Can I use the iOS Shortcuts app to wake up to BBC Sounds?

With iOS 13.1 and above, you can use Apple's Shortcuts app to set your favourite BBC radio station to play via BBC Sounds when you switch off your alarm in the morning. 

The iOS alarm is guaranteed to go off and wake you up with the sound you set in the Alarm app, even if the BBC Sounds app isn't open and your device's display is switched off. 

The shortcuts suggested for you will depend on how you use your phone or iPad. So if you regularly listen to Radio 6 Music on the BBC Sounds app, you'll see a suggested shortcut to listen live to Radio 6 Music. To add a different shortcut, follow the steps below.

How can I wake up to BBC Sounds?

  1. Open the BBC Sounds app and Listen to the station you’d like to connect to your alarm
  2. Open the Shortcuts app and select the 'Automation' tab. On iPads, this option can be found by selecting the menu icon on the top left of the Shortcuts app.
  3. Tap 'New Automation'
  4. Under 'Personal Automation,' select 'Alarm'
  5. Make sure 'Is Stopped' is ticked and then select the alarm you want BBC Sounds to start playing after

    Three screenshots from the Shortcuts app on an iPhone showing the first three steps to settings BBC Sounds Siri alarm shortcut. The first Highlights the Automation tab and the New Automation button, the second highlights the Alarm option and the third shows the options screen for alarms
  6. Tap 'Next,' then select 'Play music' from the options on screen
  7. Search for 'BBC Sounds' and choose the station you would like to start playing once the alarm is switched off
  8. Select 'Done' to set up the shortcut. 

    Three screenshots from the Shortcut app when setting up a shortcut for BBC Sounds. The first highlights the 'Play music' option, the second shows the BBC Sounds options and the third shows the automation set up in the 'Personal' menu.

Now when you switch off your alarm in the morning, your favourite station will start to play via BBC Sounds.