Moto G6 Plus
  • The following Nokia devices are supported. Please ensure your phone’s software is up to date.

    • Nokia 1.3
    • Nokia 2
    • Nokia 2.2
    • Nokia 2.3
    • Nokia 3
    • Nokia 3.1
    • Nokia 3.4
    • Nokia 4.2
    • Nokia 5
    • Nokia 6
    • Nokia 7.1
    • Nokia 7.2
    • Nokia 8
    • Nokia C01
    • Nokia G10
    • Nokia G20
    • Nokia X20
  • The following OPPO devices are supported. Please ensure your phone’s software is up to date.

    • OPPO A39
    • OPPO A5 2020
    • OPPO A57
    • OPPO A72
    • OPPO A73
    • OPPO A75
    • OPPO A77
    • OPPO A9
    • OPPO A9 2020
    • OPPO AX5s
    • OPPO AX7
    • OPPO F1s
    • OPPO Find X
    • OPPO Find X Pro
    • OPPO Find X2 Pro
    • OPPO Find X2 Lite
    • OPPO Homer A72
    • OPPO R9s
    • OPPO R11
    • OPPO R11s
    • OPPO R15
    • OPPO R15 Pro
    • OPPO R17
    • OPPO R17 Pro
    • OPPO Reno 10x Zoom
    • OPPO Reno Z
    • OPPO Reno 2
    • OPPO Reno2 Z
    • OPPO Reno4 Pro
    • OPPO A53s
    • OPPO A54
    • OPPO A95
    • OPPO A57s
  • The following Samsung devices are supported. Please ensure your phone’s software is up to date.

    • Samsung Galaxy A01
    • Samsung Galaxy A01 Core
    • Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
    • Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
    • Samsung Galaxy A5 2017
    • Samsung Galaxy A7 2017
    • Samsung Galaxy A8
    • Samsung Galaxy A8
    • Samsung Galaxy A10
    • Samsung Galaxy A11
    • Samsung Galaxy A12
    • Samsung Galaxy A20
    • Samsung Galaxy A21
    • Samsung Galaxy A22
    • Samsung Galaxy A30
    • Samsung Galaxy A31
    • Samsung Galaxy A32
    • Samsung Galaxy A50
    • Samsung Galaxy A51
    • Samsung Galaxy A70
    • Samsung Galaxy A71
    • Samsung Galaxy A71 5G
    • Samsung Galaxy A72
    • Samsung Galaxy A80
    • Samsung Galaxy A90 5G
    • Samsung Galaxy Flip3
    • Samsung Galaxy Fold
    • Samsung Galaxy Fold2
    • Samsung Galaxy Fold3
    • Samsung Galaxy J2 Core
    • Samsung Galaxy J2 Pro (SM-J250G)
    • Samsung Galaxy J3 Pro
    • Samsung Galaxy J4 (SM-J400G)
    • Samsung Galaxy J4
    • Samsung Galaxy J5 2016
    • Samsung Galaxy J5 Pro
    • Samsung Galaxy J6 (SM-J600G)
    • Samsung Galaxy J6
    • Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro
    • Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime
    • Samsung Galaxy J8
    • Samsung Galaxy M22
    • Samsung Galaxy Note 5
    • Samsung Galaxy Note 8
    • Samsung Galaxy Note 9
    • Samsung Galaxy Note 10
    • Samsung Galaxy Note 10
    • Samsung Galaxy Note 10 5G
    • Samsung Galaxy Note 20
    • Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
    • Samsung Galaxy S6
    • Samsung Galaxy S6 edge
    • Samsung Galaxy S6 edge
    • Samsung Galaxy S7
    • Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
    • Samsung Galaxy S8
    • Samsung Galaxy S8
    • Samsung Galaxy S9 (SM-G960F)
    • Samsung Galaxy S9 (SM-G965F)
    • Samsung Galaxy S10e
    • Samsung Galaxy S10
    • Samsung Galaxy S10
    • Samsung Galaxy S20
    • Samsung Galaxy S20
    • Samsung Galaxy S20 5G
    • Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
    • Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G
    • Samsung Galaxy S20FE
    • Samsung Galaxy S21
    • Samsung Galaxy S21
    • Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
    • Samsung Galaxy A12 4G
    • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
    • Samsung Xcover 4 (SM-G390Y)
    • Samsung Galaxy Xcover Pro 4G
    • Samsung Galaxy Xcover 4S
    • Samsung A72
    • Samsung XCover 5
    • Samsung A32
    • Samsung A52
    • Samsung Galaxy Flip4
    • Samsung Galaxy Fold4
    • Samsung Galaxy A14
    • Samsung Galaxy A34
    • Samsung Galaxy A54

