How to use the online timer
Pick a preset like 5 min to start right away, or type your own hours, minutes and seconds and press Start. You can pause and resume at any time. When the time is up, an alarm beeps and the browser tab shows "Time's up!", so you'll notice even while working in another tab.
The timer works from your device's clock rather than counting ticks, so it stays accurate even if the tab is in the background. Make sure your volume is on to hear the alarm.
Popular ways to use a timer
- Pomodoro technique: work for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break, and repeat. After four rounds, take a longer 15–30 minute break.
- Cooking: eggs, pasta, tea, or anything you might forget on the stove.
- Classrooms: timed tests, group activities and presentations.
- Workouts: rest periods, planks and stretching.
- Meetings and speeches: keep talks on schedule.
Need to time something without a set end? Use the Stopwatch. Counting down to a day rather than minutes? Try Countdown to a Date.
Frequently asked questions
Will the timer keep running if I switch tabs?
Yes. It keeps exact time in the background. Keep the tab open, though: closing it stops the timer.
Why can't I hear the alarm?
Check that your device isn't muted and the volume is up. Some phones silence web pages when the screen locks, so keep the screen on for important timers.
Can I share a timer link?
Yes. Add ?minutes= to the address, like online-timer.html?minutes=10, and the timer opens set to that time.