As technology advances, so too do the smartphones in our pockets. The earthquake warning system found on Android phones is one of the features built with this technology. This vital feature is crucial for countries prone to earthquakes like Turkey. So, how do you activate the earthquake warning system on Android?
What is an earthquake warning system?
Technology giant Google’s earthquake warning system for Android phones is a free service that detects and notifies users of earthquakes worldwide. The feature, which also came to Turkey last year, notified users of numerous earthquakes that occurred just seconds beforehand in just one year.
The accelerometer hardware found in over 3 billion Android devices detects tremors and sends alerts to Android users in the region. Google does not guarantee that the earthquake warning system will detect every tremor, and you receive notifications based on your proximity to the earthquake. Therefore, your location must be turned on at all times.
The earthquake warning system was launched in early 2020. Initially available only in the US, the feature quickly spread to many countries, including Turkey, Greece, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan.
How to activate the Android earthquake warning system?
To activate the earthquake warning system on Android, your location feature must be constantly enabled and have Wi-Fi support.
Managing earthquake warnings
- On your Android device, open Settings.
- Search for: Earthquake warnings.
- Enable or disable alerts.
Managing Emergency Location Services (ELS)
- On your Android device, open Settings.
- Search for: Emergency location services.
- Turn location services on or off.
You can activate the earthquake warning system with these steps. If earthquake warnings do not appear in the location settings, unfortunately, your device does not support them. You may not receive alert notifications for earthquakes occurring in or near your location. Sometimes, you may receive the alert after the earthquake occurs.
How does the earthquake detection system work?
According to information shared by Google, all data is collected and processed using accelerometers in devices, and if necessary, alerts are sent to users near the earthquake location. Furthermore, data is only collected from stationary devices, preventing misinformation.
So, what do you think of the Android earthquake warning system? Do you think it’s a life-saving feature? Don’t forget to share your thoughts with us in the comments section.
