How to set an alarm clock on Xiaomi Redmi 9: 3 ways + problem solving

Why Redmi 9’s alarm clock might not work (and how to avoid it)

Xiaomi Redmi 9 is one of the most popular budget phones, but even its owners sometimes face the fact that the alarm does not work at the appointed time. The reasons can be different from a banal error in settings to system bugs MIUI. In this article, we will not only show how to set the alarm clock, but also analyze typical problems - for example, why the phone does not wake the owner in Do not disturb or with a discharged battery.

It is important to understand that on Redmi 9 (as well as on other Xiaomi smartphones), the alarm clock works through the standard β€œClock” app, but it can be duplicated through Google Clock or third-party programs like Alarmy, MIUI-The alarm is integrated with system sounds, and Google Clock syncs with your account and works even after you reset your phone.

If you've never set an alarm on Android before, don't worry: it takes less than a minute. And for those who have tried it before but have problems (for example, the alarm goes off but the sound is too quiet or the phone doesn't wake up), we've prepared a separate solution section, and you'll also learn how to make the alarm work even when the phone is off, thanks to the MIUI Awakening feature.

Method 1: Standard Appendix "Clock" (MIUI)

The easiest and most reliable way to do this is to use Xiaomi's built-in Watch app, which is pre-installed on all Redmi smartphones and doesn't require any additional download, and it's intuitive, but there are a few things that many people don't know about, like setting up a smooth alarm clock volume increase or selecting a tune from your phone's music library.

To set the alarm:

  1. Open the Watch app (an icon with a dial on the home screen or in the app menu).
  2. Go to the Alarming Signal tab (bell icon at the bottom of the screen).
  3. Press the + (plus) button in the lower right corner.
  4. Set the time with the dial or enter it manually.
  5. Set up additional parameters: πŸ”„ Repeat: Select the days of the week (for example, weekdays only). πŸ”” Sound: tap on the current tune to change it. πŸ“³ Vibration: turn on or off. πŸ•’ Delay: Set the space for the Delay button (5, 10 or 15 minutes). πŸ“ Title: Add a label (e.g., "Work" or "Charging").

Click Save (check in the upper right corner).

Now, the alarm clock will go off at the specified time. Note that if you've chosen a repeat by the days of the week, the alarm clock menu will be shortened next to the time (e.g., Pn-Pt). To edit or delete the alarm clock, press it long and select the desired item.

Make sure the time is set to 24-hour (if necessary) | Check that the alarm is on (the slider on the right should be green) | Set the signal volume to maximum in the sound settings | Turn off Do Not Disturb mode during the alarm clock

-->

Method 2: Google Clock – sync with your account

If you use Google services, Google Clock can be more convenient than the standard one, and its main advantage is synchronization with your account: alarm clocks are stored in the cloud and automatically restored when you change your phone or reset your settings, and there is also a Smart Alarm that adjusts wake-up times to sleep phases (if you have a Mi Band fitness bracelet).

To set an alarm through Google Clock:

  1. Download the app from Google Play (unless it is installed by default).
  2. Open Google Clock and go to the Alarm tab.
  3. Slip on + in the lower right corner.
  4. Set the time and set the parameters: πŸ”„ Repeat: Select days or click Set up for a customized schedule. πŸ”” The alarm clock sounds: there are more options than in the MIUI, including the sounds of nature. πŸ›Œ Smart alarm: activate if you want to wake up in the optimal sleep phase (requires Mi Band or other tracker). πŸ“Š Sleep statistics: Turn on to track how fast you wake up.

Press Save.

One of the key differences with Google Clock is that it allows you to set up a smooth wake-up (the sound starts to play quietly and gradually increase), which is useful if you are sensitive to sleep, and there is a feature called Weekend Mode that automatically turns off the alarm clock for Saturday and Sunday.

