How to set a bedtime reminder, or turn one off
A bedtime reminder is a cue to start getting ready for sleep. On iPhone, set a sleep schedule in the Health app, and Wind Down turns on Sleep Focus before bedtime. On Android, open the Clock app's Bedtime tab and turn on Reminder notification. Samsung phones use Sleep mode, and YouTube has its own “Remind me when it's bedtime” setting. Each one can be switched off the same way it was switched on.
The reminder that works best arrives early enough to act on, usually 30 to 60 minutes before you want to be asleep, and names one thing to do, such as plugging your phone in outside the bedroom. The CDC says adults aged 18 to 60 need 7 or more hours of sleep a night, and suggests turning off electronic devices at least 30 minutes before bed.
We build Pokobot, a WhatsApp reminder service, and mention it where it fits, but every bedtime setting below is built into your phone or app. Steps were checked against Apple, Google, Samsung and YouTube help pages on 7 October 2026.
On this page
Bedtime reminders on each phone, at a glance
Find where your reminder lives, then use the same place to turn it on or off.
| Where | Turn it on | Turn it off |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone sleep schedule | Health, then Browse, then Sleep, then set up a schedule with Wind Down | Health, then Sleep, then Full Schedule & Options, then switch off Sleep Schedule |
| Android (Google Clock) | Clock, then Bedtime, then select Reminder notification | Deselect Reminder notification in the same Bedtime settings |
| Samsung Galaxy | Settings, then Modes and Routines, then Sleep | Turn off the Sleep mode schedule in the same place |
| YouTube app | Profile, then Settings, then General, then Remind me when it's bedtime | Switch the same setting off |
| Any phone | A daily repeating reminder at your wind-down time | Delete the reminder or stop the repeat |
How to set a bedtime reminder on iPhone
iPhone builds the bedtime cue into its sleep schedule. When Wind Down starts, Sleep Focus turns on, simplifying the Lock Screen and silencing notifications so the phone feels like it is closing for the night.
Set up a sleep schedule
Open the Health app, tap Browse, then Sleep, and follow Set Up Sleep to choose a sleep goal, bedtime and wake-up time. You can create separate schedules for weekdays and weekends.
Choose your wind-down time
Under Full Schedule & Options, tap Wind Down and choose how long before bedtime it should start. Sleep Focus turns on at the beginning of that period, which is your cue to get ready.
Want an actual alert? Add a repeating reminder
Open Reminders, add “start winding down”, give it a time and make it repeat daily, or ask Siri: “Remind me every day at 10pm to start winding down.” Set it a little before Wind Down begins, because Sleep Focus may silence it.
How to turn off the bedtime reminder on iPhone
To stop the bedtime routine, open Health, tap Browse, then Sleep, then Full Schedule & Options, and switch off Sleep Schedule at the top of the screen. Switch it back on the same way. To skip it for just one night, turn Sleep Focus off in Control Center instead.
If the bedtime message appears inside YouTube rather than across your whole phone, it is YouTube's own setting, not your iPhone's. The YouTube section below shows how to turn it off.
How to set a bedtime reminder on Android
On Pixel phones and other Android phones with the Google Clock app, bedtime has its own tab.
Open Clock and tap Bedtime
On the Schedule card, tap the time under Bedtime, then choose a bedtime and the days to use it. Tap the time under Wake up to set your alarm.
Turn on Reminder notification
Select Reminder notification to get a bedtime reminder. To turn it off later, come back to the same settings and deselect it.
Add Bedtime mode if you like
Bedtime mode silences your phone and removes the screen's color at bedtime, which makes it less tempting to keep scrolling.
How to set or turn off Sleep mode on Samsung
Samsung phones handle bedtime with Sleep mode. Open Settings, then Modes and Routines, then Sleep, or in the Clock app's Alarm tab, tap More options and choose Set Sleep mode schedule. Enter your usual bedtime and wake-up time, and choose what happens during sleep, such as Do not disturb, grayscale, dark mode or Eye comfort shield.
