What the floating timer is
A small window with the clock that stays on top of every other window: slides, documents, spreadsheets, video calls. It works on every tool: the countdown, Pomodoro, classroom, stage, stopwatch and interval timers.
It is a computer feature. On phones the Float button is hidden. See Phones and tablets.
Open and close it
- Starting a fresh countdown, stopwatch or workout opens it automatically, unless the page is in full screen or a second screen is open.
- Float opens it at any time, running or not. While it is open the button reads Hide float and closes it.
- Closing the floating window never stops the timer. The page keeps running, and Float brings the window back.
- Leaving the page for another TimerFlip page or another site closes the floating window.
What it shows
- The time, in the same seven-segment digits as the Digital view.
- A status line, such as Running · 30 minutes, Paused · Focus, round 2 of 4, Running · Workout · 3/8 or Time's up · 10 minutes.
- A progress bar that empties as time runs out. The stopwatch has no bar, and shows hundredths.
Controls in each browser
| Browser | Window | Controls |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome and Edge | A real mini window with its own buttons | Start, Pause or Resume; Stop while the alarm rings; Hide closes it |
| Firefox | Picture-in-picture | Play starts or resumes, pause pauses; pause or the volume button stops a ringing alarm |
| Safari on Mac | Picture-in-picture | Play starts or resumes; pause pauses or stops a ringing alarm; closing keeps the timer running |
Other Chromium browsers, such as Brave, Opera and Arc, usually behave like Chrome. In Chrome and Edge, keyboard shortcuts such as Space and R also work while the floating window has focus.
Move and resize it
- Drag the window by its edge or title bar to any corner of any screen.
- Drag a corner to resize it. The digits grow or shrink to fill it.
- Chrome and Edge open it at the same small size each time, however large you made it before.
Why the title bar shows a web address
In Chrome and Edge the floating window's title bar shows the address of the site that opened it, timerflip.com. The browser adds it so no site can disguise a floating window as part of your computer, and no page can change or hide it.
If it doesn't open
- If it fails, a line under the buttons reads Couldn't open the floating timer. Allow picture-in-picture if the browser asks, then try again.
- Allow picture-in-picture for the site if the browser asks, then press Float again.
- Some browsers only open picture-in-picture straight from a click. If it didn't appear when you pressed Start, press Float.
- No Float button? You're on a phone, or the browser has no picture-in-picture support. Try the latest Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari.