Among the functionality of the Windows OS, such a simple tool as an alarm clock on a computer appeared quite late - only in version 8, released in 2012. Designed primarily to conquer the tablet market, not computers, Windows 8 contained elements of a mobile operating system, including a Modern UI (Metro) alarm clock application.

An alarm clock is a tool that should be in the wings for any modern user of a computer, laptop or tablet. At least as a safety option in case there are problems with a mobile device, the alarm clock on board of which is mainly used.

What standard tools does Windows have to implement the alarm clock function? And what opportunities can third-party software developers offer in this direction? We will explore this in detail below. But first, let's look at the nuances with the power supply of the computer.

1. Windows power settings

In order for the alarm clock set for a certain time to respond, of course, the computer must not be turned off or be in hibernation mode at this time. The conditions of the latter provide for saving the data of the current session of work with a computer device, while the power is turned off. The same applies to the sleep mode of the computer in earlier versions of Windows (up to and including XP). In those, switching to low power consumption is provided only by the standby mode. In versions of Windows since Vista, standby has been removed. His place was taken by a hybrid sleep mode, which, in addition to switching to reduced power consumption, also ensures that the current session is saved. Hybrid sleep is enabled by default on desktop computers. But for laptops and tablets, you will need to adjust its resolution. Plus, both in the case of a PC and in the case of portable devices, it is necessary to prohibit turning off the hard drive and check whether the permission of wake timers is enabled. Well, let's get started.

In Windows 8.1 and 10, we press the + Q keys to launch an internal search, in Windows 7 we work with the search as part of the Start menu. We enter the key query "Power" and run this configuration section.

Next to the selected power scheme, click the option to configure it.

Expand the "Hard disk" list, click "Turn off hard disk after" and in the "Status" column change the preset value to 0. In the case of laptops and tablets, we do this for both mains power and battery power. As a result, the indicator should be listed as "Never".

Next, we go down to the "Sleep" list. In the case of laptops and tablets, click "Allow hybrid sleep mode" and set the position to "On". In the same "Sleep" list below, we check that the "Allow wake timers" parameter is set to "Enable". After making all the settings, click the "Apply" button.

Completed with power settings. The only technical point that needs to be monitored before each setting of the rise time is the desired volume of the speaker or speakers.

2. Regular alarm in Windows 8.1 and 10

As mentioned, the version of Windows 8 began the tradition of supplying an alarm clock application to the regular arsenal of a computer system. The tradition was continued by the upgrade version of Windows 8.1 and now the most current Windows 10. The standard application of the Modern UI interface “Alarm Clocks” in Windows 8.1 provides for setting an alarm for a certain time, as well as timer and stopwatch functions.

Windows 10 not only inherited the alarm clock, timer and stopwatch from its predecessor versions, the updated application has a new feature - the function of displaying time in other parts of the world, taking into account time zones. In other time zones of the globe, you can find out both the current time and any other time of day manually set by the user.

3. Alarms from the Windows Store

These are sensible, functional, workable, while free applications in the Windows store cannot be found in the afternoon with fire. And there is a lot of content like minimalistic applications for implementing clocks and alarm clocks on a computer, and many of them are available completely free of charge. Just in case the built-in apps aren't to your liking, in Windows 8.1 and 10 you can explore apps along those lines from the Windows Store.

4. Windows Task Scheduler

In Windows 7, there is no alarm clock implemented by a separate program, but one can be organized using the standard task scheduler. In the search menu "Start" we enter the key query "Task Scheduler".

In the scheduler that opens, click "Create a task ..." - either in the right part of the window, or in the "Action" menu at the top.

In the first tab of the window of the future task "General" set the name.

In the "Triggers" tab, click "Create".

Select the date, time and frequency of the signal in the "Parameters" column. Click "OK".

Now switch to the "Actions" tab and select "Create".

In the window that opens for creating an action, in the "Program or script" column, click the browse button and specify the path to the audio file on the computer that will be played as a wake-up call. Click "OK".

In the "Conditions" tab, you must check the appropriate checkbox so that the computer is woken from sleep mode to complete this task. Click "OK".

