Your iPhone Alarms Just Got a Major—and Controversial—Makeover.
As of November 5, 2025, Apple has quietly flipped the script on how you silence your iPhone alarms, and it’s already dividing users. Remember the good old days of slide to unlock? If you’ve been an iPhone loyalist since the early days, you’ll recall this iconic gesture—a simple yet effective way to ensure your phone didn’t unlock accidentally in your pocket. But with iOS 10, Apple ditched it in favor of pressing the Home button, and later, swiping up from the bottom of the screen. For years, swiping right on the Lock Screen has taken you to the Today View, home of your widgets. While change is inevitable, there’s something undeniably nostalgic about those early iPhone features—like the slide to unlock on my trusty iPhone 3GS. Nostalgia truly is a powerful force.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Apple just brought back the slide gesture—but not for unlocking. Instead, you’ll now slide to stop your alarms. Yes, you read that right. Gone are the days of tapping to silence your alarm; now, you’ll need to slide. Imagine this: You wake up, groggily reach for your phone, and tap to stop the alarm—only to realize it’s still blaring. Confused, you glance at the screen and spot the new Slide to stop prompt. If you’re anything like me, you’ll follow the instruction, only to forget the next morning, repeating the cycle. It’s a small change, but one that’s already sparking debate.
This update arrived with iOS 26.1, released on Monday, and Apple doesn’t give you an immediate choice—at least not without digging. While I personally enjoy the throwback to iOS’s golden days, not everyone is on board. If you’re team tap to stop, don’t worry—there’s a way to revert this change. But here’s the part most people miss: the option isn’t in the Clock app’s settings. Instead, it’s tucked away in a system-wide accessibility setting called Prefer Single-Touch Actions. Enabling this replaces all sliders with buttons, turning Slide to stop back into a simple tap.
How to Disable *Slide to Stop Alarm*
To find this hidden gem, navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Touch, then toggle on Prefer Single-Touch Actions. This setting isn’t just for alarms—it affects sliders across iOS, making it a handy tool for anyone who prefers simplicity over gestures. While I appreciate the nostalgia of sliding, I can’t help but wonder: Is this change a step forward or a step back? What do you think? Are you team slide or team tap? Let’s debate in the comments—I’m curious to hear your take on this unexpected iOS twist!
