You may have been using your iPhone or Apple Watch as an alarm clock for years and not even thought about it. Use your Mac as an alarm clock; in fact, in recent versions it includes the Clock app, with which it is possible to create independent alarms, timers and stopwatch without depending on your mobile phone.
If you're wondering how to know if your Mac has an alarm clock, how to set it up and what limitations it has, here you'll find a clear guide with steps, tricks and alternatives like Siri, Calendar or Reminders, as well as several important notices so that Don't miss any alerts due to sleep, volume, or the lid being closed.
Does your Mac have a built-in alarm clock?
In macOS Ventura and later, your computer includes the Clock app, very similar to the iPhone; in it you will see World Clock, Alarms, Stopwatch and Timers, and you can manage daily alerts with total freedom, since Mac alarms do not depend on or sync with the iPhone..
To check if you have it, search for “Clock” in Spotlight or open Launchpad and look in Applications; if it appears, you're good to go, you can use your Mac as an alarm clock, and if it doesn't, it means Your version of macOS is older or doesn't include the app, so you'll be interested in alternatives. which you will see below.
Set an alarm with the Clock app
The flow is very simple: open Clock, go to the Alarms tab at the top and create a new one; with the “+” button you can set the exact time, choose the days of the week on which it repeats and select the tone that suits you best, so that you have Customizable daily notifications, just like those on the iPhone but managed from the Mac.
When you save the alarm, you don't need to do anything else except keep the computer ready to play it; this means that the computer must be awake when the time comes, because If the Mac is asleep or the lid is closed, the alarm will not sound. (I explain how to avoid this in the energy section).
A handy tip: Check your system volume and the alarm sound you've chosen; it's easy to have the audio turned down or muted and not notice, so do a quick test to confirm that your chosen tone is loud enough, as it can The output level on a Mac can be very different from that of an iPhone..
How to stop, snooze, and disable alarms
When the time comes, you'll see an on-screen notification; from that notice you can open Options and choose to stop it now, which cancels the alarm until its next scheduled time, so You will not continue to receive the alert until the next time it touches.
It is also possible to deactivate it before it sounds: go to Clock, Alarms section, and turn off the switch of the specific alarm; the switch will move to the left to indicate that it is inactive, and thus you will avoid the warning until you decide to activate it again, a very convenient way to Pause daily reminders when you go on a trip or change your routine.
If you like to create multiple alarms (e.g. one for each day with different tones), you can easily duplicate them and adjust them to your convenience; keeping an organized collection is helpful for weeks with changing schedules or projects that require notices at different times.
Do alarms sound when your Mac is asleep or with the lid closed?
This is the big question: alarms created in the Clock app don't sound if the Mac is asleep; therefore, for them to work, the computer must remain awake, and on laptops it also affects whether you close the lid, because When you lower the screen, the system usually sleeps and no notifications can be played..
The solution is to adjust the power settings so your Mac doesn't go to sleep. Go to System Preferences > Battery > Options and enable "Prevent automatic sleep when connected to power when the display is off"; this way, with the charger plugged in, The alarm can be triggered even if you turn off the screen.
In real-world scenarios (for example, if you fall asleep while watching a show on your laptop), remember that if you then close the lid, the alarm won't sound; so if you want to use your Mac as an alarm clock, leave the lid open and the computer powered on, with the power settings adjusted to not go into suspension during the time slot in which you expect the warning.
Using Siri: Instant voice reminders
If you prefer speaking instead of typing, Siri lets you create reminders and alerts with your voice; just launch Siri from the menu bar icon or say “Hey Siri” if you have it enabled, and ask something like “Remind me to go to my meeting tomorrow at 15:00 PM.” A reminder with notification will be generated at the indicated time.
You should keep in mind that Siri doesn't create "pure alarms" like the Clock app, but it does create reminders that still notify you with a notification; you can also ask her to modify or cancel an existing one, for example: "Change my reminder from 3 pm to 4 pm", and thus manage everything with natural commands and without touching the keyboard or opening applications.
Alternative with Calendar: events with alert
The Calendar app doesn't have a typical alarm function, but you can create an event with a reminder at a specific time and have it act as an alarm clock: open Calendar, double-click the desired date (or use the "+" button), give it a clear name like "Birthday" or "Doctor's Appointment" and set the exact time it should ring.
Then, apply the repetition if you need it (daily, weekly...) and add an alert to notify you punctually; when finished, click outside the event tab to save it and that's it, you will have an integrated notification that, well configured, is perfect for remember tasks, meetings, or any recurring commitments.
Reminders: tasks that alert you like alarms
The Reminders app is another great ally to act as an operational “alarm clock”; press “New reminder”, write the task and tap the information button (the “i”) to add details such as date, time, notes and priority, with which you will get a notification that pops up just when you've scheduled it.