Completed with task scheduler settings. But you also need to check that the type of audio file selected as an alarm signal has been assigned a program on the computer to open it by default. Even if the program is installed by default, but the desired type of audio files has never been launched from Explorer, this must be done before the alarm goes off. The same regular Windows Media Player and many other media programs, when the file is first launched, may not immediately start playing it, but offer a step-by-step wizard for specifying the necessary parameters by the user.

5. Gadgets for Windows 7

Many times easier than by creating a task in the standard scheduler, in Windows 7 the alarm clock is set using gadgets. Officially, Microsoft stopped supporting gadgets, but the owners of individual resources on the Internet did not. Third-party alarm clock gadgets can be downloaded, for example, on the Sevengadgets.Ru website. We go to this site, enter a key query into its search engine and get a lot of simple tools that will help you wake up at the right time.

6. Program MaxLim Alarm Clock

You will get more features of Windows 7 gadgets, more options for Modern UI applications only in computer software from third-party developers. Among those is the MaxLim company, in whose arsenal, in addition to the functional MaxLim Alarm Clock, you will find many free programs - both efficient and useless buns such as hearts on the desktop.

You can download MaxLim Alarm Clock for free on the official website of the developers at the link:

The main functional modules of MaxLim Alarm Clock are calendar, timer and alarm clock.

The concept of an alarm clock in the minds of the creators of the program turned out to be extensible. MaxLim Alarm Clock is essentially a task scheduler. The form for adding an alarm contains not only the ability to play a melody on the specified days and at the specified time, the program implements the functions of text reminders, launching files, ending programs, as well as a timer to turn off and lock the computer.

As a signal, you can set any sound file on your computer, its playback is carried out using the MaxLim Alarm Clock itself. In the form of adding an alarm clock, there are standard schemes for assigning a signal one time, daily and on days of the week. And with the help of the program's calendar, an alarm clock, a reminder, launching files, completing programs, and a computer shutdown timer can be set for any day of the month in advance.

7. Atomic Alarm Clock

The Drive Software Company is another creator of both trinkets like ladybugs and butterflies on your computer desktop and useful programs like advanced alarm clocks. Although it is also equipped with the ability to use various skins for the clock in the Windows system tray.

The Atomic Alarm Clock program is paid, but its trial version on the developer's website is available for free. It can be downloaded from the link:

Atomic Alarm Clock features include setting the hourly strike of the clock, changing the time zone, synchronizing the exact time, as well as setting an alarm and reminder. Tasks are created in a general form, and later they can be managed in the reminders tab.

As in the previous case, the creators of the program have an extended concept of an alarm clock: in addition to starting a sound signal at a certain time and issuing a text message as a reminder, Atomic Alarm Clock can also launch programs and certain types of files, as well as turn off the computer. The form also allows you to select a signal from the list of sounds offered by the program, as well as from a collection of your own audio tracks on your computer. The need to wake the computer from sleep for each task is configured in a separate order.

8. Alarm clock in the browser window

The simplest cross-platform way to start an alarm clock is to do it in a browser window on the Budila.Ru website.

The creators of the online alarm clock assure that the signal will sound even if the Internet is not available during its activation. All that is needed for this is just the service tab open in the browser. But Budila.Ru, unlike the programs installed in the system, does not solve the problem of waking up the computer from sleep.

9. AIMP audio player

Alarm clocks and timers for turning off the computer are regulars in programs for playing media content. For example, in the AIMP selected as an exemplary audio player, the alarm is set in the "Scheduler" menu.

In the “Alarm Clock” tab, we will get the opportunity to set the launch of a specific audio file or an existing AIMP playlist at a specified time or after some interval.

Have a great day!

As promised in the article about computer sleep modes today I will tell you about the program with which we will make alarm clock for computer with Windows.

I was specifically looking for a program in Russian, simple, lightweight, capable of waking up (waking up) the computer from sleep mode, launching music, a movie, a browser on a specific page or any program you need at the appointed time, opening any folder.

Table of contents:

Alarm clock for computer

I even doubted that I would find one, but she was found and her name - Free Alarm Clock.

This alarm clock on the computer can also show messages, snooze the signal, repeat it and display the clock on the desktop in a floating window that can be resized.

Attention! Armed with knowledge about this alarm clock and computer sleep mode, you can forget the location of the power button on the system unit.

So, I won’t take much of your time, because everything ingenious is simple.

