Where to find and change your alarm sound
Open the Clock app on your iPhone 15, tap the Alarm tab at the bottom, then tap Edit in the top left corner. Find the alarm you want to change and tap it to open its settings. Scroll down to the Sound row — that's where you pick a new alarm tone.
When you tap Sound, you'll see a list of built-in alarm tones organized by category: Classic, Melodic, and Atmospheric. Each tone plays a few seconds when you tap it so you can hear what it sounds like before you commit. Once you've found one you like, tap it to select it, then tap Save at the top right to lock in the change.
Key Takeaways
- The Clock app's Alarm tab is where all your alarms live, and tapping Edit lets you change any of them.
- The Sound row in an alarm's settings opens a list of built-in tones you can preview by tapping them.
- iPhone 15 comes with three categories of alarm sounds — Classic, Melodic, and Atmospheric — so you have roughly 30 options without buying anything.
- You can set a different alarm sound for each alarm you create, so your 6 a.m. wake-up can sound different from your 2 p.m. reminder.
Using songs from your music library as an alarm
If none of the built-in tones appeal to you, you can use any song in your Music app as an alarm instead. When you're in the Sound settings for an alarm, scroll to the very bottom of the tone list and tap Pick a Song. This opens your Music library so you can choose any track you've downloaded or added to your phone.
Keep in mind that songs start from the beginning when the alarm goes off — they don't resume from where you last listened. Also, if you delete a song from your phone after setting it as an alarm, that alarm will revert to the default tone. For reliability, stick with songs you plan to keep on your device long-term.
Why your alarm might not be making sound
If you've changed the alarm sound but it's still silent when the alarm goes off, check your Ring/Silent switch on the left side of the phone. When the switch is pushed toward the back (so you see orange), your iPhone is in silent mode and alarms won't make noise — they'll only vibrate. Push the switch forward to turn off silent mode and restore alarm sound.
You can also check your alarm volume in Settings. Go to Settings, then Sounds & Haptics, and look at the Ringer and Alerts slider. If it's turned all the way down, your alarms will be quiet or silent no matter which sound you pick. Drag the slider to the right to increase volume.
Creating a custom alarm for specific times
You don't have to use the same alarm sound every day. In the Clock app's Alarm tab, tap the plus sign in the top right to create a new alarm. Set the time you want, then scroll down and tap Sound to pick a tone just for this alarm. This is useful if you want a gentle tone for a morning alarm and a louder one for an afternoon reminder.
You can also name each alarm to remember what it's for. In the alarm's settings, tap the Label field and type something like "Gym" or "Meeting" so you know at a glance which alarm is which when you're looking at your list.
Turning vibration on or off with your alarm
By default, iPhone 15 alarms both make sound and vibrate. If you want only sound without vibration, or only vibration without sound, you can change this in the alarm's settings. Scroll down past the Sound row and look for the Vibration toggle. Tap it to turn vibration off if you don't want your phone to shake when the alarm goes off.
This is helpful in situations where vibration alone would be distracting — for example, if your phone is on a nightstand and you don't want the vibration to rattle it. You can set vibration differently for each alarm, so one alarm can vibrate while another doesn't.
Troubleshooting: alarm sound won't change
If you've tapped a new sound and hit Save but your alarm still uses the old tone, force-close the Clock app and reopen it. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher, find Clock, and swipe it up to close it. Then tap the Clock app icon again to reopen it and check whether the change took effect.
If the problem persists, restart your iPhone 15. Press and hold the side button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears, then drag it to turn off the phone. Wait a few seconds, then press and hold the side button again until you see the Apple logo. Once the phone restarts, open Clock and try changing the alarm sound again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a song that's not in my Music app as an alarm?
No — the Pick a Song option only shows tracks that are already on your iPhone. If you want to use a specific song, you'll need to add it to your phone first through Apple Music, iTunes, or another music app that syncs to your device.
Will my alarm still go off if my phone is in Do Not Disturb mode?
Yes. Alarms bypass Do Not Disturb, Focus modes, and silent mode — they will always make sound or vibrate (or both) when the time comes, regardless of your phone's other settings. The only exception is if you've manually turned off the Vibration toggle in that specific alarm's settings.
What happens if I delete a built-in alarm tone?
You can't delete the built-in alarm tones that come with iPhone 15 — they're part of the system. You can only choose from the ones Apple provides or pick your own songs. If you want a fresh set of options, you can browse the App Store for third-party alarm apps that offer different sounds.
Can I set different alarm sounds for weekdays and weekends?
Not with a single alarm. You'll need to create two separate alarms — one for weekdays and one for weekends — and set each to a different sound. In the alarm's settings, tap Repeat and choose which days it should go off, then set the sound you want for that alarm.
Why does my alarm sound so quiet even though I turned up the volume?
Check whether your Ring/Silent switch is in silent mode (orange showing). Also verify that the Ringer and Alerts slider in Settings > Sounds & Haptics is turned up. If both are correct and the alarm is still quiet, try picking a different alarm tone — some built-in sounds are naturally quieter than others.