How to set part of a song as your iPhone alarm

If the start of the song is fine: the Clock app

1. In Clock, open Alarms and tap +.
2. Tap Sound, then Pick a song.
3. Choose the song and tap Save.

• Apple Music songs work if they are downloaded to your iPhone.

If 30 seconds is enough: GarageBand

GarageBand is Apple's music app. You export part of a song as a ringtone, and the ringtone then shows up in the Clock app's alarm sounds. It takes a few more taps.

1. Touch and hold the GarageBand icon and tap Create New Audio Recording.
2. Tap the Tracks button, then the Loop Browser button.
3. Tap Files, then Browse items from the Files app. Touch and hold the file and drag it to the left edge of the track.
4. Drag the edges of the region until it is 30 seconds or shorter, then move it all the way to the left.
5. Go to My Songs, select the song, tap Share, then Ringtone, then Export.
6. In Clock, open the alarm, tap Sound and pick it from Ringtones.

• If the ringtone is longer than 30 seconds, GarageBand shortens it when you export.
• Songs from the Music app work only if they are not protected. Protected songs are grayed out.

For more than 30 seconds, or the sound of a video: My Sound Alarm

You open an audio file or a video, and choose the part to play on its waveform. There is no export step.

1. When you add an alarm, tap Sound.
2. Tap Add Audio File (MP3, AAC, WAV, M4A) or Add from Video (photo library or Files).
3. Drag the ends of the selection on the waveform, then tap Add Selection.

• Audio files can be any length. Videos can be up to 10 minutes.
• The selected part repeats until you stop the alarm.
• It cannot read songs from the Music app, including Apple Music.
• It needs iOS 26 or later, because alarms are registered with Apple's AlarmKit.

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