How to turn off the public alert on Xiaomi Redmi

Owning a Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone involves using a MIUI or HyperOS shell, which is set to maximize user awareness by default. One of these features is an emergency alert system designed to warn of natural disasters, terrorist attacks or man-made disasters. However, in everyday life, these loud sound signals can occur at the most inappropriate time, such as during an important meeting, a movie show or a night out, causing panic and irritation.

Many users find that standard audio settings do not completely silence these system notifications, because emergency message channels often take precedence over user audio profiles. In this article, we will discuss in detail where these settings are hidden, how the firmware alert mechanism works, and how to safely deactivate this feature without disrupting other system applications.

It’s important to understand that turning this feature off deprives you of up-to-date information about threats in your area. However, for most urban dwellers receiving information through news aggregators, this communication channel is redundant. Below are the current disablement methods that work on most models, including the Redmi Note, Xiaomi Mi and Poco series.

The nature of system alerts and their effect on the device

The public alert system built into Xiaomi smartphones is based on international standards for data transmission over cellular networks. SIM-map (SMS), It's broadcast over dedicated base station channels, and it's known as Cell Broadcast, and it allows you to reach all the devices in a particular geographic area instantly.

When the phone receives this signal, the Android operating system, in conjunction with the modem, treats it as critical, which is why the sound is played even in "No Sound" or "Do Not Disturb" mode. The volume is set to maximum software, ignoring the position of the slider of media files, this is designed to save lives, but in everyday life it causes significant discomfort.

Xiaomi owners often notice that after updating the firmware settings can be reset.This is because new versions of MIUI can force the security settings back to factory values.So if you once turned off notifications, but after a month they reappeared, you will have to repeat the setup procedure.

⚠️ By disabling system alerts, you take responsibility for monitoring emergencies in your area through other sources of information.

It is also worth noting that menu items may differ slightly from one market to another (global, Chinese, European) and that in some regions where the law requires a feature to be available, it may not be possible to hide it completely through the standard menu without the use of special codes.

The main method of disabling through the settings menu

The easiest and safest way to remove annoying sound is to use the operating system's standard interface, and the path to the right switch may vary depending on the version of MIUI, but the logic remains the same. You need to find the section that deals with security and emergencies.

To start, open the main app menu and find the Settings icon. The top of the screen is usually the search bar. If you don't want to wander through the menu, just type in "Security" or "Emergency" and the system will suggest you go to the desired section. If the search does not work, follow the manual path.

• 📱 Go to the Settings section → Passwords and security (or simply “Security»).
• 🔍 Find an emergency assistance facility or SOS.
• 🔔 Select the Emergency Warning option.
• 🚫 Turn off switches next to Emergency Warnings, Emergency Notifications and Test Warnings».

Once these steps are done, the system will no longer respond to incoming Cell Broadcast signals. However, on some Redmi models with global firmware, this path may be blocked or hidden, in which case the switches may be absent or inactive (gray), then you will need to use an engineering menu or codes.

Using Engineering Code for Hidden Menus

If the standard interface doesn't allow you to manage alerts, the Xiaomi engineering menu comes to the rescue, and it's a hidden section designed to test hardware and configure network settings, and it's accessed through a set of special devices. USSD-code in the application "Phone" (calling).

Open the call app and type in the combination ##4636##. Immediately after entering the last star, the Check menu should open. If this does not happen, your firmware version may block this code and you will need to install a special activator application from the GetApps store or Play Market.

In the menu that opens, select Phone Information. Scroll down to Cell Broadcast. Here you'll see the settings associated with the radio module. You'll need to find the option to activate the broadcast and deactivate it, often called "Enable Cell Broadcast" or "Cell Broadcast Settings."

The path on the engineering menu:


1. Phone Information (Phone Information)




2.Scroll down to Cell Broadcast




3. Click on settings (Settings)




4. Select Language -> All (All) or Disable (Disable)

Be careful when changing the parameters in the engineering menu. Incorrect setting of the radio module can lead to unstable network operation or complete disappearance of the signal. Change only those parameters that are related to Cell Broadcast. After changing the settings, it is recommended to restart the device for application of changes.

Configure notification channels via ADB (for advanced)

For users who are not afraid of the command line, the most effective method is to use a debugger. ADB (Android Debug Bridge. This way you can manage system notification channels at a deep level, ignoring the limitations of the GUI. You'll need a computer, USB-cable and on-line debugging USB smartphone.

First, connect the phone to your PC and make sure the device is determined by the adb device command. Then you can send a command to turn off the specific notification channel responsible for emergency alerts. The channel ID usually contains the words "emergency", "alert" or "cell broadcast."

Example of a command to block a channel:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.cellbroadcastreceiver

This command actually freezes the system component that controls and reproduces the signals. If you want to return everything as it was, use the command adb shell pm enable com.android.cellbroadcastreceiver. This method ensures that no message is missed or played, as the receiving service will be disabled at the system level.

Using ADB requires care.Make sure you type commands exactly as they are specified, given the letter register.A mistake in the packet name can cause other important system functions, such as SMS or calls, to be disabled.

Features of work in the mode “Do not disturb”

Many users believe that activating Do Not Disturb automatically silences all sounds, including Emergencies. This is a common misconception. In Xiaomi’s settings, this mode has exceptions, and system warnings are often marked as priority, so they pass through the silence filter.

To check this, go to Settings → Sound and vibration → Do not disturb. There is a section called "Allow notifications." If it activates "Emergency alerts" or "Alarms", then silence mode will not help. You will have to manually uncheck this tick.

Even after the checkmark is removed, however, some Redmi models continue to make sound, because the Earthquake and Tsunami Warning System (ETWS) channel prioritizes the system over user profiles, so relying on Do Not Disturb mode alone is not a good idea.

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If you need to quickly silence your phone while you sleep, but you’re afraid of missing an important call, use the physical button to switch the sound to vibration mode, and then immediately turn on Do Not Disturb mode with allowed calls from favorite contacts.

Problems after MIUI update and HyperOS update

Xiaomi regularly updates its devices’ software, switching from MIUI 14 to HyperOS or installing security patches often results in a reset of user settings, and the system may find that disabling emergency alerts is a violation of security protocols, and force them to turn them back on.

If you notice that the sound has returned after the update, you will have to repeat the shutdown procedure. In newer versions of the shells, the path to the settings is sometimes changed. For example, in HyperOS, the security icon can be displayed in a separate application "Security" (green shield), rather than in the general settings of the system.

Regional considerations are also important: smartphones purchased in China (CN Version) and streamed to the Global ROM may have conflicts with the radio, and alerts may be delayed or intrusive due to incorrect SIM region-specific linking.

⚠️ Note: When flashing Chinese versions of Xiaomi to global, Cell Broadcast is often disrupted. Make sure that the region settings have the correct country code (for example, Russia or Kazakhstan), otherwise the phone may not understand the format of incoming signals.

For stable operation, it is recommended to always check the version of the basic modem communication. Sometimes the problem is solved not by disabling the function, but by updating the modem firmware through the service center, if the device is on warranty.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The most reliable way to disable alerts is to use a combination of standard settings and, if necessary, an engineering code to block the Cell Broadcast channel.