Blink LaunchCountdown, stopwatch & interval timers

T-minus · free online timer

Countdown Timer

Pick a preset or type a time, press Start, and an alarm sounds at zero. It keeps exact time even when this tab is in the background.

T-minusCountdown
5 minutes left
Set to 5 minPress Start to begin

Space start / pause R reset F fullscreen + one more minute

Quick presets
Custom time
Alarm

How to run the countdown

  1. Set the time. Tap a preset, or type hours, minutes and seconds. Presets start straight away; typed times wait for Start.
  2. Choose the alarm. Pick a sound, how long it rings and the volume, then press Test sound so you know it can be heard.
  3. Launch. Press Start or the space bar. Pause and resume as often as you like, add a minute with +, or go fullscreen for a classroom, kitchen or stage.

The timer does not count down by adding up ticks, which browsers slow down in hidden tabs. It notes the moment the countdown will reach zero and compares that with the clock on every redraw, so the display is right the instant you come back. The alarm is handed to the browser's audio system in advance, so it sounds on time even while you work in another tab. The remaining time also shows in the tab title.

Your last time, label and alarm settings are remembered on this device. A running countdown survives a page reload, too.

More timers on the console

Each one runs in your browser and keeps time from the clock, not from ticks.

Questions

Will the alarm go off if I switch to another tab?

Yes, as long as the tab stays open and your device is awake. The sound is scheduled on the browser's audio clock when you press Start, so it does not depend on the page's own timers. Phones may silence a locked screen, so keep the screen on for important countdowns.

Why is there no sound?

Browsers only allow sound after you click or tap the page, so after a reload press any button once. Check that the sound is not set to Silent, the volume slider is up and your device is not muted, then use Test sound.

What is the longest countdown I can set?

99 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds. For anything counted in days, such as a holiday or a deadline, use the countdown to a date instead.