How to use the online alarm clock
Getting ready early for the evening BBC News bulletin means setting the alarm for 11:12 pm now, before attention shifts elsewhere. That leaves a useful buffer before 12:00 am, whether you plan to make a drink, finish a small job or settle into a comfortable spot before the programme begins.
Because this reminder is meant for a specific broadcast, test the sound while there is still time to correct it. Set a temporary alarm a minute ahead, check that the volume is clearly audible, then cancel the test and confirm 11:12 pm remains selected. Keep this page open and your phone or computer awake, or the BBC News reminder will not sound when the programme is due.
If you expect to be travelling shortly before the bulletin, allow for how quiet evening roads can change the journey: faster stretches may be offset by reduced late-night public transport, roadworks or a longer wait for a bus. Check the likely travel time before leaving and aim to arrive several minutes before 11:12 pm, so parking, walking from the stop or getting indoors does not make you miss the alert.
Common questions
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.
What happens if my laptop goes to sleep before 11:12 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.
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