Highlights

• Apple’s Critical Messages allows apps to send highly important messages via SMS for urgent situations.
• The Critical Messaging API is designed for specific purposes such as employee check-ins in hazardous environments.
• It comes with strict limitations preventing its misuse for unsolicited messages or spam.
• Users can opt out of receiving Critical Messages on a per-app basis through the Settings app.

Apple has quietly added a new feature called Critical Messages to iPhones in a recent iOS update. Unlike Priority Notifications in iOS 18.4, which ensures important alerts appear prominently on your Lock Screen, this feature allows apps to send highly important messages via SMS.

Apple designed Critical Messages for very specific and urgent situations, not for general notifications or marketing.

Describing the feature in its documentation, Apple writes, “The Critical Messaging API provides a way for apps to deliver critical messages to a set of phone numbers. This can serve a number of purposes. For example, if an enterprise wants to receive check-ins from employees working in hazardous or rural environments, being able to automatically message a corporate check-in point may help check the safety of those employees without disrupting their work, or if the employee is unable to access or unlock their iPhone.”

Since this feature could be misused, Apple has put strict limitations in place. Making it clear, the company mentions, “You may not use the Critical Messaging API for sending unsolicited messages or for phishing or spamming including but not limited to engaging in any types of activities that violate anti-spamming laws and regulations, or that are otherwise improper, inappropriate, or illegal.”

This means you won’t get unnecessary messages and the feature will only be used in rare or essential situations, similar to critical-level notifications.

How to Opt Out of Critical Messages?

If you receive Critical Messages you don’t want, Apple gives you the option to opt out on a per-app basis. Here’s how –

• Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
• Go to Privacy & Security → Critical Messages.
• You’ll see a list of apps that have requested permission, simply toggle off any app you don’t want sending these messages.

While most users may never even notice this feature, it’s an extra layer of communication that could be valuable in specific high-stakes situations.

FAQs

Q1. What is the Critical Messages feature in the latest iOS update?

Answer Apple has quietly added a new feature called Critical Messages to iPhones in a recent iOS update. Unlike Priority Notifications in iOS 18.4, which ensures important alerts appear prominently on your Lock Screen, this feature allows apps to send highly important messages via SMS.

Q2. What are the limitations for using the iOS Critical Messaging API?

Answer. Apple mentions, “You may not use the Critical Messaging API for sending unsolicited messages or for phishing or spamming including but not limited to engaging in any types of activities that violate anti-spamming laws and regulations, or that are otherwise improper, inappropriate, or illegal.”

Q3. How can users opt out of receiving Critical Messages on iPhone?

Answer. If you receive Critical Messages you don’t want, Apple gives you the option to opt out on a per-app basis. Here’s how: Open the Settings app on your iPhone, go to Privacy & Security → Critical Messages and toggle off any app you don’t want sending these messages.

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