How to Set Alarms and Timers on your Mac.
Alarms and timers are great productivity tools with us every step of the way. You wake up with an alarm clock, start and stop working with it. The alarm clock will help you remember important events and not miss your friend’s birthday.
Some people cannot imagine their job without alarms and timers. Productivity apps Pomodoro are living proof of this. If you’ve ever found it difficult to meet deadlines, try this technique and you will see how much more effective you can become.
While there are several different options for setting an alarm on a Mac, not every user knows how to do it. Let’s take a look at a few different options (both built-in and third-party). Then you can choose the one that best suits your needs.
Also, be sure to watch our short YouTube video from our sister site where we cover the techniques we talk about below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z3oN-_gCLA?feature=oembed]
How to set an alarm on Mac using Calendar
There are tons of macOS apps preinstalled on your computer that are really good. One of the default apps is Calendar.
The app has many useful features, including setting a one-time alarm, and any alarm you set on your computer using Apple Calendar will automatically sync with your other iOS devices. This way, you will still receive a notification even if you are far away from your Mac.
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Setting an alarm on Mac in Calendar is a very simple process:
- To access the Calendar, go to the dock. If you don’t see Calendar on the dock, go to Launchpad and search there for the app using the search tool.
- Select the date you want to set the alarm.
- When selecting a time for the alarm, double-click the box next to the desired hour. For example, if you want the alarm to go off immediately after noon, click between 12 and 13 o’clock. Then drag the created time interval to adjust the minutes.
- You can edit your event by giving it a name, setting it as Home or Work, adding a location, notes, and even inviting other people.
- Click the alarm date to add an alert. This will bring up a small menu. Click Warning.
- Select when you want the alarm to go off. You can choose one of the default options or click Custom to set your own alarm duration.
- Click Apply. If you want to add multiple alerts, click the + next to the one you just created.
Removing the alarm is just as easy. Right-click to delete it, or tap the event and click Delete.
How to set an alarm on Mac using reminders
If you are someone who loves to be in control and stay on top of your life, you probably use at least one of the great task management apps. However, your Mac comes with a simplified to-do list app called Reminders.
The main purpose of this application is to remind you of the important things that you need to do during the day. It’s also great for setting an alarm on your Mac.
- Go to the launcher to find the application. Open reminders.
- In the app, click + to add a reminder.
- Enter a name. Then click the information icon (i) next to it.
- Select “Remind me a day”.
- Add the day and time for which you want to set the alarm.
- Click Finish.
To delete an alarm, right-click the reminder and select Delete.
Set an alarm on Mac with Siri
Digital assistants have strengths and weaknesses. On your smartphone, you can use Siri to set an alarm. On Mac, you can do this by setting a reminder using Siri.
But before you do that, make sure Siri is turned on on your Mac.
- Go to System Preferences, select Siri and check the box next to Ask Siri.
- To open Siri, use your keyboard shortcut (Command + Space by default) or click the Siri icon in the upper-right corner of your Mac.
- Say Set an alarm.
- Siri politely declines and prompts you to set a reminder.
- Say “Yes” or click “Confirm” to set a reminder.
Get rid of built-in options
While the built-in Mac alarm settings are useful, you might still find them pretty limited. If you want something simpler and more straightforward, try one of the third-party sites and apps that serve the same purpose.
Use an online alarm clock to set an alarm on Mac
If you have Internet access, there is no shortage of online alarm clocks. A simple Google search will suggest several options from which you can choose, such as Onlineclock or Kukuklok.
These sites are free to use and come with a set of basic options. You can set alarms and timers for the same day, as well as select the alert sound.
If you are looking for a tool specifically for setting timers on Mac, E.ggtimer is a good choice. It comes with a countdown that you can set for specific periods of time, or even for different tasks like brushing your teeth or doing your morning exercise.
For those of you looking for a more interactive tool, try Setalarmclock. Besides setting timers and alarms, it gives you productivity tips as well as some fun options like naming alarms and leaving a message for yourself in the future.
When using these applications, make sure that your computer is not muted and that the volume is high enough for you to hear the alarm sound.
Use the wake-up time to set the alarm
Wake-up time is a great option when you’re feeling old-fashioned. Basically, it is a virtual embodiment of the physical alarm clock that you used to keep on your bedside table.
The app will put a stylish alarm clock image on your Mac, which you can use to set your alarm. To set an alarm, select the time and date, and then tap the blue round button in the lower left corner of the watch. You can change the sound of the alarm by tapping “Sound” in the menu.
When the alarm goes off, it will not stop ringing until you press the Stop button. The app works offline and, unlike other online tools on this list, will still work even if your Mac is muted.
Mac is a great computer with some really useful software built in. But as with any new gadget, there are always ways to improve your user experience. So it never hurts to always be on the lookout for new apps and tools to take your Mac to the next level.
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