Not everyone enjoys waking up early in the morning! This is particularly true if you spend most of the day time running errands from one place to another, which may result in a deep rest overnight. Fortunately, smartphones like iPhones come with an in-built alarm app that helps most of us know when to awake.
However, some users have reported issues with this app and the iPhone alarm not going off. This can lead to oversleeping, late meetings, or missed deadlines. Luckily, there are DIY solutions for this problem. Read on for some tips to help you resolve the issue.
1. Delete and Remake Your Alarm
This is the first solution you should always attempt when the iPhone alarm does not go off. The first step is to delete the alarm that did not go off; this will help reset it and ensure that it will work in the future. Here's how:
Step 1: Open the Clock app on your iPhone and click on “Alarm” at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2: Click on “Edit” in the upper right corner of your screen and then click “Delete All.”
Step 3: Create a new alarm and exit the app.
Step 4: At this point, you should test whether or not you have resolved your problem by setting a new alarm for a few minutes later than your current time to see if it goes off when expected.
If this step does not solve the problem, proceed to the next steps.
2. Restart Your iPhone
When the alarm is not going off on your iPhone, restart it may solve the issue. Once you restart it, all the processes are shut down. Restarting it will refresh all the functions. Thus if your iPhone alarm was not going off because of a stalled process, restarting it should sort the problem.
3. Update to the Latest IOS Version
Apple regularly rolls out updates which include bug fixes and improved functionality. Therefore, if you are experiencing issues with your iPhone alarm clock not going off, this is an excellent place to start. If you are not sure whether you have updated to the latest iOS software, follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Click on Settings > General > Software Update.
Step 2: If a new update is available, click on Download and Install.
4. Reinstall the Clock App on the iPhone
The Clock app on the iPhone is a versatile tool for keeping track of time. It offers several types of alarms and other tools for managing time. The app on your iPhone may have some bugs!
Try downloading another free alarm clock app from the App Store. Check and ensure that the app has good reviews from other users.
5. Turn Off the Option for Repeating Alarms
When you find out that your iPhone alarm is not working, check if it is set to repeat. If it's set to repeat, then you have to deactivate it. To fix the iPhone alarm not going off, turn off the option for repeating alarms.
Step 1: Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics -> Check to see if this is the case.
Step 2: Check that the “None” option for “Alarm Sounds” is activated by scrolling down.
6. Turn off Do Not Disturb Mode
When an alarm is set to ring on an iPhone, you will receive a notification before the alarm goes off, informing you that the alarm has been set. But if you are not receiving notifications for your alarms, it could be that you turned on the Do Not Disturb mode.
When Do Not Disturb mode is enabled, it prevents sounds and alerts from going off. This is regardless of how high your ringer volume is. An exception to this rule is the person calling or messaging you is in your favorite contact lists.
If you have this mode enabled, you can turn it on or off in two ways:
Step 1: On the Lock screen, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the Control Centre, then tap Do Not Disturb.
Alternatively;
Step 1: Go to Settings > Do Not Disturb, tap Manual to turn it on or off.
7. Turn Off Bedtime Mode in the Health App
If you cannot turn off Do Not Disturb mode on your iPhone, you should check the Bedtime Mode in the Health app, which comes with iOS 8 or any higher version. This feature will automatically turn on the Do Not Disturb mode at a scheduled time when you are asleep.
Therefore, if the Bedtime Mode is on, it could cause your iPhone alarm not to work even though you have set up the alarm correctly. To disable it, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open the Health app from your iPhone home screen.
Step 2: Tap on the Browse icon from the bottom menu.
Step 3: Select Sleep from the list of options and tap on it to open it.
Step 4: Tap on getting Started to set up Bedtime Mode for your device.
Alternatively, if you have already set up the Bedtime Mode before, then
Step 1: Tap on the Options button > Turn Off Schedule to disable it.
8. Turn Off Your Sleep Setting
If you use Sleep mode on your device to limit the number of notifications that you get at night, alarms might not go off when you want them. If this is the case, turn Sleep mode off in the Clock app settings. To turn off your Sleep setting:
Step 1: Open the Clock app.
Step 2: Tap on Bedtime at the bottom of the screen.
Step 3: Turn the toggle for Sleep off.
9. Turn off Bluetooth / WiFi
If your iPhone is connected to a Bluetooth speaker or WiFi network while an alarm is active, it may not play any sound because it will not use its regular speakers.
And therefore, you may fail to hear the alarm ringing, which is particularly true if you have connected your iPhone to Bluetooth headphones. The alarm will ring through the headphones, and chances are high you don't sleep with your headphones on.
Your alarm may also fail if you reside with people whose Bluetooth speakers automatically connect to your iPhone. You can prevent this issue by putting your iPhone in Airplane Mode prior to going to bed.
10. Remove Third-Party Alarm Clock Apps
Your iPhone's alarm may not go off when you have third-party alarm apps running in the background. It is recommendable that you either use the default iPhone alarm clock or disable the default app if you have to use third-party apps.
But before you disable the default alarm app, disable or remove the third-party apps first.
11. Restore Your iPhone Factory Settings
Restoring your device's factory setting should be the last resort to fixing an iPhone's alarm that does not go off. Restoring factory settings will wipe out all settings and saved data on your iPhone and revert it to the factory settings. Thus, before undertaking this step, ensure you create a backup of the data you don't want to lose.
Since factory resetting resets everything that is software-related, it will solve the alarm malfunctioning issue.
To factory reset your iPhone;
Step 1: Open the Settings app and go to General > Reset (If you are using iOS 15, you'll have the option of Transfer or Reset iPhone).
Step 2: Tap Erase All Content and Settings and type in your passcode when prompted.
Your iPhone will restart in a few minutes.
Bonus tip: Use Third-party Apps
If your iPhone alarm is not working, you may rely on third-party apps. You can use many apps, including , Sleep Cycle, and others.
Most of these apps have a clean interface and feature snooze options. Some of them also come with sound options such as music or radio that help you wake up in the morning.
You can search for the best app in Apple Store and download it on your iPhone to start using it for your alarm needs.
Final Word
Unlike other iPhone issues, an iPhone alarm not going off is an issue that you can solve on your own. You don't need to take your iPhone to a technician to work on the problem.
By following the tips above, you can fix this problem as we wait for Apple to fix this error permanently.