Open Settings, tap Sounds, and pick a new alarm tone from the list

To change an alarm sound on your iPhone, open the Settings app, scroll down and tap Sounds & Haptics, then tap Alarm. A list of built-in tones appears — tap any one to hear a preview, then tap it again to confirm your choice. The next alarm you set will use that sound.

If you want to change the sound for an alarm that is already set, you can do that too. Open the Clock app, tap the Alarm tab at the bottom, find the alarm you want to change, tap Edit, tap Sound, pick a new tone, and tap Save. Both methods work; the Settings route changes your default for all future alarms, while the Clock app route changes only that one alarm.

Key Takeaways

  • The fastest way to change your default alarm sound is Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Alarm, then tap the tone you want.
  • To change the sound on a single alarm that is already set, open the Clock app, tap Alarm, tap Edit on that alarm, then tap Sound and choose a new tone.
  • iPhone comes with dozens of built-in alarm tones; tap any one in the list to hear what it sounds like before you confirm.
  • You can also use songs from your Music library as alarm sounds by tapping the song name at the bottom of the sound list.

Where to find built-in alarm tones and how to preview them

When you tap Sounds & Haptics in Settings and then Alarm, you see a list of tones with names like Radar, Bells, Chime, and Alarm Clock. Each one is a short sound that repeats when your alarm goes off. Tap any tone to hear a five-second sample — the sound plays through your phone's speaker, so you can tell whether it will wake you or annoy you.

The list includes about 30 built-in options. Some are gentle (Bells, Chime, Gentle Waves), some are loud and sharp (Alarm Clock, Radar, Siren), and some are musical (Marimba, Xylophone, Strum). If you use your phone on silent mode, the alarm will still sound at full volume — the silent switch does not affect alarms.

Using songs from your Music library as alarm sounds

You can set any song in your Music library as an alarm sound. In the Sounds & Haptics menu under Alarm, scroll to the bottom of the tone list and tap Pick a song. Your Music library opens; tap any song to use it. The alarm will start playing that song from the beginning when it goes off.

Songs work well if you want a gentler wake-up or a sound you actually enjoy hearing. Keep in mind that a song will play for its full length unless you dismiss the alarm, so a three-minute song means three minutes of sound if you do not tap Dismiss. For most people, a short built-in tone is more practical.

Changing the sound for one alarm versus all future alarms

iPhone lets you set a default alarm sound that applies to every new alarm you create, and also lets you give each individual alarm its own sound. If you change the default in Settings, all alarms you set from that point forward will use the new tone — but alarms you already created keep their old sounds unless you edit them one by one.

To change one alarm's sound without changing your default, open the Clock app, tap the Alarm tab, swipe left on the alarm you want to edit, tap the pencil icon, tap Sound, choose a new tone, and tap Save. This method is useful if you want most alarms to use one sound but need a specific alarm to stand out — for example, a loud siren for an important morning meeting and a gentler tone for a weekend alarm.

What happens if you delete a tone you were using

If you delete a custom tone or song that you set as an alarm sound, your iPhone automatically switches that alarm back to the default tone. You will not lose the alarm itself — just the custom sound. The alarm will still go off at the right time, but it will use whatever tone is currently set as your default.

Built-in tones cannot be deleted, so if you stick with the standard options, you will never run into this problem. If you use songs from your Music library and later delete those songs, the same thing happens: the alarm reverts to your default tone.

Troubleshooting: alarm is silent or using the wrong sound

If your alarm does not make any sound, check that your phone is not in silent mode — though alarms override silent mode, some older iOS versions had bugs. Restart your phone by turning it off and back on. Then open the Clock app, tap the alarm, tap Edit, and check that a sound is listed. If the sound field is blank, tap Sound and pick a tone.

If your alarm is using a sound you did not choose, open the Clock app, tap the alarm, tap Edit, and look at the Sound field. If it shows a song or tone you no longer want, tap Sound and pick a different one. Save the change. If the alarm keeps reverting to the wrong sound after you change it, restart your phone and try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a ringtone as an alarm sound?

No — iPhone separates ringtones, notification sounds, and alarm sounds. You can only use built-in alarm tones or songs from your Music library. If you want a specific sound to be both a ringtone and an alarm, add it to your Music library first, then use it as an alarm tone.

Will my alarm sound if my phone is on silent?

Yes. Alarms always sound at full volume, even when the silent switch is on. The silent switch mutes calls, notifications, and music, but not alarms. This is by design so you do not sleep through an important alarm.

Can I set different alarm sounds for different times of day?

Yes. Create separate alarms for each time, then edit each one to use a different sound. Open the Clock app, tap Alarm, tap the plus sign to add a new alarm, set the time, tap Sound, and choose a tone. Repeat for each alarm you need.

What if I want my alarm to gradually get louder instead of starting loud?

iPhone does not have a gradual volume feature for alarms. The alarm plays at whatever volume your phone is set to (or full volume if silent mode is on). Some third-party alarm apps offer fade-in, but the built-in Clock app does not.