Open Settings and find the Sounds & Haptics menu

To change your alarm sound, start by opening the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap the gear icon on your home screen or in your app library. Once Settings opens, scroll down and tap Sounds & Haptics (on older iPhones, this may be called just Sounds).

The Sounds & Haptics menu controls all the audio feedback your phone gives you — ringtones, notifications, keyboard clicks, and alarms. Everything you need to change your alarm sound is in this one place. You do not need any special permissions or access to make this change.

Locate the Alarm option in the menu

Inside Sounds & Haptics, scroll down until you see Alarm listed among the sound categories. It sits below ringtone and text tone options. Tap on Alarm to open the list of available alarm sounds.

Your current alarm sound will have a checkmark next to it. This is the sound that will play when any alarm you set goes off — whether you set it in the Clock app or through a third-party app that uses your system sounds. The checkmark shows you which sound is active right now.

Choose a new alarm sound from the list

When you tap Alarm, you see a list of built-in sounds that come with your iPhone. These include names like Alarm, Beacon, Bells, Chime, Digital, Echo, and others. Each sound plays for a few seconds when you tap it, so you can hear what it sounds like before you choose.

Tap any sound to preview it. If you like it, tap it again or tap the checkmark that appears — this sets it as your new alarm sound. You do not need to save or confirm; the change takes effect immediately. The old checkmark disappears and moves to your new selection.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, then tap Sounds & Haptics to find alarm sound options.
  • Scroll down to the Alarm section and tap it to see all available sounds.
  • Tap any sound to hear a preview, then tap it again to set it as your alarm.
  • The change applies to all alarms you set in the Clock app and most third-party alarm apps.
  • You can return to this menu anytime to switch to a different alarm sound.

What happens if you use a third-party alarm app

Some alarm apps — like Sleep Cycle, Alarmy, or others — let you choose sounds directly within the app instead of using your system alarm sound. If you use one of these apps, changing your iPhone's alarm sound in Settings will not affect that app's alarms.

To change the alarm sound in a third-party app, open that app and look for a Settings or Preferences menu within it. Most third-party apps have their own sound library separate from your iPhone's system sounds. Check the app's settings first before assuming the system alarm sound controls everything. The app developer decides whether to use your phone's system sounds or their own custom library.

Restoring the default alarm sound

If you change your alarm sound and later want to go back to the original, return to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Alarm. The default iPhone alarm sound is called Alarm — it is the first one in the list. Tap it to restore it as your alarm sound.

There is no "reset to default" button; you simply select the original sound again from the list. This works the same way whether you changed it once or multiple times. The original sound is always available in the list, so you can switch back whenever you want.

Troubleshooting when alarms are silent

If you set an alarm but it makes no sound when it goes off, check whether your iPhone is in Silent mode. The physical mute switch on the side of your iPhone silences alarms even if you have chosen a loud alarm sound. Flip the switch so the orange indicator is not showing, and your alarm will sound.

Also check that your volume is not turned all the way down. Use the volume buttons on the side of your phone to raise the volume, or go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and drag the Ringer and Alerts slider to the right. Some users set their phone to vibrate-only mode without realizing it; make sure the Ringer and Alerts slider is not all the way down. If the slider is at the bottom, your alarm will vibrate but produce no sound.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a song from my music library as an alarm sound?

The built-in alarm sounds are the only options in the system Sounds & Haptics menu. However, some third-party alarm apps let you choose songs from your Apple Music library or your phone's music files. Check the app's settings to see if this feature is available.

Will changing my alarm sound affect my ringtone or notification sounds?

No. Each sound type — alarm, ringtone, text tone, and notification — has its own separate setting in Sounds & Haptics. Changing your alarm sound does not touch any of the others.

Do I need to set the alarm sound separately for each alarm I create?

No. Once you change the alarm sound in Settings, every new alarm you create in the Clock app will use that sound by default. You can override it for a single alarm by tapping the sound name when you are creating that specific alarm in the Clock app.

What if I do not hear any alarm sounds in the list when I tap Alarm?

This is rare, but if the list appears empty, try closing Settings completely and reopening it. If the sounds still do not appear, restart your iPhone. A restart usually fixes display glitches in the Settings menu.