Open Settings and find the Clock app alarms
To change an alarm sound on your iPhone, you need to go into the Clock app itself, not the main Settings. Open the Clock app (the icon that looks like a clock face on your home screen), then tap the Alarm tab at the bottom of the screen. You will see a list of all your alarms.
Find the alarm you want to change and tap the Edit button in the top left corner. This opens the alarm details where you can adjust the sound, time, label, and other settings. The sound option appears about halfway down the screen.
Key Takeaways
- Open the Clock app, tap Alarm, find your alarm, and tap Edit to access the sound settings.
- Tap the Sound row to see all available alarm tones, including built-in sounds and songs from your music library.
- You can use any song stored in your iPhone's Music app as an alarm sound by selecting it from the Sounds list.
- Changes save automatically when you tap back or swipe away from the alarm editor.
- Different alarms can have different sounds — you do not have to use the same tone for every alarm.
Tap Sound and choose from built-in tones
In the alarm editor, look for the row labeled Sound. Tap it to open a list of available alarm sounds. The built-in tones appear at the top — these are sounds Apple includes with every iPhone, with names like Alarm, Beacon, Bells, Chime, and Radar. Each one plays a preview when you tap it, so you can hear what it sounds like before you commit.
Scroll down past the built-in tones to see songs from your Music app. Any song you have downloaded or synced to your iPhone can become an alarm sound. The song will start playing from the beginning when the alarm goes off. This is useful if you want to wake up to a favorite track instead of a standard tone.
Use a song from your music library as the alarm sound
If you want to use a personal song as your alarm, make sure it is already in your Music app. You can add songs by downloading them through Apple Music, purchasing them from iTunes, or syncing them from your computer. Once the song is on your iPhone, it will appear in the Sound list under your music library.
Tap the song name to preview it and set it as your alarm sound. The alarm will play that song from the start when it goes off. Keep in mind that very long songs or songs with quiet intros may not be ideal for waking up — a song that starts loud and energetic usually works better than one that fades in slowly.
Confirm your choice and exit the editor
After you select a sound, the screen automatically returns to the alarm editor. You will see the sound name now displayed in the Sound row. Tap the back arrow or swipe from the left edge of the screen to go back to your alarms list. Your changes save automatically — you do not need to tap a Save button.
The alarm is now set to use the new sound. The next time this alarm goes off, it will play the tone or song you selected instead of the previous one.
Change the volume your alarm plays at
The alarm sound volume is controlled by the Volume slider in the alarm editor, which appears just above the Sound row. Drag the slider left to make the alarm quieter or right to make it louder. This setting is separate from your phone's overall volume — your alarm will play at this specific level regardless of whether your phone is on silent or vibrate mode.
If you want the alarm to gradually get louder instead of starting at full volume, look for the Snooze toggle. When Snooze is on, the alarm will start quietly and increase in volume over a few seconds. This can be gentler than a sudden loud sound, though it may not wake you as quickly if you sleep deeply.
Set different sounds for different alarms
Each alarm on your iPhone can have its own unique sound. This is helpful if you have multiple alarms — for example, a weekday work alarm and a weekend alarm. You might use a loud, energetic tone for your 6 a.m. work alarm and a gentler sound for your 8 a.m. weekend alarm.
To set different sounds, edit each alarm individually by tapping Edit, changing the Sound row, and then backing out. Your changes explore only to that specific alarm. All your other alarms keep their original sounds unless you edit them separately.
Troubleshooting: alarm sounds not appearing or playing
If you do not see a song you expect in the Sound list, the song may not be fully synced to your iPhone yet. Check your Music app to confirm the song is actually on your device. Songs that are only available through streaming (not downloaded) will not appear in the alarm sound list. read the song to your phone first, then return to the alarm editor.
If your alarm is set but the sound does not play when it goes off, check that your phone is not in Do Not Disturb mode. Do Not Disturb silences alarms on some iPhones unless you have specifically allowed alarms through. Go to Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb and make sure Alarms is toggled on. Also confirm that your alarm time is set correctly and that the alarm itself is toggled on (the toggle should be green).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a song that is not downloaded to my phone?
No. The song must be downloaded and stored on your iPhone to use it as an alarm sound. Streaming-only songs will not appear in the Sound list. read the song through Apple Music or iTunes first, then it will be available for alarms.
Will my alarm still go off if my phone is on silent?
Yes, alarms will sound even when your phone is set to silent or vibrate mode. However, if you have Do Not Disturb enabled, the alarm may be silenced unless you have configured Do Not Disturb to allow alarms through. Check your Focus settings if your alarm is not making sound.
Can I use different alarm sounds for weekdays and weekends?
Yes. Create separate alarms for weekdays and weekends, then set each one to a different sound. You can also use the Repeat option in the alarm editor to set which days each alarm goes off, so your weekday alarm only rings Monday through Friday.
What happens if I delete a song that is set as an alarm sound?
If you delete a song from your Music app, that alarm will revert to a default tone the next time it goes off. You will need to edit the alarm and choose a different sound that still exists on your phone.
Can I change the alarm sound while the alarm is ringing?
No. You must stop the alarm first by tapping Dismiss or Snooze. Then open the Clock app, edit the alarm, and change the sound. The new sound will take effect the next time that alarm goes off.