Five things to check
- Allow notifications. Open iOS Settings → Chirpy → Notifications and make sure they're on, including Sounds.
- Don't force-quit Chirpy. Leave it running in the background (don't swipe it away in the app switcher) so it can ring on time.
- Turn the volume up and check the ringer isn't silenced — Chirpy plays through your media volume.
- Allow it through Focus. In Settings → Focus (including Sleep), add Chirpy to your allowed apps so a Focus schedule doesn't mute it.
- Avoid Low Power Mode overnight if you can — it can delay background activity. Keeping your phone charging while you sleep is the most reliable setup.
Alarms & reliability
Will Chirpy ring on silent mode or during a Focus / Sleep schedule?
Chirpy keeps its alarm engine running so it can sound at the time you set, and it plays through your media volume rather than the ringer switch. For the most dependable wake-up, we still recommend keeping your volume up and adding Chirpy to your allowed apps under Settings → Focus (including the Sleep Focus).
Chirpy doesn't override every system setting on its own, so a few seconds of setup the first night makes mornings far more reliable.
Does Chirpy work if my phone is locked or asleep?
Yes. As long as Chirpy is allowed to send notifications and hasn't been force-quit, it will ring at the scheduled time with your screen locked. When it goes off, you'll wake the screen and solve your chosen puzzle to dismiss it.
Will Chirpy drain my battery?
Chirpy is built to be light. It uses a small amount of background activity to make sure your alarm fires on time — comparable to other alarm apps. Charging your phone overnight (which most people do anyway) means battery is never a concern.
Puzzles
What puzzles can I choose from?
Chirpy can make you earn the “off” button with any of these:
- Math — solve a quick equation.
- Typing — type out a short phrase.
- Color Match — match the target color.
- Find the Color — tap the correct swatch.
- Scan an Object — point your camera at a real item to dismiss the alarm.
You can set the puzzle per alarm when you create or edit it.
The scan puzzle won't recognize my object
The scan puzzle uses on-device recognition, so a few things help it succeed:
- Make sure Chirpy has camera access in Settings → Chirpy → Camera.
- Use good lighting and hold the item steady, filling most of the frame.
- Pick one of the suggested everyday items (like a shoe, mug, or glasses) — those are tuned to be recognized reliably.
If an item just won't register, switch that alarm to a different item or puzzle in the alarm editor.
How do I change the puzzle difficulty?
Open the alarm you want to change, pick its puzzle, and set the difficulty there. You can also set a default difficulty in Settings so new alarms start the way you like.
Privacy & data
Is my data private?
Completely. Chirpy has no account, collects no personal information, and sends nothing to any server — your alarms and settings stay on your iPhone. The camera, used only for the scan puzzle, is processed entirely on-device and never stored or uploaded.
Full details are in the Privacy Policy.
How do I delete everything Chirpy stored?
Because all of Chirpy's data lives only on your device, deleting the app removes every alarm and setting along with it. There's nothing stored elsewhere to clear.
Still stuck?
If your question isn't here, send a message — include your iPhone model and iOS version and we'll help you sort it out.
trchirpy07@gmail.comWe read every email and usually reply within a couple of days.