Apple has finally decoupled alarm and ringtone volumes on the iPhone, addressing a long-standing complaint that turning down the ringtone (or muting calls) could also silence alarms, causing users to oversleep. The change arrives with iOS 27 and gives users independent control over how loudly alarms and timers sound, regardless of other volume settings, meaning phones can be kept quiet for calls and notifications while still guaranteeing a loud wake-up alert.

To enable it, users need to go to Settings, then Sounds & Haptics, and switch off "Match Ringtone Volume" in the Alarms & Timers section, which reveals a separate slider for alarm and timer volume. iOS 27 also lets users fix the volume of system alerts, such as notifications and keyboard sounds, and control whether the physical volume buttons affect ringtones or only media playback. The changes can be reversed by re-enabling the toggles, and the update forms part of a wider set of quality-of-life improvements in iOS 27, alongside a revamped Siri and refinements to the Liquid Glass design. Apple typically releases major software updates in September alongside new devices, though a public beta is already available for those wanting early access.