How to use the online alarm clock
Pause what you are doing at 10:24 pm and set an alarm so you can break away in time for the evening BBC News bulletin. The alert gives your current task a clear stopping point, whether you are finishing some washing-up, answering a message or sorting tomorrow’s bag. You will still have time after the programme before 11:00 pm.
Your BBC News reminder depends on this page continuing to run; if it is no longer active, the alarm cannot sound and you may miss the start of the bulletin. Leave the page running until 10:24 pm and keep the computer or phone awake, with the volume set high enough to hear from where you are working. A quick sound check can confirm that silent mode or a connected headset will not swallow the alert.
Moving straight from a bright screen to the television can make the late-evening change of focus feel abrupt. During the last part of your task, lower the display brightness to suit the room and switch on a warmer colour setting if your phone or computer offers one. At 10:24 pm, put the smaller screen aside rather than keeping it beside the BBC broadcast; this also makes it easier to give the bulletin your attention.
Common questions
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.
What happens if my laptop goes to sleep before 10:24 pm?
The tab sleeps along with it and the alarm will not sound on time, if at all. If you are relying on it, change the power settings so the machine stays awake, or keep a phone alarm running as well.
Do I need an account or an app?
Neither. Choose a time and a sound, press Start, and it runs in this browser tab. Nothing is downloaded, nothing is registered, and closing the page leaves nothing behind on the device.
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.
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