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Does Sentry Pro support Critical Alerts on iOS?

Yes, Sentry Pro supports iOS Critical Alerts, ensuring you never miss an important notification about your Tesla. Critical Alerts are a special type of notification that can break through Silent Mode and Do Not Disturb settings, making them perfect for urgent Sentry Mode alerts.

What are Critical Alerts?

Critical Alerts are high-priority iOS notifications designed for time-sensitive and important information. Unlike regular notifications that respect your phone’s silent or Do Not Disturb settings, Critical Alerts will always play a sound and appear on your screen, even when your device is muted or in focus mode.

Why Critical Alerts Matter for Sentry Mode

When Sentry Mode detects suspicious activity around your Tesla, you need to know immediately - regardless of your phone’s notification settings. Critical Alerts ensure that:

  • You receive alerts even when your phone is on Silent Mode
  • Notifications come through during Do Not Disturb or Sleep Focus modes
  • You’re notified at night or during meetings without missing important security events
  • Your Tesla remains protected 24/7 with guaranteed alert delivery

How to Enable and Configure Critical Alerts

When you first launch Sentry Pro or update to a version with Critical Alert support, iOS will ask you to allow Critical Alerts for the app. Once granted, you can configure how Sentry Pro uses Critical Alerts:

  1. Open the Sentry Pro app
  2. Select your vehicle
  3. Tap “Pro Settings” on the main screen
  4. Enable “Critical Alert Escalation”
  5. Choose your preferred escalation mode: Auto or Always

Note that Critical Alerts require explicit iOS permission because of their ability to override system settings. If you haven’t granted permission yet, iOS will prompt you when you first enable Critical Alert Escalation.

Escalation Modes

Sentry Pro offers two Critical Alert escalation modes to match your notification preferences:

Auto mode intelligently escalates notifications based on threat severity:

  • Sends a normal notification when Sentry Mode first detects activity
  • Automatically escalates to a Critical Alert if a new threat is detected within 90 seconds
  • Provides a balanced approach that minimizes disruption while ensuring you’re alerted to ongoing threats
  • Ideal for most users who want important alerts without constant Critical Alert interruptions

Always Mode (Maximum Urgency)

Always mode delivers every Sentry Pro alert as a Critical Alert:

  • Every notification is sent with maximum urgency and sound volume
  • Breaks through Silent Mode and Do Not Disturb for all alerts
  • Ensures you never miss any Sentry Mode event, regardless of your phone’s state
  • Best for users who want guaranteed immediate awareness of any vehicle activity

Choosing the Right Mode

Use Auto mode if:

  • You want intelligent escalation that adapts to threat severity
  • You prefer fewer Critical Alert interruptions
  • You’re concerned about false positives or minor events
  • You want a balance between awareness and convenience

Use Always mode if:

  • Your Tesla is parked in a high-risk area
  • You need absolute certainty that you’ll hear every alert
  • You’re willing to accept more frequent interruptions for maximum security
  • Your vehicle contains valuable items that require constant monitoring

With Critical Alert Escalation, Sentry Pro gives you complete control over how urgently you’re notified about your Tesla’s security, ensuring you’re always protected in a way that fits your lifestyle.