There are three ways to set an alarm or timer on a Mac: one is to create event reminders using the calendar application, the other is to create a timer for timed playback of sounds in combination with Automator and terminal commands, and the third is to obtain richer functional support through third-party applications such as TimerTab, Alarmy, and Timeless. Users can choose the most suitable solution according to their needs.

Setting an alarm or timer on a Mac isn't as straightforward as it is on iOS devices, but it's still totally doable. macOS doesn't have a built-in app specifically for alarms or times like Clock on iPhone, but there are several workarounds using native tools and third-party apps.

Use Calendar to Set an Alarm

One of the simplest ways to set an alarm on your Mac is by using the Calendar app — it's built in and easy to use.

• Open Calendar (you can find it in Applications or via Spotlight).
• Create a new event by clicking the “ ” button.
• Set the time you want the alarm to go off.
• Click “Add Alert,” then choose how you want to be notified — display alert, email, etc.
• Save the event.

This method works best if you need recurring alarms or reminders tied to specific times. Just keep in mind that it's technically an event reminder, not a traditional alarm, so it won't make noise unless you're logged in and notifications are enabled.

Use Automator Terminal to Make a Timer

If you want something closer to a kitchen timer — say, a sound after 10 minutes — you can use Terminal with a simple command.

Here's how:

• Open Terminal (found in Applications > Utilities).
• Type: sleep 600 && afplay /System/Library/Sounds/Ping.aiff
• Replace 600 with the number of seconds you want to wait.
• The command tells your Mac to pause ("sleep") for that many seconds, then play a sound.

You can change the sound file path to any audio you prefer. If you want a more user-friendly way to do this, you can create a custom service using Automator that prompts for a time and plays a sound after the delay.

Try Third-Party Apps for More Flexibility

If you want more features — like multiple alarms, countdowns, or visual cues — check out third-party apps. A few solid options include:

• TimerTab : Simple interface, great for quick times.
• Alarmy : Designed to wake you up and keep you awake with puzzles.
• Timeless : Stylish stopwatch and timer app with iCloud sync.

These apps usually offer more customization than the default tools and often support both alarms and times in one place. Some even integrate with Notification Center or let you set alarms based on system events.

Depending on what kind of alarm or timer you need — whether it's a one-time countdown or a daily reminder — there's a solution that fits. You just have to pick the one that matches your use case best.

Basically that's it.

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