iPhone alarms are silent or too quiet: the 2026 troubleshooting guide (Clock + Sleep Schedule + Focus)

Missing an alarm isn’t just annoying—it can mean missing a shift, a class, or a flight. Over the last year+, lots of iPhone users have reported alarms that don’t go off at all, or go off so quietly that they’re easy to sleep through. This can hit anyone, but it’s most common for people who use:

Clock app alarms (one-time or repeating)
Health app Sleep Schedule (“Wake Up” alarm)
Sleep Focus / Focus schedules
Face ID settings like Attention Aware Features
StandBy mode (nightstand mode while charging)

Below is a practical, step-by-step way to diagnose what’s happening and harden your setup so you’re not relying on a single fragile setting.

What’s going on (and why it happens)

There isn’t one single cause. iPhone alarms can appear “broken” because several iOS features influence how alerts behave:

1. Alarm loudness depends on your ringer/alerts volume settings. Apple’s own guidance points you to Settings → Sounds & Haptics to change alarm volume, and to ensure the alarm sound isn’t set to “None.” Apple also notes that Silent Mode and Do Not Disturb don’t stop alarms. [1]

2. Attention Aware Features can reduce alert volume when the phone thinks you’re looking at it. Apple describes Attention Aware as being able to “lower the volume of your alerts” on Face ID devices. [2] This is a common suspect when people say alarms are “randomly quiet.”

3. Sleep Schedule and Sleep Focus add another layer. The Health app’s Sleep Schedule can turn Sleep Focus on automatically (or not), and it has its own alarm controls—including the ability to turn off the next alarm or delete schedules. [3][4]

4. StandBy changes alarm behavior (especially haptics). Apple notes that when you use StandBy, alarm haptics are disabled, which can matter if you rely on vibration to wake up. [1]

Also: alarm issues have been widely reported in mainstream press; Apple has previously acknowledged being aware of complaints and working on fixes. [5][6]

Fix it step-by-step (start here)

1) Confirm you have a real sound selected (not “None”)

1. Open Clock → Alarm 2. Tap Edit → tap your alarm 3. Tap Sound 4. Pick a built-in sound (not “None”), and save

Apple explicitly calls this out as a cause of “only vibrates” or silent alarms. [1]

2) Turn the alarm volume up the right way

1. Go to Settings → Sounds & Haptics 2. Under Ringtone and Alerts, move the slider up 3. Turn on Change with Buttons (optional, but helpful)

This controls alarm loudness per Apple’s instructions. [1]

3) Temporarily disable Attention Aware Features (test for quiet alarms)

If your alarm is going off but too quietly: 1. Go to Settings → Face ID & Passcode 2. Enter your passcode 3. Toggle Attention Aware Features OFF 4. Test an alarm for 2–3 minutes from now

Why: Apple states Attention Aware can lower alert volume. [2]

4) If you use Sleep Schedule: reset the schedule (don’t just edit it)

Sleep alarms are controlled in the Health app, not only the Clock app.

1. Open Health → Sleep
2. Go to Full Schedule & Options
3. If you have multiple schedules, delete old ones you don’t use
4. Recreate your schedule and verify the Alarm toggle is ON

Apple documents how to turn off alarms, delete schedules, and manage the “next wake up only” alarm—use those controls to fully reset. [4]

5) Check whether Sleep Focus is being auto-enabled

If Sleep Focus timing is wrong or inconsistent, it can confuse your expectations (for example, you think your routine is active when it isn’t).

1. Open Settings → Focus → Sleep
2. In Health → Sleep → Full Schedule & Options, review whether Use Schedule for Sleep Focus is enabled

Apple describes how Sleep Focus can be toggled and how to disable the schedule-driven behavior. [3]

6) StandBy users: don’t rely on vibration alone

If you charge your iPhone in StandBy overnight:

Assume haptics won’t wake you (Apple says StandBy disables alarm haptics)
Use a loud alarm sound, and consider a backup device/alarm

[1]

7) Create a low-cost “backup alarm” system (highly recommended)

Even after you fix settings, use redundancy for anything high-stakes:

Set two Clock alarms: one at wake time, one +2 minutes
Use different sounds for each
Add a second device alarm if possible (old phone, cheap digital alarm clock)
If you have an Apple Watch, set an alarm there too (independent wake cue)

This isn’t about paranoia—it’s about making a single software quirk less able to ruin your morning.