Standard MIUI|Google Clock| Third-party app (e.g. Alarmy)| I don't use an alarm clock on my phone

-->

Method 3: Third-party apps (Alarmy, Sleep as Android)

If you don't like the built-in alarm clocks, you can install a third-party app.

  • πŸ† Alarmy – Alarmy alarm clock with tasks (to turn off the signal, you need to perform a task, for example, scan). QR-code in the bathroom or do 10 squats).
  • 😴 Sleep as Android – Analyzes sleep phases and wakes you up at optimal times.
  • 🎡 Timely – beautiful design and cloud synchronization.
  • πŸ”Š Loud Alarm Clock – the loudest signal (useful for fast sleepers).

Let’s look at the example of Alarmy:

  1. Download the app from Google Play and open it.
  2. Press + at the bottom of the screen.
  3. Set a time and select the disable method (e.g., Mathematical Problem or Barcode Scan).
  4. Set up additional parameters: πŸ”Š Loudness: You can set to maximum (even if the system sound is quiet). πŸ”„ Repeat: Flexible settings for each day. πŸ“± Vibration: It works harder here than in a standard alarm clock. 🚨 Emergency alarm: if you do not turn off the signal in 5 minutes, it will start ringing again.

Save the alarm.

Third-party alarms often consume more battery but offer unique features. For example, Sleep as Android can set up sleep monitoring using a microphone or accelerometer of the phone (without a fitness bracelet), and Alarmy ensures that you do not oversleep, even if the phone is silent.

πŸ’‘

If the alarm doesn’t work in a third-party app, check the permissions: go to Settings β†’ Apps β†’ Permissions β†’ Autostart and turn on the alarm clock autostart.

Comparison table: which alarm clock to choose

CriteriaStandard MIUIGoogle ClockThird-party (Alarmy)
Synchronization with the cloud❌ No.βœ… Yes (via Google)⚠️ Depends on the app.
Smart awakening❌ No.βœ… Yes, with Mi Band)βœ… Yes, in Sleep as Android)
Signal volumeMediumTall.⭐ Maximum
Do not disturb work❌ No (unless tuned in)βœ… Yes.βœ… Yes (mostly)
Additional functionsBasicSleep statisticsTasks, sleep monitoring, emergency signals

As you can see from the table, the best choice depends on your needs:

  • If you need a simple and reliable alarm clock, you will need a standard MIUI.
  • If syncing between devices is important, choose Google Clock.
  • If you are sleeping well or want to track sleep, install a third-party app.

Why the alarm clock doesn’t work: 5 reasons and solutions

Even a properly tuned alarm clock may not work, and here are the most common reasons and ways to address them:

⚠️ Note: If the phone is dead at night 0%, The alarm won't work.Redmi 9 Disconnected at critical charge level (usually below) 3-5%). To avoid this, turn on night charging or use Battery Savings mode with an exception for the "Clock" app".

Reason 1: Do Not Disturb (DND)

By default, MIUI blocks all sounds in Do Not Disturb mode, including alarm clocks.

  1. Go to Settings β†’ Sound and vibration β†’ Do not disturb.
  2. Slip on the schedule and check if the alarm is active.
  3. Enable the Allow Alarms option (if you have one in your MIUI version).

Reason 2: Optimization of the battery

MIUI aggressively optimizes background processes, which may cause the alarm to fail.

  1. Go to Settings β†’ Applications β†’ Application Management β†’ Watch.
  2. Select Battery Limits and set No Limits.
  3. Turn on Auto Start and Background Activity.

Reason 3: Low volume or silent mode

Sometimes the alarm goes off, but you can't hear it.

  • πŸ”Š The volume level of the alarm clock (it is adjusted separately from the main sound).
  • πŸ› οΈ Sound settings in the Clock app (possibly too quiet tune selected).
  • πŸ“΅ Vibration or No Sound on the physical buttons of the phone.

