Shut That Push Ads Off: Apple Pisses Off iPhone Users with In-Wallet Advertising
- Penname: Malte Mansholt's Raucous Rant
- Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes
IPhone users find unwanted intrusion with forced ad push from Apple. - Users express frustration over unwanted push notifications for advertisements on their iPhone devices, inquiring about the ability to disable them.
Toss aside your Siri-ous concerns, iPhone fanboys! Your digital wallet has turned into a slot machine, courtesy of Apple's sneaky advertising gimmicks. The Wallet app, once a neat organizer for your EC card, flight tickets, and even your driver's license, has metamorphosed into a pushy, ad-touting machine.
In a twist that's as gripping as a Brad Pitt thriller, the Wallet app has commenced bumping unsolicited advertisements onto your home screen via push notifications.
"10 bucks off at Fandango!" it cackled at iPhone users in the U.S., tempting them with a discount code for tickets to the F1 movie. The notification bore the Wallet icon, further flaunting its ill-timed intrusion onto your device's sacred space.
Your iPhone Went Full Kardashian: Advertising Galore
The abrupt ad onslaught left Apple fanatics flabbergasted. dozens of them took to Reddit, wondering aloud, "How the hell can I turn this off?" Their disdain echoed across various social media platforms.
"I'm not shelling out a grand for an iPhone to be spammed with ads!" one user marshaled the masses' collective wrath, while another posed the astute question, "This isn't Apple-like, is it?"
Indeed, Apple has been a paragon of restraint in the advertising realm, compared to other tech titans. Unlike their rivals, who clutter their operating systems with ads in every nook and cranny, Apple has thus far confined advertisements to the App Store, where app providers can cough up cash to promote their wares.
But this isn't just any advertisement: The Formula 1 flick "F1," starring honey-haired hunk Brad Pitt, is a production of Apple TV+. With a budget of over $300 million, it's one of the priciest films ever made. It's safe to say that Apple harbors a vested interest in the flick's success, and this pushy promotion likely isn't the last one we'll see.
Will the Ads Keep Coming?
A peek at the upcoming iOS 26 operating system's test version reveals a potential new menu item: "Offers and Ads" within the Wallet app settings. The description reads, "Wallet displays special offers and discounts from Apple or Apple partners." This ominous addition suggests that Apple may be planning to stretch this advertising frontier further, but the option currently appears disabled by default on testing devices.
For users running the still-current iOS 18, there seems to be no way to block these ads yet. Apple has yet to comment on whether these ads will extend beyond the US and whether the frequency of ads will increase in the future.
Sources: Reddit, Techcrunch
- iPhone
- Apple
Bonus Info: How to Say "Adios" to Wallet Ads
To say farewell to those pesky promo notifications in the Wallet app, follow these simple steps:
- Navigate to the Wallet app on your iPhone.
- Tap the three dots icon in the upper right corner to access the Wallet settings.
- From the menu, select Notifications.
- Under Notifications, locate the toggle labeled Offers & Promotions and flick it off.
This setting will debut in iOS 26 and effectively mutes promotional push notifications, allowing you to continue receiving essential alerts without ad interruptions. If you turn off all Wallet notifications, you might overlook important notifications related to your cards and passes, so the targeted Offers & Promotions toggle is the best approach.
In short, navigate the Wallet app's notification settings to deactivate the Offers & Promotions toggle, and bid those pushy ads adieu. This feature will make its debut with iOS 26.
- The Wallet app, now full of ads, is promoting movies like the upcoming Apple TV+ production, "F1," featuring Brad Pitt, marking a departure from Apple's traditionally ad-restrained approach.
- In the world of gadgets, the latest fad appears to be smartphones; not just their sleek design or advanced technology, but also their ability to bombard users with unwanted advertisements.
- As technology continues to evolve, one can't help but ponder whether entertainment platforms, like streaming services or movie theaters, will one day offer app-based tickets and memberships, similar to Apple Wallet, thus integrating entertainment and technology even further.
