How to use the online alarm clock
A short afternoon nap before an evening shift only helps if you actually get up again, which is where an alarm for 5:44 pm earns its keep. This rings through your browser at 5:44 pm, so a laptop on the couch arm can do the waking for you.
Start by selecting a tone from the dropdown, then hit Start to lock it in. From that point the page does the counting, and it'll ring once the time is reached, but only if the tab is still open somewhere on your device. Closing it, or the browser entirely, cancels the alarm.
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 5:44 pm is written 17:44, and spoken aloud it's sixteen minutes to six in the evening. Timetables and rosters may show it as 17:44, and handwritten notes as 5.44 pm. Setting the alarm to 5:44 pm tomorrow morning works the same way: if the time has gone for today, the count runs through to it.
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.