What is AlarmKit? How iPhone apps can now ring in silent mode
AlarmKit is a system, available from iOS 26, that lets apps ring real alarms.
Alarm apps before AlarmKit
Until now, apps other than Clock usually rang alarms with notifications. Notifications have weak points:
- No sound in silent mode
- They can be held back by Focus
- The sound is short
That is why some apps had to ask you to turn off silent mode or keep the app open. If you forgot to turn off silent mode, there could be no sound in the morning.
What AlarmKit changes
With AlarmKit, an app can ring an alarm in a way close to the Clock app. Apple's developer material says that when an AlarmKit alarm fires, the alert breaks through silent mode and the current Focus.
| Item | With notifications | With AlarmKit |
|---|---|---|
| Silent mode | No sound | Rings |
| Focus | May be held back | Rings |
| Display | Shown as a notification | Shown as a full-screen alarm |
| Permission | Notifications | Alarms (asked once at first) |
What an AlarmKit alarm can do
Here is what Apple's developer material describes, from a user's point of view.
| Feature | What it means |
|---|---|
| Ring at a time | Apps can make one-time alarms and repeating alarms |
| Countdown | Apps can also make alarms that count down, like a timer |
| Names on screen | When it rings, you see the alarm's title and the app's name |
| Buttons | Besides a stop button, the alarm can show a snooze button or a button whose action the app decides |
| Other screens | It also appears in StandBy and on an Apple Watch paired with the iPhone |
Which features are used depends on the app.
What users should know
- iOS 26 or later is required.
- The first time, the app asks for permission to set alarms.
- You can change it later in Settings → the app's name.
You decide for each app. Allowing one app does not allow others. If you do not allow it, that app cannot ring AlarmKit alarms.
How to check the permission
- Open Settings on the iPhone.
- Tap the app's name.
- Check that the alarm item is allowed.
When you install a new alarm app, set an alarm a few minutes ahead and test once whether it rings with silent mode on.
How YOBIOKO uses it
The iPhone version of YOBIOKO rings with AlarmKit. The alarm shows a “Type tasks” button, and tapping it opens the typing screen.
What happens until it stops is explained in What is a “type to stop” alarm?.
The first time you save an alarm in YOBIOKO, the app asks you to allow alarms and notifications. Once allowed, the alarm rings even in silent mode. To check later, open Settings → YOBIOKO.
Because it uses AlarmKit, the iPhone version of YOBIOKO does not work before iOS 26.
On Android
The Android version uses the Android alarm system and rings at the “Alarm” volume. It also rings in silent mode. It works on Android 8.0 or later.
In YOBIOKO for Android, tap “Allow” on the Alarms screen to allow notifications, alarms and full-screen display together.
What to check if it does not ring
If YOBIOKO does not ring, start with the iOS version and the permissions on iPhone, and with the “Alarm” volume and the permissions on Android.
More checks are in iPhone alarm not going off or too quiet? A checklist and Android alarm not going off? A checklist. For silent mode, airplane mode and other situations, see Will my alarm ring in silent mode, airplane mode or with the phone off?.
FAQ
What happens on an iPhone that is not on iOS 26?
AlarmKit is available from iOS 26. On earlier iOS versions, alarms from apps that use AlarmKit do not work. The same goes for the iPhone version of YOBIOKO.
Does it work on iPad too?
According to Apple, AlarmKit also supports iPadOS 26 or later. Whether an app runs on iPad depends on the app.
Is it separate from the notification permission?
Yes. AlarmKit has its own permission for alarms. In YOBIOKO you allow both alarms and notifications.
Summary
- AlarmKit is a system, available from iOS 26, that lets apps ring alarms.
- AlarmKit alarms ring in silent mode and in Focus.
- You allow alarms for each app. You can change this in Settings.
- The iPhone version of YOBIOKO uses AlarmKit. The Android version rings at the “Alarm” volume.