Apple has added a new “Test Alerts” toggle to the Settings app in the third beta of iOS 15.6 and iOS 16. The toggle is only visible on iPhones connected to U.S. carriers and allows users to enable test emergency alerts from the U.S. government. Turn on “Test Alerts” to receive test emergency alerts on your iPhone and Apple Watch.
The switch 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 frequency of test alerts.
While test alerts could be enabled in previous versions of iOS by installing a special Apple profile or by dialing a code in the Phone app, this switch simply provides a simpler way for users to opt in to receive test alerts in case they are harassed or mistakenly believed.
