The latest Apple Watches are highly capable wearables that serve a wide range of purposes. One of the lesser-known features they offer is the ability to set a silent alarm that gently vibrates on your wrist. This is ideal for those who dislike alarm sounds or don't want to disturb those around them. Whether you have an Apple Watch Ultra 2 running watchOS 10 or a slightly older model, the steps you need to follow are the same.
How to set a silent, vibrating alarm on your Apple Watch
Using your iPhone
The first method relies on your nearby, paired iPhone.
- Launch the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and select on Clock.
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Enable Push Alerts from iPhone by tapping the slider to the right until it turns green to confirm.
- Go back a page and select Sounds & Haptics from the Watch app.
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Enable the Silent Mode toggle by tapping it to the right so it turns green.
- Close to Watch app and open the built-in Clock app on your iPhone.
- Click on Alarms in the bottom menu bar.
- Tap the plus (+) icon in the top right corner.
- Set the time of the alarm and adjust the other options as you see fit.
- Click on Sound.
- Scroll to the bottom of the list of alarm sounds, and select None.
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Go back and Save the alarm.
Now, whenever the alarm goes off, it won't play a sound on either device. Instead, your Apple Watch will gently vibrate on your wrist.
Using just your Apple Watch
You can alternatively rely on your Apple Watch exclusively.
- Open the Control Center on your Apple Watch by clicking its Side button.
- Enable Silent Mode by tapping the Bell-shaped icon. It will turn red and have a line through it to confirm that sound is now off.
- Open the Alarms app on your Apple Watch.
- Click on the plus (+) icon.
- Set the time of the alarm.
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Tap the Green Tick.
Rest easy
That's it! Your iPhone could be turned off or disconnected, but your Apple Watch will still wake you up by tapping your wrist silently. I use this feature every morning, and I can't imagine switching back to audio alarms ever again. The vibration gently wakes you up so it won't mess with your natural circadian rhythm or jolt you awake. Rather, you can wake up gradually and turn on the music or other audio once you're ready to get your morning started. If you sleep in the same bed with someone else, or your room is close to others, using a vibrating alarm also won't bother other people. Spouses/partners, kids, and roommates will appreciate that, especially if you wake up much earlier than them!
Make sure, however, that your Apple Watch is charged sufficiently before going to bed. You wouldn't want to arrive late to work or school because of a dead Apple Watch that failed to wake you up. It's also a good idea to test this method on a weekend, in case you unconsciously dismiss the vibrating alarm and go back to sleep. Personally, I've never failed to wake up using this method, but it's always a good idea to err on the side of caution if you are a lover of the snooze button.