You’re dead asleep. Deep in a dream about a beach or maybe a really large sandwich. Then, it happens. That sharp, insistent digital chirp—the one that sounds like a submarine is about to explode—tears through your brain. You’ve just met Radar, the default alarm sound option on a smartphone for millions of iPhone users.
It’s basically a heart attack in audio form.
Most of us treat our alarm sounds like an afterthought. We buy a thousand-dollar piece of tech and then let it scream at us every morning with the same sound that's been stressing us out since 2013. But here’s the thing: how you wake up actually dictates the cortisol levels in your body for the next several hours. If you’re waking up to a sound that mimics an emergency alert, your body reacts like it’s in an emergency.
Honestly, it's a weird way to start a Tuesday.
The Science of Not Hating Your Morning
Why do we do this to ourselves? There is actually a term for that groggy, "I want to hit everyone" feeling you get when a loud alarm jolts you awake: sleep inertia.
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Research from RMIT University suggests that "melodic" alarms—think sounds you can actually hum along to—reduce that morning fog much better than "percussive" sounds. If your alarm goes beep-beep-beep, you’re more likely to feel like a zombie. If it has a rising melody, your brain transitions from sleep to wakefulness more smoothly.
If you're a New York Times crossword regular, you probably already know that ALARM or TONE is a frequent answer for these tech-related clues, but the actual psychology behind which one you pick is way more interesting than a 5-across.
The Great "Radar" vs. "Sencha" Debate
On iOS, the default is often Radar. It’s effective because it’s annoying. You want it to stop, so you wake up. But "Sencha" or "By the Seaside" are the hidden gems. They have a frequency of about 500 Hz, which scientists say is the sweet spot for waking up without the "fight or flight" response.
Android users actually have a bit of an edge here. Most modern Android phones let you pull directly from Spotify or YouTube Music within the clock app. You can literally wake up to the sound of a forest in Oregon or a lo-fi hip-hop beat.
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How to Actually Change Your Alarm Sound
It’s kinda funny how many people don't know where the settings are hidden.
- For the iPhone Crowd: Open the Clock app. Don't go to Settings—go to the actual Clock app. Tap "Edit," then tap the specific alarm time. Hit "Sound." You’ll see the "Classic" folder at the bottom where the old-school (and terrifying) noises live, but try the ones at the top first.
- For Android Users: Open Clock. Tap the arrow on your alarm. Tap the bell icon or the sound name. From there, you can usually choose "On-device sounds" or jump straight into a streaming service integration.
- The Sleep Schedule Hack: If you use the Health app (iOS) or Sleep Mode (Android), the alarm sounds are actually different. They are specifically designed to be "gentle." On iPhone, sounds like "Early Riser" or "First Light" only exist within the Sleep Schedule feature. They start quiet and slowly get louder. It’s a game-changer.
The "Song You Love" Trap
Don't do it. Seriously.
Never set your favorite song as your alarm sound option on a smartphone. Within three weeks, you will develop a Pavlovian hatred for that track. You’ll be at a grocery store, that song will come over the speakers, and you’ll feel a sudden, inexplicable urge to throw your shopping cart into a lake.
Pick something you’re indifferent to. Or better yet, a sound that doesn't feel like music at all, like birds or a "slow rise" synth.
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Why the NYT Crossword Cares About Your Phone
The New York Times often features tech-centric clues because, let’s face it, our phones are basically our horcruxes now. Whether the clue is "Smartphone alert" or "Wake-up call setting," the answer usually points toward the simple mechanics of our daily digital lives. But while the crossword only needs a four or five-letter word, your nervous system needs a better sound.
Actionable Steps for a Better Wake-Up
If you're ready to stop the morning jump scares, do this tonight:
- Audit your volume: You don't need your alarm at 100% if the phone is six inches from your ear. Try 50%.
- Switch to melodic: Change your sound from a "Signal" or "Beep" to something with a chord progression. On iPhone, "Silk" is a solid middle ground.
- Test the "Vibrate Only" move: If you sleep with your phone under your pillow or on a nightstand right next to your head, sometimes the haptic vibration is enough to wake you without the noise.
- Move the phone: If you're a chronic snoozer, the best "sound" is the one coming from across the room. Put your phone on the dresser. You have to stand up to turn it off. Once you're standing, the battle is 90% won.
Changing your alarm sound option on a smartphone might seem like a small tweak, but it's one of the few ways to actually buy back a little bit of sanity in the first five minutes of your day. Stop letting your phone yell at you. You deserve a gentler start.