Alarm Clock is not playing downloaded songs from Apple Music

This solution worked! Im on iOS 15.4.1. It could have been a bit abbreviated. Like the parts where he/she was intricately describing how to open and close your Clock app, instead of just saying “close and reopen the Clock.” So maybe he or she can revise it to make it more succinct and add some paragraph breaks, so its easier to follow. But if you stick with it, it works! And I appreciate it! Thank you

I had this same issue for a long long time! I this a while back Apple changed the way iTunes/Apple Music works. I noticed that even though my music would play, it wasn’t necessarily downloaded to my device. I’m assuming my music was all in the cloud. I just went into Apple Music and tapped the “download” arrow at the top of the song I want to have play as my alarm. It downloaded to my phone and will now play as my alarm. Hope this works for everyone else out there!

In my case it’s because songs I was selecting for my alarm were historically downloaded to my old « iTunes » app, but while visible and accessible in my newer « Music » app, they were not also « downloaded » into my Music app. So I fixed this by: Open Music app —> Tap Library icon —> Tap Songs —> Tap 3 dots beside song I want —> Tap Download. After grey down arrow shows download, Open Clock app —> Edit alarm you want —-> Tap Sound —> Scroll ti Songs section and Tap « Pick a Song » —> Tap Downloaded —> follow prompts from there. System will only allow you to make a choice from songs downloaded to your Music App and not those on your iTunes app.

Same! I’m fact, I’m not sure what the problem is for certain but I see that the songs that have been downloaded for a long time (like JB said) actually are the only ones that work. Sorry, I don’t know how to fix it but you’ll most likely have to wait a while before you can listen to that song when you wake up and hope an update fixes it. 😊

It honestly ****** me off how difficult iphone is about waking up to music. That’s such a basic thing, and i prefer waking up to music playing (continuously, different). So much so that iPhone will not be my next phone.

I experienced it just yesterday and thought maybe turning the phone off and on would help. Not buying any more iTunes if they are not going to download. Hope you are on the right track with the next update. Time will tell!

Mathew I have the exact same problem… I updated my iPhone to the iOS 16 and the alarm clock is still refusing to let me use the sound I selected… i have it saved and downloaded on my phone but for some reason it doesn’t want to play it…

Aden I’ve got the same exact issue. I’ve got the most up to date software, tried deleting and reinstalling the song on normal settings (without dolby atmos or any type of lossless audio) and nothing is working. It worked for months and then stopped playing Stairway to Heaven and went right to the default alarm for no reason. Even tried it with other songs and it didnt work. Someone please help.

I dunno if this helps but ever since I got the iPhone 14 Pro Max I also wasn’t able to choose a song for my alarms. It would let me choose the song but it would just go to radar default instead of the song. So in Music, I turned off Dolby Atmos and Lossless Audio as these are listening enhancements. I also went to album or song and removed it from downloaded not deleting it. Next I went to download the album or song again but downloaded without Dolby Atmos. I finally can use a song for my alarms. Quick and easy!

Well I decided to try using a downloaded (purchased) song on my iPhone as an alarm and what a nightmare. It works, then it doesn't, then I get it to work for a day or two then it doesn't. It reverts back to the annoying original alarm sound.

I've read A LOT of posts AND tried A LOT of "solutions" but nothing fixes this problem.

Can anymore provide a definitive solution to this problem that shouldn't even exist in the first place?

Apple, if you're monitoring these posts... fix the problem please.. I shouldn't have to be writing this and I definitely shouldn't have to be fixing this problem with work-arounds either.

[Edited by Moderator]

I know what I’m about to say is not a solution to this problem, but a workaround. Nevertheless it’s a hassle free one.

simply head over to the shortcut app and set a timed shortcut to play music(you can select a specific song). turn off ask to run option and notify when run option.

P.S - It would be really good if you fixed the problem apple !!

So… quick update. I finally managed to get my alarms working again with my music. I’m not sure if it matters that you own the music you use or you can use downloaded Apple Music songs but, what I did is:

1) delete the purchased download song I want to use,

2) removed it from all Playlists,

3) turned off Lossless option in the Music Settings

3) turned off Dolby Atmos in the Music Settings

4) downloaded the song

5) setup new timers using the downloaded song and …

… YAY … I got it working again!

what I do know is two things…

1) I’m not messing with anything until Apple has some official “fix” announcement or,

2) Apple updates/provides some official documentation on how to actually use music with an Alarm Setting.

I’m exhausted just thinking about how much work this was and never, never have I ever thought/expected a workflow to configure something as simple as this would be so painful, especially with Apple. It shouldn’t be this problematic.

Apple, please fix whatever’s going on with this please.

The ONLY reason I went to this much trouble rather than just using an OOTB alarm sound is that I wanted something gentle and calm sounding and ALL the alarm sounds, at least to me, is jarring and annoying.

ok, so maybe this isn’t just a quick update! “My bad”

Yep! That is the THE solution. You must leave the Alarm app (something Apple should really fix), go to Apple Music and “download“ the song. When you return to the Alarm app and assign the song as your alarm sound, it will work. The problem in all of this is that Apple allows the user to select a song as the alarm sound when in fact it shouldn’t be selectable. This is poor design. Only songs that have been downloaded, and hence, playable in the alarm app, should be added to the list of selectable songs. I’ve already made the suggestion to Apple, but for as long as this has been a problem for so many people, Apple should already have addressed it…years ago! Come on, Apple! You’re better than this!!

I want to listen in lossless.

There's no real reason why the alarm app can't download the song in non-lossless if it can't handle lossless besides Apple being too lazy to implement it.

Imagine paying over $1k for a phone which can't even play custom alarm sounds unless you cripple your audio quality.

Apple deserved the trillion they lost.

Worked! Been struggling with this for a while. Makes no sense that the alarm let's you choose a song and plays it fine during the preview when you select it, but will not play it for the actual alarm. Thanks!