Question 1

What is Tempo and what can I use it for?

Accepted Answer

Tempo is a browser-based timer app that supports three modes: Countdown timers (set a duration and count down to zero), Stopwatches (count up from zero with lap support), and Alarms (fire at a specific wall-clock time, like 07:30). You can run multiple timers simultaneously, chain them together, and save sets of timers for later reuse — all without creating an account.

Question 2

How do I create my first timer?

Accepted Answer

Click the + Add timer button.Choose a mode at the top of the modal: Timer, Stopwatch, or Alarm.Enter a name (and an optional description).For a countdown, type the duration in HH:MM:SS. For an alarm, pick the time you want it to fire.Click Save. Your timer appears on the board, ready to start.

Question 3

Do I need to sign up or create an account?

Accepted Answer

No. Tempo works entirely in your browser with no account required. All your timers, saved sequences, and preferences are stored in your browser's local storage and never sent to a server.

Question 4

Can I install Tempo like an app?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Tempo is a Progressive Web App (PWA). In Chrome or Edge, click the install icon in the address bar (or choose Install Tempo from the browser menu). On iOS, tap Share → Add to Home Screen. On Android, tap Add to Home Screen from the browser menu. Once installed, Tempo opens in its own window without browser chrome.

Question 5

What's the difference between a countdown timer and an alarm?

Accepted Answer

A countdown timer counts down from a duration you set (e.g., 25 minutes). An alarm fires at a specific wall-clock time (e.g., 14:30). If the time you set has already passed today, the alarm arms itself for the same time tomorrow.

Question 6

How do I use the stopwatch and record laps?

Accepted Answer

Create a timer in Stopwatch mode, then press Start. While it's running, press the Lap button to record a split. Each lap entry shows the cumulative time and the time since the previous lap. You can pause and resume the stopwatch at any point without losing your lap history.

Question 7

Will my timers keep running if I close the tab or my laptop goes to sleep?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Tempo uses wall-clock time rather than counting ticks, so a running timer stays accurate across tab closes, page refreshes, and laptop sleep. When you reopen the tab, the timer reflects the real elapsed time. If a countdown finished while the tab was closed, Tempo will show it as completed.

Question 8

How will I know when a timer finishes?

Accepted Answer

Tempo alerts you in several ways:Audio chime — a multi-tone sound plays when the timer reaches zero.Desktop notification — a browser notification appears (you'll be asked for permission the first time).Tab title badge — if the tab is hidden, the title changes to (N) Timer Tempo... so you can see it in your tab list.Visual flash — the theme blinks twice per second during the final 10 seconds as a visual countdown warning.

Question 9

Why don't I see the notification bell on iPhone Safari?

Accepted Answer

iOS Safari only allows web push notifications for sites you've installed to your Home Screen. When you visit Tempo on iPhone for the first time, the bell button opens install instructions instead: tap the Share button at the bottom of Safari, choose Add to Home Screen, then open Tempo from the new Home Screen icon. Once installed, the bell becomes a normal notification toggle. Requires iOS 16.4 or later.

Question 10

What is the screen wake lock?

Accepted Answer

On supported browsers, Tempo activates the Screen Wake Lock API while a timer is running, preventing your screen from dimming or locking automatically. This is especially useful when you're watching a countdown and don't want the display to go dark. The lock is released automatically when all timers stop.

Question 11

What does the total time shown in the header mean?

Accepted Answer

The header displays the combined remaining time across all currently running countdown timers. It gives you a quick at-a-glance view of how much time is left in total without having to read each card individually.

Question 12

How do I chain timers so one starts automatically after another?

Accepted Answer

Chaining is available for countdown timers and alarms. There are two ways to set it up:On an existing timer: Open the timer card and use the Then dropdown to pick which timer should auto-start when this one finishes.When adding a new timer: Use the Start after field in the Add modal to insert the new timer before an existing one in the chain.When a chained timer finishes, the next one starts immediately. If Focus mode is open, the focus view follows the chain automatically. Alarms can chain into countdowns and vice versa.

Question 13

What views are available?

Accepted Answer

Grid view — shows all your timer cards in a 1-, 2-, or 3-column layout depending on screen size. Good for managing many timers at once.Single-timer view — a horizontal carousel where you swipe or click dots to move between timers. Each timer fills the screen. A large + button lets you add timers quickly.Focus mode — a fullscreen view for one timer at a time, with arrow-key navigation between timers, lap support, and a "Next: ..." indicator showing the next chained timer.Switch between views using the controls in the header.

