Online timer
Set a time, press start and get on with something else. The countdown keeps running in a background tab and the alarm tells you when it is done.
Guide
How to use it
- Type hours, minutes and seconds, or tap a preset from 1 minute to 1 hour.
- Press Start. The remaining time appears in the tab title, so you can switch tabs and still see it.
- Use Full screen if the timer is across the room.
- Pause and resume whenever you need. Reset returns to the time you set.
- When time is up you get three beeps and the tab title changes. Sound can be muted with one tap.
Examples
Worked examples
Revision blocks. Twenty minutes on, five off keeps a study session honest, pair it with the 5 minute preset for the breaks.
Pasta. Most dried pasta wants 10 to 13 minutes, set it when the water boils, not when the packet goes in the cupboard.
Laundry-to-line time. Set 45 minutes when the machine beeps at you and the load will not sit there until bedtime.
Method
How it works
The timer stores the exact clock time it should finish, then checks the difference several times a second. That means it stays accurate even when the browser slows background tabs down: waking the tab recalculates from the real clock rather than counting missed ticks.
The alarm is generated on the spot with your browser’s audio engine, no sound file is downloaded. Everything runs on your device and the page works offline once loaded.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Will the timer keep running if I switch tabs?
Yes. The end time is fixed when you press start, so background throttling cannot make it late. The time left also shows in the tab title while it runs.
Will it still work if my computer goes to sleep?
The timer recalculates from the clock when the machine wakes, so the remaining time will be correct. The alarm cannot sound while the computer is asleep though.
Why did no sound play?
Check the mute button under the timer and your system volume. Browsers also require an interaction with the page before audio can play, pressing start counts, so this rarely bites.
Can I run more than one timer?
Open the page in another tab, each runs independently and each shows its own countdown in its tab title.
How accurate is it?
To within a fraction of a second. It reads your device clock rather than counting ticks, so it does not drift on long countdowns.
Is there a limit to how long it can run?
Up to 24 hours. For anything longer a calendar reminder is the better tool.
Does it send notifications?
No. It uses sound and the tab title only, so it never asks for notification permission.
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