MyShake - Earthquake detection & notification

MyShake is a comprehensive and free earthquake app offering these features:

- Earthquake Early Warning: Receive timely, potentially life-saving early warning alerts in California, Oregon, and Washington. MyShake uses the USGS ShakeAlert system to deliver alerts for earthquakes of magnitude 4.5 (or greater) several seconds before shaking arrives.

- Earthquake Safety: View safety tips for earthquake preparedness such as securing hazardous or moveable items and creating a disaster plan. Know what to do during an earthquake and learn more about Drop, Cover, and Hold On!

- Earthquake Map: View and explore a map of earthquakes around the world and get detailed information such as earthquake magnitude, location, and depth. Share your experience of an earthquake and see community reports of shaking and damage.

- Earthquake Notification: Stay informed of earthquakes as they occur by receiving notifications on your phone. Select your regions of interest and the earthquake magnitude. You will never miss out on any earthquake greater than magnitude 3.5!

- Smartphone-Based Global Seismic Network: Participate in a smartphone-based global seismic network. In this research project, your phone becomes a mini-seismometer and contributes to the detection of earthquakes wherever you are. This global citizen-science based seismic network has the potential to provide early warning earthquake alerts in every region of the world, even in the absence of traditional seismic networks!

About Us

MyShake is developed by the University of California, Berkeley, Seismology Lab and funded by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. The Berkeley Seismology Lab conducts essential research on earthquakes and solid earth processes while collecting and delivering high-quality geophysical data.

MyShake is available in English, Spanish (Español), Chinese Traditional (繁體中文), Filipino, Korean (한국인), and Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt).

MyShake is available to everyone for free with no ads and no subscriptions!

Get Started

How do I set up my phone to get earthquake early warning alerts?

If you are in California, Oregon or Washington, you can receive earthquake early warning alerts. Early warning alerts are for an earthquake happening right now and are meant for you to take protective action.

To set up, all you need to do is add your Homebase, ie the address where you live. If the app didn't already prompt you to enter a Homebase, you may enter it yourself by going into the settings page of the app. That is all you need to do.

You cannot add multiple Homebases, but you may choose to turn on Location permissions so you can get alerted for example at your workplace too.

Remember to open the app once every couple of weeks to keep the app fresh and ready to receive alerts.

The early warning alerts are sent for all earthquakes of magnitude 4.5 or more in areas of light shaking or greater. These thresholds are set by government agencies and cannot be altered. The system is designed to rapidly detect an earthquake, estimate its magnitude and shaking intensity, and to send alerts. It is possible that the intial magnitude estimate is incorrect. It is possible that the light shaking is imperceptible to you.

User Tips

We recommend you use the app at least once every month, just for a couple of minutes. This will keep the app fresh and ready to receive alerts. Not using the app for a prolonged period might cause the app to be put into deep sleep and potentially unable to receive alerts.

The easiest way to remember to use the app periodically is to tap on the earthquake notification you might get once every couple of weeks. The app is configured to notify you of M6.5 or above earthquakes occuring anywhere in the world. M6.5 earthquakes occur with a frequency of roughly once every two weeks. By tapping on this notification, and opening the MyShake app, you can keep the app fresh, and not have to rely on your own reminders to use the app!

If you are not getting any notifications, please check the screenshots on this FAQ answer to make sure you have the Global notifications enabled.

If you are unsure that your app can still receive alerts, email us your app debug information by following the screenshots in this FAQ answer. We will send you a private test alert.