    Check to see if your Samsung phone is set up for Emergency Mobile Alerts.

    Instructions to help find Emergency Alert settings on your Samsung phone can be found on the Samsung website.

    How to find past alerts once you've dismissed them

    Although each Samsung phone may differ, emergency alerts are generally found in your 'Messages' app.

    1. Go to Messages app
    2. Find the menu (...) and select 'settings'.
    3. Select 'Emergency alert history'.
  • The following Skinny devices are supported. Please ensure your phone’s software is up to date.

    • Skinny F327S (ZTE F327S)
    • Skinny Tahi (ZTE 111)
  • The following Sony devices are supported. Please ensure your phone’s software is up to date.

    • Sony Xperia X Performance
    • Sony Xperia XA1 (SM11)
    • Sony Xperia XA2
    • Sony Xperia XZ1
    • Sony Xperia XZ2
  • The following Spark devices are supported. Please ensure your phone’s software is up to date.

    • Spark Lite 3G (ZTE L110)
    • Spark Plus 2 (ZTE A330)
    • Spark Plus 3
    • Spark Pocket 2
  • The following Vodafone devices are supported. Please ensure your phone’s software is up to date.

    • Vodafone Smart A9
    • Vodafone Smart C9
    • Vodafone Smart E8
    • Vodafone Smart E9
    • Vodafone Smart N8
    • Vodafone Smart N9
    • Vodafone Smart N9 Lite
    • Vodafone Smart N10
    • Vodafone Smart N11
    • Vodafone Smart P11
    • Vodafone Smart V8
    • Vodafone Smart V10
    • Vodafone Smart X9
  • The following ZTE devices are supported. Please ensure your phone’s software is up to date.

    • ZTE Blade A521
    • ZTE FT327
    • ZTE Lite
    • ZTE Tahi
    • ZTE L110
    • ZTE L111
  • The following Xiaomi devices are supported. Please ensure your phone’s software is up to date.

    • Xiaomi Redmi Note 7

How to update the software on your phone

Make sure you’re connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi to prevent using your mobile data.

  • For iPhone, open Settings, select General, select Software Update.
  • For Android, open Settings, select About (or About phone), select System, select Software Updates.
  • Refer to your phone’s manual for more information about updating your phone.

Check to see if your phone is set up for Emergency Mobile Alerts

Being able to see the Emergency Alert settings indicates your phone is Emergency Mobile Alert capable.

Check on iPhone

Open Settings, select Notifications, and at the bottom you should see a toggle for “Emergency Alerts”.

Check on Samsung

Instructions are available on the Samsung NZ website.

Check on other Android phones

The Emergency Alert settings are dependent on the manufacturer and model.

Generally, you can find the settings through one of the following ways.

  • Open Settings, select Sounds and select Advanced. You should see an option for Emergency Broadcasts.
  • Open Settings, select Wireless & Networks and select More. You should see an option for Cell Broadcasts.
  • Open Settings and select General Settings. You should see an option for Emergency Alerts.
  • Open the text message app and select Message Settings. You should see an option for Emergency Alert Settings.

Your alert settings may be called a number of different names including:

  • Emergency Alerts
  • Emergency Broadcasts, or
  • Extreme Threats or Severe Threats.
External link
Samsung logo

Find instructions for updating your Samsung phone on the Samsung NZ website.