Transform Your Old iPhone into a Smart Alarm Clock

When you get a new phone, you might find yourself pondering the fate of your old device. Opting for a trade-in can be a smart move, especially if it helps offset the cost of your new smartphone, and it could also benefit someone looking for a refurbished option. However, if the trade-in value doesn’t meet your expectations and you’re curious about other uses for your retired mobile device, we’ve got some creative suggestions. One excellent idea is to transform your old phone into a dedicated alarm clock. While you could utilize your current phone for this purpose—likely something you do already—there are distinct advantages to repurposing your decommissioned device. Let’s explore how you can effectively upcycle your old iPhone into a reliable alarm clock.

Discover the Benefits of Upcycling Your Old Phone

Stashing away a retired gadget in a drawer serves no real purpose—except to trigger fleeting thoughts about its potential each time you open that drawer. Recycling is certainly a viable option, but even if your old handset is not as fast as your new one, it’s likely more capable than any sleep machine or smart alarm clock readily available. With the setup tips provided here, your old device can even perform more advanced functions than you might expect. Moreover, relying on your current phone while you’re trying to sleep can be hazardous. It’s almost impossible to pick it up without getting sidetracked. Considering the fluctuating tariffs that make electronic devices pricier, it’s exceptionally wise to reconsider the capabilities of your existing gadgets.

Using your old phone as an alarm clock keeps you from the distractions that come with using your current smartphone, which often leads to late-night scrolling and notifications. By repurposing it, you can give your old device a new lease on life while enjoying a more peaceful night’s sleep, free from digital distractions. This simple yet innovative approach helps reduce electronic waste and saves you money while enhancing your bedtime routine.

Streamline Your Old Phone: Remove Unnecessary Apps

Let’s be clear: you don’t need to delete everything from your old phone. The goal is to make your device as dull and unengaging as possible—think no Instagram, no addictive games like Monument Valley, and no sentimental Photos from last year’s adventures. While your iPhone restricts you from deleting certain essential applications, such as Phone, Messages, and the App Store, you can hide them from your home screen so they won’t distract you unless you actively search for them.

To successfully create an efficient alarm clock, you’ll still need to retain a few basic apps. Ensure that you keep the following apps on your device, as they are essential for setting up your alarm clock features. By simplifying the interface and minimizing distractions, you can focus solely on the functionalities that make your old phone a perfect bedside companion.

Customize Your Wake-Up Experience with a Unique Alarm Tone

If you prefer to wake up to something more soothing than the default chirps and bleeps of the Clock app, consider selecting a personalized sound as your alarm. This can significantly enhance your waking routine.

1. Establish your sleep schedule in the Health app. Apple mandates that you set your Sleep Schedule in the Health app before you can configure an alarm in the Clock app.

2. Choose and download a song. You can use any song downloaded on your device as your alarm tone. However, it’s essential to note that some high-quality audio formats may not work as intended. For instance, I found that tracks supporting Dolby Atmos or Lossless audio didn’t function properly, even after adjusting the settings in Music > Audio.

Standard quality songs work perfectly. If you’re like me and not a heavy sleeper, you might enjoy waking up to calming sounds like singing bowls or meditative flutes. Conversely, if you need a more powerful jolt to rise, opt for something more energetic.

3. Set your alarm. Launch the Clock app and navigate to the Alarms tab. Configure your alarm as usual. Next, tap Sound > Pick a song > Downloaded > and choose your preferred (non-Lossless) track. Finally, hit Save.

4. Disable vibrate mode. If you prefer your phone not to vibrate when the alarm sounds, navigate to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and set the Haptics option to Never Play.

Enhance Sleep Quality with Soothing White Noise

One of my favorite features of my sleep machine is the ambient music that plays as I drift off into a deep slumber. Fortunately, your old iPhone can also replicate this experience by playing calming tunes or white noise. If white noise aids your sleep, you can program your phone to emit those sounds as well. By utilizing a combination of Shortcuts and Automations, you can create a sleep routine that plays automatically, removing the need to touch your screen at all.

1. Create a sleepytime playlist. Open Apple Music and compile a playlist. (Sadly, Shortcuts doesn’t integrate with Spotify.) I filled Amy’s Sleepytime Mix with tracks from Apple’s Ambient Chill and Pure Ambient playlists. I aimed for a duration of about 30 minutes, which is slightly longer than it takes me to fall asleep.

2. Deactivate Autoplay. It can be quite disruptive when you’re on the verge of dozing off and your relaxing playlist unexpectedly transitions into an upbeat track chosen by an algorithm. To turn off Autoplay:

• Start by playing any track in Apple Music.

