How limits work

Clive counts active alarms and timers together. The limit is 5 at once, or 100 with Clive Pro. A repeating alarm counts as one, however often it repeats.

A one-off stops counting when its scheduled time passes. Canceling an alarm also stops it counting. If a subscription ends, existing alarms stay; the limit applies when adding another.

One spare each week

At the limit, you can use one spare for a one-off alarm or timer within the next 24 hours. It cannot repeat. This applies even if you already have more alarms than the current limit.

The spare returns seven days after you use it. You can have only one spare waiting to ring. Cancel it before its scheduled time and the spare returns immediately.

You can change its time within the original 24-hour window. To move it later or make it repeat, the alarm must fit within your current limit. A spare whose scheduled time has passed cannot be restarted.

If a request does not fit

Clive says the alarm was not set and gives the active count and limit. For an alarm within 24 hours, you can use the iPhone Clock app instead. Nothing rings for a refused request.

A saved request still needs confirmation from the phone. Your assistant says it is set only after the phone confirms it.

Use one repeating alarm for a regular schedule. When just the next few times differ, ask for one-off alarms for those times.