How to use the online alarm clock
You have just woken at 1:31 am, with the BBC studio still to prepare before the morning broadcast. Settle your eyes, check the time, and use the quiet stretch before 2:00 am to get dressed and gather anything that must travel with you. Keeping those first actions simple makes it easier to leave without overlooking a pass, notes or keys.
Studio preparation can go wrong if the alarm sound has quietly been routed to headphones left on a desk. Before relying on this alarm, remove or disconnect them, then test the sound through the speakers you expect to hear from bed. Set the volume high enough for the room, but avoid changing unrelated audio settings while half awake. If the browser stops running overnight, the alarm cannot wake you, so studio preparation needs a separate backup alarm on equipment designed to remain active.
Stepping outside for an early BBC shift can feel different from leaving later in the morning, especially when overnight humidity makes the air seem damp or mist settles near the road. Check the local conditions before choosing a coat, and allow a moment to clear condensation from car windows. At this hour, keeping a dry layer by the door can save an unnecessary return indoors.
Common questions
Can I change the sound?
Yes, there is a short list of tones to pick from before you press Start. Softer sounds are easy to sleep through, so a firmer bell tends to be the safer choice for anything early in the morning.
Will it still be right when the clocks change?
Yes. It reads your device's local clock, so the move between GMT and BST at the end of March and October is picked up automatically, as long as the computer's date, time and time zone are set correctly.
Can I use this on a phone?
It works in a mobile browser, but phones lock the screen and suspend background tabs far more readily than a laptop does, which can stop the alarm sounding. For anything important, a desktop or a plugged-in laptop is the steadier option.
Does the alarm still work if I close the tab?
No. Everything runs inside this page, so closing the tab — or quitting the browser altogether — ends the countdown there and then. Leaving it open in the background is all it asks, and switching to another tab makes no difference.
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