Let’s be honest – the default iPhone alarm sound could wake the dead. And not in a good way. Like in an “I’m now deaf and will never enjoy music again” way.
We’ve all been there. Eyes closed, dreaming of tropical beaches and bottomless mimosas. When B.A.M.! The iPhone‘s Radar alarm tone jolts you from a blissful sleep like an air horn at a slumber party. 0 to 60 in one second flat.Not exactly the gentle nudge into consciousness we’d prefer.
The good news is that iOS lets you customize your alarm sound so you can wake up feeling zen instead of homicidal. Here’s how to change alarm sound on iPhone, you know, the godawful default to something far more pleasant. Or at least tolerable.
Waking up to jarring noises like Radar or Siri saying, “Good morning! Time to rise and shine!” in her relentlessly cheerful tone feels awful. The science backs this up. When sound abruptly yanks us out of deep sleep, our bodies blast stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. It’s not an ideal way to start the day.
Pleasant nature sounds, your favourite songs or even gentle chimes are gentler on both your mind and body.
Launch the Clock app and tap the Alarm tab at the bottom of the screen. Next, tap Edit in the top right corner.
Select the alarm whose sound you want to change.
On the Edit Alarm screen, tap Sound. It opens your sound options.
Under Ringtones, you’ll see all the default alarm tones. Tap one to hear a preview. When you find one you like, select it.
Don’t like the default tones? You can use any song from your music library as your alarm sound.
Still, tap “Pick a Song” below Ringtones in the Sound settings. It gives you access to all the music on your iPhone. Cool, right?
Browse your tunes and tap one to preview it. Choose wisely here – no one wants to wake up to death metal growling or explicit rap lyrics.
Unless you’re into that sort of thing. No judgement. When you’ve found the perfect wake-up song, tap it to set it as your new alarm sound.
Pick a mellow or classical song that gradually builds for the most peaceful wake-up. It gives you time to transition from sleep to wakefulness.
The key is choosing a track that starts quietly. As it crescendos, your body will instinctively begin rousing.
By the time the song reaches full volume/tempo, you’ll feel refreshed – not startled. Try these gentle wake-up calls:
Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy
If you want your phone to buzz as well as play sound, customize the vibration, too.
From the Edit Alarm screen, tap Vibration. You’ll see options like Alert, Heartbeat, S.O.S., and more.
Tap different patterns to preview them. Pick one that feels soothing.
Pro Tip: For the most zen wake-up, set your vibration to the aptly named “Morning Rhythm.”
Open the Clock app > Alarm tab > Edit > Sound > Pick a Song. Browse your music library and tap a song to preview and select it.
Unfortunately, no. Your alarm sound has to be a song stored locally on your device. Streaming songs aren’t available.
If your custom sound reverts to the default Radar tone, make sure your song wasn’t deleted from your music library. iOS can’t find songs any longer on your phone.
With these tips, you can transform your iPhone alarm from a rude shock to a gentle nudge.
Picking the right sound and vibration is key to starting your day feeling refreshed, inspired, and ready to seize the day.
So explore your options and find your own perfect sunrise serenade. Your mind and body will thank you.
Up until working with Casey, we had only had poor to mediocre experiences outsourcing work to agencies. Casey & the team at CJ&CO are the exception to the rule.
Communication was beyond great, his understanding of our vision was phenomenal, and instead of needing babysitting like the other agencies we worked with, he was not only completely dependable but also gave us sound suggestions on how to get better results, at the risk of us not needing him for the initial job we requested (absolute gem).
This has truly been the first time we worked with someone outside of our business that quickly grasped our vision, and that I could completely forget about and would still deliver above expectations.
I honestly can't wait to work in many more projects together!
Disclaimer
*The information this blog provides is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as financial or professional advice. The information may not reflect current developments and may be changed or updated without notice. Any opinions expressed on this blog are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the author’s employer or any other organization. You should not act or rely on any information contained in this blog without first seeking the advice of a professional. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this blog. The author and affiliated parties assume no liability for any errors or omissions.
