Apple is preparing to roll out a major upgrade to its emergency notification system with the introduction of Enhanced Safety Alerts in iOS 26.2. The feature, spotted in the first developer beta, adds new categories of alerts and a distinctive tone aimed at helping users respond faster to critical situations.
The new section appears under Settings > Notifications and allows users in supported regions to toggle separate switches for earthquake alerts and imminent threat alerts. Apple has also added a privacy option that lets users share their approximate location with the company to improve both the accuracy and speed of these notifications during emergencies.
Enhanced Safety Alerts expands on Apple’s existing Government Alerts and Emergency Alerts systems, which currently support AMBER Alerts, Public Safety Alerts, and Test Alerts. With the new update, users gain more granular control, including sound preferences and regional precision settings.
While Apple hasn’t confirmed the official rollout timeline, the addition in the developer beta suggests the company is close to a broader release. These changes appear designed to strengthen Apple’s real-time alert ecosystem, especially in regions prone to natural disasters or public safety incidents.
As with many iOS safety features, availability will vary depending on local government partnerships and regional support. Users enrolled in the iOS beta programme can already test the new settings and provide feedback through Apple’s Feedback Assistant.
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