Quick answer
An online timer counts down from a length you choose and sounds an alarm at zero. In Playxoft's free online timer, tap a preset or type a time such as 12m, 1h 30m or 2:30, then press Start. It reads your device clock instead of counting ticks and queues the alarm on the audio clock the moment you start, so it stays accurate in background tabs on a computer and keeps running through reloads. Add more timers to run several at once.
- Multiple named timers
- Six alarm sounds
- Accurate in background tabs
- Type "1h 30m" to start
- Fullscreen focus mode
- Keep screen awake
- Shareable timer links
- Keyboard shortcuts
How to use the Online Timer
- 1Tap a preset such as 5 min, scroll or tap the digits, or type a time like
12m,1h 30mor2:30. - 2Optional: name the timer (for example "Pasta"), choose an alarm Sound, and turn on Repeat for a reminder that restarts itself.
- 3Press Start or the Space key. While it runs, use +1 min or the quick chips to add or remove time.
- 4Need more than one? Press Add timer and set it up. Every timer runs on its own.
- 5When time is up, press Dismiss, or Snooze 5 min to keep going.
How does this timer stay accurate in a background tab?
Most web timers count down with setInterval, adding up one-second ticks. Browsers deliberately slow those ticks in tabs you are not looking at to save battery. Chrome, for example, runs timers in a hidden tab at most once per second, and after a few minutes can bunch them up to once per minute. A timer that counts ticks then drifts, or rings late.
This one is built differently:
- It stores the finish time, not a count. Pressing Start records the exact moment the timer ends, and every redraw works out what is left from your device clock. A throttled tab cannot make it drift; the moment you look again, the number is exact.
- The alarm is queued on the audio clock at Start. With the Web Audio API the alarm sound is scheduled for the finish time as soon as you start. Desktop browsers do not throttle audio playback the way they throttle JavaScript timers, so on a computer the alarm sounds on time while you work in another tab, and keeps ringing until you dismiss it. On phones, the browser may suspend the page in the background or when the screen locks.
- It survives reloads. Running timers are saved in your browser's local storage, so a refresh or an accidental close does not lose them. After a reload, tap anywhere once so the browser allows sound again.
What no web page can promise: an alarm while the browser is fully closed, or while a phone is locked and the browser has been suspended. On a phone, keep this page open and turn on Keep screen awake.
How do I run multiple timers at once?
Press Add timer (or the N key). Each timer has its own name, length, sound and repeat setting, and all of them count down independently. The selected timer fills the big dial; the rest stay in Your timers with a live countdown and their own start and pause buttons. You can run up to 12 at once.
A weeknight dinner might look like this:
| Timer | Length | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| Rice | 18 min | Chime |
| Salmon | 12 min | Bell |
| Broccoli | 5 min | Marimba |
| Rest the meat | 10 min | Digital |
Give each timer a different sound and you will know which one finished without looking. The browser tab title always shows the timer that ends next, and a finished timer turns red in the list until you dismiss it.
Which timer length do I need?
Every popular length has its own page with the timer already set, so you can bookmark the one you use most:
| Length | Popular uses |
|---|---|
| 1 minute | Plank holds, one-minute speeches, quick games |
| 2 minutes | Brushing your teeth, the two-minute rule |
| 3 minutes | Steeping tea, cup noodles, boxing rounds |
| 5 minutes | Short breaks, quick tidy-ups, Ignite talks |
| 10 minutes | Meditation, warm-ups, hard-boiled eggs |
| 15 minutes | Stand-up meetings, long Pomodoro breaks |
| 20 minutes | Power naps, the 20-20-20 eye rule |
| 25 minutes | A classic Pomodoro focus session |
| 30 minutes | Workouts, study blocks, baking |
| 1 hour | Exams, deep work, bread rising |
All lengths: 10 seconds · 15 seconds · 30 seconds · 1 minute · 2 minutes · 3 minutes · 4 minutes · 5 minutes · 6 minutes · 7 minutes · 8 minutes · 10 minutes · 12 minutes · 15 minutes · 20 minutes · 25 minutes · 30 minutes · 40 minutes · 45 minutes · 50 minutes · 1 hour · 90 minutes · 2 hours · 3 hours.
Keyboard shortcuts, focus mode and sharing
| Key | What it does |
|---|---|
| Space | Start or pause the selected timer |
| Shift + R | Reset to the full time |
| ↑ / ↓ | Add or remove a minute (with focus in the timer) |
| N | Add a new timer |
| F | Focus mode (fullscreen) |
| M | Mute or unmute |
| Enter | Dismiss a ringing alarm |
Focus mode fills the screen with digits you can read from across a room, which makes it handy for classrooms, presentations, kitchens and gyms. Press Escape to leave. The link button copies an address such as /tools/timer?t=10m&label=Tea that opens with the same length and name, ready to start.
Timer, stopwatch, interval timer or Pomodoro: which should I use?
| Tool | Counts | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Online timer (this page) | Down from a set time | Cooking, tests, parking, reminders |
| Stopwatch | Up from zero, with laps | Running laps, timing tasks, races |
| Interval timer | Repeating work and rest phases | HIIT, Tabata, circuits, boxing rounds |
| Pomodoro timer | Focus sessions and breaks | Studying, writing, deep work |
Need a reminder at the same time every day rather than after a delay? That is a schedule, not a timer: a cron expression or your phone's alarm clock is the right tool.
Frequently asked questions
Last updated by the Playxoft engineering team.