How AlarmiFex makes an alarm that rings on silent

Most apps play alarm sounds themselves, which means iOS can hold them back when the phone is muted or a Focus is on. AlarmiFex hands the job to the system instead. It schedules each alarm with AlarmKit, Apple's framework for alarms. Apple's own documentation says an alarm "overrides both a device's focus and silent mode, if necessary" (Apple Developer: Scheduling an alarm with AlarmKit).

In practice that means your wake-up sound plays when the app is closed, when the phone is locked, on silent, and while a Focus such as Do Not Disturb or Sleep is on. Your sound can be one from the mood library or a clip of your own.

Will my alarm go off on Do Not Disturb?

On iPhone, yes. An AlarmiFex alarm is a system alarm, so Do Not Disturb and other Focus modes do not hold it back. This is different from a notification, which Focus can quiet. If you want the longer explanation of how silent, Do Not Disturb and Focus differ, read does an alarm go off on silent or Do Not Disturb. For Apple's own Clock app, see whether an iPhone Clock alarm rings on silent.

What it needs to ring through Focus and silent

  • Alarm permission. iOS asks once. Tap Allow.
  • Ringer volume. The alarm plays at your device's ringer volume. If the alarm sounds faint, see why an iPhone alarm is too quiet.
  • A charged phone with the app installed. You do not need to keep it open.

If an alarm ever stays quiet, our guide to an iPhone alarm not going off walks through the usual causes.

How to set it up

  1. Allow alarms. When iOS asks, tap Allow. Without it the alarm cannot be scheduled and will not ring. If you tapped Don't Allow, AlarmiFex sends you to Settings, the only place iOS lets you change it.
  2. Pick a sound and a time. Choose a library sound, or your own clip, and set repeat days and a label if you like.
  3. Turn the ringer volume up. The alarm plays at your device's ringer volume, so raise it before bed.
  4. Run a test. Set an alarm two minutes ahead, lock the phone, switch on silent and your usual Focus, and listen. Then rest easy.

What it does not do

  • It does not play louder than your device's ringer volume. Turn the volume up before bed.
  • It needs alarm permission. If you decline, alarms do not ring.
  • It cannot ring if the phone is switched off or the battery is flat. Keep the phone charged.
  • It is not a promise that you will wake up. No app can promise that, and we won't pretend otherwise.
  • The AlarmKit part is iPhone only. It is not what Android uses.

What about Android?

AlarmKit is an Apple framework, so it is not used on Android. AlarmiFex on Android schedules alarms as system alarm clocks through Android's alarm manager, starts a foreground ring service when the alarm fires, and plays the sound on the alarm audio stream. It asks for notifications, exact alarms and full-screen alerts so the alarm can show on a locked screen. Android describes how exact alarms work in its alarm scheduling guide.

Android lets you decide how Do Not Disturb treats alarms, and phone makers differ, so we do not make the same promise there. Test an alarm with your usual settings. More on the Android side is in our Android alarm guide and on the Android alarm app page.

Who it helps most

Shift workers, students and anyone who keeps the phone on silent overnight. See AlarmiFex for shift workers, or the iPhone alarm app page for everything else it does.

Questions about alarms on silent