Waking up to the sharp beep of a default alarm can make mornings stressful, much like my iPhone alarm "Radar," a piercing tone meant to get me out of bed. Many people prefer starting the day with something more pleasant, like a favorite song. With an Apple Music subscription, you can easily set almost any track as your alarm and start the day with music you love.
On iPhone and iPad, setting an Apple Music song as an alarm is simple. Browse your library, download a song, and select it in the Sound setting to use it as your alarm. Android users may need a few extra steps, since Apple Music is not fully integrated into Android alarm apps. Converting songs to a compatible format like MP3 lets you use them with almost any alarm app.
Whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, or HomePod, the goal is the same: replace the standard alarm with music that makes mornings better. With a few simple steps, you can wake up to your favorite songs and start the day on a positive note.
Does Apple Music have a sleep timer? Yes! The sleep timer can help you automatically turn off the music or audiobooks when you fall asleep. Check out how to set a sleep timer on your phone for music, podcasts, and books.
Part 1: How to Set Apple Music Songs as an Alarm on iPhone (Requires Subscription)
For iPhone users, setting an Apple Music song as an alarm is easy thanks to the Clock app. You need an active Apple Music subscription to download a track for alarm use. The song must be downloaded to your device, not just in your library. Turning off Dolby Atmos or Lossless Audio in the Music settings helps make sure it plays without issues. Many users are surprised at how simple it is once they know these small details.
Most Apple Music tracks work reliably in testing. If you already purchased a track, you may not need a subscription just for alarms. Creating MP3 copies gives you even more options. You can use them as ringtones, background music, or personal backups, so you can keep enjoying your favorite songs even if your subscription ends. If you have multiple tracks, downloading and organizing them in one folder can make setting alarms much faster.
A full-featured Apple Music converter that easily converts Apple Music songs, albums, playlists—including iCloud Music Library content, personalized recommendations, and curated playlists—into MP3, M4A, M4B, WAV, AIFF, and FLAC so you can keep your Apple Music forever or transfer it to any device without restrictions.
Step 1 Open the Settings app and scroll down to Music, then turn both Dolby Atmos and Lossless off to ensure it plays reliably.
Step 2 Open the Music app and go to the Library tab. Make sure your desired songs are downloaded, as alarms only work with offline tracks.
Step 3 If a song is not in your library, tap Search at the bottom, enter the song name, and tap the three dots (…) next to it. Select Add to Library.
Step 4 Tap the three dots again on the song page and select Download. Only downloaded songs can be used as alarms, because streaming-only tracks may not play reliably.
Step 5 Open the Clock app and tap the Alarm tab to view all your alarms.
Step 6 Tap an existing alarm to modify it, or tap the + icon to create a new alarm. Naming the alarm can help you keep multiple alarms organized.
Step 7 Tap Sound > Pick a Song to browse your Apple Music library. You can navigate by playlists, artists, or recently added tracks.
Step 8 Tap the Downloaded tab, find your song, and select it. Choosing from Downloaded ensures it will play even if your device is offline or in Airplane mode.
Step 9 Tap Back, then Save. Your Apple Music song is now set as the alarm. Keep in mind that volume and Do Not Disturb settings can affect it from playing.
Part 2: How to Set Apple Music Songs as an Alarm on Android (With or Without Subscription)
Setting Apple Music as an alarm on Android is not as simple because it is not fully supported in most alarm apps. Even with a subscription, DRM protection prevents direct use. Converting songs to MP3 solves this and allows them to be added to most alarm apps. Once converted, you can also use the tracks for ringtones, playlists, or listening on any device. Many users find this useful because it shows how DRM affects music use and why some apps limit playback.
Option 1: Using an Alarm App with ViWizard Apple Music to MP3 Converter
ViWizard Apple Music Converter is an easy tool to convert multiple songs to MP3, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, M4A, or M4B. For Android alarms, MP3 is usually the best choice. You can preserve full songs, trim them if needed, and transfer them to your device via USB. Once on your device, local apps or the Files app can easily recognize the tracks for alarms, ringtones, or personal backups. Organizing multiple songs in one folder also saves time.
Key Features of ViWizard Apple Music Converter
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- Convert Apple Music songs, albums, playlists, and artists into MP3 for easy access
- Preserve lossless audio, high-resolution lossless, and Dolby Atmos quality
- Strip DRM from Apple Music for unrestricted offline listening
- Save converted audio files while retaining full ID3 tag details
Step 1 Open ViWizard Apple Music Converter on your computer and select the Apple Music tracks you want to use. Choose MP3 as the output format for maximum compatibility with Android alarm apps.
Step 2 Click Convert and wait for the process to finish. Make sure the MP3 files are saved in an easy-to-find folder.
Step 3 Connect your Android device via USB. On Windows, open File Explorer and drag the MP3 into your phone's Files app. On Mac, use Android File Transfer to transfer the MP3.
