Does PHapp® work without internet?
Limited offline access; internet required for new alerts
PHapp requires an internet connection to receive new alerts, but provides limited offline functionality.
What Works Offline
When you don't have internet access, you can still:
- View alerts you've already received
- Access action steps from previous alerts
- Review your alert history
- Read emergency guidance and resources
What Requires Internet
You need an active internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular data) to:
- Receive new alerts in real-time
- Update alert status (e.g., when an alert expires or is updated)
- Add or modify monitoring locations
- Change notification settings
- Access web-based resources linked from alerts
Alternative Access When Offline
Even without the app running, you can still receive and access alerts through other channels:
- SMS/Text: Alerts are delivered as text messages and don't require an internet connection or the app to be installed
- Web: Access alerts from any browser at ph.app when you have limited connectivity
- Email: Get alerts delivered to your inbox
- In-app notifications: Will be delivered when you reconnect to the internet
- Alert backlog: When you reconnect, PHapp will sync and show any alerts you missed
Best Practices
To ensure you don't miss critical alerts:
- Enable multiple notification channels (app, web, SMS/text, and email)
- Enable SMS/text alerts as a reliable backup that works with limited connectivity
- Ensure your device has cellular data enabled for PHapp
- Allow background data usage for the app
- Keep your device charged during emergencies