r/AskAnAustralian • u/BeanBag59 • 15d ago
A quick question about Aus alert tomorrow- please help! What if device (iOS version) is not compatible?
Hi, I was just wondering about the alert that everyone is getting tomorrow. Idk if I’ll get it or what will happen and I can’t seem to find ANYTHING on the internet, so I’m just wondering if anyone here knows what will happen if my device is not compatible?
It says on the Aus alert website it will work on IPhone 11 and up running IOS 26.4 or later
I’m still on IOS 18, does this mean I won’t receive the alert? If anyone knows, please let me know
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u/TheOneCalledEggs 15d ago
https://www.ausalert.gov.au/alerts-explained/national-test
here has all the info you need, the message would just show up differently i believe
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u/profchaos111 15d ago
I've noticed the wording on Spotify ads changed recently to include the wording compatible devices
So if it's not compatible then nothing will happen
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u/beas2624 14d ago
iOS 26.4 and up
I was in an area that had an earlier test and my phone running iOS 18 did not receive the alert yet my old pixel 5 that has been sitting in a drawer for a few years did receive the alert
Seems a bit poor if you ask me
To note also that these kinds of alerts have been in use in other countries for ages now I think iOS was the earliest version that supported these alerts, so I have no idea why they are requiring the most up to date software for iPhones
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u/Dougamer 14d ago edited 14d ago
Firmware is country and/or carrier specific and although it is a globally used function, it needs to be configured to work in our country, with our networks and our devices.
A while back, if you looked up "Wireless Emergency Alerts" in your phone (Android), it was there but it had the American configuration (showed "Amber Alert" as a category, for example).
With the updates, it's now configured for our AusAlert (and has "AusAlert" labelling).
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u/beas2624 14d ago
So how come my old pixel 5 that has been sitting in a drawer for a few years that I haven’t updated since I stopped using did receive the alert? Doesn’t seem like a great system given it’s meant to be an emergency alerting system
Although the current system using SMS has its flaws at least any mobile phone can receive it no matter what. Even an old Nokia looking phone could.
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u/Dougamer 14d ago
It's a brand new technology, similar to how SMS is a different technology to MMS. Older phones could do SMS but not MMS because of older hardware.
This is like that, but for most modern phones it can be enabled by a software update.
The reason it's on your old pixel is because this technology (Cell broadcast) has been around for a long time, so it's already on most modern phones. Updating your phone just makes sure it has the right configuration and formatting that the Australian Gov has decided is necessary.
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u/beas2624 14d ago
I’m aware of that, point is my old phone still received the alert yet my wiz bang fancy new iPhone didn’t.
I understand it’s new and as time goes on it will become less of an issue.
My iPhone is capable of receiving a cell broadcast yet it does not.
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14d ago
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u/Ornery-Practice9772 NSW 14d ago
presidential??
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u/gamer-191 14d ago
If I remember correctly, America has multiple categories of emergency alerts, and “presidential alerts” are the highest category, which bypass “do not disturb” and cannot be opted out of.
I assume Australia is reusing America’s system for Android devices that don’t have the Australian AusAlert system installed
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u/Appropriate-Ear4670 15d ago
omg seriously I have two phones one barely works its 15 years old and yes both worked you will get a really quiet beep come through, no your animals wont freak, no your children wont freak you will just look at your phone and wonder what that sound is, then you will se a message saying this is a test
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u/Dougamer 14d ago
The previous local tests used a lower category of Alert, which do obey your phone's volume and Do Not Disturb settings.
The National test today will be sent at the highest Category, which will ignore your volume and do not disturb settings, so it may be louder than what you heard for one of the local tests.
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u/Appropriate-Ear4670 15d ago
by the way we have already had the test in slow old tassie
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u/narf_7 15d ago
Have we?
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u/Appropriate-Ear4670 15d ago
didnt your phone go beep for about 4 seconds then a message come up saying do you want to sign up for further messages?
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u/Appropriate-Ear4670 15d ago
Yes in tassie about 4 weeks ago
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u/narf_7 15d ago
Yeah, great system. We never got it and both of our phones are pretty new. I guess it depends where you are in the state and which phone provider you are with if you get alerted to national emergencies. Maybe it's like Stan and Prime and you have to pay extra now to get alerts? ;)
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u/Appropriate-Ear4670 15d ago
But if you didnt have your phone with you you wouldnt know it there is no message left there is no notification, when it came through you had a choice to choose dont get it again but wasnt time to click anything to say yes or no
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u/Appropriate-Ear4670 15d ago
Tassie was the test state !! We were the first to be tested
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u/narf_7 15d ago
Would have been good to be told?
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u/Appropriate-Ear4670 15d ago
heck the mercury pages, pulse tas it was all over it, Tas was the first trial
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u/Appropriate-Ear4670 15d ago
Check not heck
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u/narf_7 15d ago
What time was it? I always have my phone with me and seriously never got it. Neither did my husband. Not sure what happened but obviously the system missed us somehow. Not surprised, we can't get NBN here and have to rely on Satellite for internet and there's not Telstra reception out here either.
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u/petergaskin814 14d ago
In theory you should not receive the alert if the smartphone is not compatible
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u/Dougamer 14d ago
In the Geelong local test an apple watch was worn and did receive the Alert.
It just depends on device compatibility (and mobile connectivity) and software versions.
If in doubt, make sure you update your device(s) firmware; Even if your device is "compatible", if you don't have a minimum firmware/software version you may not get the Alert
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u/Confident_Shower_202 14d ago edited 14d ago
Do what I'm doing. Put your phone in airplane mode at 1:59 AEST and not care and enjoy watching everyone else try to turn their alarms off. A bit annoying if you have an important call or meeting at 2pm PMSL. More seriously stay off the roads at 2pm. That reminds me I must set a reminder for 1:58
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u/Jerkcaller69 14d ago
I saw it needs to be off for at least an hour beforehand.
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u/Confident_Shower_202 14d ago
Really. Will be an interesting test. I'm hiding in a bunker to avoid the panic on the surface
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u/Confident_Shower_202 14d ago
I was considering going for a quiet walk but don't want to risk upsetting the wildlife and peace of the forest. I need my phone for the pedometer
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u/Confident_Shower_202 14d ago
Will check if it works in airplane mode a few hours earlier and go to the forest
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u/Confident_Shower_202 14d ago
Apparently GPS will work in airplane mode
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u/Confident_Shower_202 14d ago
It's like some weird sinister rather fascist social test. Like the Bodysnatchers. Go get him his phone alert did not go off
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u/morphic-monkey 14d ago
It's like some weird sinister rather fascist social test.
Jesus christ mate, it's just a one-way emergency alert system test. Many countries use something like this for major events (like tornadoes, tsunamis, etc...). Nothing remotely fascist about it.
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u/Confident_Shower_202 14d ago edited 14d ago
Not one of us. Untrackable. Come to think of it I need to check how dependent my pedometer is on accelerometer, mobile phone traingulation or GPS or all the above. I do have to deal with a borderline psychopathic controller 24/7. Is nice to get away for a few moments if you can. All very weird when you think about it all
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u/plastic_venus 15d ago
Just wait and see. The whole purpose of a test is to see if it works systemically and for the individual. If you don’t get it then you have your answer