Why Timer+ Sounds Aren't Playing

If Timer+ is not playing sounds, start by checking Silent mode and notification permissions. Background alerts use iOS notifications, so Focus settings, alert volume, and Apple Watch notification routing can also make them silent.

1. Check the Silent/Mute Switch

• Make sure the mute switch on the side of your phone is OFF.
• iOS mutes notification sounds if this switch is ON.
• If a Timer’s end must ring even when this switch is ON, make the Timer urgent. On iOS 26 or iPadOS 26 or later, its end rings as an alarm, even in Silent mode. Urgent works on Timers that don’t repeat.

2. Check Notification Settings

Go to Settings app > Notifications > Timer+ and verify:

• Allow Notifications → ON
• Time-Sensitive Notifications → ON
  • Required for instant timer alerts
• Banner Style → Persistent
  • Ensures sound plays for up to 30 seconds

3. Check Ringer / Alert Volume

iOS notifications (and ringers) also have their own volume that is separate from the volume in your apps and music.

Go to Settings app > Sounds & Haptics:

• Adjust Ringtone and Alert Volume to audible level.
• You’ll hear a test chime when you move the slider.

4. Understand iOS Sound Limits

• iOS limits notification sounds to 30 seconds.
• If you use a looped sound, it will stop after 30s.
• If Banner Style = Temporary in your Notification Settings, sound will only play for a few seconds.
• The end of an urgent Timer is an alarm, not a notification, so it keeps ringing until you stop it.

→ Set Banner Style to Persistent for full duration. More Info

5. Check Focus Mode Settings

Focus modes can block Timer+ alerts.

Go to Settings app > Focus and for each Focus:

• Notifications > Time Sensitive Notifications → ON

  or

• Notifications > Allow Notifications From → Add Timer+

Without this, Timer+ sounds may not fire at all.

An urgent Timer’s end rings as an alarm in any Focus, without these settings. Urgent needs iOS 26 or iPadOS 26 or later.

6. If You Have an Apple Watch

If your Apple Watch is:

• On your wrist
• Unlocked
• iPhone is locked/asleep

→ Notifications (and sounds) go to your Watch, not your phone.

7. Other troubleshooting steps

Here’s an approach that has worked but isn’t fully verified.

• Go to Settings app > Sounds & Haptics.
• Change the Haptics setting to a different setting, then change it back.

Check background alert coverage

Sounds and Announcements, including one-time and recurring alerts, can play through background notifications. All timers share a limited number of notification slots. Frequent recurring alerts can fill those slots sooner, so check the coverage shown in the alert editor. If you get the notification “Open Timer+ to Keep Hearing Alerts,” open the app to schedule more alerts. See When alerts play.