In short
An online timer runs in a browser tab with nothing to install and no account. Type the minutes and seconds, press start, and an alarm sounds at zero. Because the countdown is measured against the device clock rather than the page, background tabs and locked screens do not slow it down.
- Setup
- None — type a length and press start
- Accuracy
- Measured against the device clock, unaffected by background tabs
- Offline
- Keeps running if the connection drops
- Devices
- Phone, tablet, laptop, smart board, TV browser
Why run a timer in a browser tab?
Because it is already open. A browser timer needs no install, no permissions and no account, it works on a borrowed computer, and it can be shared as a link — try that with a kitchen timer.
The trade-off with browser timers has always been reliability: browsers slow down background tabs to save battery, which used to make naive timers drift by minutes over an hour. This one compares against your device clock on every update, so what you get at the end is the time you asked for.
Using it well
- The clock already holds 10 minutes, so pressing Start is the whole setup.
- Space bar works too, and so does pausing — press it again to resume where you left off.
- Running short? +1 minute extends the countdown without resetting it.
- Lock the phone or switch apps if you like. The countdown is measured against your device clock, not the page.
If the tab is behind other windows, the tab title still shows the remaining time, so you can check without switching to it.
Keyboard shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Space | Start or pause |
| R | Reset to the full duration |
| F | Fullscreen on or off |
| Esc | Leave fullscreen |
Questions about the online timer
Does it work offline?
Once the page has loaded, the countdown itself runs entirely on your device, so a dropped connection mid-timer will not stop it. You do need a connection to open the page in the first place.
Will it drain my battery?
Very little. While a timer is running it asks the device to keep the screen awake, which is the main cost — locking the screen manually is fine, the countdown carries on regardless.
Can I keep working in another window while it runs?
Yes, and the tab title shows the remaining time, so a glance at the tab bar tells you where you are without switching back. The alarm plays whether or not the tab is in front.
Can I make the alarm louder?
The alarm plays at your device volume, so turn that up before you start rather than after. On a phone it also vibrates, which carries further than sound in a noisy room.