Are you using Google's Pixel phone and relying on its built-in alarm clock to wake you up on time every morning? If so, you may want to pay attention to a strange but serious flaw that could potentially cause you to oversleep or miss important events.
According to our research and testing, Pixel's alarm clock does not always activate when the phone is in "do not disturb" mode, even if the alarm is set and the volume is turned up. This means that if you forget to manually disable the mode or customize the exceptions, you may not hear the alarm and assume that you can sleep in, only to find out later that you have overslept and missed a meeting, a flight, or a class.
This flaw is especially problematic for people who use "do not disturb" mode to silence calls, notifications, and other interruptions during their sleep, as they may not want to be disturbed by random or low-priority events while they are resting. However, the flaw can also affect anyone who relies on their phone as their primary or backup alarm clock, as they may not expect the alarm to fail even when the phone is in a silent or restricted state.
To illustrate The Problem, Here is A Simple Scenario:
- You set your Pixel alarm for 7 AM, and enable "do not disturb" mode at 11 PM.
- You forget to add an exception for the alarm, assuming that it will always work regardless of the mode.
- You go to sleep and wake up at 8 AM, realizing that you missed an important appointment at 7:30 AM.
- You check your phone and see that the alarm did not go off, even though it shows that it was set and activated.
This scenario is not hypothetical or rare. Many users have reported similar issues with Pixel's alarm clock on various online forums and social media platforms, such as Reddit, Twitter, and Google's own support pages. Some have even missed flights, job interviews, or exams due to the flaw, and expressed frustration and disappointment with Google's response.
However, we are not here to criticize Google or Pixel users, but to offer a safer and more reliable solution for those who want to avoid the risk of oversleeping or missing events due to the alarm clock flaw. Our solution is simple and effective: use a third-party alarm app that is not affected by "do not disturb" mode or other system settings that may interfere with the alarm's activation.
There are many free and paid alarm apps available on Google Play and other app stores, each with its own features, design, and user interface. Some popular options include:
- Alarmy (Sleep If U Can)
- Timely
- Alarm Clock Xtreme
- Google Clock (with the "Auto dismiss" and "Gradually increase volume" options enabled)
- Gentle Alarm (with the "Increase volume gently" option enabled)
To Choose The Best App For Your Needs, you Can Consider The Following Factors:
- Compatibility with your phone's operating system and hardware
- Customization options for alarm sound, volume, vibration, snooze, and repeat
- Integration with other apps, such as Spotify, Google Assistant, or sleep trackers
- User reviews and ratings on reliability, usability, and customer support
- Security and privacy features, such as ad blockers, data encryption, or backup options
Once you have installed and configured your preferred alarm app, you can disable or uninstall Pixel's alarm clock to avoid confusion or conflict between the two apps. You can also test the new app by setting a sample alarm and verifying that it works even when the phone is in "do not disturb" mode or other restricted states.