You set an alarm before bed, but it didn’t go off in the morning. Or you lie awake wondering whether it will actually ring. Sound familiar?
In the second article of our series on Sleepa’s features, we look at the wake-up alarm. Sleepa’s alarm is built on AlarmKit, a framework Apple introduced with iOS 26, and it rings even when your iPhone is in Silent mode.
The weak spot of app alarms
Alarms in the iPhone’s Clock app ring even when Silent mode is on. Until now, however, most alarms made by other apps relied on notifications. In Silent mode or with a Focus on, a notification may make no sound at all, and even when it does, the sound stops after a short time. Many people have felt that app alarms can’t be trusted when it really matters.
What is AlarmKit?
AlarmKit is a framework Apple released in 2025 with iOS 26 that lets apps create alarms and timers. According to Apple, alarms created with AlarmKit ring even when Silent mode or a Focus is on, just like alarms in the Clock app, and appear prominently on the Lock Screen.
Sleepa’s wake-up alarm is built with AlarmKit. Because it rings as an iPhone alarm rather than as an app notification, it goes off just like a Clock app alarm, even if you fall asleep with Silent mode on.
How to set an alarm
In Sleepa’s Settings, open Wake-up Alarm Settings. The first time you open it, you will be asked whether to allow Sleepa to use alarms. Choose Allow.
Tap Add Alarm to set the following:
- Title: the name shown when the alarm goes off.
- Alarm sound: choose the default sound or one of nine built-in sounds, such as piano, birdsong and jingles. You can also use your own sound file (MP3 or WAV) from the Files app, and preview sounds before choosing.
- Time
- Days: the alarm rings only on the days you choose, so you can set it for weekdays or weekends only. If you choose no days, it rings once. Check the selected days before saving.
- Snooze: choose Off or 1 to 30 minutes. With snooze on, the alarm rings again at that interval until you tap Stop.
Your alarms appear in a list, where you can turn each one on or off with a switch. When it’s time, the alarm appears on the Lock Screen, and you can choose Stop or Snooze.
What Sleepa’s alarm doesn’t do
To be honest about it: Sleepa’s alarm focuses on one thing, ringing reliably at the time you set. It is not a so-called smart alarm that wakes you at a moment of light sleep, and it doesn’t gradually increase the volume.
Also, because AlarmKit is available from iOS 26, you need an iPhone with iOS 26 or later to use Sleepa’s alarm.
Going to bed with peace of mind
“I have an early start tomorrow, I can’t oversleep.” The more you think that, the harder it can be to fall asleep. Knowing your alarm will really ring lets you set that worry aside as you go to bed.
Sleepa is an app for recording and reviewing your sleep. Wake up to Sleepa’s alarm, then look back on how you slept last night. That’s a routine we recommend.
All of Sleepa’s features are free to try for 7 days after you install it. From day 8, a paid plan is required to set alarms. (You will not be charged automatically when the free period ends.)
Next time, we will introduce Sleepa’s core feature: AI sleep analysis.
Sleepa — The Science of Sleep
Look back on the sleep your Apple Watch measures, together with AI sleep analysis and your sleep journal. Learn more about Sleepa.
* Requires an Apple Watch (Series 6 or later) and an iPhone with iOS 26 or later.
Please note: Sleepa is not a medical device. Its analysis is for reference only and is not a medical diagnosis. If you have symptoms that concern you or are worried about your sleep, please consult a medical professional.
Sleepa features
- How you felt vs. how you slept — Sleepa’s sleep journal
- An alarm that really rings — Sleepa’s wake-up alarm built with AlarmKit (this article)
- AI that makes sense of your sleep data — Sleepa’s sleep analysis and AI summary