Your iPhone Alarm Just Got a Major Makeover—And It’s Not What You Expected.
Nov 05, 2025
Remember the good old days of 'slide to unlock'? If you’re a long-time iPhone user, you likely recall this iconic gesture—a simple swipe to wake your device from its slumber. It was more than just a quirky feature; it was a clever safeguard against accidental pocket unlocks or unintended touches. But with the arrival of iOS 10, Apple bid farewell to this beloved gesture, replacing it with a press of the Home button, and later, a swipe up from the bottom of the screen. Since then, swiping right on the Lock Screen has been your gateway to the 'Today View,' home to your widgets and quick updates. While change is inevitable, and I don’t necessarily advocate for a return to 'slide to unlock,' there’s something undeniably nostalgic about how things worked on older iPhones like the 3GS. Nostalgia, after all, has a way of tugging at our heartstrings.
But here’s where it gets interesting: Apple has quietly brought back the slide gesture—just not for unlocking your phone. Instead, it’s now your ticket to silencing those blaring alarms. Imagine this: You wake up, groggily reach for your phone to stop the alarm, and—surprise!—your usual taps do nothing. Bleary-eyed, you stare at your screen, only to discover a new 'Slide to stop' prompt. If you’re anything like me, you’ll obediently slide, only to forget the entire ordeal by the next morning, setting the stage for a repeat performance.
This unexpected twist arrives with iOS 26.1, which rolled out on Monday, and Apple doesn’t give you much say in the matter—at least not initially. Once you update, your next alarm or timer will greet you with this slider (though 'snooze' and 'repeat' remain as buttons). Personally, I’m a fan of the change—it’s a fun nod to iOS’s glory days. But if you’re not on board with this new slider life, here’s the good news: you can still revert to the old way.
And this is the part most people miss: Apple tucked away the option to disable 'slide to stop' in a hidden system-wide setting. You won’t find it in the Clock app’s settings—that would be too easy. Instead, it’s part of a broader accessibility feature called 'Prefer Single-Touch Actions.' Enabling this setting replaces sliders across iOS with buttons, turning 'Slide to stop' back into a simple 'Off' button. To find it, navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Touch, then toggle on 'Prefer Single-Touch Actions.'
But here’s the controversial part: Is Apple’s decision to reintroduce the slide gesture for alarms a step forward or a nostalgic misstep? Some might argue it’s an unnecessary complication, while others—like me—appreciate the throwback. What do you think? Is this change a welcome surprise, or do you prefer the simplicity of a tap? Let’s debate it in the comments—I’m curious to hear your take!
