If you want your iPhone alarm to vibrate without making any sound, you’re not alone. Many people prefer a vibration-only alarm for quiet environments, work settings, school, or simply because they don’t want a loud ringtone waking others.
The good news? iPhones allow you to set a vibration-only alarm, but the option isn’t always obvious.

This guide explains exactly how to make an iPhone alarm vibrate only, why some alarms might still make noise, and common fixes if it doesn’t work.

Why Use a Vibrate-Only Alarm?

Choosing vibration instead of sound can be useful when:

You want a silent wake-up without disturbing others
You’re in meetings, class, or shared spaces
You’re sensitive to loud alarm tones
You need a discreet reminder that won’t interrupt anyone

How to Make an iPhone Alarm Vibrate Only

Follow these steps carefully to ensure the alarm vibrates—but stays completely silent.

1. Open the Clock App

Go to your home screen and tap the Clock app.

2. Tap “Alarm”

Select the Alarm tab at the bottom of the screen.

3. Create or Edit an Alarm

Tap + to add a new alarm
OR
Tap Edit and choose an existing alarm

4. Set the Alarm Sound to “None”

This is the most important step.

Tap Sound
Scroll all the way up
Select None

This removes any ringtone so the alarm won’t play sound.

5. Turn On Vibration

While you’re still in the sound menu:

Tap Vibration at the top
Choose any vibration pattern (e.g., Alert, Heartbeat, S.O.S.)
Make sure “None” is NOT selected in Vibration

If vibration is off, the alarm will stay completely silent.

6. Save Your Alarm

Tap Back → then Save.

Your iPhone alarm will now vibrate only, without any audio.

Important Settings to Check

Sometimes the alarm won’t vibrate unless certain iPhone settings are enabled.

1. Make Sure Vibration Is Enabled in Settings

Go to:

Settings → Accessibility → Touch → Vibration → Toggle ON

If this is turned off, your phone won’t vibrate at all, including alarms.

2. Silent Mode Doesn’t Affect Vibrate-Only Alarms

Good news:
Even if you put your iPhone on silent, vibration alarms still work.

But if vibration is disabled system-wide, the alarm won’t vibrate.

3. Check “Haptics” Setting

For newer iPhones:

Settings → Sounds & Haptics → Haptic Alerts → ON

What to Do if Your iPhone Alarm Still Makes Sound

If your alarm still beeps or plays audio:

Confirm the sound is set to None
Re-enable vibration settings
Restart your iPhone
Update iOS to the latest version

One of these usually fixes the issue.

Can You Use Do Not Disturb With a Vibrate-Only Alarm?

Yes! iPhone alarms work even if Do Not Disturb or Focus Mode is on.
Alarms override these settings, so you’ll still feel the vibration.

Final Thoughts

Making an iPhone alarm vibrate only is a simple but powerful feature—perfect for discreet alerts or silent wake-ups.
Just remember:

Set Sound → None
Turn Vibration → ON
Enable vibration in Accessibility and Haptics

With these steps, you’ll never worry about waking someone with a loud alarm again.

How to Make an iPhone Alarm Vibrate Only (Step-by-Step Guide)