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iPhone alarm song not working

This issue started when I upgraded to iPhone XS iOS 12 right from day 1, but didn’t have any issues with my iPhone 6.

When I set a song as my alarm, the song plays during the setting process. However when the alarm goes off, the default "radar" sound plays.

It looks to be nearly identical to this problem Alarm not playing some songs in iOS 10 but none of the user-provided "fixes" have worked for me.

Ttroubleshooting:

- deleting all of my alarms and created new ones

- setting the alarm with various songs

- hard closing the Clock app and setting a new alarm

- restarting my device

- powering off the device


Verificatuon:

- the music is purchased from iTunes

- music is downloaded on my device

- my iOS is up-to-date


Apple has not provided a functional resolution for any previously identified similar issue. Need suggestions.


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[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Oct 22, 2018 4:17 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 26, 2018 5:37 AM

We both have the same problem and I fixed it by redownloading the music I wanted to use.

28 replies

Feb 11, 2019 3:09 AM in response to sanramann

I have the same problem, with more symptoms.


I have downloaded various ringtones and they’ve stopped working.

My alarms play the jolting default Radar, even though they’re still set to my ringtone.

I’ve tried changing them to a built-in alarm sound, then changing back. Radar still plays.


ALSO, I have now realized that I have a downloaded ringtone selected as my text alert, which doesn’t work either. That plays the default “Note”.


I see a possible solution is to delete my downloaded ringtones and reinstall them.

How do I do that?

Thank you.


iphone SE running 12.1.3

May 8, 2019 5:37 AM in response to Tootz_zoo

I can't delete the old songs but I've redownloaded them multiple times, they're definitely not on the cloud - still get radar. Also, as another poster indicated, my text tone will not play my purchased (and downloaded) tones either. In face, most of my purchased & downloaded tones don't even show up in iTunes. I have receipts for them and I can see them on my phone, but not iTunes.


Apple has been ridiculously unhelpful in all of their communications; sending copy/pasted answers of things to try despite the fact my email to them indicated that I had already tried them.


Until the issue is resolved, I've downloaded a 3rd party app called 'The Clocks' (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-clocks-alarm-clock-world-clock/id403684793?mt=8) It's an old app but it plays what I set it to play to wake up.


I would understand if the music I was trying to use was ripped from a cd or other outside source, but it isn't. And neither is my ringtone. I've paid Apple to use those sounds - twice in fact for each tone - and after 8 months this issue can't be resolved? It makes me miss my droids!

Apr 5, 2019 5:30 AM in response to NotUserFriendlyAnymore

I still have all my music available to me that I put on iTunes years ago. They are there waiting for me to download at any time. I do use iTunes Match, but that only matched the songs I already had and gave a higher bit rate. You should go to iTunes or your music app on your iPhone and look at your library. You should see all the songs you have uploaded to iTunes over the years


Mar 6, 2019 11:25 AM in response to sanramann

I have the exact same issue. Music downloaded on my device plays but other music in my library will not. It used to work fine as long as I had a wifi connection (my music library is all on my phone via icloud). The song plays when I set up the alarm but not when it goes off. I don't see a solution except to ensure the songs I want to use for alarms are actually downloaded onto my phone.

Apr 30, 2019 8:52 AM in response to sanramann

Hi, I just found a way to play your music for an alarm, I when to my music hit on my songs, all my songs that had the cloud icon were not in my phone so I could not uses them as alarms, all I had to do was hit the cloud icon and it downloaded into my phone,how I can use that song for an alarm 😸👍, try it c if it works for u, take care

May 8, 2019 6:10 AM in response to NancyRif

Thanks, but I've downloaded, repurchased and then downloaded again, multiple times. It lasts for one day and reverts right back to radar. As other posters have also indicated, this may be a fix for some phones, but not all.


Verification:

1) purchased / repurchased multiple versions of desired tones

2) downloaded / redownloaded multiple versions of said tone, multiple times

3) phone & software are kept up to date

4) still playing radar and default text tones

5) makes me miss my droids!

May 19, 2019 8:31 AM in response to sanramann

I have the exact same problem as many here. I have tried all the ‘fixes’ but my alarm ALWAYS defaults to RADAR. And it says (default) just like this in parentheses next to it. Any new ideas? I have MAX Xs Plus and using 12.2 as most recent update. No other updates available. It just started doing this one day and never quit. I mean, it’s such an annoying sound because I have no control over it so it wakes me up better than any other alarm sound. So, maybe I shouldn’t be complaining. ;)

Jun 5, 2019 6:11 AM in response to sanramann

hey so i’ve had this issue recently with my alarms not playing the song i choose untill i noticed it worked for the songs that are properly downloaded on my phone ie when I add a song from apple music and it’s just in my added songs and i choose that one it doesn’t work, but if i go back to that sound and click download THEN it will work so maybe try that if you’re using Apple Music ?? xx

iPhone alarm song not working

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