How this timer stays accurate
Many simple web timers count down by subtracting one second every time the page “ticks”. That breaks as soon as you switch tabs, because browsers slow down background pages to save battery, and the timer falls behind.
This timer works differently. When you press Start it notes the exact moment the countdown should end, according to your device’s clock, and keeps comparing:
The display, the tab title and the alarm all come from that one sum, so the countdown is right whether the tab is in front, behind other tabs or minimised. Pausing saves the time left; resuming sets a new end time. The display rounds up to the next whole second, which is why a 5-minute timer starts at 05:00 and reaches 00:00 exactly when time is up.
Presets and what they are good for
One click starts a preset straight away. For anything else, type hours, minutes and seconds into Custom time and press Enter.
| Preset | Handy for |
|---|---|
| 1 min | A plank, a quick stretch, a speaking drill |
| 3 min | Steeping black tea, a short warm-up |
| 5 min | A Pomodoro short break, a classroom activity |
| 10 min | A quiz, a short meditation |
| 15 min | Reading time, a long Pomodoro break |
| 25 min | One Pomodoro focus session |
| 30 min | A workout or a study block |
| 60 min | A practice exam paper |
Using it as a Pomodoro timer
The Pomodoro technique splits work into focused blocks with short breaks:
- Pick one task and press 25 min.
- Work until the alarm rings, then press 5 min for a break.
- After four focus sessions, take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.
The tab title shows the time left, so you can keep the timer in a background tab while you work in another.
The alarm
The alarm sounds are made by your browser’s audio engine, so nothing is downloaded. Choose Classic beep, Soft chime or Bell, set the volume and press Test sound before you rely on it. When time is up the alarm rings for up to a minute, the timer panel lights up and phones that support it also vibrate. Press Stop alarm to silence it.
If you hear nothing, check these in order:
- Your device volume, and the silent switch on an iPhone.
- Whether the browser tab is muted (right-click the tab on a computer).
- Whether sound is going to Bluetooth headphones that are switched off.
Stopwatch and lap times
Switch to Stopwatch to time something that counts up, like a run or a presentation rehearsal. Press Lap to record a split without stopping. Each row shows:
- Lap time: how long that lap took.
- Total: the stopwatch reading when you pressed Lap.
With two or more laps, the fastest and slowest are labelled, which is useful for interval training or checking how evenly you paced a speech. Copy lap times puts the whole table on your clipboard, ready to paste into a spreadsheet.
Keyboard shortcuts
Click the timer display (or any of its buttons) first, then:
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Space | Start or pause |
| R | Reset |
| F | Full screen on or off |
| L | Record a lap (stopwatch) |
Tips
- Classrooms and meetings: press Full screen so everyone can read the digits from across the room.
- Phones: where the browser supports it, the screen stays on while a timer or stopwatch is running.
- Long waits: for countdowns measured in days, such as days until an exam or a holiday, use the date calculator. To add up several timed sessions, use the timesheet in the time calculator.
Your settings for sound and volume are saved in this browser only. Nothing is sent to a server.