Apple Sending Unsolicited Notifications for New Carpool Karaoke Episodes and Apple Music Echo Support

Apple has recently been sending out unsolicited notifications to iOS users, promoting Carpool Karaoke episodes and the availability of Apple Music on Amazon Echo devices.

Multiple unwanted and unapproved notifications direct from Apple have gone out during the month of December, irritating iPhone users who aren't interested in the features that Apple is promoting.

applemusicamazonecho

Image via Twitter user Brian Roemmelle

Apple started sending out Carpool Karaoke notifications earlier this month via the TV app, letting users know that a new episode was available. It didn't take long for iPhone and iPad users to take to Twitter to complain about the unsolicited notifications.

The Apple Music Amazon Echo notifications appear to have gone out today, based on multiple reports from Twitter users who received the info from Apple. Apple Music support for Amazon Echo devices rolled out last Friday.

Apple doesn't appear to be sending these push notifications to all users, so it's not clear what criteria the company is using to determine who to send content to. Apple Music and the TV app, the apps that the notifications are coming from, are installed on iOS devices by default and are not apps that users elected to install.


If you've been receiving notifications from Apple, you can stop them by turning off notifications for the apps via the Settings app. Go to Notifications > Music or TV, and toggle off "Allow Notifications." Unfortunately there's no way to keep the TV or Music notifications you do want without also getting the unwanted notifications from Apple.

Apple has previously sent out unsolicited notifications on multiple occasions, but the frequency appears to be picking up. Just recently, the company sent out notifications encouraging people to upgrade to the iPhone XR or XS and letting users know about discounted iPhone XR pricing with trade-in.

Apple's App Store rules do not allow for apps to send notifications for advertising, promotions, or marketing purposes, but it appears those rules don't apply to Apple's own notifications.

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Top Rated Comments

macduke Avatar
84 months ago
I don't want a new U2 album and I don't want this!
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
martyjmclean Avatar
84 months ago
Sales must be very low if they have to violate their own guidelines.
This past fortnight I've had a notification for Carpool Karaoke; multiple notifications for Apple Music and iPhone XR. All things I have no interest in.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
az431 Avatar
84 months ago
How exactly is this unsolicited when the user elected to enable notifications for these apps?
Perhaps you and the three people who liked your comment missed this part of the article:

Apple's App Store rules ('https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/') do not allow for apps to send notifications for advertising, promotions, or marketing purposes, but it appears those rules don't apply to Apple's own notifications.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dj64Mk7 Avatar
84 months ago
How exactly is this unsolicited when the user elected to enable notifications for these apps?
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bbednarz Avatar
84 months ago
Makes me want to smash my iPhone and switch to Android.

If you use the Music and TV apps and want notifications relevant to your subscriptions then you are de facto forced to accept Apple's ******** push ads. This is not OK.
You want to smash your phone and switch OSs because of a... push notification.....? Get a grip.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bbednarz Avatar
84 months ago
Are we really going to complain about a push notification? This reminds me of a lady that called in a few years ago when I was working in tech support. She was mad because she had to click "save changes" on her profile after she updated her profile.... People just like to complain about anything and everything.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)