How to use the Online Timer
- Type a time into the Hours, Minutes and Seconds boxes, or press one of the preset buttons. Preset buttons start the timer as soon as you press them.
- Press Start to begin the countdown. The time left also appears in the browser tab title.
- Press Pause to stop partway through, or Reset to go back to the time you set.
- When time runs out, the alarm repeats until you press Stop alarm.
When an online timer comes in handy
| Situation | Suggested time |
|---|---|
| Instant noodles, steeping a cup of tea | 3–4 minutes |
| Soft-boiled eggs | 6–7 minutes in boiling water |
| Classroom activities and student presentations | 5–10 minutes, shown full screen |
| Keeping meeting agenda items on time | 10–15 minutes |
| Power naps and stretch breaks | 15–30 minutes |
If you're showing the timer on a classroom or meeting room screen, press Full screen so the numbers fill the display and can be read from the back of the room. On a phone, turn it sideways to make the numbers even bigger.
Does the timer stay accurate while I'm on another tab?
To save battery, browsers slow down tabs you aren't looking at. A simple timer that takes away one second every second can fall behind real time because of this.
This timer remembers the exact time it should finish when you start it. Each time the display updates, it checks the current time against that end time to work out how much is left. So the countdown is still correct when you come back from another tab. The time left is also shown in the tab title, so you won't miss the moment it ends.
What to check if you can't hear the alarm
- If your phone is on silent or the media volume is turned all the way down, you won't hear the alarm. The timer also signals the end by flashing the screen and changing the tab title.
- If your phone's screen turns off, the browser may pause and the alarm can sound late. For anything important, keep the screen on or set your device's built-in alarm too.
- To switch between focus time and breaks, the Pomodoro timer works better. To measure how long something takes, use the stopwatch.
Common timer lengths for everyday tasks
| Task | Time | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Instant noodles and microwave meals | 3–5 minutes | For the best results, use the cooking time printed on the package. |
| Brushing teeth | 2 minutes | Dentists usually recommend brushing for two minutes. A visible countdown helps kids learn how long that really is. |
| Studying or focused work | 25 / 50 minutes | If you repeat 25 minutes of focus and a 5-minute break, the Pomodoro timer is easier. |
| Workout sets and rest | 30 seconds–2 minutes | Use the preset buttons for short, repeated times, such as a 1-minute plank. |
| Meetings and presentation practice | 5–15 minutes | In full screen, both the speaker and the audience can see how much time is left. |
If you need to measure elapsed time, such as a running time or lap times, use the stopwatch rather than a countdown timer.