Quick summary
RedAlert is a volunteer-built Israel missile alert app, not an official government system. Its Google Play listing (package com.red.alert) showed more than 1 million downloads and 11 languages as of 18 August 2026. Download it only from Google Play or the App Store, then run the in-app self-test before you land.
The app relays Home Front Command warnings but cannot guarantee advance notice: unstable connectivity can stop alerts arriving. This guide covers safe download, setup, shelter times and the official Home Front Command app you should install alongside it.
On 9 October 2026, the RedAlert listing on Google Play was still live under the package name com.red.alert. It showed more than 1 million downloads and support for 11 languages. It is what most travelers find first when they search for Red Alert Israel or an Israel missile alert app. It is not an official government system.
RedAlert’s own listing states that it is not owned or operated by the military, the country or the Home Front Command, and that it does not replace official alerts.
The distinction matters when shelter time is short. According to Home Front Command guidance, travelers in Tel Aviv have 90 seconds to reach shelter after an alert; in northern border areas, the window is 15 seconds. For anyone arriving in Israel, the question is which app to install, from where, and how to know it works before the first siren.
What RedAlert is — and what it is not
RedAlert is a volunteer-developed app for Android and iOS that relays emergency alerts published by Israel’s Home Front Command (Pikud Haoref). The Android code is open-sourced on GitHub, so independent developers can inspect what it does with your data. It covers rocket fire, hostile aircraft and terrorist infiltration alerts. It can follow your location or be locked to a specific city or region.
The official counterpart is the Home Front Command app, published by the Israel Home Front Command itself. It carries real-time alerts, emergency updates and protective guidance. Israel’s national emergency portal at oref.org.il is the government’s own front door for the same information.
As of 18 August 2026, the languages listed on Google Play included English, Hebrew, Arabic and Russian. The developer is named as Elad Nava, the app is free, and it requires Android 6.0 or later.
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Download the right app safely
In December 2023, cybersecurity researchers identified malware-infected fake RedAlert APKs circulating on third-party download sites. The fakes looked like the real app but ran code the real one does not contain. The two official stores are the only safe sources.
On iPhone, the app appears in the App Store as RedAlert – Alerts in Israel. A page offering a direct APK or a faster install bypasses Google’s screening.
If you have already installed a copy from somewhere else, delete it and run a malware scan before installing the store version. A fake alert app is worse than no app: it can quietly collect data from your phone while displaying convincing warnings.
Set it up before you land
The in-app self-test fires a test notification, showing whether your phone lets it through. Location selection lets the app follow your GPS or stay locked to a city or region such as Tel Aviv.
Two settings decide whether alerts reach you. Location-based alerts require a foreground service to run, and Android battery optimisation can suppress it. Silent mode override and vibration should both be on. The app ships 15 alert sounds plus support for a custom tone, so pick something that cuts through street noise.
If you have been looking for an Israel siren sound download, you do not need one: the built-in tones are already there.
On 19 December 2025, Home Front Command changes meant users had to reselect their city or town to keep receiving alerts. That requirement made the selected area part of keeping alerts working, not just an initial setup choice.
What to expect during an alert
When an alert fires, Red Alert shows the affected areas and a countdown to impact. It may notify you before or during the official siren, depending on your connectivity and device settings. It cannot guarantee advance warning. It does not independently detect or predict anything.
For travelers following Red Alert Tel Aviv alerts, heading north also changes insurance cover. Within 10 kilometres of the Lebanon and Syria borders, travel insurance policies are voided from the moment of entry, regardless of intent.
Alerts can name many towns at once because a single rocket triggers warnings across its possible landing range. That is normal, not a sign the app is broken.
Troubleshooting and official alternatives
If alerts are not arriving, check the foreground service and battery optimisation settings first. Unstable connectivity can prevent alerts from arriving at all: the app needs a live data connection to receive anything.
Outdoor sirens remain the nationwide backup. The IDF’s guidance on how to act during an alert is worth reading before you fly. Ask your hotel front desk where the shelter is when you check in.
If you are staying in a private rental, ask about the shelter before you book. Israeli law requires residential buildings constructed after 1992 to include a mamad, a reinforced safe room; older buildings may have a communal shelter in the basement or on the ground floor.
Do this before your flight lands
The current Android build is 1.0.118, updated 27 July 2026. Check your settings against the version you install.
- Install RedAlert from the RedAlert listing on Google Play or the App Store, and the official Home Front Command app alongside it. On Android, confirm the package ID reads com.red.alert before you tap install.
- Select your city or region, then reselect it if the app prompts you after a Home Front Command update.
- Self-test the notification, and exempt the app from battery optimisation so the foreground service keeps running.
- Watch: the version number and update notes — 1.0.24 in December 2025 changed city names and added boundary polygons to match, and further changes may follow.
Five minutes on airport Wi-Fi is the whole job. Do it before you clear passport control rather than in the taxi, so the first alert is not also the first time you learn your notifications are muted.
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Questions? Answers.
Is RedAlert the official Israeli alert app?
No. RedAlert is volunteer-developed and relays Home Front Command data. The official app is published by the Israel Home Front Command, and RedAlert’s own store listing states that it is not owned or operated by the military, the country or the Home Front Command.
Does RedAlert warn me before the siren?
It cannot guarantee it. The app may notify before or during the official siren depending on your connectivity and device settings, and it does not detect or predict attacks itself. Treat it as a relay, not as a safety window.
Which Android package should I install?
com.red.alert, from Google Play. The listing names Elad Nava as developer, requires Android 6.0 or later, and is free to download.
Why did I have to reselect my city?
On 19 December 2025, Home Front Command changes required users to reselect their city or town to keep receiving alerts. Version 1.0.24 updated the city names and added boundary polygons to match the new areas.
How long do I have to reach shelter?
Home Front Command guidance gives 90 seconds in Tel Aviv and 15 seconds in northern border areas. Once an alert fires, the app displays a countdown to impact for your selected zone.
Is the app free, and does it work on iPhone?
Yes, it is free on both stores. Android requires version 6.0 or later, and the iOS version is listed in the App Store as RedAlert – Alerts in Israel.
