Unbed — Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Usually why: You force-quit the app, or iOS killed it in the background.

Fix in 30 seconds:

1. Don't force-quit Unbed. Open it once and leave it in the background.
2. Notifications ON (with sound): Go to Settings → Notifications → Unbed and make sure notifications are enabled with sound.
3. Allowed in Focus/Downtime: Go to Settings → Focus → Allowed Apps and add Unbed. Also go to Settings → Screen Time → Always Allowed and add Unbed.
4. Low Power Mode OFF overnight.
5. Make sure your phone is not low on storage.
6. Update to iOS 26 and allow Unbed alarms (AlarmKit) inside the app for the most reliable experience.

Still not ringing after all these steps? Contact Support.

Why it uses battery: Unbed stays active in the background so alarms fire reliably.

iOS 17/18

During the day, you can force-quit Unbed to save battery. Before bed, open Unbed once so it's active, confirm your next alarm shows correctly, and leave it in the background overnight while charging your phone.

iOS 26 (recommended)

Enable Battery Saver Mode in Unbed's settings. This switches Unbed to use AlarmKit for scheduling instead of keeping the app running in the background overnight, which significantly reduces battery usage. With Battery Saver on, you can even force-quit Unbed after scheduling and your alarm will still ring through AlarmKit.

Some features are slightly limited in Battery Saver Mode. For example, alarm fade-in is fixed at 30 seconds unless you set it to 0 seconds for instant full volume. The "app terminated" warning notifications are also automatically suppressed since AlarmKit handles wake-up regardless.

To enable it, open Unbed → Settings → toggle on Battery Saver Mode.

Goal: stop yourself from swiping Unbed away so the alarm still wins.

Option A: iOS 26 (AlarmKit)

Update your phone to iOS 26 and enable Apple Alarms in Unbed. After scheduling, you can swipe Unbed away and AlarmKit will still ring system-level alarms.

Option B: Auto-reopen with Shortcuts

Install our Shortcut pack (tutorial link in the app). Then create Personal Automations with Ask Before Running turned off. Set one to open Unbed at bedtime or when Sleep Focus turns on, and another to open Unbed when your iPhone is unlocked.

Tip: If notifications alone don't wake you, use AlarmKit (iOS 26+) for maximum "can't-quit" protection.

Due to Apple's limitations, for consistent alarms on iOS, keep Unbed running in the background at night by not force-quitting the app. Unbed fires at the set time with your chosen settings. If the app gets terminated, AlarmKit on iOS 26 serves as your backup. On older iOS versions, the alarm may not ring if the app is closed.

This notification appears when iOS has closed Unbed in the background. This can happen if iOS needs to free up memory, if Low Power Mode is on, or if the system decides to suspend the app.

iOS 17/18

On older iOS versions, this notification is very important. If Unbed is terminated, your alarm may not ring because there is no system-level backup. When you see this notification, reopen Unbed immediately so it can run in the background again and fire your alarm on time.

iOS 26

On iOS 26 with AlarmKit enabled, this notification is much less of a concern. Even if Unbed gets terminated, AlarmKit will ring your alarm at the system level as a failsafe. Your alarm is still protected.

If you find these notifications annoying on iOS 26, you can turn them off inside the app. Open Unbed → Settings → toggle on Ignore Suspended Notifications. This option is also automatically enabled when you turn on Battery Saver Mode. Note that this setting is only available on iOS 26 because on older versions you need the warning to know when to reopen the app.

We're sorry you're having trouble scanning. Here are some things to try and check.

Quick fix: If the block doesn't register after 2 to 3 seconds, cancel the scan and immediately start it again. This often resolves the issue right away.

Check these things:

Make sure you're holding the top of your phone (near the camera area) close to the block, similar to how you tap when paying at a store. Keep it steady for a moment.

If you have a thick or bulky case on your phone, try scanning without it. Some cases can interfere with NFC.

Make sure you're running the latest version of Unbed from the App Store.

When you tap "Activate" on the alarm screen, make sure the "Ready to Scan" prompt actually appears before tapping the block.

If it's still not working:

Download the free app NFC Tools from the App Store, open it, tap Read, and scan your Unbed Block a few times in a row. Scroll down and take a screenshot of the data, then send it to us at hello@unbedapp.com. This helps us figure out if the issue is with the chip itself or on our software side.

You can also try this reset that has worked for other users: delete the Unbed app, go to Settings → Screen Time, turn off App & Website Activity at the bottom of the screen, toggle off Share Across Devices, then download Unbed again. You can re-enable those Screen Time settings afterward if you'd like.

If none of this helps, contact us with your phone model and iOS version. If it turns out the chip inside is defective, we'll ship a replacement block.

You have 30 days from the day you receive your Unbed block (the date tracking shows Delivered) to request a return/refund.

To start, contact Support and tell us what went wrong. Your feedback helps us improve as we grow.

You can reach us through our Support Page, in-app via Settings → Support, or by email at hello@unbedapp.com (include your order number).

We'll reply with the next steps and return instructions. After 30 days, we can still help troubleshoot and make sure Unbed works for you.

Covered: If your Unbed block stops working from normal usage, we'll send a free replacement.

How to claim: Contact Support with your order number and a brief note. A photo or video helps.

You can reach us through our Support Page, in-app via Settings → Support, or by email at hello@unbedapp.com (include your order number).

Not covered: Loss, theft, intentional damage, or non-standard modifications.

We've got you. If it failed under normal use, we'll replace it.