How to Set Spotify Songs as Alarm: 5 Easy Methods for 2025

Waking up to your favorite Spotify playlist sounds amazing, right? I’ll be honest – it’s not as straightforward as you might think, but it’s definitely possible. After testing various methods across different devices, I’ve found several reliable ways to make this work.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the most effective methods for both Android and iPhone users, plus some smart alternatives that might surprise you.

Quick heads-up: This guide covers both free and premium Spotify users, though some methods work better with premium accounts.

Can You Set Spotify Songs as Alarm?

Here’s the deal: Spotify doesn’t natively support alarm functionality. Unlike your phone’s built-in music app, you can’t directly set a Spotify track as your wake-up call through the app itself.

The main culprit? Digital Rights Management (DRM). Spotify’s music is protected, which means it can’t be freely accessed by other apps – including your phone’s alarm system. Think of it as a security feature that keeps the music locked within Spotify’s ecosystem. For a deeper understanding of how DRM affects your digital music experience, check out this comprehensive guide on Digital Rights Management.

Here’s what most people don’t realize: Even if you download songs for offline listening, they’re still locked with DRM. That’s why simply saving a Spotify track to your phone won’t make it available as an alarm tone.

But don’t worry – I’ve got several workarounds that actually work.

Setting Spotify Alarms on Android

Google Clock App (Most Android Phones)

This is probably your best bet if you have an Android device. Google Clock has built-in Spotify integration that works surprisingly well.

Step-by-step process:

1. Open the Clock app on your Android device
2. Tap the “+” button to create a new alarm
3. Set your desired time
4. Tap the bell icon (alarm sound)
5. Select “Spotify” from the list of options
6. Choose your playlist, album, or artist
7. Save your alarm

Common beginner mistake: Forgetting to keep Spotify logged in. If you log out, the alarm will default to your phone’s standard ringtone.

Pro tip: Make sure Spotify is logged in and has downloaded some music offline. Otherwise, you might wake up to silence if your internet’s acting up. Test this on a weekend first – trust me on this one.

For more advanced audio recording techniques that can help with your music collection, you might find our guide on how to clean audio with Audacity helpful.

Samsung Clock App (Galaxy Users)

Samsung users get an extra advantage with their built-in clock app:

1. Open Samsung Clock
2. Create a new alarm
3. Tap “Alarm sound”
4. Select “Spotify”
5. Pick your music and save

Note: This feature requires Spotify Premium for the best experience.

Third-Party Apps

If the built-in options don’t work for you, try these apps:

• Sleep as Android: Offers Spotify integration with smart wake-up features
• Alarm Clock Xtreme: Basic Spotify alarm functionality
• AMdroid: Simple interface with Spotify support

Setting Spotify Alarms on iPhone

Apple makes this trickier due to iOS restrictions, but here are your options:

Using Shortcuts App (iOS 12+)

This method requires some setup but works reliably:

1. Open the Shortcuts app
2. Tap “+” to create a new shortcut
3. Add action: “Open App” → Select Spotify
4. Add action: “Play Music” → Choose your playlist
5. Save the shortcut
6. In Clock app, set alarm and choose your shortcut as the alarm sound

Music Alarm Clock for Spotify

This third-party app is specifically designed for Spotify alarms:

1. Download “Music Alarm Clock for Spotify” from App Store
2. Connect your Spotify account
3. Set up your alarm with your preferred playlist
4. Make sure the app stays running in background

Important: Keep the app running in the background and ensure your phone isn’t in Do Not Disturb mode.

Alternative Solution: Cinch Audio Recorder

Here’s a method that works for everyone – including free Spotify users. Cinch Audio Recorder lets you record any Spotify song and save it as an MP3, which you can then use as your alarm tone.

Why this works:

• No DRM restrictions on recorded files
• Works with free Spotify accounts
• Creates standard MP3 files compatible with any alarm app
• Free users can use this method too (unlike most other options)

Learn more about our recording-based approach in our detailed explanation of why we chose recording over downloading.

How to use Cinch Audio Recorder:

1. Download and install Cinch Audio Recorder
2. Play your desired song on Spotify
3. Start recording in Cinch Audio Recorder
4. Save the recorded file as MP3
5. Set the MP3 file as your alarm tone in your phone’s settings

Legal note: This method is for personal use only and complies with fair use guidelines.

Smart Device Integration

If you have smart speakers or displays, you’re in luck! These devices offer some of the most seamless Spotify alarm experiences. According to Spotify’s official documentation, Spotify Connect technology enables this integration across various smart devices.

Amazon Echo Devices

Got an Amazon Echo device? Setting up Spotify alarms is surprisingly easy:

Alexa commands:

• “Alexa, set an alarm for 7 AM with my Morning Playlist on Spotify”
• “Alexa, wake me up to [artist name] at 6:45 AM”

Setup:

1. Open Alexa app
2. Go to Settings → Music & Podcasts
3. Link Spotify account
4. Set as default service

Google Home/Nest Speakers

Voice commands that work:

• “Hey Google, set an alarm for 7 AM with [Spotify playlist name] from Spotify”
• “Hey Google, wake me up at 6:30 AM with my Discover Weekly”

Setup requirements:

• Link your Spotify account in Google Home app
• Set Spotify as your default music service

Apple HomePod

Unfortunately, HomePod doesn’t support Spotify alarms directly due to Apple’s ecosystem restrictions. You’ll need to use Apple Music or set up complex shortcuts.

