Why is the iPhone snooze 9 minutes?

According to Apple Explained , when clockmakers first started producing mechanical alarm clocks, it was difficult to adjust the "clock's gear teeth to line up perfectly for a ten-minute snooze." This meant they had to choose between a snooze time of ten minutes and forty-three seconds or nine minutes and three seconds. Apple has continued with the tradition.

Can you name alarms on iPhone?

Yes, you can. Check out our article on how to name alarms on the iPhone to personalize how you label your alarms.

Why isn't my alarm playing the song I choose?

If your alarm is not playing the song you chose for your alarm, it could be related to your Apple Music subscription or the download for the song. Our article on how to set a song as an alarm on iPhone should help resolve the issue.

How to Change Snooze Time on iPhone

By Leanne Hays Updated 11/25/2024

What to Know

The snooze time on iPhone is nine minutes. Unfortunately, you cannot change iPhone snooze length.
You can disable snooze and set up multiple alarms in the Clock app as a workaround.
Alternatively, you can download a third-party app that allows you to adjust snooze time.

How do you change the snooze time on an iPhone? While Apple does not allow you to change the default snooze time on the iPhone, there are two ways to get around this and change your iPhone snooze time anyway. We'll show you how to change the snooze time on an iPhone using these alternatives.

How Long Is Snooze on an iPhone?

So, how do you change the snooze time on an iPhone? Unfortunately, it's not possible to change the snooze length on your iPhone; the snooze time is always nine minutes. This nine-minute timeframe can seem like an eternity if you are a heavy sleeper or short-lived if you usually need a little extra time.

So why is snooze nine minutes? According to Apple Explained, it has its origins in the physical limitations of mechanical alarm clocks; setting a 10-minute snooze interval was not physically possible with older clocks. Why Apple decided to stick with the nine-minute snooze interval when the iPhone has no such limitation is a question only they can answer.

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What's a snoozy iPhone user to do? There are two options: set multiple alarms in the Apple Clock app or use a third-party app. If getting a good night's sleep is important to you, learn how to use your iPhone to improve your sleep.

How to Change Snooze Time on iPhone via Multiple Alarms

Since adjusting the snooze time on your iPhone isn’t an option with the Clock app, one way to work around that is to set multiple alarms at your preferred snooze intervals but disable the snooze function so that you don't have alarms and snoozes happening at the same time. Has your clock gotten mixed up? Learn how to quickly adjust your date and time settings. Now, here's how to set multiple alarms as an alternative to changing the snooze time on iPhone:

Open the Clock app.
Tap on the Alarm tab if you're not already there.

Tap the Add icon in the upper-right corner to create a new alarm.
Enter your preferred wake-up time using the left and center slider.

Toggle off Snooze.
Tap Save in the upper-right corner.

Then, create a new alarm by tapping the Add button.
Set the next alarm for a custom time like five minutes later or fifteen minutes later.

Toggle off Snooze.
Tap Save.

That's the best way to change the snooze time on iPhone by setting multiple alarms. Now, when your first alarm goes off, you simply need to turn it off and wait for the next alarm to sound. Did you know that you can use your iPhone as a bedside clock? Learn how to use Standby Mode on iPhone.

How to Change Snooze Time on iPhone with an App

If you don't want to deal with the hassle of setting multiple alarms just to get the right amount of snoozing in, you can turn to third-party alarm clock apps. There are multiple free alarm clock apps that you can find in the App Store, including apps that let you customize your snooze times and apps for those of us who are heavy sleepers. Here are our choices for some apps that can help you get your well-deserved rest.

Alarmy - Joyful Alarm clock (Free)

This alarm by Alarmy allows you to set the iPhone snooze time for 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, or 60 minutes. There are tons of different ways to wake up in the morning, including shaking, taking pictures, solving math problems, playing memory games, and more. This app was easy to use and was one of our favorites. Its different options to wake up make getting up in the morning a thrill. Outside of its basic features, it has an option for a monthly or lifetime subscription that provides you with more options to help you wake up, including typing, walking, and even a time pressure option that will read you the time and alarm label every minute until you get up.

Loud Alarm Clock – the LOUDEST (Free)

This very loud alarm app claims to be the loudest and most annoying, and it lets you set the iPhone alarm snooze for 2, 5, 9, 10, 15, or 30 minutes. It also features different sounds, from car or fire alarms to chalkboard nails, that are sure to wake you up. The app has a minimalist design and easy-to-use interface; you can simply click on the alarm icon to set your alarm or enable voice commands. It is free to use the basic features but has additional features you have to pay for, such as removing ads, extra alarm sounds, and even different character voices.

Alarm Clock for Me ($3.99)

This one isn't free, but it is really cool. With this alarm, you can change the snooze time on the iPhone to intervals from 1 to 60 minutes. It comes with an option to wake up to your favorite music, and if you still need a little extra help getting up, it has an option to flash your phone lights with your alarm. This app has a simple user interface, making setting your alarms very easy. If you’re the type of person who wants complete control of their snooze times, Alarm Clock for Me is the alarm clock for you.

How to Change the Snooze Time on iPhone with Alarmy

If you don’t want the hassle of setting up multiple alarms in order to change the snooze time on your iPhone, the simple solution is to download a third-party alarm clock app. Here we'll show you how to use one, Alarmy, to set up an alarm with a custom snooze length.

After downloading Alarmy from the App Store, tap the Alarmy icon to open it.
You may have some setup screens to go through but once you get to the main screen, tap the blue plus button in the lower-right corner to add a new alarm.

Tap Alarm in the little menu that appears.
On this screen, you can set the alarm time, and some other unique features of Alarmy. Tap Snooze toward the bottom of the options to open a list of snooze options.

Here, you can select a variety of snooze lengths, from 1 minute to 60 minutes, or simply turn it off.
Tap the back button.

Tap OK, and you're all set.

That's how to adjust snooze time on iPhone. Now you've got an alarm set with a snooze duration that should be more suited to your needs! If you enjoyed this tip, you might want to learn how to change the time font on your iPhone, and how to change the Auto Lock time on your iPhone.

FAQ

Why is the iPhone snooze 9 minutes? According to Apple Explained, when clockmakers first started producing mechanical alarm clocks, it was difficult to adjust the "clock's gear teeth to line up perfectly for a ten-minute snooze." This meant they had to choose between a snooze time of ten minutes and forty-three seconds or nine minutes and three seconds. Apple has continued with the tradition.
Can you name alarms on iPhone? Yes, you can. Check out our article on how to name alarms on the iPhone to personalize how you label your alarms.
Why isn't my alarm playing the song I choose? If your alarm is not playing the song you chose for your alarm, it could be related to your Apple Music subscription or the download for the song. Our article on how to set a song as an alarm on iPhone should help resolve the issue.