Can’t Snooze This Alarm: New App Forces Heavy Sleepers to Complete Tasks
▼ Summary
– Awake is a new iOS app for heavy sleepers that requires completing missions to turn off alarms, launched Monday and available only with iOS 26.
– The app uses interactive tasks like physical activities, math problems, or puzzles to fully engage users and prevent snoozing.
– Unique features include a Morning Briefing with customized info, Block integration to limit social media, and a future podcast feature.
– It offers a sleep planning function that calculates optimal bedtime based on desired sleep duration and wake-up time.
– Developed by Leo Mehlig using Apple’s new Alarm Kit framework, Awake is free with a premium subscription for extra missions.
For those who find the morning alarm a formidable opponent, a new iOS application named Awake has entered the scene. This innovative tool, which launched alongside the iOS 26 update, is engineered specifically for individuals who struggle to rise from slumber. Rather than allowing a simple tap to silence the noise, Awake demands active participation, turning off only once users complete a series of engaging missions.
These tasks are designed to stimulate both body and mind, pulling sleepers fully into consciousness. Options range from physical actions like rotating the phone or performing push-ups to mental exercises such as solving math problems, cracking puzzles, or even practicing a new language. The goal is clear: break the habit of repeatedly hitting snooze and replace it with a dynamic, intentional start to the day.
While other apps like Alarmy or Mathe Alarm offer similar puzzle-based alarms, Awake introduces several unique elements. A standout is the Morning Briefing, which delivers a personalized digest of information selected the night before, think weather conditions and calendar events. There’s also a Block integration that temporarily restricts access to social media, helping users avoid early morning scrolling. Future updates promise to deliver fresh podcast episodes the moment eyes open.
Another thoughtful feature is the sleep planning tool. Users input their ideal sleep duration and desired wake-up time, and the app calculates the optimal bedtime to improve overall sleep quality.
Behind Awake is indie developer Leo Mehlig, known for the daily planner app Structured. He created this new tool in direct response to user requests, seizing the opportunity when Apple’s iOS 26 introduced the Alarm Kit framework. This developer toolkit allows for full-screen alerts and richer alarm functionalities, making an app like Awake possible.
Reflecting on his motivation, Mehlig shared, “I believed there had to be a better solution than standard alarms for those who find waking up difficult. When I saw Apple’s keynote and the new Alarm Kit, I knew it was time to build it.”
Awake is free to download, with a premium tier available for $1.75 monthly or $19.99 annually. Subscribers gain access to extra missions, such as getting out of bed to turn on a light, scanning a QR code, walking a set number of steps, or even reciting a morning mantra.
Looking forward, Mehlig plans to introduce a “Wake Up Check” function. Using the phone’s step counter, the app will monitor movement after a mission is completed. If no activity is detected, a notification will prompt a response. Should the user remain inactive, another alarm will sound, ensuring they don’t drift back to sleep.
(Source: TechCrunch)