How to Set a Timer to Stop Playing Audio or Video on Your iPhone

Every now and then, we stumble upon iPhone features that have been present for years but remain undiscovered. This phenomenon has been particularly noticeable with the excitement surrounding the upcoming iPhone 16 and iOS 18 in the past year.

These hidden gems are often right in front of us within the Apple apps we use daily. With the release of iOS 17 in late 2023, Apple introduced the capability to set multiple timers in the Clock app. We explored this feature and playfully acknowledged Apple for (finally) bringing this functionality to the iPhone, albeit after the Apple Watch and HomePod. In that same context, we highlighted that the Clock app offers the option to utilize the timer as a sleep timer. Let’s delve into what this entails and how to make the most of it.

Some common uses of the timer in Apple’s Clock app include timing cooking tasks, setting reminders, or granting extra time to your children before bedtime. Most of us are familiar with selecting different sounds for when the timer completes.

However, at the bottom of the sound list, there’s an option labeled “Stop Playing.” Choosing this option essentially transforms your iPhone into a sleep timer. If you are streaming audio or video from your iPhone and set a timer in the Clock app to Stop Playing, your media playback will cease, including third-party apps like Spotify.

Here’s a guide on how to create a functional sleep timer using your iPhone’s Clock app:

1. Open the Clock app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on Timers at the bottom-right of your screen.
3. Set the timer for when you want your media to stop. The default duration is 20 minutes.
4. Tap on When Timer Ends and scroll to the bottom of the sound options to find Stop Playing. Select it.
5. If you want to save this timer for future use, you can assign a label to it. Tap on Label and give it a name of your choice. For instance, in the example shown above, the label is “Goodnight Music.”
6. Hit Start.

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That’s all you need to do! Your streaming audio or video will automatically stop at the set time.

Next time you access the Clock app and navigate to the timers, you’ll find your previous “sleep timer” saved for easy access. If you enjoy falling asleep to music, podcasts, or videos, consider utilizing the Clock app’s hidden sleep timer feature. Have a restful sleep!