How to Set an Alarm on Android Devices

From your watch to your phone or tablet, here's what to do

by
Lisa Mildon
Lisa Mildon
Lifewire Tech Review Board Member & Writer
Lisa Mildon is a Lifewire writer and an IT professional with 30 years of experience. Her writing has appeared in Geekisphere and other publications.
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Lisa Mildon
Updated on December 02, 2020

An alarm is a critical tool for daily life. With the advent of smartphones, you have a mini-computer in your pocket to help. Android users have four ways to set the alarm so you can get your life organized and stay on schedule.

You can use:

  • A standard Android alarm
  • Bixby voice instructions
  • Google Assistant voice instructions
  • Wear OS (formerly Android Wear) on your watch

How to Set a Standard Android Alarm

A standard alarm on an Android device is usually found in the Clock application.

  1. Select the Apps icon to open a view of all installed applications on your smartphone or tablet, then select the Clock icon.

  2. Make sure Alarm is selected on the bottom left, then select the plus (+) sign on the upper right-hand side.

  3. Select the tiny calendar icon on the right side to pick the selected start date.

    Android set alarm

  4. Choose your selected start date, then select Done.

  5. Select each number, and using the keypad at the bottom, enter the time at which you want the alarm and select Save. Alternatively, move the number dial up or down on each number to set the time.

  6. Choose the days you want the alarm to go off by selecting the corresponding day abbreviations.

    Setting a date, time, and interval for Android alarm.

  7. Give the alarm a name. This is optional, but handy if you have multiple alarms.

  8. If you require a snooze alarm, toggle the slider to the right. Select the description below to set the interval and repeat modes.

    You can also turn on Snooze here by selecting the slider next to On in the on position.

    Naming your alarm and setting Snooze settings.

  9. Once you have set the interval and repeat, select the back (<) button.

How to Set an Android Alarm With Bixby

Use Samsung Bixby to set up and use alarms on your Samsung phone using your voice.

  1. Press and hold the Bixby button.

  2. Tell Bixby what time you would like to set an alarm for. For example, say "Set an alarm for 7 a.m." Bixby will automatically add a new alarm to the Clock app.

  3. To turn off an alarm, press and hold the Bixby button. Tell Bixby which alarm you want to turn off, such as "Turn off the alarm for 7 a.m." or "Turn off the alarm for later."

    Setting an alarm with Bixby.

How to Set an Alarm With Google Assistant

With Google Assistant, setting the alarm has gotten a bit easier. If you have given it access to your smartphone, all you need to do is ask Google Assistant, and it will get the ball rolling.

  1. Say “Ok, Google” to wake up the assistant.

  2. Say, “Set an alarm.”

  3. Google assistant should ask when, or you can state, “Set an alarm for 7:00 a.m.”

    You will still need to go into the alarm settings to do the advanced settings, but the Google Assistant can get you started.

    Setting an alarm with Google Assistant.

How to Set an Alarm With Android 4.4 (Kitkat) to 5.1.1 (Lollipop)

Older versions of Android have a more straightforward interface for setting alarms. While most of the same concepts are there, it is just a bit different to set.

  1. Once you’re in the Clock app, select the time to set your desired alarm time.

  2. Below is where you’ll set time by moving the dial around as you select each number for your desired alarm.

  3. Once you’ve set the time, select OK to set.

  4. To set the days of the week that you want the alarm to go off, select the box Repeat.

  5. Select each day you want the alarm to sound.

  6. Select the Bell icon to set the alarm sound.

  7. Select the sound you want for your alarm and select the back button to continue.

  8. To give your alarm a name, select Label.

  9. Enter the desired name and select OK.

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