• Tap the song’s name to enlarge the album cover and track controls.

• Tap the three lines in the bottom right corner. You’ll see upcoming tracks and three buttons at the top: crossed arrows (shuffle), looped arrows (repeat), and an infinity symbol (Autoplay).

• Toggle Autoplay off so that it appears greyed out.

Note: Deactivating Autoplay will apply to ALL your Apple devices. If you enjoy having Apple continue playing music after a playlist ends, you’ll need to explore additional methods, which are outlined at the end of this guide.

3. Select your preferred white noise sound. An accessibility feature on your iPhone offers eight different white noise options, including Rain, Ocean, Fire, and Night, with even more features set to be added soon.

• Open the Settings app

• Tap Accessibility

• Tap Audio & Visual

• Tap Background Sounds

• Toggle Background Sounds to ‘on’

• Tap Sound and choose your favorite option

• Press back and toggle Background Sounds back off

• Enable Use When Media Is Playing

• Turn off Stop Sounds When Locked

4. Create a Shortcut. This will ensure your phone plays your playlist with white noise in the background, softening transitions between songs, and when the playlist concludes, the white noise continues.

• Open Shortcuts and tap All Shortcuts, then tap + in the upper right corner

• Look for “volume,” tap Set Volume, and choose a percentage, such as 25 percent or your desired level

• Search for “background,” tap Set Background Sounds. Your shortcut should read: [Turn] [Background Sounds] [On]

• Search for “play” and tap Play Music

• Tap Music > Library > Playlist > [Your sleepy time mix]. Then tap the tiny ⊕ in the upper right corner

• Tap the arrow next to the Shortcut title at the top to rename your shortcut, perhaps something like Sleep Routine or Night Night.

• Tap Done.

5. Trigger Your Shortcut with Automation. To execute your Shortcut, simply ask Siri by saying “Hey Siri, Night Night” (or “Hey Siri, Sleep Routine” or whatever you named your shortcut). If you want your routine to commence at the same time every night, establish an automation.

• In the Shortcuts app, tap the Automation tab at the bottom

• Tap + to create a new Automation

• Choose Time of Day and set your preferred starting time and days

• Ensure there’s a checkmark next to Run Immediately (not Run After Confirmation) and keep Notify When Run toggled off

• Tap Next

• If you don’t see the name of the Shortcut you created at the top, search for its name and tap on it

6. Turn Off Background Sounds. Whether you prefer your white noise to continue playing until your alarm goes off or just for a limited period, it’s advantageous to create an automation that turns it off without manual effort.

• Create a new Shortcut

• Search for “background”

• Tap Set Background Sound

• Tap [On] to [Off] so the Shortcut reads [Turn] [Background Sounds] [Off]

• Rename the Shortcut to Background Sounds Off

• Hit Done

• Create a new Automation in the Automation tab

• Select Time of Day

• Set it for your alarm time or a few hours after you typically fall asleep

• Tap Run Immediately and ensure Notify When Run is toggled off

• Hit Done and select the shortcut you just created (Background Sounds Off)

Position Your Phone for Optimal Clock Display

Devices running iOS 17 or later feature a handy StandBy mode, which showcases your choice of stylish clock faces while the device is charging and positioned horizontally. To activate StandBy:

When you place your phone in a stand, it will resemble an actual alarm clock, making it easier to view from a distance. Whether you opt for a MagSafe wireless stand or a simple stand-and-cord setup, your newly converted alarm clock (your old phone) will likely be plugged in continuously. Therefore, you may want to adjust your battery settings to prevent it from constantly reaching 100 percent. Batteries experience the most strain when they are either fully charged or completely depleted. To do this:

Bonus Tip: Control Your Sleep Playlist Duration Without Disabling Autoplay

Many people appreciate the way algorithms keep the music flowing with related songs after a playlist concludes. However, playing random tracks throughout the night may not be ideal for restful sleep. The good news is you can set a timer that allows your sleep tunes to play for a predetermined duration, ensuring it stops automatically without requiring you to deactivate Autoplay on all your devices.

• Start by noting the total length of your playlist

• Open the Clock app and navigate to the Timers tab

• Tap When Timer Ends and scroll down to select Stop Playing

• Tap Set

• Access Shortcuts and modify your nighttime routine by tapping the three dots in the Shortcut card (the one linked to your playlist and Background sounds)

• Search for “timer”

• Tap Start Timer

• Input the total length of your playlist in the Duration field

• Tap Done

Since Background Sounds are a feature rather than traditional media, your selected white noise will continue to play until the automation designed to stop it executes, ensuring a seamless transition to sleep.