How to make an Apple Watch chime every hour

2 min read · 6 steps · Updated 4 October 2026

Device

Apple Watch

Shown on

watchOS 26 (Apple Watch)

App

Settings

Path

Settings › Accessibility

Real screenshots

6 of 6 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

With Chimes, the Apple Watch plays a short sound and a tap at regular intervals, so you can keep track of time without looking. The setting is in the Accessibility page, which is why few people find it.

The screenshots show watchOS 26.5 on an Apple Watch Series 11.

Step by step

1. 

   Open Settings on the watch

   Press the Digital Crown to see your apps and tap the Settings gear.

   Done

2. 

   Scroll down and tap Accessibility

   It is below Gestures and above Siri.

   Done

3. 

   Scroll down and tap Chimes

   Chimes is a long way down, below Reduce Motion and above the Motor group.

   Done

4. 

   Switch on Chimes

   It is the first row. In the picture it is off. The note on the page says: when this is on, selected sounds and haptics will play on the hour.

   Done

5. 

   Choose how often

   Tap Schedule. Apple lists the choices: on the hour, or every 30 or 15 minutes. In the picture it is set to Hourly.

   Done

6. 

   Choose the sound

   Tap Sounds and choose Bells or Birds. In the picture it is set to Bells.

   Done

Good to know

The same settings are on the iPhone: open the Apple Watch app, go to the My Watch tab, tap Accessibility, then Chimes.

In Silent Mode the watch makes no sound: how to turn on Silent Mode on an Apple Watch.

In short: Settings, Accessibility, Chimes on, then Schedule and Sounds.