To change an alarm’s name on an iPhone, open the Clock app, tap Alarms, tap Edit (or just tap the alarm on newer iOS versions), select the alarm, tap Label, type a new name, and tap Save. The label appears under the alarm time in your list and on the screen when the alarm goes off, so a name like “Take medicine” or “Leave for school” tells you exactly why it’s ringing.
Below are the steps for iOS 17 and later, how to name a new alarm, and other alarm settings worth changing while you’re there.
Rename an existing alarm
- Open the Clock app.
- Tap Alarms at the bottom.
- Tap the alarm you want to rename. On some versions, tap Edit at the top left first, then tap the alarm.
- Tap Label.
- Delete the old name, type a new one, and tap Done on the keyboard.
- Tap Save.
Name a new alarm
- In Clock > Alarms, tap +.
- Set the time.
- Tap Label and type a name.
- Choose Repeat, Sound and Snooze settings.
- Tap Save.
Use Siri to create a named alarm
Say something like, “Hey Siri, set an alarm for 6:30 a.m. called Gym.” Siri creates the alarm with that label. To rename it later, use the Clock app steps above.
Other alarm settings to change
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Repeat | Choose days, such as weekdays only |
| Sound | Pick a tone or a song from your library, and the vibration pattern |
| Snooze | Show or hide the Snooze button |
| Label | Name shown with the alarm |
The Sleep | Wake Up alarm from the Health app’s sleep schedule is set separately from regular alarms, so its options live in the Health app.
Tips for naming alarms
- Use action words: “Take pills,” “Start dinner,” “Join meeting.”
- Add context for repeating alarms, such as “Trash night” on Sundays.
- Keep names short so they fit on the Lock Screen.
- Delete old alarms you no longer use by swiping left on them.
If you can’t edit an alarm
- Sleep schedule alarm: The alarm labeled Sleep | Wake Up belongs to the Health app’s sleep schedule. Change it in Health > Browse > Sleep > Full Schedule & Options, or tap Change next to it in Clock.
- Alarms made by other apps: Alarms from other apps don’t appear in Clock and must be edited in those apps.
Related: change an iPhone alarm sound.
Related: change the alarm sound on iPhone 15.
Frequently asked questions
Does the alarm name show on the Lock Screen?
Yes. When the alarm goes off, the label appears on the screen.
Can I make the iPhone say the alarm name?
Not by default. A Shortcuts automation that speaks text at a time of day can do something similar.
Is there a limit to alarm name length?
Long labels are allowed, but they get cut off in the alarm list. Short names are easier to read.
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.