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Countdown Timer

Set a timer for minutes or hours with an alarm sound.

When to use it

Use this countdown timer for anything with a fixed length: cooking, exams and quizzes in class, presentations, meetings, workouts, short breaks and focused work sprints. It is quick to set, shows the time in large numbers, and plays a sound when time is up.

How to use it

  1. Set the Hours, Minutes and Seconds, or tap a preset: 1 min, 3 min, 5 min, 10 min, 15 min, 30 min or 1 hour.
  2. Add a Timer label, such as Pasta, so you know what it is for.
  3. Choose a Sound: Classic beep, Chime, Digital or Gentle rise. Press Test to hear it.
  4. Press Start. The same button changes to Pause, then Resume.
  5. Use +1 min to add time, and Full screen for a big display.
  6. When Time’s up! appears, press Stop.

Worked example

A teacher gives the class 15 minutes for a quiz. Tap 15 min, label it “Quiz”, and press Full screen so the whole room can see the time on the projector. With five minutes left, a student asks for extra time, so the teacher presses +1 min twice. When time runs out, the chime plays and Time’s up! fills the screen.

At home, the same timer works for 8-minute pasta: type 8 in Minutes, label it “Pasta” and start it before you go back to another tab. The tab title shows the time left at a glance.

Timers for focus

A visible countdown helps you start a task you have been putting off. Set 10 minutes and promise yourself you only have to work until it ends. Often you keep going, and if not, you have still made a start.

Tips

  • Test the sound before you rely on it. Check the volume and that your device is not muted.
  • Keep the page open. Closing the tab stops the timer.
  • Use labels for several timers. Open the page in two tabs for two dishes, and give each a label.
  • Plug in for long timers. Full screen and an always-on display use battery.

Common mistakes

  • Leaving the device muted. The timer will finish silently.
  • Letting a phone lock. Some phones pause web pages in the background.
  • Typing 90 seconds as 1:30 in the wrong box. Put 1 in minutes and 30 in seconds.

For repeated work and break cycles, the Pomodoro Timer does the switching for you.

Frequently asked questions

Will the timer keep running in another tab?

Yes. It keeps counting while the page is open, and the browser tab title shows the time left so you can check it from another tab. Phones may pause the page when the screen locks, so keep the screen on for important timers.

Why do I need to press Test or Start first for sound?

Browsers only allow a page to play sound after you have interacted with it. Pressing Start or Test unlocks the sound.

Can I add time while it is running?

Yes. Press +1 min to add a minute without stopping the timer. It is handy when the pasta needs a little longer.

What does Full screen do?

It shows the countdown in very large numbers that fill the screen, ideal for a classroom, a meeting or a workout across the room.

What happens when time is up?

The sound plays, Time's up! appears with your label, and the tab title changes so you notice it. Press Stop to silence it.

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