Let’s face it. Nobody likes the sound of the alarm that wakes them up in the morning. And the default 'Radar' alarm tone on your iPhone isn't the most soothing sound, is it? So if you're really tired of hearing that jarring jingle — why not try a calmer tune to ease you into the day?

That's why in this guide, we'll show you how to change the alarm sound on your iPhone in just a few easy steps. We've also included tips on how to download more tones, set a song as your alarm, and even recommended the best alarm sounds for a better start to your morning!

How to change your iPhone’s alarm sound

If it’s time to change your iPhone alarm sound, just follow these simple steps:

1. Open the Clock app on your iPhone.

2. Select the 'Alarms' tab at the bottom of your screen.

3. Tap on the 'Edit' button in the top left corner.

4. Choose the alarm you want to change the sound for.

5. Tap on 'Sound' and select a new alarm tone from the list.

6. Once you're happy, tap 'Back' in the top left corner of the screen and save your changes.

Tech tip: Want to find more free alarm sounds on your iPhone? Scroll all the way to the bottom of the ringtones list and tap on the 'Classic' option. This will open another list of older iPhone tones.

How to get different alarm sounds on an iPhone

Not a fan of the stock iPhone alarms and jingles? Here's how to get fresh tones on your Apple mobile phone from as little as 79p:

From Apple’s Tone Store

You can find and buy a bunch of extra alarm sounds in the Apple Tone Store, which is part of the iTunes Store. Get a ringtone if you want a snippet from a favourite track, or download an alert tone for a snappy theme tune or line from a movie or show. It's a pop culture treasure trove!

Here's how to access the Tone Store from the Clock app on your iPhone:

1. Open the Clock app and select the 'Alarms' tab.

2. Tap 'Edit' in the top left corner and choose the alarm you want to change the sound of.

3. Select the 'Sound' option, scroll up the list, and tap on 'Tone Store'.

4. This will then open the Tone Store where you can browse from thousands of sounds and buy your favourite.

From your iTunes library

Want to jump out of bed with an energising song from your iTunes library? Or maybe you’d prefer some chilled lo-fi beats to slowly start your morning with.

Whatever music you like, here's how to set a song as an alarm sound on your iPhone:

1. Open up the Clock app on your iPhone and tap 'Alarms' at the bottom of the screen.

2. Select 'Edit' in the top left corner and then choose the alarm you want to change.

3. Tap 'Sound' and scroll up to the top of the next screen.

4. Choose the 'Pick a song' option under the 'Songs' section.

5. Select a song from your iTunes library.

If you're an Apple Music subscriber, you can set a song from the huge catalogue as your ringtone (as long as it's saved to your library). Just use the same steps above.

What's the best iPhone alarm sound?

According to a study by Startle Music, the best iPhone alarm sound is 'Sencha' — thanks to its "easy melody played in key C, BPM of 110 and low frequency (500 Hz)." They also recommend 'By The Seaside' and 'Uplift' for similar reasons as they "help the mind and body wake up gently and minimise the risk of unpleasant sleep inertia."

Here’s are the 10 best iPhone alarm sounds: 1. Sencha, 2. By The Seaside, 3. Uplift, 4. Constellation, 5. Slow Rise, 6. Summit, 7. Waves, 8. Circuit, 9. Silk, 10. Radiate

How to change your iPhone alarm's vibration patterns

When the alarm on your iPhone goes off, the phone vibrates too. It's just an extra way of stopping you from sleeping through the morning! And you can even change the vibration pattern using the Clock app.

Just follow these steps to set a new rhythm:

1. When you've selected which alarm you want to edit, tap on 'Sound'.

2. Scroll to the top of the next screen and tap on 'Haptics'.

3. Choose your favourite vibration pattern from the list, or tap on 'None' if you'd prefer just the alarm sound on its own. You can also select 'Create New Vibration' in the haptics options menu, which lets you tap out a custom vibration pattern.

FAQs

Why is my iPhone alarm so loud?

A few iPhone settings can change after a big update, including your alarm sound and its volume. If your alarm is really loud and giving you a fright every morning, just head to the Settings app on your iPhone > tap 'Sounds & Haptics' > move the volume slider under 'Ringtone and Alerts' to the left.

Why can't I set a song as the alarm on my iPhone?

If you're trying to set a song from your iTunes or Apple Music library as your iPhone alarm but it won't let you, this probably means that the song hasn't been downloaded locally on your phone. If you've previously bought tones that aren't on your current phone, tap ‘Download All Purchased Tones’ in the Clock app’s sound settings to get them on your device.

Any more questions?

Now that you know how to change up the tunes on your iPhone, why not learn a bit more? Find out why your Apple phone rumbles with our what are haptics on iPhone? article. Or track down your lost mobile with our how to find a lost or stolen iPhone guide.