Questions and answers
OnTimer FAQ
Answers to common questions about OnTimer, calendar alarms, and meeting reminders.
What is a calendar alarm app?
A calendar alarm app connects to your existing calendar and fires persistent, interruptive alarms before each event — not passive notifications that disappear on their own. Unlike standard calendar reminders from Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or Outlook Calendar, these alarms stay on your screen until you actively dismiss them. OnTimer is a calendar alarm app for iPhone.
How do I turn Google Calendar events into alarms on iPhone?
Google Calendar doesn't natively support alarms — it sends notifications that disappear automatically. OnTimer connects to Google Calendar and turns every event into a persistent alarm on iPhone. Download OnTimer, connect your Google account, and every calendar event gets an alarm automatically — no per-event setup required.
How do I turn Outlook calendar events into alarms on iPhone?
Microsoft Outlook Calendar's built-in reminders are notifications, not alarms. OnTimer connects to Outlook Calendar and fires persistent alarms for every scheduled event — they don't disappear until you dismiss them. Multiple Outlook accounts are supported.
What is the difference between a calendar notification and a calendar alarm?
A notification informs you — it appears briefly and disappears whether or not you act on it. An alarm interrupts you — it stays on screen and requires a response before it stops. Google Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, and Outlook Calendar send notifications. OnTimer turns those calendar events into alarms.
What is the Last 5 Minutes Problem?
The Last 5 Minutes Problem is the gap between knowing about a meeting and actually acting in time. You had the reminder set. You saw it. You planned to act in a moment. The notification disappeared, and the window closed before you did anything. Persistent alarms close this gap by staying on screen until you respond.
What does 'persistent alarm' mean?
A persistent alarm stays on your screen and continues alerting until you actively dismiss or snooze it — unlike a standard notification, which disappears after a few seconds whether or not you acted. OnTimer fires persistent alarms for every calendar event, requiring explicit acknowledgment before they stop.
Is OnTimer free?
Yes. OnTimer is free to download. Some advanced features, including Time To Leave alerts, are paid features.
What does OnTimer do?
OnTimer connects to your calendar and creates loud, persistent alarms before meetings and events so they are harder to miss.
How is OnTimer different from my calendar app's built-in reminders?
Most calendar apps send standard notifications. OnTimer is built to create a stronger, more persistent alert before it is time to join or leave.
Does OnTimer work with Google Calendar?
Yes. OnTimer works with Google Calendar.
Does OnTimer work with Microsoft Outlook Calendar?
Yes. OnTimer works with Microsoft Outlook Calendar.
Does OnTimer support multiple calendars?
Yes. You can use OnTimer with multiple calendars and accounts.
Can OnTimer remind me when it is time to leave?
Yes. For events with a location, Time To Leave can alert you when it is time to leave based on travel time and traffic. Time To Leave is a paid feature.
Who is OnTimer best for?
OnTimer is especially useful for busy professionals, people with back-to-back meetings, people who miss standard notifications, and people who struggle with time blindness or chronic lateness.
Why do I still miss meetings even when I remember them?
Knowing about a meeting and leaving on time are two separate steps. The gap between a reminder and the moment you need to stop working and leave is where lateness happens. Calendar notifications inform you — they don't interrupt you. The fix is an alarm timed to when you need to leave, not when the meeting starts. See why this gap exists and how to close it.
Why don't calendar notifications work reliably?
Most calendar notifications are passive — they appear, you tap away, and they disappear. There's no persistence, no escalation, and no interruption of what you're focused on. Do Not Disturb, Focus modes, and notification volume settings can all silently block them on top of that. Full breakdown: why calendar reminders fail.
How is OnTimer different from setting alarms manually?
Manual alarms require you to remember to set them, update them when meetings change, and delete them when events get cancelled. OnTimer reads your calendar and creates, updates, and removes alarms automatically. When a meeting is rescheduled, your alarm moves too — with no action from you.
Does OnTimer upload my calendar data anywhere?
No. OnTimer is completely on-device. It reads your calendar locally and never sends your data to any server. Your schedule stays private on your iPhone.
Is there an Android version?
Not yet, but it is coming. Join the Android waitlist to be notified as soon as it is available.
When should I leave for the airport?
It depends on your flight type, security setup, bags, and how you are getting there. Domestic flights typically require arriving 2 hours early; international 3 hours. Add your drive time and any parking buffer on top of that. Use the Airport Time-to-Leave Calculator to estimate your exact departure time.
Ready to stop missing meetings?
Download OnTimer free and get more reliable alerts from your calendar.