Open the Alexa app and find your alarm
To change an alarm sound on Alexa, open the Alexa app on your phone or tablet and tap the alarm clock icon at the bottom of the screen. This takes you to the Alarms & Timers section. You will see a list of all your active alarms — find the one you want to change and tap it to open its settings.
If you are using an Alexa device with a screen (like an Echo Show), you can also say "Alexa, show me my alarms" and then tap the alarm directly on the screen to edit it. Both methods lead to the same settings page.
Key Takeaways
- Open the Alexa app, tap the alarm clock icon, and select the alarm you want to change from the list.
- Tap the sound or tone option to see all available alarm sounds built into Alexa.
- You can choose from preset sounds like bells, chimes, and nature sounds, or pick a song from your music library.
- Changes save automatically once you select a new sound — no extra step needed.
- Different alarms can have different sounds, so you can customize each one separately.
Tap the sound option to see available tones
Once you have opened an alarm, look for the line that shows the current sound — it usually says something like "Alarm" or the name of the current tone. Tap on that line to open a menu of all available alarm sounds.
Alexa comes with a built-in library of alarm sounds including bells, chimes, digital beeps, nature sounds (birds, rain, ocean waves), and musical tones. You can scroll through the full list and tap any sound to hear a preview of what it will sound like when the alarm goes off.
Use a song from your music library as an alarm
Instead of a preset alarm tone, you can set any song from your Amazon Music library, Spotify, or other connected music service as your alarm sound. In the sound selection menu, look for an option labeled "My Music" or "Music Library" — the exact wording depends on which version of the Alexa app you have.
Tap that option and browse to the song you want. When the alarm goes off, it will start playing that song from the beginning. This works well if you want a gentler wake-up or a song that motivates you in the morning. Keep in mind that the song will play at whatever volume your device is set to, so adjust your device volume the night before if you need it louder or quieter.
Confirm your choice and test the new sound
After you tap a new sound, the app returns to the alarm details page and shows your new selection. The change saves automatically — you do not need to press a save or confirm button. The next time that alarm goes off, it will use the new sound you selected.
If you want to hear the sound again before the alarm actually goes off, go back into that alarm's settings and tap the sound name again to play a preview. This is useful if you are not sure whether a particular tone will wake you up effectively or if you want to double-check before going to bed.
Set different sounds for different alarms
Each alarm on your device can have its own unique sound. This is helpful if you have multiple alarms — for example, a gentle chime for a weekend alarm and a louder bell for a weekday work alarm. Just open each alarm separately and change its sound independently.
You can also create a new alarm with a specific sound by tapping the plus button in the Alarms & Timers section, setting the time, and then choosing the sound before you save it. This is faster than creating an alarm with the default sound and then editing it afterward.
Troubleshoot if the new sound does not play
If you change the alarm sound but the old sound still plays when the alarm goes off, first check that your change actually saved. Open the alarm again and confirm the sound name matches what you selected. If it does not, the app may not have saved your change — try selecting the sound again and wait a few seconds before closing the settings.
If the sound name is correct but the wrong sound still plays, restart the Alexa app by closing it completely and opening it again. On some devices, a restart of the Alexa device itself (unplugging it for 10 seconds and plugging it back in) can fix sound playback issues. If you are using a song from your music library and it does not play, make sure that service is still connected to your Alexa account — go to Settings > Music & Podcasts in the app to check.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a custom sound I recorded myself?
No, Alexa does not support uploading your own audio files as alarm sounds. You are limited to the built-in tones and songs from your connected music services. If you want a very specific sound, your best option is to find a song or audio track in Amazon Music or Spotify that matches what you want.
What happens to my alarm sound if I disconnect a music service?
If you set an alarm to a song from Spotify or another service and then disconnect that service from Alexa, the alarm will fall back to a default tone when it goes off. Reconnect the service to restore the song-based alarm, or change the alarm to a built-in tone to avoid this problem.
Do I need to change the alarm sound on every Alexa device I own?
Yes, each device has its own separate alarms. If you have an Echo in your bedroom and an Echo in your kitchen, you will need to change the sound on each one separately using the Alexa app. The app shows all your devices and their alarms in one place, so you can manage them all from your phone.
Can I make the alarm sound louder or quieter?
The alarm uses your device's volume setting. Lower the device volume before bed if you want a quieter alarm, or raise it if you need a louder one. Some Alexa devices also let you set a separate alarm volume in the device settings, though this option is not available on all models.