30 Minute Timer
Already set to 30:00. Press Start or the spacebar and the countdown fills the screen, changes color near the end and beeps at zero. Add or take off a minute while it runs.
Keys: Space start or pause, R reset, F fullscreen, + and - add or remove a minute, M mute, N next timer in the list.
What is a 30 minute timer?
A 30 minute timer counts down half an hour and then alerts you. Thirty minutes is a common length for a focused work session, a workout, homework, a meeting or something in the oven. This one opens set to 30:00 and starts with one press. It keeps exact time even while you work in another tab or app, and the beep is scheduled ahead so it sounds on time. The digits turn yellow with 5 minutes left and red for the last 90 seconds, and Keep screen awake stops the screen from going to sleep in the meantime.
How to set a timer for 30 minutes
- The timer is already set to 30 minutes. Press Start, or press the spacebar on a keyboard.
- Select Fullscreen or press F to make the digits as big as the screen. Press Esc to leave fullscreen.
- Need a little longer? Press +1 min while it runs, or -1 min to shorten it. Pause stops the countdown until you press Resume.
- At zero the screen flashes red and the timer beeps. Choose another sound, or turn on Repeat, under Warning colors, overtime and sound.
- Press Reset or R to start another 30 minutes. To use a different length, pick a preset or type the minutes.
Why use this 30 minute timer
- Ready the moment the page opens30:00 is already set. One click or the spacebar starts it.
- Readable across a roomThe digits grow to fill the screen, with a progress bar that empties as time passes.
- A warning before the endYellow, then red, as the last minutes run out, so nobody is caught by surprise.
- Rings even in a background tabKeep working in another tab or app and the beep still arrives on time.
Things to time with a 30 minute timer
- Focused work. One task, phone away, for half an hour.
- Homework and revision. A set study block with a clear end.
- Workouts. A run, a bike ride or a class at home.
- Cooking and baking. Roasting vegetables, simmering sauces and many cakes.
- Meetings. A 30-minute slot that ends on time.
- Laundry and parking. A reminder to move the washing or the car.
Keyboard shortcuts
The shortcuts work while the timer is on screen, in fullscreen, and in the display and floating windows. They are ignored while you type in a box.
| Key | What it does |
|---|---|
| Space or K | Start, pause and resume |
| R | Reset to the time you set |
| F | Fullscreen on and off (Esc also leaves) |
| + or = | Add a minute |
| - | Take off a minute |
| Up and Down arrows | Add or take off a minute in fullscreen and the display window |
| M | Mute and unmute |
| N | Next timer in the timer list |
Example: a half-hour homework session
Press Start and leave the timer on the laptop at the side of the desk. The 5-minute yellow stage is the cue to wrap up the question you are on, and the beep at zero means break time. Reset it for the next 30 minutes after the break, or try the Pomodoro timer for 25-minute blocks with breaks built in.
What to expect from the result
The countdown is accurate to the second and keeps time in a background tab, and the beep is scheduled ahead so it sounds on time. Browsers only allow sound after a click or key press on the page, which pressing Start counts as. A phone in silent mode may not play it, so check the ring switch. The timer stops if the computer goes to sleep, so leave Keep screen awake switched on.
30 Minute Timer questions
How do I set a timer for 30 minutes?
This page is already set to 30 minutes: press Start or the spacebar. On any page of this timer you can also choose the 30m preset or type 30 in the Minutes box.
Will the 30 minute timer ring if I switch to another tab?
Yes. The sound is scheduled ahead on the audio clock when you press Start, so it plays on time even in a background tab. Keep the tab open and the computer awake.
Can I see how much of the half hour is left at a glance?
The bar along the bottom empties as time passes, and the digits change to yellow at 5 minutes and red at 1:30. Choose Ring or Pie under On screen for a circle instead.
Is there a Pomodoro option?
For 25-minute focus sessions with short and long breaks, use the Pomodoro timer. This page is a plain 30-minute countdown.
Does it work without internet?
Yes. Once the page has loaded, the timer runs entirely in your browser, so losing Wi-Fi in the middle of a lesson or talk does not stop it. Nothing about your timers is sent to a server.
More timers and countdowns
For focus sessions with breaks built in, use the Pomodoro timer or the study timer. To count the days to a birthday, trip or launch, use countdown to a date. For any length, with every option on one page, open the full screen countdown timer.