Open Settings and find the Clock app alarms

To change an alarm tone on your iPhone, start by opening the Clock app — the one with a clock face icon on your home screen. 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. The alarm will expand to show all its settings, including the current tone name.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the Clock app, tap Alarm, then tap Edit next to the alarm you want to change.
  • Tap the Sound row to hear a preview of each tone before you select it.
  • Your iPhone comes with about 30 built-in alarm tones, plus any songs you have added to your library.
  • You can use any song from Apple Music or your personal music library as an alarm tone.
  • After you change the tone, tap Save to confirm the change.

Tap the Sound row to preview and select a new tone

In the expanded alarm settings, you will see a row labeled Sound with the current tone name next to it. Tap anywhere on that row. A new screen will open showing all available alarm tones.

Your iPhone includes about 30 built-in tones with names like Alarm, Beacon, Bells, Chime, and Radar. Scroll through the list and tap any tone to hear a 3-second preview. The preview plays at your current volume level, so if you cannot hear it, check that your volume is turned up and that you are not in Silent mode.

Use a song from your library as an alarm tone

You are not limited to built-in tones. At the top of the tone selection screen, you will see a section called Sounds (the built-in tones) and below that, Music. Tap the Music section to expand it and see songs from your Apple Music library or any music you have downloaded to your phone.

Tap any song to preview it and set it as your alarm tone. The alarm will start playing from the beginning of the song when it goes off. If you have a long song, the alarm will play until you dismiss it or until the song ends, whichever comes first.

Save your changes

After you have selected your new tone, tap the Back button or swipe back to return to the alarm details screen. You will see your new tone name displayed in the Sound row. Tap the Save button in the top right corner to confirm the change.

Your alarm is now set to the new tone. The next time this alarm goes off, it will play your selected sound instead of the old one.

Common mistakes to avoid

The most frequent error is forgetting to tap Save after selecting a new tone. If you change the tone but do not tap Save, your change will be lost when you leave the alarm settings. Always confirm that Save appears in the top right and tap it before you exit.

Another common issue is selecting a song that is too quiet. If you choose a song from your library and it does not wake you up, the song may have a lower volume level than the built-in alarm tones. Test it the night before by setting the alarm for a few minutes ahead and listening to how loud it plays. You can also increase your iPhone's overall volume in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringer and Alerts.

Changing the alarm tone for multiple alarms at once

If you have several alarms and want to change them all to the same tone, you will need to edit each one individually — there is no bulk-change option. However, the process is fast once you know which tone you want. Open each alarm, tap Sound, select your tone, and tap Save. Most people can change three or four alarms in under a minute.

If you find yourself changing the same alarm tone repeatedly, consider whether a different tone might work better for your sleep schedule. Some people find that a gradual tone like Chime or Bells wakes them more gently than a sudden tone like Alarm or Radar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a voice recording as an alarm tone?

No. Your iPhone only allows built-in tones or songs from your music library. You cannot record a voice memo and set it as an alarm. However, you can use a song that contains spoken words if you have it in your music library.

Why is my new alarm tone not playing?

Check that your iPhone is not in Silent mode — the physical mute switch on the left side of the phone silences alarms. Also verify that you tapped Save after selecting the new tone. If the tone is a song from your library, make sure the song is fully downloaded to your phone and not just streaming.

Can I set different tones for different alarms?

Yes. Each alarm can have its own unique tone. Edit each alarm separately and choose a different sound for each one. This is useful if you have alarms for different purposes — for example, a gentle tone for your morning wake-up and a louder tone for an important appointment reminder.

What happens to my alarm tone if I delete a song from my library?

If you delete a song that is set as an alarm tone, the alarm will revert to the default Alarm tone the next time it goes off. Edit the alarm and select a different tone before you delete the song if you want to keep using it.