Will My Alarm Go Off On Dnd?

If you’re worried that your iPhone’s alarm won’t ring in Do Not Disturb mode, don’t be—your alarm will still sound.

Do Not Disturb mode quiets phone calls, text messages, and other notifications, but it doesn’t stop your alarms.

This wikiHow article will teach you how to set your iPhone alarm correctly so it rings on time. It will also guide you through fixing the top 5 reasons your alarm might not go off as planned.

Key Takeaways

• If you set your alarm for the right time and date, it will ring even in Do Not Disturb, silent, or airplane mode.

• Modes like Do Not Disturb and Sleep only mute other notifications, such as calls, texts, and app alerts. 

• If your alarm didn’t sound, check if you set it to PM instead of AM, if the volume is high enough, and if your headphones or AirPods are unplugged.

Will My Alarm Ring While on Do Not Disturb?

Do Not Disturb mode does not stop your alarm.

• No matter if you set your alarm using the Clock app, Siri, or a Sleep Focus, your iPhone’s alarm will still ring when in Do Not Disturb mode.

• To ensure your iPhone’s alarm rings when needed, check out How to Set Your Alarm Correctly.

• If your iPhone’s alarm did not ring while in Do Not Disturb mode, refer to Why Didn’t My Alarm Go Off?

• Your iPhone’s alarm will also ring in Silent mode. Even if you have turned the Silent Mode switch on, your alarm will go off as planned.

How to Set Your Alarm Correctly

Step 1: Access the Clock app on your iPhone.

• You can find the Clock app by either clicking its icon on your Home screen or in the App Library, or by tapping the Clock icon in the Control Center.

Step 2: Press the + sign.

• It’s located in the upper-right corner of the screen.

• To modify an existing alarm, press Edit in the upper-left corner, then select the alarm you want to change.

Step 3: Set your alarm time.

• Move the hour, minute, and AM/PM wheels up or down to set the exact time you need your alarm to go off.

• Make sure to select AM for morning alarms or PM for evening alarms.

Step 4. Decide if the alarm should repeat.

Your iPhone’s alarm is set to ring once by default. To have it go off on multiple days:

• Click on Repeat.

• Select the days you want the alarm to ring at the set time. Clicking a day will mark it with a check. For example, to have it ring at the same time every weekday, choose Monday through Friday.

• If you want the alarm to ring just once, do not pick any days.

• Click Back when you are done to go back to the previous screen.

Step 5. Name your alarm (optional).

If your alarm is recurring, you can name it for easy identification. Here’s how:

• Click on Label.

• Enter a name for your alarm, like Work or School.

• Press the done button on your keyboard to save.

Step 6. Choose an alarm sound.

The default alarm sound is Radar, but you can pick any sound from your iPhone. To change the sound:

• Click on Sound.

• Choose a sound and listen to a preview. The orange checkmark will appear next to the sound you select.

• Click Back to finalize your choice of sound.

Step 7. Set Snooze to On or Off.

• If you wish to snooze for an additional 10 minutes after your alarm rings, keep the Snooze button on (green). If you prefer not to have a snooze option, simply switch it off.

• Turning off Snooze means you won’t have the option to delay your alarm if you accidentally turn it off while sleeping. Be cautious with this setting!

Step 8. Press Save.

This button is located in the top-right corner of the screen. Your alarm is now set and will activate at the chosen time and on the selected days, even if your phone is on Do Not Disturb.

Reasons My Alarm Didn’t Go Off

Step 1: Check if the volume is low.

Your alarm might not sound if the volume is set too low. To adjust the alarm volume:

• Open the Settings app.

• Select Sounds & Haptics.

• Move the slider to the right to increase the volume.

• If “Change with Buttons” is enabled, you can use the side volume buttons on your iPhone. Be careful with this setting, as reducing the ringtone volume with these buttons might lead to a too-quiet alarm that you forget to adjust before sleeping.

Step 2: Ensure an alarm sound is selected.

Your alarm may only vibrate if no sound is chosen. To set or check the alarm tone:

• Open the Clock app.

• Tap Edit, then choose your alarm.

• If “Sound” shows None, tap it and pick a sound.

• Hit Back and then Save to apply your settings.

Step 3. Your headphones or AirPods might have been connected.

If your headphones or earbuds are plugged into your iPhone while you sleep, the alarm will only sound through them, not the iPhone’s external speaker. Make sure to unplug your headphones or earbuds before you go to bed to ensure you can hear your alarm.

Step 4. You might have set the alarm for the wrong time or day.

Setting the alarm for PM instead of AM, or not setting the correct time or day, can cause your alarm not to go off as planned. Check our guide on how to set your alarm correctly to prevent this issue.

Step 5. You might have turned it off while sleeping.

If you sleep deeply, your alarm might have rung, but you switched it off without waking up. This might seem strange, but it happens a lot! If this is a regular issue, consider setting a second alarm for a few minutes later than the first one to prevent oversleeping.