How to use the online alarm clock
Between video calls and a late lunch, it's easy to lose track of the clock, which is why 12:40 pm shows up so often as a midday alarm. This rings straight from your browser at 12:40 pm. No app, no account, just a tab that needs to stay open.
Select a sound, hit Start, and that's the whole setup. The countdown runs inside this browser tab rather than on your device's operating system, so it needs to remain open, on a phone or laptop, until the alarm actually goes off.
Some people use this alongside a phone alarm rather than instead of it: a louder backup through laptop speakers, or a way to set a reminder without touching a phone at all. It won't survive the tab closing or the device sleeping, so for anything critical overnight, keep a second alarm running as well. On a 24-hour clock 12:40 pm is written 12:40, and spoken aloud it's twenty to one in the afternoon. You'll also see it written 12.40 pm — a full stop instead of the colon means the same time. Whether you would say set alarm for 12:40 pm or put an alarm on for 12:40 pm, the steps are the same: pick a sound, press Start, leave the tab open.
Common questions
Can I use this on my phone instead of a laptop?
Yes, it works in a mobile browser the same way, but phones are more likely to lock the screen or sleep, which can stop the alarm from ringing. A laptop or desktop tends to be more reliable for this.
Can I set more than one alarm at a time?
This page is built around a single alarm at a time. For multiple alarms, open a separate tab for each one and set a different time in each, keeping every tab open until it's rung.
Why use a browser alarm instead of my phone's built-in one?
Mainly for reliability against silent mode, do-not-disturb, or a phone left charging out of earshot. It's a useful backup or a desk-based alternative, though it depends on this tab staying open rather than running in the background of your phone.
Is there a cost to use this?
No, it's free, with no sign-up and no limit on how many times you set it. It just needs the tab left open until the time you've chosen arrives.