Google is expanding its Android Earthquake Alerts service from 98 countries and regions to more than 200, extending a system that has already delivered over 1 billion warnings. The feature uses Android phones to detect potential seismic activity and can warn people before, during or after shaking reaches their location.
The next change is an update to the Be Ready alert, which Google says will roll out in the coming months. It will add a map showing the area where movement was detected, an estimated magnitude, safety recommendations and a button leading to additional information.
| Alert type | What appears on the phone | Trigger level |
|---|---|---|
| Be Aware | A notification that an earthquake has been detected nearby | Weak shaking |
| Be Ready | A more detailed warning encouraging the user to prepare | Estimated shaking requiring preparation |
| Take Action | A full-screen alert with immediate safety instructions | Moderate or strong shaking |
Take Action is the system’s most urgent notification. It can override Do Not Disturb mode, turn on the display and play a loud sound. Android devices contribute to the network through their accelerometers: when phones detect vibrations consistent with an earthquake, they can send an approximate location and signal to Google, which correlates data from multiple devices before issuing alerts for affected areas.
The service is not a prediction system; it detects an earthquake after it has begun. Warning time varies with the point of detection and a user’s distance from the event, and notifications may arrive before, during or after shaking. Google also cautions that some earthquakes may not be detected.
Earthquake Alerts are enabled by default on compatible Android devices and require either Wi-Fi or mobile data. The setting can generally be found under Settings, then Safety & emergency, then Earthquake alerts; on some phones, it appears under Location and Advanced settings. Google’s documentation identifies magnitude 4.5 as the threshold for earthquakes targeted by the system, while the enhanced Be Ready alert remains scheduled for rollout in the months ahead.
