Apple Tackles iPhone Alarm Problem

Apple has announced that it is working to fix an issue that caused some iPhone alarms not to play a sound, giving their slumbering users an unexpected lie-in.

Many phone users use their phones as an alarm clock, making some over-sleepers to lash out on social media.

One TikTokker complained that she had set "like five alarms" and they didn't go off.

Although, Apple has confirmed it's awareness of the issue, it is yet to spell out the cause of the problem or what users can do to avoid a late start.

It is also unclear how many people are affected or whether the problem is restricted to particular models of iPhone.

If an official solution is unavailable, those troubled by the issue can attempt some straightforward fixes. One approach is to prevent human error by verifying the phone's alarm settings and confirming that the volume is adjusted appropriately. 

Alternatively, some have attributed the issue to Apple designers, suggesting that a peculiar aspect of iPhones' "attention aware features" might be responsible. 

These features allow an iPhone to assess if a user is actively engaged with their device and subsequently initiate actions, such as decreasing the volume of alerts like alarms, if attention is lacking.

They are available on iPhone X or later, and iPad Pro 11-inch or iPad Pro 12.9-inch, Applecsays.

Some TikTokkers suggested that if a slumbering user's face were turned towards the screen of a bedside iPhone then, depending on the phone's settings, the features could be activated and alarms silenced.

Apple says it hopes to remedy the issue rapidly.

But, until then, its time zone-spanning customer base may need to dust off a bit of retro tech, and swap TikTok for the more old-fashioned - but dependable - tick-tock of an alarm clock.