Countdown Timer
Runs in your browser. Shared countdowns live in the link itself, nothing is stored on our servers.
How to use the countdown timer
- For a quick timer, tap a preset such as 5 or 10 minutes, or type hours, minutes and seconds, then press Start. Press it again to pause.
- When the timer reaches zero the digits flash and an alarm plays until you press Reset or start a new timer. Turn off Alarm sound for a silent timer.
- To count down to an event, open Countdown to a date, pick the date and time, add a title and press Create countdown link. Send the link to anyone: they see the same countdown, converted to their own time zone.
- Press Full screen to show the countdown on a projector, TV or second monitor.
Timer links you can bookmark
Every preset has its own address, so you can bookmark the timer you use most. For example, /tools/countdown-timer?m=5 opens a ready 5 minute timer and ?m=25 a 25 minute focus session. Add &start=1 to start the timer as soon as the page opens.
Why this timer stays accurate
Many browser timers count by adding one second at a time. Browsers slow down background tabs to save battery, so those timers drift and finish late. This timer remembers the exact moment it should end and recalculates the time left on every update, so it stays correct when you switch tabs, lock your phone or put your laptop to sleep.
Ideas for using a countdown
- Classrooms and exams: a full screen timer everyone can see, with an alarm when time is up.
- Meetings and talks: keep each speaker or agenda item to its slot.
- Focus sessions: work in 25 minute blocks with short breaks (the Pomodoro technique).
- Cooking and workouts: big digits you can read from across the room.
- Launches, sales and events: share a countdown link in a newsletter, on social media or on a waiting list page.
Countdown to a launch? Collect sign-ups too
If you are counting down to a launch, pair the countdown with a waitlist form. formvoxo gives any HTML form a hosted endpoint and emails you each sign-up, with spam filtering built in, so you can collect emails without writing server code. See the docs to set it up in a few minutes.
Want the full guide? Read How to Make a Countdown Timer Link (and Why Most Timers Drift).
Frequently asked questions
Does the timer keep running if I switch tabs? +
Yes. The timer is based on the clock time it should end at, not on counting ticks, so it stays accurate when the tab is in the background or the screen locks. The alarm plays as soon as the browser lets the page run again.
How do I share a countdown to a date? +
Switch to "Countdown to a date", pick the date, time and an optional title, then copy the link. Everything is stored in the link itself, so anyone who opens it sees the same countdown in their own time zone.
Is the countdown the same for people in other time zones? +
Yes. The target moment is saved as an exact point in time (UTC). Each visitor sees the time left until that same moment, and the end time is shown in their local time.
Can I use it full screen on a TV or projector? +
Yes. Press the full screen button and the digits scale to fill the screen, which works well for classrooms, meetings, workouts and presentations.
Do you store my countdowns? +
No. Nothing is saved on our servers. A shared countdown lives entirely in its URL, and a running timer lives in your browser tab.
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