Setting Watch Sleep alarm with haptics but no sound - WatchOS 26

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Level 1

11 points

Setting Watch Sleep alarm with haptics but no sound - WatchOS 26

For years I have used my Apple Watch to wake me in the morning with haptics but no sound. However since installing WatchOS 26 I have been unable to do this. My watch (currently Series 11) is permanently in silent mode anyway and I’ve tried Break Through Silent Mode both off and on in the Sounds and Haptics section of the Sleep app without success. I can manage to turn the sound off for the following day only. A Genius in the Apple Store was also unsuccessful. Why isn’t there a ‘None’ option in the tunes selection?

Apple Watch Series 11, watchOS 26

Posted on Nov 3, 2025 2:40 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

DavidKirk1 Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 4, 2025 11:45 PM in response to Ingo2711

Hi, thank you for your quick response and I can now confirm that after 2 days your suggestion does give an haptics only alarm each day. It also has the advantage that I could set one alarm for Monday to Friday and a later time for weekends.

However, whilst I was following your instructions on my watch I discovered in the Sleep app that when you click on the alarm clock symbol to edit the schedule, if you scroll down far enough there is a second set of settings. The first set are headed Next Wake Up Only but the second set are headed Every Day. Not surprisingly, turning off Break Through Silent Mode in this section does disable the alarm sounds every day! Clearly the Genius in the Apple Store also failed to notice that there was a second set of settings so I don’t feel too bad.

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Answer 2

Ingo2711

Level 10

80,079 points

Nov 3, 2025 3:42 AM in response to DavidKirk1

Set up your wake up time as an usual alarm, using the Alarm App on your watch and make sure, that in the WatchApp -> Sound & Haptics -> Ringtones & Alerts -> Silent Mode is enabled.

The alarm will only use the haptics, no sound on your watch or iPhone.

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Answer 3

Dec 11, 2025 8:18 AM in response to DavidKirk1

Same here. I've been waking up to haptics only for years — I always assumed this was just the default behavior, and honestly, it was perfect. I could get up early without waking anyone else in the room. It all just worked. Automatically. Seamlessly. Exactly what you'd expect from Apple.

Now I have to mess around with Silent Mode toggles and dig through settings just to get the same result. How is this an improvement?

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Answer 4

Ingo2711

Level 10

80,079 points

Nov 5, 2025 8:10 AM in response to DavidKirk1

You're welcome 🙂

Thanks for the feedback and the details about the alternative solution.

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