On iPhone devices, push notifications are subject to Apple’s discretion, and users cannot override this behavior on their own. This insight comes from Ivan Vavilov, an iOS developer familiar with app distribution and notification workflows. He explains that push alerts for any app are delivered directly by Apple’s systems. While the app developer’s server handles the submission and initiation, the actual delivery path is managed by Apple’s infrastructure.
Vavilov notes that current Apple rules prevent replacing the official notification server with a third party. In practice, this means Apple maintains strict control over which apps can send alerts, and how they reach the user. Such control, as the expert suggests, helps curb mass notification spam that could irritate users and tarnish Apple’s reputation.
Developers may seek alternatives to push notifications, but doing so typically involves additional costs and redesigns. The exchange of notification methods is generally limited to channels like SMS or email. There are also options to send messages through various messenger services, a route that has seen adoption by some banks in Armenia and Kazakhstan to maintain communication with customers.
If an app is removed from the App Store, its push notifications disappear as well. Users who have previously downloaded the app can continue to use the last available version, but without any notification capabilities.
Earlier observations mentioned that both Apple and Google play central roles in the mechanics of contactless payment technologies on smartphones, reinforcing the broader point that platform-level controls shape how apps communicate with users. This is part of a broader ecosystem design that balances developer flexibility with consumer safety and brand integrity.
Citations attributed to the noted iOS expert indicate that the ecosystem prioritizes reliable notification delivery while avoiding abuses that could degrade user experience. This stance reflects a broader industry pattern where platform owners centralize critical features to preserve security, performance, and trust across millions of devices.