Check permissions and battery settings

To ring at the chosen time and show its controls, the app needs Android to allow alarm scheduling and notifications. Names and menu paths vary by phone and Android version.

App notifications#

Allow Alarm Clock notifications when Android asks. If you declined, open Android Settings → Apps → Alarm Clock → Notifications and enable them.

Also check the alarm notification category or channel: allow visible alerts, with High importance where your phone offers that choice. The app can open the relevant screen when it detects a setting that needs changing.

Alarms and reminders#

On Android 12 and 12L, allow Alarms and reminders access if prompted. Then return to Alarm Clock and check that the alarm is saved and enabled.

On later versions, the app declares the dedicated alarm-clock permission, so you may not need to grant that access manually. Follow the prompts that actually appear on your phone.

Full-screen alarms#

On Android 14 or later, check Full-screen alarms if the app asks. This access allows the alarm to appear when your phone is locked. It is separate from notification permission.

When your phone is unlocked, Android may prefer a notification. Tap it to open the controls.

Battery and background activity#

If your phone delays or blocks alarms, check this app’s battery settings in Android. Depending on the brand, the option may be called Unrestricted, Don’t optimise, Allow background activity or something similar.

If you use an app that automatically closes other apps, exclude Alarm Clock from that cleanup. Then test with your phone locked and unplugged from its charger.

Do Not Disturb#

In Android’s Do Not Disturb settings, check that alarms are allowed. Check the alarm volume too, and test using the same mode you will leave on overnight.

Your phone must stay on#

The app cannot switch on a powered-off phone. Leave enough battery charge. After force-stopping the app from Android settings, open it again and check the schedule.

After restarting, check that alarms are still enabled. Do not assume an alarm that was due while the phone was off will ring when it starts up.

Music files and flash#

Choose your music using Android’s file picker. Follow its steps to give access to the file you want to use, then save the alarm. You do not need to give access to all your photos or videos to choose a tone.

Flash needs compatible hardware. If that section is disabled, you can still use sound and the other available controls.

Information about data use is in the privacy policy.

For more context on system settings, see Android’s documentation about alarms and full-screen access.