iPhone Alarm Volume Too Low? How to Change It and Make It Louder

How to change alarm volume on iPhone

iPhone alarms follow the Ringtone and Alerts volume, not the media volume you use for music and videos.

1. Open Settings → Sounds & Haptics.
2. Drag the Ringtone and Alerts slider to the right to make your alarm louder (or left to make it quieter). iPhone plays a preview so you can hear the level.
3. Optional: turn on Change with Buttons. Then, when nothing is playing, the side volume buttons adjust the ringer and alarm volume too.

Silent mode, Do Not Disturb and Focus modes do not mute alarms set in the Clock app.

Why is my iPhone alarm so quiet? 7 fixes

1. The Ringtone and Alerts slider is low

The most common cause. Raise it as shown above. If “Change with Buttons” is on, it’s easy to lower it by accident — consider turning that off once you’ve set a level you like.

2. Attention Aware Features

On iPhones with Face ID, the alarm automatically gets quieter when you look at the screen. Turn it off in Settings → Face ID & Passcode → Attention Aware Features if your alarm fades too soon.

3. The Sleep / Wake Up alarm has its own volume

The Wake Up alarm from your Sleep schedule uses a separate setting. Open Clock → Alarms, tap Change under Sleep | Wake Up (it opens Health), then adjust the alarm volume slider under Alarm Options.

4. A soft alarm sound

Some tones, like “Early Riser” or gentle songs, start quietly. In Clock → Alarms → Edit → Sound, pick a louder tone such as “Radar” or “Alarm” from the Classic list. Make sure the sound isn’t set to None (vibration only).

5. Bluetooth headphones or speakers are connected

If AirPods, a car or a speaker is connected, the alarm may play through it. Disconnect Bluetooth devices before bed if you rely on the iPhone speaker.

6. A blocked or wet speaker

Dust, lint or water in the bottom grille muffles every sound — including your alarm. Brush it gently and run the free iPhone speaker cleaner. If the problem started after rain or a spill, play Water Eject 2–3 times.

7. Case covering the speaker

A thick or poorly-fitted case can partly block the speaker. Take it off and compare.

How to make your iPhone alarm louder than the maximum

You can’t push volume beyond the slider’s maximum, but you can make the alarm sound louder: choose a harsh, high-pitched tone, place the iPhone on a hard surface (wood amplifies it), keep the speaker uncovered, or stand it in an empty glass or bowl, which acts as a passive amplifier.

Still quiet? Test the speaker

Play music and use the speaker test or blown speaker test. If everything is quiet or distorted, read iPhone speaker not working.

Frequently asked questions

How do I turn up my alarm volume on iPhone?

Go to Settings → Sounds & Haptics and drag the Ringtone and Alerts slider to the right. Alarms follow this volume, not media volume.

Why is my iPhone alarm volume so low?

The Ringtone and Alerts slider is low, Attention Aware Features lowered it, the Wake Up alarm has its own low volume setting, or the speaker is blocked.

Does silent mode turn off alarms on iPhone?

No. Alarms set in the Clock app still sound in Silent mode and during Do Not Disturb or Focus.

Can I set a different volume for each alarm?

Not for regular Clock alarms; they all use the Ringtone and Alerts volume. The Sleep schedule Wake Up alarm has its own volume slider.