Step 4 Open the Clock app on your Android device and select the alarm you want to modify. Many devices allow you to customize multiple alarms separately.
Step 5 Tap the current alarm sound or Add new sound, depending on your device, to browse for custom sounds.
Step 6 Navigate to the MP3 file in your Files app, select it, and confirm. Short, upbeat sections of a song often work better than long intros.
Step 7 Tap Save or OK. Your converted Apple Music track is now ready as an Android alarm.
Option 2: Using an Alarm App from Google Play
Some Google Play alarm apps support local media and streaming accounts. For example, Mornify can link your Apple Music account through the Google Home app to play music through speakers while setting custom alarms. It also supports offline playback so your chosen song plays reliably when the alarm goes off. Many users enjoy this method because it allows flexible features like gradual volume increase or playlist looping.
Step 1 Download Mornify from Google Play and open it. The app allows custom MP3 alarms without an Apple Music subscription.
Step 2 Tap Create Alarm and set the time. Naming alarms helps manage multiple schedules.
Step 3 Tap Sound > Add New > Browse to locate your converted MP3 file on the device.
Step 4 Confirm and save the alarm. Test the alarm once to ensure it plays correctly.
Part 3: How to Set Apple Music Songs as an Alarm on HomePod (Requires Subscription)
HomePod users can wake up to Apple Music by opening the Home app, touching and holding an alarm, tapping New, and selecting Play Media to choose a song. Most songs that work on your iPhone will also work on HomePod without extra steps, making it easy to manage alarms across devices. Users often like this integration because it keeps their morning routine consistent and simple.
Step 1 Open the Home app on your iPhone or iPad. This app manages all HomeKit devices including HomePod.
Step 2 Tap + > Add Alarm. This allows you to manage alarms on multiple HomePods if needed.
Step 3 Set the time for the alarm. You may also want to choose repeat days. Limiting repeat days can reduce unnecessary triggers.
Step 4 Tap Sound > Choose Music. Your Apple Music library, including playlists, albums, and songs, will appear.
Step 5 Browse or search for the desired song and select it. Only songs linked to your subscription are available.
Step 6 Tap Back, then Save. The HomePod will now play the chosen track at the alarm time. Streaming reliability depends on Wi-Fi, so offline-ready playlists may reduce failures.
Part 4: How to Use Apple Podcasts or Audiobooks as an Alarm (iOS Shortcut)
Some people prefer podcasts or audiobooks instead of songs. On iOS, this usually requires using Shortcuts to assign content to an alarm. On Android, converting the content to MP3 is the easiest way to use it. This allows you to wake up to podcasts, news briefings, or audiobook chapters while learning a bit about file formats and compatibility.
Step 1 Open the Shortcuts app and tap + > Add Action.
Step 2 Search for Play Podcast or Play Audiobook, then select the episode or chapter you want. Short segments are best for alarm use.
Step 3 Tap Next > Add to Automation > Time of Day. This sets the shortcut to run at a fixed alarm time.
Step 4 Set the desired time and repeat options if needed. Toggle Ask Before Running off, then tap Done.
Troubleshooting Tips: Apple Music Alarm Not Playing or Not Working
Even when alarms are set correctly, they can sometimes fail. Here's how you can fix some common issues:
Alarm plays a default beep instead of the song
If your Apple Music alarm only plays a standard tone, check your Music settings. Make sure Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos are turned off for downloaded tracks. You may also need to delete and re-download the song after changing these settings.
Alarm doesn't play on third-party devices
Some smart speakers or Siri-enabled accessories do not fully support music playback for alarms. In these cases, the alarm will use a default tone instead of your chosen song. Test the alarm on your iPhone or HomePod to confirm it works.
Music won't play without an active subscription
Only songs that are purchased or downloaded with an active Apple Music subscription can be used for alarms. If your subscription has expired, streaming tracks will not play, and the alarm will fall back to the default sound.
Downloaded song won't trigger the alarm
Even downloaded tracks can sometimes fail if the file is corrupted or DRM-protected. Try re-downloading the song directly from your library to ensure it is playable offline.
Still having trouble?
Alarms can be tricky when using DRM-protected songs or streaming content. If problems persist, consider converting your Apple Music tracks to MP3 with a tool like ViWizard Apple Music Converter. This ensures your songs are fully compatible with alarms on iPhone, Android, or HomePod.
Conclusion:
Now you know how to set Apple Music as an alarm. On iPhone, you can do it directly if you have an active Apple Music subscription. For both iPhone and Android users, ViWizard Apple Music Converter lets you download songs in MP3 to use as alarms. This also makes it easy to play your Apple Music playlists on other devices.
We'd love to hear from you. Share in the comments if you successfully set your Apple Music alarm or any tips you discovered.
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Adam Gorden, the digital media specialist at ViWizard, is dedicated to providing the best solutions for digital media management, including audio and video conversion, file optimization, and media workflow enhancements.
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