How to create and manage alarms on Apple Watch

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Apple Watch alarm
Apple Watch alarm (Image credit: iMore)

Just like your iPhone, your Apple Watch comes with a built-in Alarms app to keep you from missing — or sleeping through — anything important. The two can work together quite nicely, or you can choose to just use one device's Alarms app.

Apple Watch Alarms are separate from iPhone alarms

It may seem a little weird, but the Alarms app on your Apple Watch is separate from the Clock app on your iPhone, meaning any alarms you set in your Clock app on your iPhone won't show up in the Alarms app on your Apple Watch and vice-versa.

Alarms from your iPhone's Clock app will push trhough to your Apple Watch when you're wearing it, but Alarms you set on your Apple Watch will only ring on your Apple Watch. Therefore, creating an alarms with the Alarms app on your Apple Watch is a usefull if your, iPhone isn't around, or perhaps you like the haptic feedback of the Apple Watch on your wrist in the morning as a more gentle way to wake up. Here's how to creat and manage alarms on your Apple Watch

How to create a new alarm on Apple Watch

  1. Launch the Alarms app from the Home screen of your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap Add Alarm.
  3. Turn Digital Crown to adjust the hours
  4. Tap the minutes.
  5. Turn the Digital Crown to adjust the minutes.
  6. Tap Set.

Launch alarms app on Apple Watch, tap Add Alarm, adjust time with digital crown, and then tap Set.

Your Apple Watch will now alert you at the time you've chosen. If you ever want to add more alarms you can follow these same steps above.

How to edit alarms on Apple Watch

  1. Launch the Alarms app from the Home screen of your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap the alarm you'd like to edit.
  3. Tap the option you want to change.

Launch alarms app on Apple Watch, tap the alarm you want to edit, and then tap the option you want to change.

Here is where you can change the time of your alarms, creat labels, or even cause the alarm to repeat.

How to delete alarms on Apple Watch

  1. Launch the Alarms app from the Home screen of your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap the alarm you'd like to delete.
  3. Tap delete.

Launch alarms app on Apple Watch, tap the alarm you want to delete, and then tap delete.

Any questions?

Let us know if you have any question about Apple Watch alarms in the comments down below!

Updated March 2019: Updated for watchOS 5.

Apple Watch

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Luke Filipowicz
Luke Filipowicz
Staff Writer

Luke Filipowicz has been a writer at iMore, covering Apple for nearly a decade now. He writes a lot about Apple Watch and iPad but covers the iPhone and Mac as well. He often describes himself as an "Apple user on a budget" and firmly believes that great technology can be affordable if you know where to look. Luke also heads up the iMore Show — a weekly podcast focusing on Apple news, rumors, and products but likes to have some fun along the way. 

Luke knows he spends more time on Twitter than he probably should, so feel free to follow him or give him a shout on social media @LukeFilipowicz.