Timer

What this timer is for

Timerbench’s timer is built for a screen that other people look at: a classroom projector, a meeting room display, a laptop on a kitchen counter. The digits scale to fill the available width, so a countdown stays readable from the back of the room, and the fullscreen view hides everything except the time and the controls.

There are three modes. The stopwatch counts up and records laps, which is handy for timing presentations, practice runs or a round of a quiz. The countdown runs down from any length you set, with quick presets for one to thirty minutes, and plays an alarm when it reaches zero. The Pomodoro mode alternates focus blocks and short breaks and counts the rounds for you, so you can work in steady intervals without watching the clock.

Time is measured from the browser’s high-resolution clock rather than by counting ticks, so the timer does not drift if the tab is in the background for a while. The alarm is generated in the browser with Web Audio; no sound files are downloaded. Your settings, such as the countdown length or whether the alarm is on, are remembered on this device only.

Step by step

1. Choose a mode with the tabs at the top: Stopwatch, Countdown or Pomodoro.
2. For a countdown, enter minutes and seconds or tap one of the presets. For Pomodoro, set the length of the focus block and the break.
3. Press Start. On a phone the controls sit at the bottom of the screen so you can reach them with your thumb.
4. Use Lap during the stopwatch to record split times. Reset brings everything back to the start value.
5. Press the fullscreen button (or F) to show only the digits. Press it again or Esc to leave fullscreen.
6. Before a lesson or meeting, press “Test sound” once so you know the alarm is audible on this device.

Common problems and fixes

I don’t hear the alarm

Browsers only allow sound after you have interacted with the page, so press Start yourself rather than relying on an automatic start. Check that the tab is not muted (right-click the tab in Chrome or Firefox), that the system volume is up and that the alarm switch is on. On an iPhone, the ring/silent switch can mute web audio; turn it to ring and try “Test sound” again.

The screen turns off while the timer runs

Where supported, the timer asks the browser to keep the screen awake while it is running, and the note under the controls tells you whether that worked. Safari on older iOS versions and some desktop browsers do not support this. In that case, change the display sleep setting on your device for the duration of the session or keep the laptop plugged in.

The countdown seems late after switching tabs

Browsers slow down background tabs to save energy. The timer itself keeps correct time because it compares against the clock, but the display may only update when you return. The alarm still fires on time in current versions of Chrome, Firefox and Safari as long as the tab stays open.

Fullscreen doesn’t work on my iPhone

Safari on the iPhone does not allow web pages to enter real fullscreen. Timerbench then switches to a fullscreen-style view inside the page. Turning the phone sideways gives you larger digits.

Tips

• For a projector, use “Invert colours” to show light digits on black. It is easier on the eyes in a darkened room.
• Keyboard shortcuts save time: Space starts and stops, R resets, L records a lap and F toggles fullscreen.
• Pick a preset first and adjust the seconds afterwards if you need an unusual length such as 4:30.
• Keep the timer in its own browser window so you can move it to a second screen while you present from the first.

Frequently asked questions