What changed in iOS 26.1?
iOS 26 gave the alarm screen a new design with two large buttons, Stop and Snooze. 9to5Mac reported in October 2025 that some users found it too easy to dismiss an alarm with this design.
iOS 26.1 replaced the Stop button with a “Slide to stop” control for alarms and timers. Snooze is still one tap.
| Action | iOS 26.0 | iOS 26.1 and later |
|---|---|---|
| Stop an alarm | Tap Stop | Slide to stop |
| Snooze an alarm | Tap Snooze | Tap Snooze |
| Stop a timer | Tap Stop | Slide to stop |
| Get the Stop button back | Does not apply | Prefer Single-Touch Actions |
Why did Apple make the change?
Apple's update notes for iOS 26 do not describe the slider, so there is no statement of the reason from Apple. The reports give one reason: a slide needs more intention than a tap, so a half-asleep tap does not stop the alarm.
The same problem is older than iOS 26. In a 2023 thread in the Apple Support Community, a user asked Apple for an option that makes it harder to turn off the alarm completely.
How do you get the Stop button back?
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Accessibility.
- Tap Touch.
- Scroll to the bottom and turn on Prefer Single-Touch Actions.
9to5Mac reports that this setting disables the slider for alarms and timers and restores the Stop button. MacRumors reports that the change applies from the next alarm.
Does the slider stop you from oversleeping?
It can prevent an accidental tap. It does not keep you awake. You can slide and then sleep again, and Snooze is still one tap.
Three settings and habits work together with the slider:
- Turn off Snooze for the alarm, so that no one-tap button is left. See an alarm without a snooze button on iPhone.
- Put the iPhone where you must stand up to reach it.
- Decide the evening before what you do first after the alarm.
If you often stop the alarm without memory of it, see why you turn off your alarm in your sleep and how to wake up without falling back asleep.
Some alarm apps ask for more than a gesture. Many ask you to solve a puzzle or scan a code before the sound stops. Waker, an iPhone alarm app, asks you to talk: you tap “Talk to Waker” and have a voice conversation about your day. No study has tested if a conversation prevents oversleeping better than a slider.
Common questions
How do I turn off “Slide to stop” on my iPhone alarm?
Open Settings, tap Accessibility, tap Touch and turn on Prefer Single-Touch Actions. The Stop button then returns.
Do I need to slide to snooze?
No. According to the reports, Snooze is still one tap in iOS 26.1.
Does the slider apply to timers?
Yes. The reports say that timers in the Clock app also use the slider in iOS 26.1.
Which iOS version added “Slide to stop”?
iOS 26.1. The control was in the second beta in October 2025 and in the release in November 2025.
Sources
- iOS 26.1 makes alarms use a slider, here's how to get the Stop button back. 9to5Mac, November 5, 2025.
- iOS 26.1 beta 2 makes alarms harder to accidentally dismiss. 9to5Mac, October 6, 2025.
- iOS 26.1: Bring Back the Tap-to-Stop Alarm Button. MacRumors.
- About iOS 26 Updates. Apple Support.
- Why are alarms so easy to dismiss/turn off?. Apple Support Community, February 2023.