Despite Apple’s acknowledgment last April of issues with the reliability of the iPhone’s built-in alarm, many users continue to report persistent problems with alarms failing to go off as scheduled. Nearly a year after the company stated it was working on a fix, complaints from affected iPhone owners are still emerging.
A recent Reddit post shared by user bryanlolwut highlighted a case where an iPhone alarm, set for 10:30 AM, didn’t sound until 12:42 PM—matching the time on the user’s Apple Watch. Other users have reported similar issues, including alarms displaying on time but failing to produce sound or haptic feedback, or alarms going off at completely incorrect times.
The discussion, which continues to draw comments on Reddit, reflects a widespread frustration among iPhone users. One user, Slawek_Zupa, described their experience of the alarm showing as activated but making no sound or vibration for 40 minutes. Another reported that their alarm went off at 5:00 PM instead of 7:00 AM.
Some users, including those on the latest iOS 18 with Apple Intelligence, have attempted to resolve the issue by disabling Apple’s Attention Awareness feature, which can reduce alarm volume when the iPhone detects the user’s face. However, for many, this has not proven effective, and it comes with the drawback of losing other features like full notifications on the lock screen.
Apple has yet to respond to inquiries about whether they are still investigating the matter. On a personal note, one journalist shared that they too have experienced alarm failures but rely on a Google Pixel 8 Pro as a backup to ensure they wake up on time.