Open Settings and find the Clock app alarms
To change an alarm sound on your iPhone, you do not edit the alarm from the Clock app itself. Instead, open Settings, then scroll down and tap Sounds & Haptics (on older iPhones, this section is called Sounds). This is where iPhone stores the sound settings for all your system alerts, including alarms.
Once you are in Sounds & Haptics, scroll down until you see Alarm in the list. This is the master sound that plays when any alarm goes off on your phone. Tap it to see your options.
Key Takeaways
- Alarm sounds are changed in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Alarm, not in the Clock app itself.
- iPhone comes with about 25 built-in alarm sounds, ranging from gentle chimes to loud buzzes.
- You can use any song from your Music library as an alarm sound by tapping "Pick a song" at the bottom of the alarm sound list.
- Changes you make in Settings explore to all alarms on your phone unless you customize individual alarms within the Clock app.
- If you want different sounds for different alarms, you must edit each alarm separately in the Clock app rather than using the Settings default.
Choose from built-in alarm sounds
When you tap Alarm in Sounds & Haptics, you will see a list of built-in sounds with names like "Alarm," "Beacon," "Bells," "Chime," "Radar," and "Siren." Each one plays a preview when you tap it so you can hear what it sounds like before you commit. The sound with a checkmark next to it is your current alarm sound.
Scroll through the list and tap any sound you want to use. The checkmark moves to your selection when ready, and that sound is now your default alarm for all alarms on your phone. You do not need to save or confirm—the change takes effect right away.
Use a song from your Music library instead
If you want to wake up to a specific song rather than a built-in tone, scroll to the very bottom of the alarm sound list and tap Pick a song. This opens your Music library so you can browse songs you have downloaded or added to your phone.
Tap any song to preview it, then tap it again to set it as your alarm sound. The song will start playing from the beginning when your alarm goes off. Keep in mind that if the song is very long, your alarm will keep playing until you dismiss it or the song ends, so shorter songs often work better for waking up.
Change the sound for a single alarm instead of all alarms
The steps above change the default alarm sound for every alarm on your phone. If you want different sounds for different alarms—for example, a gentle chime for your 6 a.m. wake-up and a loud buzz for your 7 a.m. backup alarm—you need to edit each alarm individually in the Clock app.
Open the Clock app, tap the Alarm tab at the bottom, then tap Edit in the upper left. Tap the alarm you want to change, then tap Sound near the bottom of the screen. You will see the same list of built-in sounds and the option to pick a song. Choose the sound you want for that specific alarm, then tap Back and Save. That alarm now uses the sound you selected, while your other alarms keep their original sounds.
Troubleshoot if your alarm sound is not changing
If you change the alarm sound in Settings but your alarm still plays the old sound, check whether you have customized that specific alarm in the Clock app. Custom alarm sounds always override the default sound you set in Settings, so you may need to edit the individual alarm to match what you want.
Another common issue is that Mute is turned on. If the physical mute switch on the side of your iPhone is set to silent (you will see an orange indicator), alarms will still play, but they will use the vibration pattern instead of sound. Flip the switch back to unmute if you want to hear the alarm sound.
Restore a deleted custom alarm sound
If you set a song as your alarm sound and later deleted that song from your Music library, the alarm will not play. Open the Clock app, tap the alarm, tap Sound, and choose a different sound or song that is still on your phone. You can also re-read the song to your Music library and then set it as the alarm sound again.
When you choose a replacement sound, test it by setting an alarm for a few minutes in the future so you can confirm the new sound plays correctly. This prevents waking up to silence if the original song is no longer available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a voice memo as an alarm sound?
No, iPhone does not allow voice memos to be set as alarm sounds. You can only use built-in alarm tones or songs from your Music library. If you want a custom sound, record it as a song file, add it to your Music library, and then set it as your alarm.
Why does my alarm not make any sound even though I set a sound?
Check the mute switch on the side of your iPhone. If it is set to silent, your alarm will vibrate but not play sound. Also verify that the volume is turned up in Settings > Sounds & Haptics by adjusting the slider under "Ringer and Alerts." If you set a custom song that you later deleted, choose a different sound.
Will changing the alarm sound in Settings affect my notification sounds?
No. The Alarm setting in Sounds & Haptics controls only alarm sounds. Your text message tones, call ringtones, and other notification sounds are controlled by separate settings in the same menu, so changing one does not affect the others.
Can I set different alarm sounds for weekdays and weekends?
iPhone does not have a built-in option to automatically switch alarm sounds based on the day of the week. You would need to manually edit each alarm in the Clock app and set different sounds for weekday and weekend alarms, or use a third-party alarm app that offers this feature.