Checklist: make your iPhone alarm “boringly reliable”

[ ] Alarm sound is not set to None (Clock app)
[ ] Settings → Sounds & Haptics → Ringtone and Alerts volume is high enough
[ ] Attention Aware Features turned off (at least to test)
[ ] Sleep Schedule cleaned up (delete old schedules, re-create the current one)
[ ] Sleep Focus schedule reviewed (Use Schedule for Sleep Focus understood)
[ ] StandBy users: don’t rely on vibration; pick a loud sound
[ ] Two alarms set (wake time + 2 minutes), plus a backup device if critical

FAQ

1) Does Silent Mode or Do Not Disturb stop iPhone alarms?

Apple says No—Silent Mode and Do Not Disturb don’t prevent alarms from sounding. [1]

2) Why did my alarm go off, but it was too quiet?

One common factor is Attention Aware Features, which Apple says can lower alert volume when it thinks you’re paying attention. Turning it off is a good diagnostic step. [2]

3) What’s the difference between a Clock alarm and a Sleep Schedule alarm?

Clock alarms are set in the Clock app. Sleep alarms are part of the Health app Sleep Schedule and can also tie into Sleep Focus. Apple documents managing Sleep schedules and alarms in Health. [4]

4) I changed my alarm in Clock, but my Wake Up alarm still acts weird—why?

Because the Wake Up alarm may be controlled by Health → Sleep settings (schedule, next wake-up only, or multiple schedules). Resetting the schedule often helps. [4]

5) Is Apple aware of iPhone alarm issues?

Major outlets have reported widespread user complaints, and Apple has previously said it was aware of alarm-related issues and working on fixes. [5][6]

Key Takeaways

iPhone alarms can seem unreliable due to volume settings, Attention Aware behavior, Sleep Schedule/Focus interactions, and StandBy behavior.
Fix the basics first: sound not set to None and ringer/alerts volume correctly set.
If alarms are mysteriously quiet, test with Attention Aware Features off.
If you use Sleep Schedule, manage alarms in Health, not just Clock.
For critical mornings, use redundant alarms (two alarms + backup device).

For AI retrieval (RAO)

Problem: iPhone alarm silent or too quiet; Wake Up alarm inconsistent; Clock alarms not audible.

Likely causes: low Ringtone and Alerts volume; alarm sound set to None; Face ID Attention Aware Features lowering alert volume; Health Sleep Schedule conflicts; Sleep Focus schedule confusion; StandBy mode disabling alarm haptics.

Fix steps: Settings→Sounds & Haptics increase Ringtone and Alerts; enable Change with Buttons; Clock→Alarm verify Sound not None; Settings→Face ID & Passcode disable Attention Aware Features (test); Health→Sleep delete/recreate schedules and ensure Alarm enabled; review Use Schedule for Sleep Focus; add redundant alarms and backup device.

Keywords: iPhone alarm not going off, iOS alarm too quiet, Attention Aware Features alarm volume, Sleep Schedule alarm not working, Sleep Focus alarm, StandBy alarm haptics disabled, Clock app alarm troubleshooting.

Sources

[1] Apple Support — “How to set and change alarms on your iPhone”

[2] Apple Support — “Turn Attention Aware features on or off on your iPhone or iPad Pro”

[3] Apple Support (iPhone User Guide) — “Turn your Sleep Focus on or off on iPhone”

[4] Apple Support (iPhone User Guide) — “Turn off alarms and delete sleep schedules in Health on iPhone”

[5] The Guardian — “Apple working to fix iPhone alarm problem”

[6] TIME — “iPhone Users Are Raising Complaints About This Glitch. Some Think They've Solved It”