Best Practices for Spotify Alarms

Choosing the Right Wake-Up Music

Research from the Sleep Foundation shows that the type of music you wake up to can significantly impact your morning mood and energy levels.

Not all songs make good alarms. Here’s what I’ve learned the hard way:

Good alarm music characteristics:

• Gradual volume increase
• Positive, upbeat tempo
• Familiar songs (your brain recognizes them faster)
• 120-140 BPM (beats per minute)

Avoid these for alarms:

• Songs that start with silence or very quiet intros
• Extremely loud or jarring tracks
• Songs with sudden volume changes
• Your absolute favorite songs (you might start hating them!)

Volume and Timing Tips

Volume strategy:

• Start at 30-40% volume
• Use gradual increase if available
• Test volume levels beforehand

Timing considerations:

• Set multiple alarms 5-10 minutes apart
• Account for Spotify’s loading time
• Consider your internet connection reliability

Playlist Recommendations

Create dedicated alarm playlists with:

• 10-15 songs minimum
• Consistent energy level throughout
• Mix of familiar and new tracks
• Songs that make you feel positive

If you’re interested in building a comprehensive music collection for various purposes, including alarms, check out our guide on music for DJs which covers collection building strategies. You might also want to explore our tutorial on how to add album art to MP3 files to make your recorded tracks look professional.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Spotify Not Playing

Quick fixes:

1. Check internet connection
2. Restart Spotify app
3. Log out and back into Spotify
4. Clear Spotify cache
5. Update the app

Common solution: Force-close Spotify and reopen it before setting your alarm.

Alarm Playing Wrong Music

Possible causes:

• Playlist was modified after setting alarm
• Spotify account logged into multiple devices
• App permissions issues

Solutions:

1. Recreate the alarm
2. Check which device is set as “active” in Spotify
3. Review app permissions in phone settings

No Sound at All

Check these settings:

• Phone volume levels
• Do Not Disturb mode (turn it off)
• Spotify app permissions
• Background app refresh settings

Pro tip: Always test your alarm setup during the day before relying on it for important wake-up times.

Smart Speaker Issues

If your smart speaker isn’t responding:

1. Check WiFi connection
2. Relink Spotify account
3. Update speaker firmware
4. Reset speaker if necessary

Conclusion

Setting Spotify songs as alarms isn’t impossible – it just requires the right approach for your device. Here’s my recommendation based on what works best:

For Android users: Start with Google Clock’s built-in Spotify integration. It’s reliable and doesn’t require additional apps.

For iPhone users: Try the Shortcuts method first, or consider a dedicated third-party app if you want something simpler.

For everyone: Smart speakers offer the most seamless experience if you have one available.

For maximum reliability: Consider using Cinch Audio Recorder to create MP3 versions of your favorite wake-up songs. This method works regardless of your device or Spotify subscription status.

Remember to always test your setup before relying on it for important mornings. There’s nothing worse than oversleeping because your alarm didn’t work as expected!

Sound familiar? You’re not alone in wanting to wake up to your favorite tunes. With these methods, you’ll never have to settle for boring default alarm sounds again.

FAQ

Q: Do I need Spotify Premium for alarm functionality?

A: Not always. Google Clock works with free accounts, but some features work better with Premium. Smart speakers typically require Premium for full functionality.

Q: Will this work if Spotify is offline?

A: Only if you have songs downloaded for offline listening and you’re using a method that supports offline playback (like Google Clock).

Q: Can I set different Spotify songs for different alarms?

A: Yes! Most methods allow you to customize each alarm with different playlists or songs.

Q: What happens if Spotify is down when my alarm goes off?

A: Your phone will typically fall back to the default alarm sound. This is why testing and having backups is important.

Q: Is using Cinch Audio Recorder legal?

A: Yes, recording music for personal use falls under fair use guidelines. However, sharing or distributing recorded content would violate copyright laws.

Q: Why doesn’t Apple support Spotify alarms directly?

A: Apple prioritizes its own Apple Music service and maintains tighter control over iOS integrations compared to Android’s more open ecosystem.

Q: Can I set different songs for different days of the week?

A: This depends on your alarm app. Some advanced apps like Sleep as Android offer this feature, while basic clock apps typically don’t.

Q: Will this drain my battery faster?

A: Slightly, since apps need to stay active in the background. The impact is minimal on modern smartphones.

Q: What if I get logged out of Spotify overnight?

A: Your alarm will fall back to the default sound. Enable “Remember me” in Spotify settings and avoid logging out on other devices.

Q: Can I use Spotify podcasts as alarms?

A: Some methods support this, but music generally works better for alarms since podcasts might start mid-conversation or with quiet intros.