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Apple Adds 'Test Alerts' Toggle to iPhone Just in Case You Really Want to Receive Test Emergency Alerts

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Apple has added a new "Test Alerts" toggle to the Settings app in iOS 15.6 and the third beta of iOS 16. The toggle is visible only on iPhones connected to a U.S. carrier and allows users to enable test emergency alerts from the U.S. government.

iPhone 13 Test Alerts Feature
Turning on "Test Alerts" enables test emergency alerts to be received on both the iPhone and Apple Watch. The toggle is located in the Settings app under Notifications → Government Alerts and is turned off by default. Apple says the government is responsible for the content and the frequency of the test alerts.

It was already possible to enable test alerts on previous versions of iOS by installing a special profile from Apple or dialing a code in the Phone app. The toggle simply provides users with an easier way to opt in to receive test alerts.

Apple has updated support documents for the iPhone and Apple Watch with more details.

(Test Alerts graphic based on screenshot shared by via @MikeBeas)

Related Forums: iOS 15, iOS 16

Top Rated Comments

TinyMito Avatar
TinyMito
48 months ago
Canada needs these toggles… BECAUSE Canada kept on misusing these Emergency alerts!!!

Amber alert in the middle of the night, 500kms away from my city + no description of the child or kidnapper… what do they expect us to do? Get out in PJ and drive, 500kms around to find the child?

[SPOILER="banana"]w..........t.......f......... Canada service…[/SPOILER]

Overslept. Lost my Job. Apply for IE. Here goes your Money.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
ChromeAce
48 months ago
If you live in Hawaii, you can also opt to receive Fake Incoming Nuclear Missile alerts.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
I
ILoveCalvinCool
48 months ago
Is there anyone who chooses to leave Amber Alerts on if they know about this setting?
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Randel.D Avatar
Randel.D
48 months ago
The title of this article lol 😄
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B
BootsWalking
48 months ago
I want government alerts enabled in case of nuclear apocalypse - that way I can at least know to call friends and family to say goodbye. And also so I know when a baby has been abducted 200 miles away.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Arnold Ziffel Avatar
Arnold Ziffel
48 months ago
I don’t need the government pinging me.

We used to have Spectrum TV, and they would interrupt shows for Amber Alerts for incidents that happened hundreds of miles away. No point in that other than to ramp up the fear. All reality is local.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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