Go to the official website of the manufacturer and click on the link there ...

By the way, this alarm clock for your computer has already been downloaded more than a million times!

And if you don't want to bother and you know what are portable programs- there is a link to download the portable version of this free alarm clock (which you don't even need to install) ...

Read also on the website:

There are no tricks in installing the stationary version, so I will not describe it. Installed and launched Free Alarm Clock.

How to use the computer alarm clock Free Alarm Clock

When you first start the program, one alarm will be set, which you can change or simply delete ...

A new task for the alarm clock on the computer can be created by clicking the "Add" button ...

As you can see, everything is elementary. Set the time, the day of the week, the inscription for the message (if necessary), indicate the location of the file you want to launch (music or video, for example) and remove the checkboxes that you do not need.

You can also specify any folder in Windows Explorer and it will automatically open when the computer wakes up from sleep.

If you insert a link to your favorite site in the line “Sound (File, Directory, URL):”, then this site will start with the browser that is set in the system by default - isn't it great?

For some people, getting up in the morning is a very difficult task. It’s good when you don’t have to rush anywhere, but if you are afraid of being late for work, and you still need to take your child to kindergarten or school, then setting an alarm clock will obviously not be superfluous for you. For this purpose, many people use a mobile phone, someone - a watch. But let's look at another option - how to set an alarm clock on a computer.

Turn on the alarm on the computer There are two ways: using standard utilities and programs installed on the laptop. In this article, we'll take a look at both.

Windows Task Scheduler

Go to the start menu and type in the search bar "Task Scheduler". When the program is found, click on it. Task Scheduler can also be opened as follows: "Start" - "Control Panel" – "Administration" - "Task Scheduler".

The task scheduler opens, in it we click "Create a simple task".

Since we are creating an alarm clock, in the line "Name" we write "Alarm clock". You can write anything in the description. Click "Next".

Now you need to specify the alarm operation mode by setting the marker. Click "Next".

Now we set the alarm time: from which day to start, at what time to work. Click "Next".

Put a marker next to the action "Run the program". Click "Next".

Click on the "Browse" button and select the file under which we will get up - it can be music or video. Click "Next".

In the next window, we look through all the parameters configured by us and put a tick in front of "Open Properties window". Click "Finish".

In the Properties window on each tab, you can view the settings and change them. Go to the "Conditions" tab and check the box "Wake the computer to complete a task". Click "OK".

It should be noted that after the first alarm, it appears on the tab "Active Tasks"(you can expand it using the small triangle on the right) in the general list of tasks.

Double-click on the “Alarm clock” task with the right mouse button and go to viewing the properties of the alarm clock. Here, in the menu displayed on the right, you can "Disable" or "Delete" the alarm. By clicking on the "Properties" tab, you can change the alarm settings.

Now, in order for the alarm to work, you must leave the computer in sleep or hibernation mode, but do not turn it off. Check if the alarm will work in this case and wake up the computer from sleep mode. If everything worked out, feel free to install it in the morning and be sure that it will work.

To set the desired mode on the laptop, go to "Start" - "Control Panel" – "Power". Opposite your work plan, click on the link "Setting up a power plan".

Now we choose when the computer will go into sleep mode. We save the changes.

Free Alarm Clock Program

Free Alarm Clock ( download Free Alarm Clock) allows you to set an alarm clock, you can download it for free and it is designed for the Windows operating system.

We launch the program after installation on the computer. The buttons at the top allow you to add an alarm, delete it, change settings, or clone an existing alarm with all the settings configured.

Click "Add". In the next window, set the alarm time, days, write an inscription that will be displayed on the screen when triggered. By clicking on the "Browse" button, you can select the file to be played. Then check the boxes next to the required parameters. It should be noted that changing the alarm volume in the program does not change the system volume in any way. Click "OK".

The configured alarm appears in the list.

On the "Options" tab, you can make some settings: set the time to snooze the alarm, the duration of the playback, or so that the alarm is displayed on top of running windows.

That's all, with just a couple of clicks, you have set the alarm.

Choose one of the methods and turn on the alarm clock on your computer. Now you can be sure that even if the phone runs out of power, and there is simply no clock, then you have one more device in stock that will not allow you to oversleep in the morning!

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