How to use the online alarm clock
You are midway through something when the 7:31 pm alarm needs to pull you away for the evening BBC News bulletin. Setting it now gives you a clear stopping point instead of repeatedly checking the clock, while still leaving enough of the evening before 8:00 pm to finish a small task or put things away.
Before relying on the alert for BBC News, a quick sound check can confirm that the volume is audible above conversation, cooking or the television itself. Use a short test alarm, then leave the working browser session open and the computer awake. If either is shut down beforehand, the BBC News alarm cannot sound, so the programme may begin while you are still occupied elsewhere.
A bulletin at 7:31 pm can fall awkwardly between an evening meal and a later cup of tea. A drink and a small, tidy snack can sit nearby without demanding much attention, whereas food needing cutlery or frequent trips to the kitchen is easier left until afterwards. If dinner is already under way, covering the plate keeps the pause brief and avoids rushing through it before the alarm.
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 7:31 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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