This free online countdown timer runs entirely in your browser — no app to install, no account to create. Type in hours, minutes and seconds, or tap a preset such as 5, 10 or 30 minutes, and press Start. A large, easy-to-read display counts down to zero with a progress bar, and an alarm sounds when time is up. Because the timer is driven by your device clock rather than by counting screen refreshes, it stays accurate even if you switch to another tab for a while.
The second mode counts down to a specific date and time instead of a duration. Use it for the moments people actually count towards: a product launch, a flight, a wedding, an exam, a sale going live or New Year's Eve. Add an optional label so the tab title and the display tell you exactly what you are waiting for, then leave the page open as a live countdown clock.
How to use the countdown timer
- For a duration, enter hours, minutes and seconds — or click a preset chip.
- Press Start. The button becomes Pause so you can hold the timer at any point.
- Watch the progress bar drain; when it reaches zero the alarm sounds and the tab title changes.
- Press Reset to restore the duration you set, ready to run again.
- For a deadline, switch to "Count down to a date", pick the date and time, add a label if you like, and start the countdown.
What people use it for
- Cooking and baking: pasta, eggs, marinades and oven timers when the kitchen timer is missing.
- Workouts: interval training, planks, stretching and rest periods between sets.
- Focus sessions: Pomodoro-style 25-minute work blocks and 5-minute breaks.
- Classrooms and exams: visible time limits for quizzes, presentations and speeches.
- Events and deadlines: launches, ticket drops, submission deadlines, birthdays and holidays.
Frequently asked questions
Does the timer keep working if I switch tabs?
Yes. The countdown is calculated from your device's clock, not from screen updates, so switching tabs or minimising the window does not lose time. When you come back, the display shows the correct remaining time, and the alarm still fires on schedule in most browsers while the tab is open.
Why did the alarm not make a sound?
Browsers only allow a page to play sound after you have interacted with it, and devices in silent mode or with the volume down will mute it. Pressing Start counts as the interaction, so the alarm should play — if not, check your device volume and silent switch.
Can I run a countdown longer than 24 hours?
Yes in date mode: pick any future date and the countdown shows whole days plus the remaining hours, minutes and seconds. The duration mode accepts up to 999 hours, which covers most practical uses.
Is this timer free? Do I need an account?
It is completely free and needs no account. Everything runs locally in your browser; nothing you type is sent anywhere.