iPhones, known for their efficiency and minimal bugs, are currently facing a persistent alarm issue where alarms either fail to ring or activate late, frustrating users. Despite updates, this glitch remains unresolved, leading many to share their experiences online. Apple has suggested various solutions, including disabling the Attention Aware feature and ensuring proper alarm settings. While a significant portion of users report issues, others have not encountered any alarm problems. The situation highlights a surprising flaw in an otherwise reliable device.
Despite their remarkable efficiency, iPhones are not free from technical glitches. An ongoing alarm bug that either fails to ring or goes off too late has persisted through multiple iOS updates.
iPhones, along with their iOS operating system, are often regarded as nearly flawless due to their sophisticated features and minimal bugs. This reputation is particularly strong in the United States, and it is expected to extend to France by April 2025, enhancing the capabilities of compatible iPhones even further. However, these technological wonders are plagued by a surprising shortcoming: the alarm function often activates later than the scheduled time, a situation that has amused competitors like Samsung in recent months.
This fundamental feature has been frequently highlighted across forums, social media, and Reddit. Observations from Android Authority indicate that the recent iOS 18.2.1 update has not alleviated the problem. Despite Apple’s well-known dedication to detail, this persistent issue continues to frustrate users.
The Alarm Clock Issue: A Common Frustration Among iPhone Users
Numerous testimonials across online platforms reveal that this issue is not an isolated incident but affects many iPhone users. One Reddit user shared that an alarm set for 10:30 did not ring until 12:42. Others have noted that the malfunction extends beyond the Clock app to the Reminders app as well.
“I’ve been dealing with this for ages and thought I was losing my mind,” said one user, who discovered that their alarm went off silently, without any audio or haptic feedback. Another user recounted that their alarm sometimes activates while they are already commuting to work, a glitch they claim has been present since… iOS 9. To avoid future mishaps, one user disclosed they felt compelled to purchase a physical alarm clock. The story doesn’t reveal if it was the Nintendo Alarmo, but it highlights their determination to avoid the same mistake that led another user to miss an important exam due to their iPhone alarm malfunctioning.
Determining whether these issues are inherent bugs within iOS or the result of user error is complex, but discontent is rising among many users. Although the sample size may not be exhaustive, Android Authority conducted a survey asking its community: “Have you ever encountered a problem with alarms on your iPhone?” The results showed that 68% answered “no”, while 16% said “yes, but rarely” and another 16% reported “yes, all the time”. Therefore, 32% of users have experienced alarm-related issues, with half of those facing recurring problems.
Steps to Resolve the iPhone Alarm Issue
Previously, Apple provided several tips to help users tackle the issue of late-ringing alarms. One of the first suggestions was to disable the Attention Aware feature, introduced with iOS 17. This feature utilizes facial recognition to determine if you are actively looking at your device; if not, it reduces the volume of sound alerts for notifications. You can turn this off by navigating to Settings > Face ID & Passcode.
Some users have reported success with this adjustment. However, since the alarm issue predates the Attention Aware feature, it cannot be the only contributing factor. Apple encourages those experiencing this bug to verify that the tone selected for their alarm is functioning properly by checking the Settings > Sounds and Haptics menu.
Apple also recommends that the iPhone remains stationary overnight while in sleep mode or standby. Additionally, they advise using default alarm tones instead of custom sounds and minimizing the number of consecutive alarms set. It is important to note that disabling Do Not Disturb or silent mode is unnecessary, as these settings do not affect alarm activation.
Source: Android Authority