If you're going to manage several tasks at once, organize separate lists (work, personal, routines) and apply repetition to the most frequent ones; plus, with iCloud, these reminders sync across your devices, which is useful for those who jump between Mac and iPhone, although remember that Alarms created in the Clock app on Mac are not replicated on iPhone.
More options: Shortcuts, third-party apps, and web pages
If you're into automation, Shortcuts lets you set up a flow that plays a sound or triggers a notification at a certain time; while it's not a 100% replacement for a native alarm while your computer sleeps, it's a flexible way to build customized notifications, especially if you're interested in it. chain actions (open apps, adjust volume, start music), or use apps like Wake Time.
You also have third-party apps like Wake Up Time Pro in the Mac App Store that offer similar or more advanced features; always search the official store and check reviews, because this way you ensure updates and clear permissions, maintaining an adequate level of security for Apps that interact with notifications and audio.
Another alternative is online alarm clock websites: open the page, choose the time and leave the tab active; they work, but remember that they require the Mac to be on and active, and that a bad connection or the browser going to sleep could be a problem, so It is not the most reliable solution for critical cases.
Keys to not missing any alarm
Before bed or when scheduling an important alert, confirm three things: that the system volume is high, that Do Not Disturb mode or Focus Filters aren't blocking the notification, and that your Mac won't go to sleep during that time. With those three things under control, the chances of everything working out skyrocket.
If you're using a laptop, leave it charged and the lid open when you expect an alarm; in Battery Settings, enable the option that prevents automatic sleep with the power adapter connected and the screen off, so the alert sounds even when you're not there, because Rest remains the great enemy of alarms.
Test periodically with a distinctive tone and a couple of minutes' notice to confirm that you receive the notification; this is the simplest way to detect if something is incorrectly adjusted (volume too low, audio output switched to forgotten Bluetooth headphones, etc.), and so on. anticipate before a key day.
Advanced alarm management in Clock
Think of your alarms like a schedule: create one for workdays, another for weekends, and several specific ones for workouts or chores. Thanks to the "+" button and snooze options, setting up this schedule is quick, and by turning switches on and off, you can You can adapt the week with two clicks.
When you disable an alarm from the notification, remember that you are not deleting or unconfiguring it; you are simply letting it “rest” until its next scheduled time, which is useful if the reminder doesn’t suit you on a particular day but you want it to go off. keep going for the rest of the week.
And if you go away, temporarily deactivate the ones you no longer need for a few days (for example, the one that reminds you to water the plants) to avoid unnecessary alerts; with the toggle for each alarm in the Alarms tab you will do it on the fly, and when you return just reactivate them without redoing the configuration.
Independence from the iPhone and Apple Watch
Mac alarms and iPhone/Apple Watch alarms are worlds apart: what you set on your Mac will only sound there, and what you set on your iPhone will stay on your iPhone. Keep this in mind so you don't get overconfident and think that a reminder created on one device will appear on the other, because there is no alarm synchronization between devices.
If you want to cover your budget, create an iCloud-synced reminder in addition to your Mac alarm; this way you'll receive notifications on all your devices, while keeping your computer's own alarm for when you're working or when you leave it on overnight—a combination that It gives you double security without complicating things.
What to do if the alarm doesn't sound
Go through a short list: system volume, correct sound output (no headphones connected), Do Not Disturb disabled or with the Clock app enabled, and the Mac not going to sleep during that stretch; if everything is fine and the issue continues, restart your computer and try again, because sometimes The notification stack is reset on reboot.
Also check the time, the days selected and the tone assigned to each alarm; a small oversight (for example, leaving it set only for weekdays) can explain why it didn't go off on Saturday, and with a quick check in the Alarms tab you can correct it in seconds, ensuring that Each alert matches your actual routine.
FAQs
Does the Mac alarm sound if the computer is asleep? No. Alarms in the Clock app don't play during sleep mode; you need your Mac to be awake. Adjust your power settings to avoid sleep if you rely on an alarm at a specific time, and on laptops keep the lid open and the charger connected.
Can I create alarms with Siri? Siri creates reminders with notifications, not “pure” Clock alarms; still, it’s great for quickly asking for reminders with your voice, and you can edit or cancel them on the fly to manage your calendar without opening apps.
Do alarms sync with iPhone? No. Alarms on your Mac don't sound on your iPhone, and vice versa. If you want to hear them on both, combine an alarm on your Mac with a reminder synced via iCloud. also receive the notification on your mobile.
What version of macOS do I need to have the Clock app? On macOS Ventura or later, the Clock app comes pre-installed; if you don't see it on your Mac, use alternatives like Calendar, Reminders, Siri, or third-party apps, which work very well as alarm clock solution.
All of the above allows you to use your Mac as an alarm clock with guarantees: the Clock app gives you classic alarms and switch management, Siri and Reminders resolve notifications with your voice, Calendar serves as an “event alarm”, Shortcuts and apps expand options and, with the appropriate energy settings, you will prevent rest from ruining your morning.
