To set an alarm on iPhone, open the Clock app, tap Alarms, then tap the + button. Set the time, choose any options like Repeat or Sound, and tap the check mark (or Done) to save. You can also just say, “Hey Siri, set an alarm for 7 a.m.”
These steps follow Apple’s Set an alarm in Clock on iPhone guide and its How to set and change alarms on your iPhone support article.
In this article:
- Set an alarm in the Clock app
- What each alarm option does
- Change, turn off or delete an alarm
- Make the alarm louder or quieter
- Will the alarm ring in Silent mode?
- If your alarm doesn’t sound
- Wake-up alarms and sleep schedules
- FAQs
How to Set an Alarm in the Clock App
Apple says you can set alarms for any time, repeat them on specific days, and adjust how long the snooze lasts.
- Open the Clock app.
- Tap Alarms, then tap the + (Add) button.
- Set the time.
- Choose any options you want (see the next section).
- Tap the check mark, or Done, to save.
Using Siri: say something like “Set an alarm for 7 a.m.” Siri adds the alarm to the Clock app, where you can change it later.
Result: The new alarm appears in the Alarms list with its switch turned on.
What Each Alarm Option Does
- Repeat: choose the days of the week the alarm should go off, such as weekdays only.
- Label: give the alarm a name, like “Water the plants,” so you know why it is ringing.
- Sound: choose a ringtone, a song or a vibration.
- Snooze: turn on to see a Snooze button when the alarm goes off.
- Snooze Duration: choose how long the alarm pauses when you tap Snooze.
For a quiet cue, see how to set a vibration-only iPhone alarm. To wake up to a song, recording or exported ringtone, see how to set a custom iPhone alarm sound.
How to Change, Turn Off or Delete an Alarm
Change an alarm
In Clock > Alarms, tap the alarm time. Or tap Edit, tap the alarm, make your changes, and tap Save.
Turn off an alarm
Tap the switch next to the alarm time. The alarm stays in your list so you can turn it back on later.
Delete an alarm
Apple lists three ways:
- Swipe left on the alarm and tap Delete.
- Tap Edit, tap the delete button next to the alarm, then tap Delete.
- Tap Edit, tap the alarm, then tap Delete Alarm.
For more detail, see how to delete, turn off, or change an alarm on iPhone.
How to Make the Alarm Louder or Quieter
Open Settings > Sounds & Haptics, then use the alarm volume control your version shows:
- Alarms and Timers: Apple’s current guide says to turn off Match Ringtone Volume and drag the slider for a separate alarm level, or keep it on so alarms follow your ringtone volume.
- Ringtone and Alerts: Apple’s support article describes the earlier layout, where you drag this slider and an alert plays so you can hear the level. It also changes your ringtone and alert volume.
In either layout, turn on Change with Buttons if you want the volume buttons on the side of your iPhone to change the alarm volume.
Result: Your alarms ring at the level you set. Try a test alarm a few minutes ahead while you are awake.
Will My Alarm Go Off in Silent Mode?
Yes. Apple says your alarm still sounds when you:
- Turn on Silent mode with the Ring/Silent switch or the Action button.
- Turn on Do Not Disturb or another Focus.
- Connect headphones. The alarm plays at a set volume through both your iPhone’s built-in speaker and your wired or wireless headphones.
What to Do If Your iPhone Alarm Doesn’t Sound
Apple suggests these checks if your alarm is too quiet, doesn’t sound or only vibrates:
- Check the volume: press the volume buttons, or drag the slider in Settings > Sounds & Haptics.
- Check the Sound: if the alarm only vibrates, make sure its sound isn’t set to None. In Clock > Alarms, tap Edit, tap the alarm, tap Sound, and choose one.
- StandBy: when you use StandBy, haptics for alarms are disabled, so make sure the alarm has a sound selected.
- Leave the clock alone: Apple warns that manually changing the time in Settings, for example to change game timers, can affect alarms.
If it is a timer rather than an alarm that stays quiet, see why the timer alarm isn’t going off on your iPhone.
Wake-Up Alarms and Sleep Schedules
Alarms you make in Clock are separate from the wake-up alarm in a Health app sleep schedule. If you have a sleep schedule, Apple’s wake up alarm guide explains how to change it from Clock:
- Open Clock, tap Alarms, then tap Change under Sleep | Wake Up.
- Drag the wake-up handle to change only your wake time, or drag the arc to shift your whole schedule.
- Scroll to Alarm Options, turn the alarm on, and choose Sounds & Haptics, Alarm volume, Snooze and Snooze Duration.
- Tap the check mark, then tap Change Next Alarm Only. Choosing Change This Schedule updates your schedule going forward.
Note that the wake-up alarm has its own volume slider under Alarm Options, separate from the Sounds & Haptics setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do alarms repeat automatically?
No. An alarm rings once unless you choose days under Repeat.
Can I use a Clock timer to stop music or Netflix?
Yes. See how to use a Clock timer to stop Netflix or music.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are tested on current devices or checked against official product documentation, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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