Countdown Timer
Set a countdown in hours, minutes and seconds and watch it run down to zero. This free online countdown timer works right in your browser with no signup, and it alerts you the moment time is up — perfect for breaks, cooking and focus sessions.
What is a countdown timer?
A countdown timer counts backwards from a set amount of time to zero, so you always know how much time is left. You choose the hours, minutes and seconds, press Start, and the remaining time is shown live in HH:MM:SS. Unlike a stopwatch, which measures elapsed time forward, a countdown shows how long until a moment arrives. People use them for cooking, workouts, study sessions like the Pomodoro technique, meeting time-boxing, deadlines and gaming — any time the clock should own the schedule. This tool does all the counting locally in your browser: it records the target point, refreshes the display in real time, and the moment the count reaches zero it stops and shows a Time up! alert so nothing slips past. Because the whole thing runs on your device, nothing is uploaded and you can run consecutive rounds without a refresh.
How to use
- Enter the number of hours, minutes and seconds.
- Click Start to begin the countdown.
- Click Pause (the same button) to hold the remaining time, then Start to resume.
- Click Reset to restore the timer to the time you set.
Example
Type 0 hours, 5 minutes and 30 seconds, then click Start. The display counts down from 00:05:30 and reaches 00:00:00 in exactly five and a half minutes, then shows Time up! and stops.
Common use cases
- Time-boxing meetings, calls and presentations so they run on schedule.
- Break and focus timers for the Pomodoro technique or deep-work sessions.
- Kitchen and cooking timers when you are away from a phone or app.
- Countdowns to a deadline, event start, or exam question you are practicing.
Pro tips
- Click the same Start button to Pause and resume — the remaining time is kept exactly.
- Use Reset whenever you want to snap back to the time you originally set.
- Set seconds to 0 and rely on minutes for longer rounds; the display always shows HH:MM:SS.
- If you need to measure elapsed time instead, use the Stopwatch tool.
FAQ
How does this countdown timer work?
Enter hours, minutes and seconds, then press Start. The timer counts down in real time and shows the remaining time in HH:MM:SS; press Pause to hold it or Reset to return to the set value.
What happens when the timer reaches zero?
When the countdown reaches 00:00:00 it stops and shows a Time up! message so you know it finished.
Can I pause and resume a countdown?
Yes. Press Pause to freeze the remaining time, then press Start again to continue from exactly where it stopped.
Is this countdown timer free?
Yes. It is free, with no signup, no download and no limit on how many times you use it.
Can I set it for more than 60 minutes?
Yes. The hours field accepts any value, so you can set 1 or 2 hours and beyond; only minutes and seconds are capped at 59.
What is the difference between a countdown timer and a stopwatch?
A countdown counts backwards to zero from a set time; a stopwatch counts forwards from zero to measure how long you have been going.
Does the timer keep running offline?
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser, so it keeps counting even with no internet connection.
Is my time data uploaded or stored?
No. The countdown runs entirely on your device and nothing is sent to a server.
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