A test alert confirms that a monitor's selected channel can enter the normal notification-delivery process. It is the best first check after changing a destination or alert setting.
Send a test email
- Open Monitors and select the monitor.
- Open Alert Channels in Monitor Tools.
- Turn on Email alerts if needed.
- Select a verified email destination.
- Select Send test email.
Uptime Basics accepts the request and queues a test message for the selected address. Delivery can take a short time after the request is accepted.
Send a test SMS
- Open the monitor's Alert Channels settings.
- Turn on SMS alerts.
- Select a verified Canadian or US phone number.
- Select Send test SMS.
The button is unavailable when SMS delivery is not currently enabled. A sent test SMS uses the normal SMS delivery path and can count toward the account's monthly SMS segment allowance.
What a test alert does not do
A test alert does not:
- Run an extra website availability check.
- Change the monitor from Up to Down or from Down to Up.
- Open or resolve an availability or performance incident.
- Prove that every future provider or carrier delivery will succeed.
It validates the selected destination and notification path without changing monitoring history.
Confirm the result
Review Alert History on the monitor after sending the test. A new record can move through delivery states such as Queued, Sending, Sent, or Delivered. Provider errors can instead produce Failed, Bounced, Rejected, or Suppressed.
For email, also check the recipient's spam or junk folder. For SMS, confirm the number, country code, plan allowance, and mobile carrier service.
If the test cannot be requested
Check these items:
- The destination is listed as Verified under Account > Alerts.
- The same channel is enabled for the monitor.
- The intended destination is selected on the monitor.
- The monitor still belongs to an active account.
- For SMS, the destination is in Canada or the United States and segments remain available.
If the test stays queued
Queued means the alert record exists but final delivery has not yet been confirmed. Wait briefly and refresh the monitor. If it remains queued, review the service notice on the dashboard and try again later rather than repeatedly sending tests.