Dawn was one of the stock alarm tones shipped on HTC Android smartphones, part of the brand's set of gentle, melodic ringtones designed to feel less jarring than traditional alarms. As HTC phones became popular in the early smartphone era, users shared the tone online as an MP3 ringtone and notification sound, and it circulated on soundboard and ringtone sites long after the handsets themselves faded from use. It remains popular because its soft, rising chime works as a recognisable morning sound, a calm notification, and a shorthand for waking up in videos and edits.