Did you know that Windows 10 comes with its own built-in alarm and world clock? You can access most of its features without an internet connection which is helpful when you don't have a mobile phone to do the job for you. You can even set a daily alarm, timer, or check time in different time zones.

Let's learn how to set the alarm on Windows 10, customize your clock, and other handy features you can do with this tool.

Accessing the Windows 10 Alarm & Clock App

In the search bar of your Windows 10 device, type alarms. An app called Alarms & Clock will appear, so click on it to open it. Like other apps in Windows, you can pin it to the taskbar or Start menu if you want an easier time accessing it in the future. Just right-click the search result and select either Pin to taskbar or Pin to Start to do this.

Alarm-app-searchbar

When the window opens, you'll find four options on the left: Timer, Alarm, World Clock, and Stopwatch. Let's explore each one and how to use them.

Setting the Timer in Windows 10

The Timer feature comes in handy while exercising, playing timed games, or practicing a sport. You set a time to count down from, and Windows will let you know when the time expires.

Setting the Timer on Windows 10
  1. Click Timer and then click Add new Timer on the bottom right of the page. You can add more timers by repeating this step.
  2. Enter the hours, minutes, settings, and the name of the timer, and click Save.
  3. Click the Play button to start the timer.

To modify these settings or delete the timer, pause and click the timer or use the Edit button in the bottom right.

Setting the Alarm in Windows 10

Having an alarm on a laptop is helpful when you are avoiding distractions on your mobile phone. It works like every other alarm app; set a specific time, and Windows will let you know when that time comes.

Windows 10 Alarm

To set the alarm on your Windows 10 machine, select Alarm and click Add an alarm on the bottom right.

  1. Enter the time, name for the alarm, and the days you want to repeat it.
  2. Click Save. You can add multiple alarms by repeating this step.
  3. Ensure that your laptop is not in Sleep mode for the alarms to work.

Setting the World Clock in Windows 10

world-clock on windows 10

If you work or play on an international level, there are plenty of apps and websites out there that help you better visualize the times around the world. Fortunately, you don't need them if you are using Windows 10.

Related: What Is UTC, and How Is It Used?

To configure the world clock, click World Clock and then Add new city at the bottom right.

  1. In the search bar, type and select the city you want to add. This will pin the city on the map.
  2. To compare the time across different cities, click the Compare button in the bottom right. Then, move the scale left or right and select the date and time.
  3. To delete a city, click the Edit button and then click the Delete icon.
compare-time-zone on windows 10

Using the Stopwatch in Windows 10

Like a physical stopwatch, you can use Windows 10's version to measure the time taken to complete certain activities. Just hit the play button, then let it run while you're doing whatever you want to measure.

stopwatch
  1. Click Stopwatch and hit the Play button.
  2. Stop the watch by clicking the Pause button.
  3. To split the time or laps, click the Flag button.
  4. Reset the stopwatch by clicking the Reset button.

Modifying the Settings and Notifications

You can change the notification settings for the Alarms & Clock App through the system settings.

  1. Click the Settings button to view all of the available options. The Settings button is located at the bottom-left of the Alarm & Clock app, and has a cog icon.
  2. From here, you can set the display theme based on your preference. For example, you can either set it to light mode, dark mode, or Windows 10's current setting. The changes are visible when you restart the app.
  3. If you want to adjust how the Alarms & Clocks app notifies you, click Change notification settings. In this window, you can also turn off notifications from apps, browsers, or the mailbox.

An Easy Way to Track Time

Having a timer app on your Windows 10 machine is a handy way to keep track of time, especially if you want to display the timer on a big screen. Now you know how to use the Alarm & Clock app on Windows 10, a perfect choice for presentations, video games, or for indoor workouts.

Of course, the alarm app will only be as handy as the accuracy of your system clock. Fortunately, if your clock does seem off, there are ways to fix it automatically.