If your iPhone alarm isn’t working on iOS 16, the most common causes are a low Ringer and Alerts volume, an alarm sound set to None, or the alarm playing through connected Bluetooth headphones or a speaker. Check Settings > Sounds & Haptics and turn the ringer volume up, open the alarm in the Clock app and pick a sound, and disconnect Bluetooth audio at night. If it still fails, delete and recreate the alarm, restart the iPhone, and update iOS.
Here are all the fixes in order, starting with the quickest.
Fix 1: Turn up the Ringer and Alerts volume
Alarms use the ringer volume, not the media volume you change while watching videos.
- Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics.
- Drag the Ringer and Alerts slider up.
- Consider turning off Change with Buttons, so pressing the volume buttons during the day doesn’t accidentally lower your alarm volume.
Fix 2: Check the alarm sound
- Open Clock > Alarm and tap Edit, then tap the alarm.
- Tap Sound and choose a ringtone. If None is selected, the alarm only vibrates (or does nothing if vibration is also off).
- Pick a louder tone if your current one is too soft, and check that Haptics isn’t set to None if you rely on vibration.
If you use a song from Apple Music, make sure it’s downloaded to the iPhone. A streamed or removed song can cause a quiet or missing alarm.
Fix 3: Disconnect Bluetooth audio
When AirPods, headphones, or a Bluetooth speaker are connected, the alarm may play through them instead of the iPhone’s speaker. Turn off Bluetooth in Control Center at bedtime, or put earbuds back in their case so they disconnect.
Fix 4: Check Attention Aware Features
On iPhones with Face ID, Attention Aware Features lower the alarm volume if the phone detects you looking at it. If your alarm seems to go quiet, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and turn off Attention Aware Features.
Fix 5: Check the alarm’s time and repeat settings
- Make sure the alarm is set to AM or PM correctly.
- Tap Repeat and check that the right days are selected. An alarm with no repeat days turns off after it rings once.
- Confirm the alarm’s switch is green in the Clock app.
Fix 6: Check the Sleep wake-up alarm
If you set your alarm through Sleep in the Health app or the Clock app’s sleep schedule, it’s managed separately from regular alarms. Open Health > Browse > Sleep > Full Schedule & Options and check that the schedule and Alarm are on, the sound is set, and the volume slider isn’t low.
Fix 7: Delete and recreate the alarm
An alarm can become stuck after an update. In Clock, swipe left on it, tap Delete, and add a new alarm with the same settings.
Fix 8: Restart and update
- Restart the iPhone (press and hold the side button and a volume button, then slide to power off).
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available update.
Fix 9: Reset all settings
As a last step, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. This resets preferences like Wi-Fi passwords and wallpaper but doesn’t delete photos, apps, or messages. You’ll need to set up your alarms again afterward.
Test your alarm before relying on it
After making changes, set a test alarm for two minutes from now, lock the phone, and put it where it sits overnight. This confirms the volume is loud enough and that the sound plays through the speaker rather than headphones. If you have an Apple Watch, check whether alarms are set to play on the watch instead; open the Watch app and review the Clock settings.
Have a backup for important mornings
For flights, exams, or early shifts, set two alarms a few minutes apart with different sounds, keep the phone plugged in, and consider a second device such as a smart speaker or a traditional alarm clock. Redundancy is the simplest way to avoid oversleeping when it really matters.
Things that don’t silence alarms
| Setting | Effect on alarms |
|---|---|
| Ring/Silent switch | Alarms still sound |
| Do Not Disturb and Focus modes | Alarms still sound |
| Low Power Mode | Alarms still sound |
| Ringer and Alerts volume | Controls alarm loudness |
| Connected Bluetooth audio | Can redirect the alarm sound |
An iPhone that’s switched off won’t ring, so make sure it has enough charge overnight.
Related: How to change an iPhone alarm sound.
Related: Can I change the snooze time on an iPhone alarm?.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my iPhone alarm so quiet?
The Ringer and Alerts volume is low, the tone is soft, or Attention Aware Features lowered it. Check all three.
Why does my alarm only vibrate?
The sound is set to None, or the ringer volume is all the way down.
Do these fixes work on newer iOS versions?
Yes. Menus may look slightly different, but the same settings apply.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.