How to use the online alarm clock
You have only just woken at 9:49 am, and the dog still needs taking out across Hampstead Heath. Setting an alarm now gives you a clear point to get dressed, find the lead and leave, rather than drifting through the first part of the morning. With 10:00 am approaching, the reminder can mark the moment when preparation ends and the walk begins.
For this Hampstead Heath walk, the alarm needs more than the right time on its display. Check the phone’s sound level before relying on it, because silent mode can leave the visual alert working while the audible signal is muted. Keep this page active and the phone awake: if you move away from it or the phone sleeps, the dog-walk alarm will not sound. A brief test signal beforehand can confirm that the chosen volume is noticeable from where you are getting ready.
Before heading towards the Heath, avoid staring at a bright screen while gathering everything for the morning walk. Lower the display brightness to match the room, use warmer colours if your phone offers them, and place it within reach instead of holding it close to your eyes. Once the alarm is set, leave the screen alone and use the available minutes for shoes, keys, waste bags and the dog’s lead.
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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