The fastest way to change your alarm sound
Open the Clock app on your iPhone — it's the one with a clock face icon, usually on your home screen or in the Utilities folder. Tap the Alarm tab at the bottom, then tap Edit in the top left corner. Find the alarm you want to change, tap it, and then tap the line that says "Sound" to see your options.
When you tap Sound, you'll see a list of built-in ringtones and alert sounds. Tap any one to hear a preview — it will play through your speaker so you know what it sounds like. Once you find one you like, tap it to select it (a checkmark appears next to your choice), then tap Back to return to your alarm settings. Tap Save in the top right, and you're done.
If you want to use a song from your music library instead of a built-in sound, scroll to the very top of the Sound list and tap "Pick a song". This opens your Music app so you can choose any track you've downloaded or added to your library. The song will start playing from the beginning when your alarm goes off.
Key Takeaways
- The Clock app is where all alarm settings live — open it, tap Alarm, then tap Edit to change any alarm's sound.
- Built-in ringtones are listed under the Sound option, and you can preview each one before selecting it.
- You can use any song from your Music library as an alarm sound by tapping "Pick a song" at the top of the Sound list.
- Changes save automatically once you tap Save, and different alarms can have different sounds.
Why your alarm might not be using the sound you picked
If you selected a ringtone but your alarm still plays the default sound, check whether your iPhone is in silent mode. When the physical mute switch on the left side of your phone is flipped down (toward the back), your alarm will play at the volume you set in Settings, but it won't use a custom ringtone — it will play the default alert instead. Flip the switch back up (toward the screen) to restore your chosen sound.
The other common reason is that you changed the sound but didn't tap Save before leaving the alarm screen. If you tap Edit, change the sound, and then navigate away without tapping Save, the change doesn't stick. Go back into the alarm, change the sound again, and make sure to tap Save this time.
Using songs from Apple Music or other sources
If you subscribe to Apple Music, you can use songs from your library as alarm sounds — they don't have to be songs you own outright. However, the song must be downloaded to your phone, not just available to stream. Open the Music app, find the song, tap the three dots next to it, and select "read". Once it's on your phone, it will appear in the "Pick a song" list in your Clock app.
Songs you buy from the iTunes Store work the same way. Ringtones you've purchased separately from the Ringtones section of the iTunes Store will also show up in your Sound list automatically, without needing to use "Pick a song".
Setting different sounds for different alarms
Each alarm on your iPhone can have its own sound. If you have a 6 a.m. alarm for work and a 9 a.m. alarm for weekends, you can make them sound completely different. Just edit each alarm separately and choose a different sound for each one. This is useful if you want a gentle sound for a weekend alarm and something louder for a weekday alarm you can't afford to sleep through.
You can also change the sound for just one alarm without affecting the others. Edit the alarm you want to change, pick a new sound, and save. All your other alarms keep their original sounds.
What happens if you delete a ringtone you were using
If you delete a custom ringtone from your phone (through Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone, or by removing it from your Music library), any alarm that was using that sound will revert to the default iPhone alarm sound. The alarm itself doesn't disappear — only the custom sound does. You can change it back to a different sound whenever you want by editing the alarm again.
This is why it's safer to use songs from your Music library rather than custom ringtones if you want to keep the same sound long-term. Music library songs are less likely to be accidentally removed.
Troubleshooting when the Sound option won't open
If you tap Sound and nothing happens, or the list doesn't appear, try closing the Clock app completely and opening it again. Swipe up from the bottom of your screen (or swipe down from the top right on newer iPhones) to close all open apps, then tap the Clock app icon again to reopen it.
If the problem continues, restart your iPhone. Hold down the power button and volume down button together until you see the power-off slider, then drag it to turn off your phone. Wait a few seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on. Once your phone restarts, open the Clock app and try changing the alarm sound again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a voice memo as an alarm sound?
Not directly through the Clock app. Voice memos don't appear in the Sound list or the "Pick a song" option. However, you can save a voice memo as an audio file to your Music library through a workaround, though this requires using a computer or a third-party app. For most people, using a song from your Music library is simpler.
Why does my alarm play quietly even though I set the volume high?
Check the mute switch on the left side of your iPhone. If it's flipped down, your alarm respects that setting and plays at a lower volume. Flip it up to restore full volume. You can also adjust alarm volume separately in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Alarm Volume.
Can I set a different alarm sound for weekdays and weekends?
Yes, create two separate alarms — one for weekdays and one for weekends. Set each to repeat on the days you want, and give each one a different sound. You'll have two alarms in your list, but you can label them clearly (like "Work" and "Weekend") so you know which is which.
What if I want the same custom sound on multiple alarms?
Edit each alarm one at a time and select the same sound for each. There's no way to copy settings from one alarm to another, so you'll need to go through the Sound menu for each one. It takes less than a minute per alarm.