Reason 4: System or application failure

If the alarm suddenly stops working, try:

  • πŸ”„ Reboot the phone.
  • πŸ—‘οΈ Clear the cache of the "Clock" application (Settings) β†’ Annexes β†’ The clock β†’ Clear the cache).
  • πŸ“₯ Update MIUI Up to the latest version (sometimes bugs are patched).

Reason 5: Conflict with other applications

Some programs (such as Clean Master or Greenify) can force background processes to close, including the alarm clock.

  • 🚫 Remove or disable battery optimizers.
  • βš™οΈ Add the β€œClock” app to the list of exceptions in optimization settings.

What if the alarm goes off but the phone is not unlocked?
If the screen does not turn on when the alarm goes off, check the lock screen settings in MIUI. Sometimes it helps to turn off the wake-up function or reset the lock settings. Also make sure that there is no physical damage on the screen (for example, cracked glass can block the sensor).

How to make the alarm clock work when the phone is turned off

On Xiaomi Redmi 9, the alarm can go off even if the phone is turned off, you need to activate the alarm function. It is not available on all MIUI firmware, but if it is, it works like this:

  1. Go to Settings β†’ System and device β†’ Additional β†’ Awakening by alarm clock.
  2. Turn on the option (the slider should turn blue).
  3. Set the alarm through the standard β€œClock” app.
  4. Turn off your phone (completely, not in sleep mode).

The phone will automatically turn on 5-10 minutes before the alarm goes off and play back the signal.

  • πŸ”‹ The function only works when the battery is sufficiently charged (usually above 15%).
  • ⏱️ The time of awakening may vary slightly (up to 5 minutes error).
  • πŸ“΅ Not all versions. MIUI Support this function (check in settings).

⚠️ Note: If you use custom firmware (not official) MIUI), The alarm function may not work properly or properly, in which case, use an external alarm clock (such as a smart speaker or fitness bracelet) for reliability).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the alarm clock on Redmi 9

Can I put an alarm on a specific melody from a player?
Yes, in the standard Watch app, you can select any audio recording from your phone. To do this: When you create an alarm, tap on the Sound field. Choose Add a new one or Select from the device (depending on the version of MIUI). Find the desired track in the phone's memory and confirm the selection. Note: tracks that are too long may be cropped (usually played the first 1-2 minutes).
Why is the alarm clock silently playing, even though the volume is at its maximum?
This is a common problem on Redmi 9 with audio settings. Check: Media volume (adjusted by the volume buttons when playing music); Alarm volume (a separate slider in the sound settings); Does it use adaptive sound (in some firmware it automatically lowers the volume); If the problem persists, try changing the alarm to a louder one (for example, the default alarm clock).
How to turn off the alarm clock on the weekend automatically?
Google Clock has a Weekend Mode feature: Open the alarm in Google Clock. Tap three dots in the top right corner and select Settings. Activate Weekend Mode. The standard MIUI app doesn't have this feature, but you can manually set up the repeat only on weekdays (PN-t).
The alarm goes off, but the phone doesn't wake up.
It could be because of: πŸ”„ Sleep mode: turn off Deep Sleep in the battery settings. πŸ› οΈ Application Optimization: Add β€œClock” to Exceptions (Settings) β†’ Annexes β†’ The clock β†’ Battery limitations). πŸ“± Damaged screen: If the sensor is not responding, try unlocking your phone with the power button. If nothing helps, try resetting the lock screen settings (Settings) β†’ Lock screen β†’ Additionally. β†’ Resetting settings).
Can I set an alarm clock through a voice assistant (Alice or Google Assistant)?> Yes, but with reservations: πŸ—£οΈ Google Assistant: Say, "OK, Google, set the alarm for 7:00." Google Clock will set the alarm. πŸ€– Alice from Yandex: supports the creation of alarm clocks, but they may not synchronize with the standard application MIUI. Voice alarms are less reliable than manual alarms because they depend on the stability of the Internet connection and speech recognition.