What Does Alarm Clock Icon On An App Mean (iPad)?

You have seen this alarm clock badge (or icon), see the image below, on an app in the dock on your iPad and you are wondering what that exactly means? It is probably troubling you because of these reasons (a) you did not place the app in the doc, so why is it there, why it is placed there? (b) why does it have this alarm clock icon? This article explains what the little alarm clock icon on an app means and how you can disable it.

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Let’s first describe in what ways this icon appears:

• an app appears with a little clock on it (see the image above)
• it appears at the top right of the apps in the dock on the right side on your iPad
• it may be an app that is not pinned to the dock
• Not exclusive to any specific app

The new iPad dock

The new updated iOS brought a much improved user experience to the iPad, including a new dock. The new iOS uses complex algorithms to learn your habits. iOS (and Siri) has learned that you often use this app at this time of the day.  iOS has further learned your previous usage patterns. Based on this information, iOS is trying to make it easier for you to use this app by placing it in the dock on the right side so that you can easily open this app. Siri thinks you want to use this app. It is simply a reminder kind of thing. It does not have any other function.

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iOS will suggest apps based on your app usage habits. For example, if you use the Facebook app everyday at 5 pm, the Facebook app with alarm clock symbol will appear at the far right of the dock. The clock indicates that that you have used the Facebook app before at this time, so iOS is suggesting that you may want to use it again.

You want to turn off this feature? You do not want to see this suggested app and you do not want to see the little clock badge? Here is how:

• on your iPad, tap Settings
• scroll down and find Siri & Search
• find the Siri Suggestions section
• and then toggle off “Suggestions in Search” and toggle off “Suggestions in Look Up”.

You can also disable suggested apps. Here is how:

• tap Settings
• tap General
• tap Multitasking & Dock
• and then toggle off “Show Suggested and Recent Apps.”

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