# Set alarm button always greyed out

**URL:** <https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/set-alarm-button-always-greyed-out/50711>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [19 August 2026 16:29 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/set-alarm-button-always-greyed-out/50711 "2026-08-19T16:29:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![JoplinUser1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/779978/32.png) [@JoplinUser1](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/JoplinUser1)\
**Post date:** [19 August 2026 16:29 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/set-alarm-button-always-greyed-out/50711/1 "2026-08-19T16:29:56Z")

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### Operating system

macOS

### Joplin version

3.6.15

### Desktop version info

Joplin 3.6.16 (prod, darwin)

### Editor

Markdown Editor

### What issue do you have?

In my to-do list notes, the "Set alarm" button is always greyed out. I'm not sure how to activate it. I do have encryption turned on, and I suppose that might be the issue, but I could not find any documentation or settings related to the alarm (in relation to encryption). I have not yet set up any sync targets as I'm migrating back to Joplin after years away. I tried to create a bug report on Github but it said that it was closed to new reports.

Thank you for any help in advance! If it is indeed a feature that gets killed by encryption, that's fine. I'd like to have an encrypted alarm setup, but I'd prefer encryption over alarms.

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**Author:** ![dpoulton](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/dpoulton/32/29723_2.png) [@dpoulton](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/dpoulton)\
**Post date:** [19 August 2026 22:36 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/set-alarm-button-always-greyed-out/50711/2 "2026-08-19T22:36:42Z")

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@JoplinUser1 welcome to the forum

I believe that the note type has to be a "To-do" for the set alarm button to become active.

Right click on a note you want an alarm for in the note list and select "Switch between note and to-do type"

You should see the to-do checkbox appear next to the title in the note list and the set alarm button should become active.

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/uploads/cozic/original/3X/3/9/396ee0c85c389abb15b421f4afaf8ddb3b6a2121.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JoplinUser1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/779978/32.png) [@JoplinUser1](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/JoplinUser1)\
**Post date:** [19 August 2026 23:52 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/set-alarm-button-always-greyed-out/50711/3 "2026-08-19T23:52:04Z")

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Wow! That was simple. 🤦 Thank you so much!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/uploads/cozic/original/3X/1/c/1c948e33314e232a0927789508474d8624f4270b.png) [@system](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [18 September 2026 23:52 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/set-alarm-button-always-greyed-out/50711/4 "2026-09-18T23:52:50Z")

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