Frequently
Asked Questions

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What is Chime?

Chime is a macOS menubar app that helps you never miss another meeting. It sits quietly in your menubar, syncs with your calendars, and shows beautiful full-screen alerts when your meetings are about to start - so you're always on time.

How is Chime different from Calendar.app notifications?

Chime provides impossible-to-miss alerts with:

  • Full-screen takeover alerts (like FaceTime calls)
  • Pulsating red borders for urgency
  • Visual cues for better focus
  • Smart alert timing (earlier alerts for video meetings)
  • One-click join buttons for video calls
  • Snooze functionality with limits to prevent chronic snoozing

Regular calendar notifications are small banners that are easy to dismiss or ignore. Chime makes sure you actually see and acknowledge your meetings.

What platforms does Chime support?

Chime is exclusively for macOS. It requires macOS 14.0 (Sonoma) or later.

How do I get started with Chime?
  1. Download and install Chime
  2. Grant Calendar access when prompted
  3. Chime automatically syncs with your existing calendars (Google, Outlook, iCloud, etc.)
  4. That's it! Chime will now alert you before meetings
Does Chime work with Google Calendar?

Yes! Chime works with any calendar added to macOS Calendar.app, including:

  • Google Calendar
  • Microsoft Outlook/Office 365
  • iCloud Calendar
  • Exchange
  • CalDAV calendars

Simply add your calendar account in System Settings > Internet Accounts, and Chime will automatically sync.

Why can't Chime see my calendars?

This usually means:

  1. Calendar permission not granted - Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Calendar and enable Chime
  2. No calendars added to Calendar.app - Add your accounts in System Settings > Internet Accounts
  3. Admin approval needed - For corporate/managed calendars, you may need IT admin approval. Check the menubar dropdown for a direct link to instructions.
How do meeting alerts work?

Chime shows full-screen alerts before your meetings start:

  • Video meetings: Alert 3 minutes before (gives you time to join)
  • Regular meetings: Alert 1 minute before
  • Reminders: Alert at the exact due time

You can customize alert timing for individual meetings in the settings popover.

Can I snooze alerts?

Yes! You can snooze alerts for 2 minutes. However, Chime limits you to 3 snoozes per meeting to prevent chronic procrastination and ensure you actually join your meetings.

What happens after I use all 3 snoozes?

After 3 snoozes (2 minutes each), the alert will automatically dismiss and mark you as having joined the meeting. This prevents endless snoozing and ensures you don't completely miss your commitment. You can still access the meeting link from the menu bar.

Can I customize alert sounds?

Yes! Chime includes 5 built-in alert sounds:

  • Bells - Gentle chimes (default)
  • Marimba - Warm, melodic tones
  • Flute - Soft, calming notes
  • Doorbell - Classic notification sound
  • Button - Quick, attention-grabbing click

Change your alert sound in Settings > Sound & Alerts.

Can I use my own custom sounds?

Not currently, but this feature is on our roadmap! For now, you can choose from our curated selection of 5 professional alert sounds.

What video platforms does Chime support?

Chime automatically detects and extracts video links from over 30 platforms, including:

  • Zoom
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Google Meet
  • Webex
  • GoToMeeting
  • Discord
  • Slack Huddles
  • BlueJeans
  • And many more!

Just click the green "Join" button in the alert to open the meeting.

Can I disable alerts for specific meetings?

Yes! Click any meeting in the menubar dropdown to open settings, then toggle alerts off. This is useful for:

  • Optional meetings you might skip
  • All-day events
  • Meetings you don't want to be bothered about
Does Chime integrate with Todoist?

Yes! Connect your Todoist account to sync tasks directly into Chime:

  • Connect via API token: Secure connection in Settings > Integrations
  • Tasks with due dates: Only tasks with due dates/times appear in Chime
  • Full-screen alerts: Get the same impossible-to-miss alerts for Todoist tasks
  • Mark complete from Chime: Complete tasks right from alerts - syncs back to Todoist instantly
  • Custom icons: Todoist tasks display with distinctive icons in your meeting list

Perfect for keeping your tasks and meetings in one place!

Can I create reminders directly in Chime?

Yes! In addition to syncing with your calendar meetings, you can create standalone reminders:

  1. Click the + button in the menu bar
  2. Choose "Add Reminder"
  3. Set a title, date/time, and optional notes
  4. Choose whether it repeats (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, or custom)

Reminders appear alongside your meetings in the menu bar and trigger the same full-screen alerts.

Does Chime sync with Apple Reminders?

