diff --git a/Controls/LeftPanel.xaml b/Controls/LeftPanel.xaml
index aab27c7..c841730 100644
--- a/Controls/LeftPanel.xaml
+++ b/Controls/LeftPanel.xaml
@@ -767,6 +767,13 @@
                                            Foreground="#888" FontSize="10" TextWrapping="Wrap" Margin="0,0,0,6"/>
 
                                 <DockPanel Margin="0,0,0,4">
+                                    <!-- Test alert (creator ruling 2026-11-01): plays the clip this box
+                                         would play — custom if one is set, built-in otherwise. -->
+                                    <Button DockPanel.Dock="Right" Content="▶  Test alert"
+                                            Command="{Binding TestAlertCommand}"
+                                            Style="{StaticResource YtButtonSecondary}"
+                                            Padding="8,2" FontSize="11" VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                                            ToolTip="Play the alert here, exactly as a viewer would trigger it"/>
                                     <TextBlock DockPanel.Dock="Left" Text="Built-in video" Foreground="{StaticResource Brush.OnSurfaceVariant}" FontSize="11" VerticalAlignment="Center" Width="84"/>
                                     <ToggleButton Style="{StaticResource PillToggle}"
                                                   IsChecked="{Binding SelectedElement.AlertUseDefaultVideo, Mode=TwoWay}"
diff --git a/ViewModels/MainViewModel.Overlays.cs b/ViewModels/MainViewModel.Overlays.cs
index 3d455a5..59619d3 100644
--- a/ViewModels/MainViewModel.Overlays.cs
+++ b/ViewModels/MainViewModel.Overlays.cs
@@ -119,6 +119,30 @@ public partial class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
         set => SetProperty(ref _featureRequestEmail, value);
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Properties-panel "Test alert" (creator ruling 2026-11-01): fire one synthetic Super Chat
+    /// through the REAL alert layer, so what plays is exactly what a viewer would trigger — the
+    /// custom clip if one is set, the built-in clip otherwise. Local only; nothing is sent to
+    /// YouTube and no chat row is invented.
+    /// </summary>
+    public RelayCommand TestAlertCommand { get; private set; } = null!;
+
+    private void TestAlert()
+    {
+        _alertLayer.Enqueue(new Models.ChatMessage
+        {
+            AuthorName = "Test viewer",
+            Message = "Test alert — this is what a Super Chat looks like.",
+            Timestamp = System.DateTime.Now,
+            IsSimulated = true,
+            IsSuperChat = true,
+            SuperChatAmount = 5.00,
+            SuperChatCurrency = "$",
+            SuperChatDisplayString = "$5.00",
+            Kind = Models.ChatEventKind.SuperChat,
+        });
+    }
+
     public ICommand OpenSettingsCommand { get; }
     public ICommand OpenBugCommand { get; }
     public ICommand OpenFeatureCommand { get; }
diff --git a/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs b/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
index 641e89a..74d53c7 100644
--- a/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
+++ b/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
@@ -235,6 +235,7 @@ public partial class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
         OpenMicPickerCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => PickMicrophone());
         OpenSettingsCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => ToggleSettingsDrawer());
         InitPreviewHistory();
+        TestAlertCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => TestAlert());
         OpenBugCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => ShowOverlay(nameof(IsBugOpen), "Report Bug"));
         OpenFeatureCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => ShowOverlay(nameof(IsFeatureOpen), "Feature Request"));
         OpenAboutCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => ShowOverlay(nameof(IsAboutOpen), "About"));