Are you someone who enjoys listening to your favorite tunes at night while falling asleep? Want to set a sleep timer to stop music from playing automatically after a certain time? Then this guide is for you! I’ll show you how to easily set a sleep timer for both Apple Music and Spotify on your iPhone. Even though the official Apple Music app doesn’t have a sleep timer feature, but thanks to the new iOS 17 multiple timer features, you can set a sleep timer for Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, and more.
Note: Many alternative music apps like Amazon Music and Spotify come with built-in sleep timer features.
How to Set a Sleep Timer for Apple Music
Pro Tips Using Apple’s Siri
With the latest iOS 17 update, you can tell Siri to stop playing music after a set time. Need the song to stop after 5 minutes? Just say, “Siri, stop playing the music after 5 minutes.” Your music will stop automatically after 5 minutes. This pro tip is a game-changer for every iPhone user—you don’t even have to touch your device to set a sleep timer for Apple Music.
Note: This feature only works with the iOS 17 update and when music is playing in the background.
Method 1: Using iPhone’s Clock App
- Open the Clock app on your iPhone or iPad, then tap on the Timer at the bottom right corner.
- Click the “+” icon at the top right corner.
- Set the duration. For example, I set a timer for 9 minutes to play 2-3 songs and then stop my app.
- Tap on “When Timer Ends.”
- Scroll to the last option and choose “Stop Playing.” Click on “< Timer” at the top left corner.
- Tap the “Start” button at the top right corner to set a sleep timer for Apple Music.
- Open Apple Music and play your favorite song. They will automatically stop when your timer ends.
You can set multiple timers in iOS 17 and use as many as you need. If you want to stop the timer and play the song again, just open the Clock app and pause or stop the timer.
Method 2: Using Shortcuts
If you adhere to a regular sleep routine, you can use Shortcuts to set a sleep timer for your music apps on your iPhone.
- Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap Automation at the center of the bottom bar, then click the “+” icon at the top right corner.
- Next, click on the first option “Time of Day.”
- Set the exact time when you want the music to stop. Select your repeat process: Daily, Weekly, or Monthly.
- Select “Run Immediately” and uncheck the “Notify When Run” option.
- After setting all parameters, click on “Next.”
- Choose “New Blank Automation.”
- Tap “Add Action.”
- Type “Pause” in the search box and select Apple Music Play/Pause under the Media section from the search list.
- Tap Play/Pause again and select “Pause,” then click “Done.“
That’s it! Your automation will work automatically at the desired time. You won’t need to open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone every time, nor will you need to set the timer on your clock manually.
Conclusion
If you regularly listen to music at night while going to bed, I recommend using the Shortcuts app to set a sleep timer for Apple Music. Many iPhone users have been requesting this feature for years, but even with the new features in iOS 17, Apple hasn’t added a sleep timer to the Apple Music app itself. However, they have added this feature in the Android beta versions. Let’s hope it comes to the iPhone soon, I know I’m eagerly awaiting that day!
