diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 561bcee..8627aef 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -99,6 +99,21 @@ mutation {
 }
 ```
 
+**Start the alarm immediately:**
+```graphql
+mutation {
+  startWecker
+}
+```
+Returns `true` if the alarm started, `false` if it was already ringing (ignored).
+
+**Stop the alarm immediately:**
+```graphql
+mutation {
+  stopWecker
+}
+```
+Returns `true` if the alarm was stopped, `false` if it wasn't ringing.
 
 ### Example response for `isRinging`:
 ```json
diff --git a/api/schema.py b/api/schema.py
index 5545012..a7abd68 100644
--- a/api/schema.py
+++ b/api/schema.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ import strawberry
 from typing import List, Optional
 import os
 import sys
+import subprocess
+import signal
 from pathlib import Path
 from api.crontab_manager import CrontabManager
 from common import PID_FILE
@@ -95,5 +97,36 @@ class Mutation:
             return True
         return False
 
+    @strawberry.field
+    def start_wecker(self) -> bool:
+        """Start the wecker alarm if it is not already ringing.
+        Returns True if started, False if already ringing."""
+        if is_wecker_ringing():
+            return False
+        project_root = Path(__file__).parent.parent.absolute()
+        python_exec = sys.executable
+        cmd = f"cd {project_root} && {python_exec} wecker.py >> wecker.log 2>&1"
+        subprocess.Popen(cmd, shell=True)
+        return True
+
+    @strawberry.field
+    def stop_wecker(self) -> bool:
+        """Stop the wecker alarm if it is currently ringing.
+        Returns True if stopped, False if not ringing."""
+        if not is_wecker_ringing():
+            return False
+        try:
+            with open(PID_FILE) as f:
+                pid = int(f.read().strip())
+            os.kill(pid, signal.SIGTERM)
+            if os.path.exists(PID_FILE):
+                os.remove(PID_FILE)
+            return True
+        except (ValueError, ProcessLookupError, PermissionError, OSError):
+            # PID file is stale or process already dead
+            if os.path.exists(PID_FILE):
+                os.remove(PID_FILE)
+            return False
+
 
 schema = strawberry.Schema(query=Query, mutation=Mutation)
diff --git a/tests/test_api.py b/tests/test_api.py
index 9050382..4940d81 100644
--- a/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/tests/test_api.py
@@ -203,6 +203,107 @@ def test_graphql_workflow():
     assert res.json()["data"]["getAlarms"] == []
 
 
+def test_start_wecker_starts_process_when_not_ringing():
+    """startWecker returns True and spawns wecker.py when not already ringing."""
+    from api.schema import Mutation
+
+    mutation = Mutation()
+
+    with patch("api.schema.is_wecker_ringing", return_value=False), \
+         patch("subprocess.Popen") as mock_popen:
+        mock_proc = mock_popen.return_value
+        mock_proc.pid = 9999
+        result = mutation.start_wecker()
+        assert result is True
+        mock_popen.assert_called_once()
+        # Verify the command contains wecker.py
+        args, kwargs = mock_popen.call_args
+        assert "wecker.py" in args[0]
+        assert kwargs.get("shell") is True
+
+
+def test_start_wecker_ignores_when_already_ringing():
+    """startWecker returns False when wecker is already ringing."""
+    from api.schema import Mutation
+
+    mutation = Mutation()
+
+    with patch("api.schema.is_wecker_ringing", return_value=True), \
+         patch("api.schema.subprocess.Popen") as mock_popen:
+        result = mutation.start_wecker()
+        assert result is False
+        mock_popen.assert_not_called()
+
+
+def test_stop_wecker_kills_process_when_ringing():
+    """stopWecker returns True and kills the process wecker is ringing."""
+    from api.schema import Mutation
+
+    mutation = Mutation()
+
+    with patch("api.schema.is_wecker_ringing", return_value=True), \
+         patch("api.schema.os.kill") as mock_kill, \
+         patch("common.PID_FILE", "/tmp/fake_wecker.pid"), \
+         patch("builtins.open") as mock_open:
+        mock_f = mock_open.return_value.__enter__.return_value
+        mock_f.read.return_value = "1234"
+        mock_kill.return_value = None
+        result = mutation.stop_wecker()
+        assert result is True
+        mock_kill.assert_called_with(1234, 15)
+
+
+def test_stop_wecker_does_nothing_when_not_ringing():
+    """stopWecker returns False when wecker is not ringing."""
+    from api.schema import Mutation
+
+    mutation = Mutation()
+
+    with patch("api.schema.is_wecker_ringing", return_value=False), \
+         patch("api.schema.os.kill") as mock_kill:
+        result = mutation.stop_wecker()
+        assert result is False
+        mock_kill.assert_not_called()
+
+
+def test_start_wecker_graphql_endpoint():
+    """GraphQL mutation startWecker works via the API."""
+    headers = {"X-API-Key": "test-secret"}
+    mutation_str = """
+    mutation {
+      startWecker
+    }
+    """
+
+    with patch("api.schema.is_wecker_ringing", return_value=False), \
+         patch("subprocess.Popen") as mock_popen:
+        mock_proc = mock_popen.return_value
+        mock_proc.pid = 9999
+        res = client.post("/graphql", json={"query": mutation_str}, headers=headers)
+        assert res.status_code == 200
+        assert res.json()["data"]["startWecker"] is True
+
+
+def test_stop_wecker_graphql_endpoint():
+    """GraphQL mutation stopWecker works via the API."""
+    headers = {"X-API-Key": "test-secret"}
+    mutation_str = """
+    mutation {
+      stopWecker
+    }
+    """
+
+    with patch("api.schema.is_wecker_ringing", return_value=True), \
+         patch("api.schema.os.kill") as mock_kill, \
+         patch("builtins.open") as mock_open:
+        mock_f = mock_open.return_value.__enter__.return_value
+        mock_f.read.return_value = "1234"
+        mock_kill.return_value = None
+        res = client.post("/graphql", json={"query": mutation_str}, headers=headers)
+        assert res.status_code == 200
+        assert res.json()["data"]["stopWecker"] is True
+
+
 def test_pid_file_same_shared_constant_in_api():
     """Ensure api.schema uses the same PID_FILE from common, not a redefinition."""
     from api import schema as api_schema