Online Timer
Time is up
How to use
- Type hours, minutes and seconds, or pick a preset such as 5 min or 10 min.
- Press Start. The remaining time is also shown in the browser tab title, so you can see it from another tab.
- When the timer reaches zero it plays an alarm sound and flashes the tab title until you come back. Press Reset to set a new time.
- Use Pause and Resume to stop the clock for a moment. Test sound plays the alarm once so you can set your volume before you start.
How it works
The timer does not count screen updates. When you press Start it reads the browser's high-resolution clock, performance.now(), and on every update it subtracts the time that has passed. This keeps it accurate when the tab is in the background and the browser slows down its timers.
Remaining time is rounded up to the next whole second, so the display shows 00:01 until the very last moment and reaches 00:00 exactly when the alarm sounds.
Minutes and seconds may be higher than 59. Entering 90 minutes is the same as 1 hour 30 minutes. The longest time is 99 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds.
Common timer lengths
| Preset | Typical use |
|---|---|
| 1 min | Quick breaks, plank holds, short breathing exercises |
| 5 min | Short tasks, tea steeping, a brief stretch |
| 10 min | Warm-ups, quick tidy-ups, short meetings |
| 15 min | Short study or reading sprints |
| 30 min | Focused work blocks, a nap limit, a presentation slot |
Tips for reliable alarms
- Press Test sound before the first run so the browser allows audio and you can set the volume.
- Keep the tab open. The title shows the remaining time, for example 04:32, so you can check it without switching.
- If you need a pattern of work and rest, use the Pomodoro Timer or the Interval Timer instead.
FAQ
Will the alarm sound if I switch to another tab?
The timer keeps running in the background and the alarm is played when it reaches zero. Browsers can slow down background timers, but the time is calculated from the clock, so it still ends at the right moment. To be safe, press Test sound once before you start so the browser allows audio on this page.
Why did I not hear the alarm?
Check that Sound is ticked, that your device is not muted, and that the volume is up. Some browsers only allow audio after you interact with the page, which is why Start and Test sound prepare it.
Does it work offline or after I close the page?
It works offline once the page has loaded, but closing or reloading the page stops the timer. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.
Can I run more than one timer at once?
Not on the same page. Open the tool in a second browser tab to run another timer.