Open the Alarm app and tap the plus sign to add a new alarm

The Alarm app lives on your Apple Watch home screen — it's the clock face icon with a bell. Swipe or scroll to find it, then tap to open. You'll see any existing alarms listed, and at the bottom of the screen is a plus sign (+). Tap that to create a new alarm.

If you can't find the Alarm app on your watch, you may have deleted it. You can reinstall it from the App Store on your iPhone: open the Watch app, go to App Store, search for "Alarm," and tap Install.

Key Takeaways

  • The Alarm app is a built-in app on your Apple Watch, accessible from the home screen with a clock and bell icon.
  • You set the time by rotating the Digital Crown (the knob on the side) to scroll through hours and minutes, then tap Set.
  • You can choose which days the alarm repeats on, or leave it as a one-time alarm that goes off only once.
  • Your Apple Watch will vibrate and play a sound when the alarm goes off, even if your watch is on silent or Do Not Disturb is on.

Scroll to set the time using the Digital Crown

After you tap the plus sign, you'll see a time picker on your watch screen. The Digital Crown is the round knob on the right side of your watch — rotating it up or down lets you scroll through hours and minutes. Rotate it to set the hour first, then tap the minutes field and rotate again to set those.

The watch shows time in 12-hour or 24-hour format depending on your settings. If you're not sure which one you're using, check the Clock app on your watch or open the Settings app on your iPhone, go to Watch > Time, and look for the 24-Hour Time toggle.

Choose whether the alarm repeats and on which days

Once you've set the time, you'll see options to customize the alarm. Tap "Repeat" to choose whether this alarm goes off once, every day, on weekdays only, on weekends only, or on specific days you select. If you don't set a repeat, the alarm will sound one time and then turn off.

If you choose custom days, you'll see a list of the seven days of the week. Tap each day you want the alarm to repeat on — a checkmark appears next to selected days. When you're done, tap back or swipe left to return to the main alarm settings.

Select a sound and label your alarm

Tap "Sound" to hear and choose which tone plays when your alarm goes off. Your watch comes with several built-in sounds like Alarm, Beacon, Bells, and others. Tap one to preview it, then tap it again to confirm your choice.

You can also add a label to help you remember what the alarm is for — tap "Label" and use the keyboard on your watch or dictate a name by tapping the microphone icon. Labels are optional but useful if you set multiple alarms for different purposes.

Tap Set to save your alarm

Once you've set the time, chosen your repeat pattern, picked a sound, and added a label if you want one, tap the "Set" button at the bottom of the screen. Your alarm is now saved and will go off at the time you specified.

Your watch will vibrate and play the sound you chose when the alarm triggers, even if your watch is in silent mode or Do Not Disturb is turned on. If you're wearing your watch, you'll feel the vibration on your wrist. If you're not wearing it, the sound will play from the speaker.

Edit or delete alarms from the Alarm app main screen

To change an alarm you've already set, open the Alarm app and tap the alarm you want to edit. You can then adjust the time, repeat settings, sound, or label. Tap "Set" when you're done to save your changes.

To delete an alarm, open the Alarm app, tap "Edit" at the top of the screen, then tap the minus sign (-) next to the alarm you want to remove. Tap "Delete" to confirm. You can also swipe left on an alarm and tap the trash icon to delete it without entering edit mode.

Turn alarms on and off without deleting them

In the Alarm app, each alarm has a toggle switch next to it — it looks like a circle that slides left or right. Tap the toggle to turn an alarm off without deleting it. The alarm stays in your list but won't go off at its scheduled time. Tap the toggle again to turn it back on.

This is useful if you have an alarm you use regularly but don't need on a particular day. You can disable it temporarily and re-enable it later, rather than creating a new alarm or deleting and recreating the same one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my alarm go off if my Apple Watch is turned off?

No. Your watch must be powered on for the alarm to sound. If your watch battery dies or you turn it off manually, the alarm won't trigger. Make sure your watch is charged before you go to bed if you're relying on it for a morning alarm.

Can I set an alarm on my iPhone and have it show up on my Apple Watch?

Yes. Alarms you create in the Clock app on your iPhone sync to your Apple Watch automatically. You can manage them from either device. If you delete an alarm on your iPhone, it disappears from your watch too.

What happens if I have the same alarm set on both my iPhone and Apple Watch?

Both devices will go off at the same time. You'll hear the sound from whichever device is closer or louder. If you want only your watch to alarm, turn off the alarm on your iPhone, or vice versa.

Can I use a song from my music library as an alarm sound?

No. Apple Watch alarms are limited to the built-in sounds that come with the Alarm app. You cannot use custom music or songs from Apple Music as alarm tones on your watch.