Google is expanding its innovative earthquake alert system to Wear OS smartwatches. This move aims to enhance real-time earthquake detection and safety measures directly from the convenience of your wrist. With this upgrade, Wear OS smartwatch users will receive immediate alerts when an earthquake is detected in their vicinity.
The feature is designed to provide critical seconds of warning, potentially giving people enough time to take cover and ensure their safety. The earthquake alert system uses sensors in both smartphones and smartwatches to detect seismic activity. When these devices sense an earthquake, they send signals to Google’s servers, which then analyze the data and send out alerts to areas where people may be affected.
Your Android phone has a superpower you might not be aware of: It can give you advanced warning of earthquakes, including in the US. That extra few seconds of preparation time can save lives. Additionally, this feature is also available on Wear OS devices, so if you’ve a Wear OS smartwatch, the alerts will appear on your wrist, as long as your wearable is connected to the web, even if you’ve left your phone behind.
Officially known as the Android Earthquake Alerts System, you may find it in slightly different locations in Settings, depending on the make and model of your phone. On both Pixel and Galaxy phones, it’s located under Safety and Emergency> Earthquake Alerts. The feature should have been enabled when you first set up your phone. However, if it has been turned off, you can turn it back on here with a simple toggle switch.
Google draws data from two sources for its early warning system: the network of thousands of seismic detectors managed by the U.S. Geological Survey, and accelerometer data anonymously sampled across billions of Android devices worldwide. The alerts on your phone and watch screens will provide you with three key details: the distance from the earthquake’s epicenter, the estimated magnitude of the earthquake, and the level of shaking to expect. If weak or light shaking is expected, you’ll get a pop-up notification on your phone.
If moderate to heavy shaking is expected, the warning will be more intrusive. It will light up your phone screen and play a loud sound, overriding the volume or Do Not Disturb settings. The alert will take over your phone screen, with advice on how to stay protected: Drop, cover, and hold.
Google’s earthquake alerts are available across all 50 U.S. states and six U.S. territories, including American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Minor Outlying Islands. Initially available only in California, Oregon, and Washington, this system relied on the United States Geological Survey’s (USGS) ShakeAlert system.
Earthquake alerts on smartwatches
Now, Google’s alerts have expanded thanks to built-in accelerometers in many Android phones. These accelerometers allow the Android Earthquake Alerts System to analyze crowdsourced data to detect shaking. When an earthquake of 4.5 magnitude or greater is detected, Google sends one of two alerts:
- “Be Aware” Warning: When light to moderate shaking is on the way, your phone will emit a specific tone and notify you of the quake’s strength and distance.
- “Take Action” Warning: For moderate to extreme shaking, your phone will advise immediate shelter actions, such as dropping, covering, and holding on.
In June 2025, Samsung introduced its own version of earthquake alerts. Available with the One UI 8 update, this feature can be enabled on the latest handsets in the S, A, and Z series. Though Samsung has not detailed the mechanics, it is presumed to be similar to Google’s.
One key difference is the adjustable alert threshold: Samsung allows users to set alerts for quakes as small as 1.0 magnitude and to configure different thresholds for day and night. This provides a more customized alert system compared to Google’s, which starts at 4.5 magnitude. Earthquake alerts on your Android may already be turned on by default.
To ensure it is active:
1. Go to your phone’s settings menu.
2. Find and tap “Safety & emergency.”
3. Tap “Earthquake Alerts” and toggle the feature on. A demo button is also available, so you’ll know what to expect.
These notifications should alert you to an earthquake before you feel it, giving you valuable seconds to seek shelter. Even if you don’t live in an earthquake-prone area, having a smoke detector is a useful safety feature. Both Google’s and Samsung’s notifications aim to give users a crucial heads-up, which could save lives in an emergency.
Senior Software Engineer with a passion for building practical, user-centric applications. He specializes in full-stack development with a strong focus on crafting elegant, performant interfaces and scalable backend solutions. With experience leading teams and delivering robust, end-to-end products, he thrives on solving complex problems through clean and efficient code.
