The iPhone 13 has a hidden sleep timer in the Clock app. Open Clock > Timer, set how long you want audio or video to keep playing, tap When Timer Ends, choose Stop Playing at the bottom of the list, tap Set, then tap Start. When the timer hits zero, your iPhone stops whatever is playing, whether that’s music, a podcast, an audiobook, or a video in apps like YouTube or Netflix.
Below are the full steps, how to cancel the timer, app-specific sleep timers, and fixes if it doesn’t work.
How to set a sleep timer on iPhone 13
- Start playing the music, podcast, or video you want to fall asleep to.
- Open the Clock app and tap Timer at the bottom right.
- Scroll the hours and minutes wheels to set the length, like 30 minutes.
- Tap When Timer Ends.
- Scroll to the bottom of the sounds list and tap Stop Playing.
- Tap Set in the top-right corner.
- Tap Start.
You can lock your iPhone right away. The timer runs in the background and shows on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island on newer models. The iPhone 13 has a notch, so on it you’ll see the countdown on the Lock Screen as a Live Activity on iOS 16 and later.
The Stop Playing setting stays selected until you change it. That means normal kitchen timers will also stop media instead of making a sound. To go back to an alert, open When Timer Ends again and pick a sound, like Radar.
Faster ways to start a sleep timer
- Siri: Say “Hey Siri, set a sleep timer for 30 minutes” or “Stop playing in 30 minutes.” Results can vary, so check the Clock app to confirm the timer uses Stop Playing.
- Control Center: Swipe down from the top-right corner and tap the Timer button, or press and hold it to pick a quick duration. If you don’t see it, add it in Settings > Control Center (on iOS 18, tap + in Control Center edit mode).
- Shortcuts: Create a shortcut with the Start Timer action, then run it from your Home Screen or with Siri.
Apps with their own sleep timer
| App | Where to find it |
|---|---|
| Apple Podcasts | Open the Now Playing screen, tap the More (three dots) or moon icon, then Sleep Timer. You can pick a time or When Current Episode Ends. |
| Apple Books (audiobooks) | In the audiobook player, tap the moon or Sleep Timer button. |
| Spotify | On the Now Playing screen, tap the three dots, then Sleep timer. |
| Audible | In the player, tap Sleep Timer. |
| Apple Music | No built-in sleep timer, so use the Clock method above. |
App menus change often, so if you can’t find the option, use the Clock app method. It works with every app.
How to cancel or change the sleep timer
- Pause or cancel: Open Clock > Timer and tap Pause or Cancel. You can also use the controls on the Lock Screen Live Activity.
- Change the time: Cancel the timer, set a new duration, and tap Start.
Sleep timer not working?
- Check the timer sound. If it’s set to an alert tone instead of Stop Playing, the music keeps going and an alarm sounds.
- Audio on another device. If you’re streaming with AirPlay to a speaker or TV, the timer may not stop playback there. Control that device directly or use its own sleep timer.
- Some apps keep playing. A few apps don’t respond to Stop Playing. Try the app’s own sleep timer.
- Update iOS. Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
Sleep timer vs. Sleep Focus and Bedtime
The sleep timer only stops media. To silence notifications at night, use the Sleep Focus (Settings > Focus > Sleep). To set a bedtime and wake-up alarm, open Clock > Alarms and set up Sleep | Wake Up, or use the Health app’s Sleep section. For alarm tips, see how to create an iPhone 13 alarm and whether you can change the snooze time.
Frequently asked questions
Does the sleep timer work with YouTube and Netflix?
Yes. Stop Playing pauses video in most apps, including YouTube and Netflix, as long as they’re playing on your iPhone.
Will the sleep timer lock my iPhone?
No. It only stops playback. Your screen still locks based on your Auto-Lock setting in Settings > Display & Brightness.
Can I use the sleep timer with AirPods?
Yes. Audio playing from your iPhone to AirPods stops when the timer ends.
Does this work on other iPhones?
Yes. The same Clock app steps work on any iPhone running a recent version of iOS.
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.