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How to set and manage alarms on your Apple Watch

Set, cancel, and edit alarms all in one place.
By
April 20, 2022

A long day of tracking steps deserves some solid shut-eye. Get to bed with a convenient alarm. Read on to find out how to set and manage alarms on your Apple Watch.

Read more: Apple Watch buyer’s guide: Everything you need to know

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To set and manage alarms on your Apple Watch, open the Alarms app, and tap Add Alarm or edit an existing alarm. You can also ask Siri to set an alarm for you.


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How to set an alarm on your Apple Watch

A user sets an alarm on her Apple Watch Series 7.
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority

You can set an alarm on your Apple Watch using Siri or set one manually in the Alarms app. Check your battery level before going to sleep to ensure your device will make it through the night.

Using Siri

Ask Siri to set an alarm on your Apple Watch quickly. You can even ask Siri to set repeating alarms, but make sure to specify AM or PM.

  • Raise your wrist and speak towards your watch face.
  • Say Set an alarm for 5:30 AM, substituting in your desired time.
  • Wait for Siri to confirm that your alarm is set.

If Raise to Speak is disabled on your Apple Watch, or you are using a model older than the Apple Watch Series 3, you can activate Siri by long-pressing the Digital Crown until you see the listening indicator.

Using the Alarms app

You can also set alarms manually on your Apple Watch via the Alarms app. You will find it in your app gallery.

  • Open the Alarms app on your Apple Watch.
  • Scroll down to, and tap Add Alarm.
  • Tap the hour field and turn your Digital Crown to adjust the clock to your desired time. Repeat with the minute field.
  • Tap AM or PM and tap the green checkmark.

How to manage alarms on your Apple Watch

An Apple Watch Series 7 user edits an existing alarm on her watch.
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority

You can also edit existing alarms, set up a repeating alarm, label an alarm with a specific title, or disable the temptation of snooze. You can even skip a scheduled alarm or delete any you no longer need.

 Delete alarms

Deleting an alarm from your Apple Watch is even simpler than setting one.

  • Open the Alarms app on your Apple Watch.
  • Tap on the alarm you would like to delete.
  • Scroll down and tap Delete.

Skip scheduled alarm

If you utilize a preset sleep schedule, you can also skip a Wake Up alarm at any time.

  • Open the Alarms app on your Apple Watch.
  • Tap the alarm listed under Sleep | Wake Up.
  • Tap Skip for Tonight.

If you would like to skip the alarm for more than one day, you can tap Change in Sleep to adjust your sleep schedule in the Sleep app.

Disable snooze button

Repeatedly hitting snooze can disrupt your REM sleep cycle. Plus, it’ll likely make you late for something. If needed, you can eliminate this option from any alarm on your Apple Watch.

  • Open the Alarms app on your Apple Watch.
  • Tap on the alarm you would like to use and scroll down.
  • Tap the toggle next to Snooze to disable it.

Read more: The best sleep trackers you can buy

FAQs

To have an alarm vibrate only, the Apple Watch should be set to silent. Swipe up on your watch face to open your Control Center and tap on the Silent Mode icon (the bell). The icon will turn red, and a slash will appear through the bell.

If you would like to leave your Apple Watch charging overnight, go ahead. Your alarm will still go off even if you are not wearing the device.

Nightstand mode turns your watch face into a bedside clock. Your device will display the time, date, charge level, and any alarms you have set. The screen will wake only if it detects motion, and the watch will alert you in the morning with a peaceful alarm at the designated time.

The Apple Watch tracks sleep, but it is considered very basic by most users. Read more about Apple Watch sleep tracking and how to set it up in our dedicated guide.

If you set an alarm on your iPhone, it will only ring on your iPhone. If you want a simultaneous alarm – one on your phone, and one on your watch – you’ll need to set two alarms, or use the Apple Watch app on your iPhone to push notifications from Alarms to your watch.