How to Set a Custom Alarm Sound

Tap your device to see the settings path.

iPhone

When creating or editing an alarm in the Clock app, tap Sound to choose from built-in tones or music you own.

Android

In the Clock app's alarm settings, tap Sound to set a music file stored on your device as the alarm tone.

Set a gradual fade-in

Some devices let the alarm volume rise gradually, so you wake up more gently instead of with a sudden jolt.

Why use a custom sound?

You can become so used to a default alarm tone that you start sleeping through it. Switching to a song you like can make the alarm register again.

When the default tone stops working

The brain tunes out repetitive, familiar sounds surprisingly fast. If you keep sleeping through your alarm, switching to an actual song you enjoy is often enough to make it register again.

Managing several alarms at once

If you rely on multiple alarms for different parts of your morning routine, giving each one a distinct sound also helps you recognize at a glance which alarm is going off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use music from a streaming app as my alarm sound?

Most devices only allow alarm sounds from files actually downloaded and stored on the device, not from streaming-only tracks.

Can I use just part of a song instead of the whole track?

Some devices offer a ringtone-editing feature that lets you trim a song down to just the section you want as your alarm.