Open Settings and find the Alarms app

To change your alarm sound on iPhone, you need to access the Alarms app first, then adjust the sound from there. The fastest route is to open the Alarms app directly from your home screen — it's the clock icon with a bell. Once inside, tap the alarm you want to change, then tap Edit in the upper left corner.

If you can't find the Alarms app on your home screen, swipe left through your home screens or use Spotlight search. Press and hold the home button (or swipe down from the top on newer iPhones), type "Alarms", and tap the result. This opens the Clock app to the Alarms tab, where all your alarms live.

Select your alarm and tap Edit

Once you're in the Alarms app, you'll see a list of all your alarms with the times they're set for. Find the alarm you want to change the sound for and tap it. The alarm details screen opens, showing you the time, label, repeat settings, and — near the bottom — the current sound.

Tap the Edit button in the upper left corner. The alarm now enters edit mode, and all the settings become changeable. You'll see the sound option listed as a row with the current alarm sound name displayed on the right side.

Tap the Sound row to see all available options

In edit mode, scroll down until you see the Sound row. It shows the name of your current alarm sound on the right side. Tap anywhere on that row — either the word "Sound" or the current sound name — and a list of all available alarm sounds appears.

iPhone comes with dozens of built-in alarm sounds. The list includes options like Alarm, Beacon, Bells, Chime, Circles, Radar, and many others. Each sound plays a preview when you tap it, so you can hear what it sounds like before you save it. Scroll through the list to find one you prefer.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the Alarms app (the clock icon), find your alarm, and tap Edit to change its sound.
  • Tap the Sound row to see all built-in alarm sounds available on your iPhone.
  • Each sound plays a preview when you tap it, so you can hear it before saving.
  • After selecting a new sound, tap Save in the upper right corner to apply the change.
  • You can also set a song from your Music library as an alarm sound by tapping Tone at the top of the sound list.

Use a song from your Music library instead

If you want to use one of your own songs as an alarm sound, the sound list has an option for that. At the very top of the sound selection screen, you'll see Tone listed. Tap it, and your Music library opens, showing all the songs stored on your iPhone.

Browse or search for the song you want to use, then tap it. The song is now set as your alarm sound. Keep in mind that the alarm will play the song from the beginning each time it goes off — you can't set it to start at a specific point in the song. Also, if you delete the song from your Music library later, the alarm will revert to a default sound.

Save your changes

Once you've selected a new alarm sound — whether it's a built-in option or a song from your library — you need to save the change. Look at the upper right corner of the screen. You'll see a Save button in blue text. Tap it to apply the new sound to your alarm.

The alarm screen closes, and you're back at the main Alarms list. Your alarm now uses the new sound you selected. The next time that alarm goes off, it will play the sound you chose instead of the previous one.

Change the volume and vibration settings

While you're editing an alarm, you can also adjust how loud it plays and whether your iPhone vibrates when it goes off. In the same edit screen where you changed the sound, look for the Volume slider and the Vibration toggle.

The volume slider lets you set how loud the alarm sound plays — drag it left to make it quieter or right to make it louder. The Vibration toggle turns the vibration on or off. If you turn vibration on, your iPhone will shake along with the alarm sound, which can help wake you if the sound alone isn't enough. These settings apply only to the alarm you're editing, so different alarms can have different volumes and vibration patterns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a ringtone as an alarm sound?

No, alarm sounds and ringtones are separate. You can only use the built-in alarm sounds that come with iPhone or songs from your Music library. If you want a specific ringtone as an alarm, you'll need to add that sound to your Music library first, then select it from the Tone option in the alarm sound list.

What happens if I delete a song I'm using as an alarm?

If you delete a song from your Music library that's set as an alarm sound, the alarm will stop using that song. iPhone will revert to a default alarm sound the next time the alarm goes off. You'll need to go back into the alarm settings and choose a different sound.

Why isn't my alarm sound changing?

Make sure you tap the Save button after selecting a new sound — if you exit the edit screen without saving, the change won't apply. Also check that you're editing the correct alarm. If you have multiple alarms set for similar times, it's easy to edit the wrong one by mistake.

Can I set different alarm sounds for different times of day?

Yes. Each alarm you create can have its own sound. If you have a 6 a.m. alarm and a 7 a.m. alarm, you can set them to use completely different sounds. Just edit each alarm separately and choose a different sound for each one.