Yes! Chime integrates with Apple Reminders app for seamless task management:

  • Two-way sync: Reminders from Apple Reminders app appear in Chime automatically
  • Full-screen alerts: Get alerts for reminders just like meetings
  • Open directly: Click any reminder in the menu bar to open it in Apple Reminders app
  • Mark complete from Chime: Complete reminders right from Chime alerts - syncs back to Apple Reminders
  • Preview upcoming: See your upcoming reminders in Settings > Reminders

Grant Reminders permission during onboarding or in System Settings > Privacy & Security.

Can I create meetings in Chime?

Yes! You can create meetings that automatically sync to your calendar:

  1. Click the + button in the menu bar
  2. Choose "Add Meeting"
  3. Select which calendar to add it to
  4. Set duration, add meeting link, location, and notes
  5. Meetings sync immediately to your selected calendar
Can I save and reuse meeting links?

Yes! The Meeting Link Manager lets you save frequently used meeting links for quick reuse:

  • Save with labels: Store your Zoom, Meet, Teams personal room links with custom names
  • Set default link: Choose a default link that auto-fills when creating new meetings
  • Quick picker: Select from your saved links with a visual interface when adding meetings
  • Easy management: View, edit, or delete saved links in Settings > Meetings
  • Clear all option: Quickly remove all saved links if needed

Perfect for recurring meetings or your personal meeting room - no more hunting for your link!

What's the difference between reminders and meetings?

Meetings sync with your calendars (Google, Outlook, iCloud) and appear in Calendar.app. Reminders can be created in Chime (standalone) OR synced from Apple Reminders app. Standalone reminders are perfect for quick personal alerts like "Take medication" or "Start dinner."

How much does Chime cost?

Chime offers flexible pricing to suit your needs:

  • 14-day free trial - Full access to all features
  • One-time purchase: $49.99 - Lifetime access, pay once
  • Monthly subscription: $4.99/month - Cancel anytime
  • Annual subscription: $29.99/year - Best value, save 50%

All options include the same features. Choose the payment model that works best for you.

What happens after the trial ends?

After your 14-day trial, you'll need to purchase Chime to continue using it. Your settings and preferences will be preserved when you activate your license. You can choose between a one-time purchase or subscription at that time.

Is there a refund policy?

Yes! All purchases come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If Chime isn't right for you, just email support for a full refund.

Does Chime collect my meeting data?

No! Chime stores all meeting data locally on your Mac. Your calendar information never leaves your device. We don't have access to:

  • Meeting titles
  • Attendees
  • Video links
  • Notes
  • Any calendar data
What permissions does Chime need?

Chime requires three macOS permissions to function:

  • Calendar access - To read your meetings and events
  • Reminders access - To sync standalone reminders you create
  • Notifications - To display full-screen alerts

All data stays completely local on your Mac. Chime never uploads your calendar data to any server.

Optional: Todoist integration requires internet access to sync tasks with your Todoist account. This is only used if you choose to connect Todoist.

Does Chime work offline?

Yes! Once your meetings are synced, Chime works completely offline. Alerts will fire even without an internet connection.

What does the menu bar icon show?

The Chime menu bar displays:

  • Next upcoming event with countdown timer
  • Quick stats - Meetings attended, on-time percentage, current streak
  • Today's schedule - All meetings and reminders at a glance
  • Quick actions - Add meeting/reminder, refresh calendars, open settings

Click the Chime icon anytime to view your full schedule.

How do I make Chime start automatically when I log in?

Chime can launch automatically at login:

  1. Open Chime Settings (⚙️ icon in menu bar)
  2. Go to the General tab
  3. Enable "Launch at Login"

Chime will now start silently in the background every time you log in to your Mac.

What are the system requirements?

Chime requires:

  • macOS 14.0 (Sonoma) or later
  • ~13 MB disk space
  • Calendar/Reminders permissions (granted during setup)
  • No internet required after initial calendar sync
Why won't Chime show my calendar events?

If your calendars aren't appearing, check:

  • System Settings > Privacy & Security > Calendars - Ensure Chime is enabled
  • Chime Settings > Calendars - Make sure your calendars are toggled on
  • Click Refresh in the menu bar to force a sync
  • Restart Chime if changes don't appear
Why didn't I get an alert?

Common reasons:

  • Alerts disabled for that meeting: Check the meeting's settings
  • Chime wasn't running: Chime must be open to show alerts (it runs in the background)
  • Meeting already started: Chime only alerts before meetings, not after they've begun
  • Do Not Disturb: May suppress alerts on some systems

Still have questions?

Can't find the answer you're looking for? Our support team is here to help.