Question 14

What is Picture-in-Picture and how do I use it?

Accepted Answer

Picture-in-Picture (PiP) pops out a small always-on-top mini window that lists your running timers. It stays visible while you switch to other tabs or applications — for example, while watching YouTube or working in a document. Click the PiP button in the header to activate it. Note: this feature is currently available in desktop Chrome and Edge only.

Question 15

How do I edit, duplicate, or delete a timer?

Accepted Answer

Each timer card has action buttons for Edit (reopens the modal with existing values prefilled), Duplicate (creates a copy with an auto-incremented name), and Delete. To remove all timers at once, use the Clear all button — you'll be asked to confirm before anything is deleted.

Question 16

How do saved sequences work?

Accepted Answer

A saved sequence captures your entire current board — all timers, their settings, and any chains between them — under a name you choose. To save the current board, open the Library and click Save current board. To restore a sequence later, click it in the Library — your board will be replaced with the saved one. You can also overwrite an existing sequence with the current board, or delete it when you no longer need it.

Question 17

What is the saved timers library?

Accepted Answer

The saved timers library lets you save a single timer's template (name, description, and duration or alarm time) for quick reuse. Once saved, you can add it back to your board with one click from the Library panel, without having to reconfigure it from scratch each time. Delete a saved timer from the Library when you no longer need it.

Question 18

How do I share my timers with someone else?

Accepted Answer

Click Copy shareable link. Tempo encodes all your current timers — names, descriptions, durations, modes, and chain configuration — directly into the URL. Send that URL to anyone. When they open it, they'll be prompted to add those timers to their own board. No server is involved: all the data lives in the URL itself.

Question 19

What keyboard shortcuts are available?

Accepted Answer

Esc — close any open modal, or exit Focus mode← / → — navigate between timers in Focus mode or Single-timer viewAll icon buttons also have accessible labels, so Tempo works well with screen readers and keyboard navigation.

Question 20

What languages does Tempo support?

Accepted Answer

Tempo is available in nine locales: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese (EU), Portuguese (BR), Japanese, and Simplified Chinese. On your first visit, Tempo auto-detects your browser's language. You can switch languages at any time using the picker in the header — your choice is remembered for future visits.

Question 21

Can I switch between light and dark mode?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Use the theme toggle in the header to switch between light and dark mode. Your preference is saved in the browser and applied on every subsequent visit. On your first visit, Tempo uses your operating system's theme preference.

Question 22

Where is my data stored? Does Tempo send anything to a server?

Accepted Answer

All your timer data — timers, saved sequences, saved timer templates, theme preference, view mode, and language — is stored exclusively in your browser's localStorage. None of your timer data ever leaves your device. The site itself does load Google Analytics and Google AdSense (both gated behind the cookie consent banner), so if you accept, those services send pageview and ad-related data to Google. That's separate from anything to do with your timers. Clearing your browser data will erase your Tempo data.

Question 23

Why do I see a cookie banner?

Accepted Answer

Tempo uses Google Analytics and Google AdSense, both of which set cookies. Under EU privacy law (ePrivacy / GDPR) we need your consent before setting them, so a banner appears on your first visit. You can Accept (allows analytics and ad cookies), Reject (Tempo still works fully — no analytics or ad cookies are set), or change your choice later from the Manage cookie choice section of the Privacy page.

Question 24

Does Tempo use tracking cookies?

Accepted Answer

Tempo itself sets only one cookie: lang, used to remember your language preference. The site additionally uses Google Analytics (sets _ga / _ga_* cookies) and Google AdSense (sets advertising cookies) — both gated behind the consent banner. If you reject in the banner, no analytics or ad cookies are set. Details and opt-out links are on the Privacy page.

Question 25

What happens to my timers if I clear my browser data?

Accepted Answer

Clearing your browser's site data or local storage will erase all your Tempo timers, saved sequences, and preferences. To preserve a set of timers before clearing data, use Copy shareable link to save the configuration as a URL you can reload later.

Frequently asked questions

Getting started

Timer modes

Running timers

Chaining timers

Views and focus mode

Managing timers

Sharing

Keyboard shortcuts

Language and appearance

Privacy and data