How to make a reminder ring like an alarm on iPhone
On iOS 26 and later, apps can ring a real alarm for a reminder, through silent mode and Focus, with Stop and Snooze. In Alcove, set a reminder and choose Alarm as its type. In Apple Reminders (iOS 26.2 or later), mark the reminder as urgent. Todoist and TickTick offer urgent or alarm reminders too. On older iOS, use a Time Sensitive notification or the Clock app.
A reminder is only useful if you notice it. Ordinary notifications are easy to miss: they follow the silent switch, Focus can hold them back, and the scheduled summary can bundle them for later. For the things that really can't slip, like leaving for the airport or taking medicine, you want something that rings.
Until iOS 26, only Apple's Clock app could set a real alarm. iOS 26 added AlarmKit, which lets other apps schedule alarms that ring through silent mode and Focus, show full screen on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island, and offer Stop and Snooze. iOS 26.2 brought the same to Apple's own Reminders app.
In Alcove
Every reminder in Alcove has a type, so you can decide how loud each one should be:
| Type | What happens |
|---|---|
| Quiet | Goes to the notification list without a sound |
| Notification | A notification with the usual sound |
| Alarm | On iPhone with iOS 26 or later, rings like an alarm, even on silent or in Focus, with Stop and Snooze. Elsewhere, a Time Sensitive notification that breaks through Focus |
To set one:
- Open the task and choose Remind.
- Pick when: at the time it's due, or a set time before, such as 15 minutes or a day.
- Choose Alarm as the type. The first time, iOS asks you to allow Alcove to set alarms.
The reminder moves with the task. Reschedule the task and the alarm follows; on a repeating task, every occurrence gets the same reminder. You can mark the task done right from its reminder. See repeating tasks.
In Apple Reminders
On iOS 26.2 or later:
- Open the reminder and add a date and time.
- Turn on Urgent.
When it's due, Reminders sets off an alarm with Snooze, and a countdown appears on the Lock Screen. Reminders alarms are shown in blue.
In other to-do apps
- Todoist has urgent reminders on iOS 26 and later that ring as full-screen alarms through silent mode and Do Not Disturb.
- TickTick offers Alarm Reminders on iOS 26 and later, which keep ringing until you act, even in Silent mode or a Sleep Focus.
- Apps that haven't adopted AlarmKit use notifications, which may be Time Sensitive.
On older iOS versions
- Time Sensitive notifications. If an app marks reminders as Time Sensitive, allow them in Settings, Focus, your Focus, Apps, so they break through. They still follow the silent switch.
- The Clock app. For a one-off, set an alarm in Clock, or ask Siri: "Set an alarm for 6:30 called leave for the airport".
Tips
- Save alarms for what matters. If everything rings, nothing stands out. Use Quiet for low-stakes nudges and Alarm for the few that can't slip.
- Use a lead time. An alarm 30 minutes before you need to leave works better than one at the moment you should already be out the door.
- Check the volume. Alarms use your alarm volume in Settings, Sounds and Haptics.
Sources
- Wake up to the AlarmKit API, WWDC25, Apple
- iOS 26.2 adds reminder alarms, TidBITS
- Add an urgent reminder with the Todoist iOS app, Todoist
- Constant Reminder, TickTick
Questions people ask
Why don't my reminders make a sound when my iPhone is on silent?
Ordinary notifications follow the Ring/Silent switch and your Focus. Only alarms ring through silent mode. Since iOS 26, apps can use Apple's AlarmKit to schedule real alarms, so choose an alarm-style reminder in apps that support it.
Can Apple Reminders ring like an alarm?
Yes, from iOS 26.2. Mark a reminder as urgent and it sets off an alarm when it's due, even on silent or in a Focus, with Snooze. Apple shows these alarms in blue to tell them apart from Clock alarms.
Will an alarm reminder still ring if the app is closed?
Yes. AlarmKit alarms are scheduled by the system, so they ring on time even when the app isn't running.
Does Alcove's alarm work on the Mac?
On the Mac, an Alarm reminder arrives as a Time Sensitive notification, which breaks through Focus and stays on screen. Ringing through silent mode is an iPhone feature from iOS 26.
How do I complete a task from the reminder?
In Alcove, mark the task done right from its reminder. You can also tick it off from a Home Screen widget without opening the app.