Windows Alarms and Reminders: Clock, To Do and Calendar Options

December 19, 2022 Matt Mills How to 0

Use Clock for a time-based alarm, Microsoft To Do for a task reminder, and a supported calendar for an appointment. Check whether the computer needs to be awake; a reminder set on a sleeping or powered-off PC may not alert you when expected.

create alarms and reminders in Windows

Choose the right tool

Need Useful option
An alarm or countdown while using the PC Windows Clock.
A task with a due date and notification Microsoft To Do.
An appointment with start/end time and participants A supported calendar such as Outlook.

Set a Clock alarm

  1. Search Start for Clock and open the app.
  2. Select Alarm and add an alarm.
  3. Choose the time, repeat days, label, sound and snooze options offered.
  4. Save it and confirm it is enabled.
  5. Test a short alarm while the PC is awake and check the volume.

Microsoft’s Clock guide warns about alarms that only appear when the device is awake. Follow any warning shown on your device and review its power/sleep settings. Don’t assume all alarms sync to every device on the same account.

Set a task reminder in To Do

Create or select a task, choose Remind me and set a date/time. A due date records the deadline; a reminder schedules an alert. Set it to repeat only if it’s a task you do regularly.

Microsoft’s To Do instructions explain these separate controls. Check the account and notification permissions on each device where you expect an alert.

Use a supported calendar for appointments

The old Windows Mail, Calendar and People apps reached end of support in December 2024. Microsoft’s transition guidance directs users toward Outlook. Use your current calendar’s event editor instead of expecting the old taskbar event-entry box to exist on every Windows version.

Check an alert before relying on it

  • Confirm the date, time, repeat schedule and time zone.
  • Check notification permissions and Focus/Do Not Disturb settings.
  • Test sound and whether the device will be awake.
  • For an important deadline, use another device or accepted reminder method as well.

Reviewed October 12, 2026, using the sources linked above.