How to use the online alarm clock
Hand over the last task of your shift before settling down for the evening BBC News bulletin at 8:38 pm. The alarm gives you a clear cue to finish explaining what remains, pass across any keys or notes, and switch your attention to the programme. There is still room before 9:00 pm to complete a brief handover without letting it drift into the next hour.
While the handover continues, the alarm page can remain behind the notes or messages you are viewing; moving its tab into the background does not cancel the set time. Check that the browser has permission to play sound and leave the volume audible. Keep the alarm page open and the phone or computer awake, because otherwise the BBC News bulletin may start without the alert giving you notice.
If the changeover sends you outside at 8:38 pm, the evening air may feel damper than it did earlier, especially after rain or near the coast. Allow a moment for misted glasses to clear before reading paperwork, and keep a light outer layer within reach if the humidity comes with a cool breeze. That small preparation makes the final exchange easier before you head indoors for the broadcast.
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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