- Google Clock has been updated to version 8.5
- This includes a new option to dismiss alarms with a swipe rather than a tap
- You can still stick with the tap approach if you prefer
If you use Google Clock on your Android phone, you may have recently received an update designed to help you wake up more effectively.
Instead of the usual large ‘Snooze’ and ‘Stop’ buttons when an alarm sounds, you can now opt for a slider. Swiping left will snooze the alarm, while swiping right will stop it.
This swipe gesture is more deliberate than simply tapping the screen, reducing the chances of accidentally stopping the alarm when you meant to snooze it, or vice versa.
An optional approach
This change, first noted by 9to5Google, is optional. If you prefer the traditional buttons and don’t often sleep through your alarms, you can continue using that method. To switch between the two, go to the Google Clock settings and find the new ‘Dismiss alarm with a’ toggle.
This update is reminiscent of a feature introduced by Apple in iOS 26.1, which also requires a swipe to turn off alarms, although Apple’s version still allows snoozing with a tap.
Overall, this small yet potentially beneficial update is part of version 8.5 of Google Clock. It appears to be rolling out gradually, as 9to5Google noticed the change days after updating. If you haven’t seen these options yet, keep checking back, as they should appear soon.