To stop it, open the same Sleep settings and turn the schedule off. Sleep mode quiets the phone rather than sending a message, so if you want an actual nudge to start winding down, add a daily reminder in Samsung Reminder as well.
How to set or turn off YouTube's bedtime reminder
YouTube can interrupt you when it is time to stop watching. In the YouTube app, tap your profile picture, then Settings, then General, and switch on Remind me when it's bedtime. Choose a start and end time, and select Wait until I finish video if you would rather not be cut off mid-video.
To turn it off, use the same switch. When the reminder appears, you can dismiss it, or tap Remind me again for another nudge in 15 minutes. YouTube switches it on by default for users aged 13 to 17; for adults it is off unless you turn it on. On Apple devices, YouTube's help says it works on iPhone but not iPad.
How to make a bedtime reminder actually work
A bedtime reminder is easy to swipe away. These habits make it more likely you will act on it.
Remind yourself to start, not to sleep
Set the cue 30 to 60 minutes before you want to be asleep. A reminder at the moment you should already be in bed is too late to act on.
Name one action
“Plug the phone in outside the bedroom” or “lights down and a book” is easier to follow than “go to sleep”.
Keep the same time every day
The CDC lists going to bed and getting up at the same time every day among the habits that improve sleep. A reminder at the same time each night helps make that automatic.
Put screens away early
The CDC suggests turning off electronic devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime. Let the reminder be the last useful thing your phone does for you that evening.
Treat it as a nudge, not a rule
If you miss it, start the routine when you notice. A reminder that makes you feel guilty is one you will end up switching off.
A bedtime reminder on WhatsApp
If app notifications blur into the evening, a WhatsApp message from Pokobot can be harder to miss. Tell it once, in plain English, such as “every day at 10pm remind me to plug my phone in outside the bedroom”, and it repeats every night until you cancel it.
There is an obvious catch: a WhatsApp message brings you back to your phone. Make the reminder your signal to put the phone away, set it before Sleep Focus or Bedtime mode starts so it isn't silenced, and resist replying to other chats. It needs an internet connection, and after the 7-day free trial, a paid plan.
Every day at 10pm remind me to plug my phone in outside the bedroomOpen in WhatsApp When to talk to a doctor about sleep
A reminder helps with timing, not with sleep problems. If you regularly struggle to fall or stay asleep, wake up feeling unrefreshed, snore loudly or feel very sleepy during the day despite enough time in bed, talk to a doctor or other healthcare professional.
Questions, answered
- How do I set a bedtime reminder on my iPhone?
- Open the Health app, tap Browse, then Sleep, and set up a sleep schedule with a Wind Down period. Sleep Focus turns on when Wind Down starts. For an actual alert, add a daily repeating reminder in the Reminders app a little before Wind Down begins.
- How do I turn off the bedtime reminder on my iPhone?
- Open Health, tap Browse, then Sleep, then Full Schedule & Options, and switch off Sleep Schedule. To skip it for one night, turn off Sleep Focus in Control Center. If the reminder appears inside YouTube, turn it off in YouTube's settings instead.
- How do I turn off the bedtime reminder on YouTube?
- In the YouTube app, tap your profile picture, then Settings, then General, and switch off Remind me when it's bedtime. It is on by default for users aged 13 to 17 and off by default for adults.
- How do I set a sleep reminder on Android?
- Open the Google Clock app, tap Bedtime, set your bedtime and wake-up time on the Schedule card, and select Reminder notification. On a Samsung phone, use Sleep mode in Settings, then Modes and Routines, or add a daily reminder in Samsung Reminder.
- What time should a bedtime reminder go off?
- About 30 to 60 minutes before you want to be asleep. Work back from your wake-up time: the CDC says adults aged 18 to 60 need 7 or more hours of sleep, and suggests turning off devices at least 30 minutes before bed.
- Can I get a bedtime reminder on WhatsApp?
- Yes, with Pokobot. Send “every day at 10pm remind me to start winding down” and it repeats nightly until you cancel it. Set it before Sleep Focus or Bedtime mode starts so it isn't silenced, and use it as your cue to put the phone away.