Four timing patterns in one timer
A plain timer counts one duration down to zero. That covers a five-minute presentation slot or a tea, and it is the default here.
The other three modes exist because most timing is repetitive. Pomodoro alternates a work block with a short break. Interval mode lets you set the work and rest lengths yourself. Round mode repeats the cycle a set number of times, up to a hundred.
Each phase is tracked separately, so the timer knows whether you are in a work block or a break, which round you are on, and how much of the current phase is left.
Start a timer in three steps
The mode decides which settings apply, so choose that first.
Pick a mode: simple, Pomodoro, intervals or rounds.
Set the work duration and, where the mode uses one, the break duration and the number of rounds.
Start the timer. Pause and resume as needed, and test the sound before you rely on it.
Durations, rounds and alerts
Everything here is about getting through a session without touching the screen again.
- Four modes: simple countdown, Pomodoro, custom intervals and repeating rounds
- Durations of up to 16 hours and 39 minutes in a single phase
- Separate work and break lengths, set to the second
- Up to 100 rounds in one session
- Auto-start, so the next phase begins without a prompt
- Sound on by default, with optional browser notifications
- A full-screen view and keyboard shortcuts for start, pause and reset
- Pause and resume that keep the phase and round position intact
Focus blocks, workouts and speaking slots
The mode you need follows from how the time is divided.
A student runs four Pomodoro rounds of 25 minutes with 5-minute breaks before a longer rest.
A trainer sets 40 seconds of work and 20 of rest across 12 rounds for a circuit class.
A meeting chair gives each of six speakers a five-minute countdown on a shared screen.
A teacher puts a ten-minute silent reading timer in full screen at the front of the class.
A cook sets a plain 12-minute timer and leaves the tab open with sound on.
A team runs a timeboxed retrospective, one round per discussion topic.
How rounds and pausing work
In Pomodoro and interval modes, a break separates work rounds. Rounds mode also permits a zero break. There is no extra break after the final work round. With auto-start on it moves into the next phase by itself; with it off the timer waits for you, which is the safer choice when the break needs to actually end before the room comes back.
Pausing freezes the current phase rather than the whole session, so resuming picks up mid-phase with the round count untouched. A reset returns the session to the start of the first phase.
Where the timer can let you down
Browsers throttle inactive tabs and restrict sound and notifications until permission is granted. Allow notifications, test the alert on the device you will use, and do not depend on a background tab for anything with consequences.
A single phase is capped at 16 hours and 39 minutes, so an all-day timer needs splitting into rounds.
The timer measures time. It does not choose who speaks next or record what happened in each round.
Getting a session to run itself
- Test the sound once before a session that matters, because a silent alert is the most common failure here.
- Leave auto-start off for meetings and on for workouts: a break that ends by itself works in a gym and fails in a room full of people.
- Use full screen and keyboard shortcuts when the timer is on a shared display and you are standing away from it.
- Use rounds mode with a zero break for back-to-back work blocks. Interval mode requires a positive rest duration.
Timer questions
How do I set up a 25/5 Pomodoro?
Choose Pomodoro mode, set the work duration to 25 minutes and the break to 5, then set the round count for how many cycles you want. Auto-start moves between the phases for you.
What is the longest duration I can set?
A single phase can run up to 16 hours and 39 minutes. For anything longer, split the time across rounds.
How many rounds can I run?
Up to 100 in one session. The counter tracks work rounds. A configured break separates rounds but does not follow the final work phase.
Will the alert work if I switch tabs?
Not reliably. Browsers throttle background tabs and can block sound or notifications until you grant permission, so test it on your device and keep a second alarm for anything critical.
Does pausing lose my place in the round?
No. A pause freezes the current phase and keeps the round count, so resuming continues from exactly where you stopped.
Can I run it without breaks?
Yes. Use simple mode for a single countdown, or rounds mode with a zero break for back-to-back work phases. Interval mode needs a rest of at least one second.
Can I control it from a distance?
Yes. Keyboard shortcuts handle start, pause and reset, and the full-screen view is readable from across a room, which suits a shared display.
Timer or countdown — which do I need?
Use the timer for a duration starting now, such as 25 minutes of focus. Use the countdown when you are counting toward a fixed date and time.