How-To

How to Make an Apple Music Song Your iPhone Alarm

By Bryan M. Wolfe

Updated November 27, 2023

If you’re an Apple Music subscriber, you can use the phone’s Alarm Clock app to wake up to your favorite song in the morning. Here’s how.

Each month, millions subscribe to Apple Music and gain immediate access to their favorite tunes, music videos, and more. If you own an iPhone, you can use songs from Apple Music as your phone alarm. Here’s how to do it.

Use a Song from Apple Music for Alarm Tone

Using the Clock app on your handset, you can change the alarm tone to any song that’s been downloaded or synced to your phone, including any of the 60 million songs on Apple Music.

Get Your Song

Before you can use a song from Apple Music as your alarm tone, you need to download it to your device. Otherwise, it won’t show up as a choice in the Clock app.

1. Find your song in Apple Music using the Search function.
2. Tap the + to the right of the song name to add it to your song library.
3. Download the song to your iPhone by clicking on the cloud icon at the right of the song name.

Note: You can have songs added to your song library automatically downloaded. To do so, click on Music in the Settings app. From there, toggle Automatic Downloads.

Change Your Alarm Tone

With your song now downloaded to your device, it’s time to make it your alarm tone.

1. Tap on the Clock app on your iPhone.
2. Choose the Alarm icon at the bottom.
3. Select Edit at the top left of the screen.
4. Choose the alarm you wish to change the tone.

Next:

1. Tap Sound on the Edit Alarm screen.
2. Choose Pick a song under Songs.
3. Search for your song in the appropriate box.
4. Select the song.

Continue:

1. Tap on the + to the right of the song name. Under Songs, your selection is now checked as the sound of choice for this alarm. You’ll hear a preview of the song.
2. Choose the back button to confirm the selection.
3. Tap Save.
4. When applicable, repeat the steps to add a new song for other alarms.

Changing the Bedtime Tone

In the Clock app, there’s also a Bedtime function. When activated, you can add bedtime and wake-up times, thereby creating a schedule. You can change the Bedtime tone using any of nine pre-selected songs. Unfortunately, you cannot use a song from Apple Music for this purpose.

1. Tap on the Clock app on your iPhone.
2. Choose the Bedtime icon at the bottom.
3. Select Options at the top left.  If you haven’t set up a Bedtime/Wake Up alarm, follow the directions on this screen to do so.
4. Tap Wake Up Sound under Wake Up.

Next:

1. Select the song to use for your Wake Up tone. Listen to the preview.
2. Tap Options at the top left.
3. Choose Done.

How to Get an Apple Music Subscription

If you’ve never done so, you can sign up for a free 30 day Apple Music trial subscription. The easiest way to do so is through the official Apple Music page online.  Once your trial ends, the service, as of May 2023 is $10.99 per month for individuals and $16.99 for families. Student subscriptions are $5.99 per month.