How to Set a Timer on Mac (Clock, Siri, Shortcuts)

The quickest way to set a timer on a Mac is the built-in Clock app. Press ⌘Space (Command-Space), type "Clock", press Return, click Timers, set the time and click Start. If Siri is turned on, you can say "Set a timer for 10 minutes" and skip opening Clock yourself.

The Clock app arrived with macOS 13 Ventura, so these steps work on macOS 14 Sonoma, 15 Sequoia and 26 Tahoe. macOS 12 and earlier have no Clock app. On those versions, use the Terminal method below or a third-party timer.

Set a timer on Mac with the Clock app

1. Press ⌘Space to open Spotlight, type Clock, and press Return. You can also open Clock from the Applications folder.
2. Click Timers at the top of the window.
3. Set the hours, minutes and seconds.
4. Click Start.
   While the timer runs, you can pause or cancel it in the same view. When it finishes, macOS plays an alert and shows a notification.

The limitation is that the countdown only appears in the Clock window. Once you switch to another app, you can't see the time left without going back to Clock. If you need to see the number while you work, read the floating timer section below.

Set a timer with Siri

If Siri is on, this is the fastest route because you don't need the keyboard or mouse.

1. Start Siri. You can use its keyboard shortcut, the Siri button in the menu bar if you've added it, or your voice if you've turned on voice activation.
2. Say "Set a timer for 20 minutes."

Siri sets the timer in the Clock app, so it ends with the same alert. You can also say "Set a 90-second timer" or "Set a timer for 1 hour 15 minutes."

To turn Siri on or check its keyboard shortcut, open System Settings and search for "Siri". The pane's name and location vary between macOS versions and Mac models, so searching is more reliable than clicking through.

Siri needs a working microphone. It's also awkward to use in a quiet office or a meeting.

Make a one-click timer with Shortcuts

If you set the same timer again and again, such as a 25-minute work block or a 10-minute tea timer, a shortcut saves you from typing the time each time. The timer action comes from the Clock app, so this also needs macOS 13 or later.

1. Open the Shortcuts app from the Applications folder or Spotlight.
2. Click + in the toolbar to create a new shortcut.
3. In the action search field on the right, type timer.
4. Add Start Timer to the shortcut and set the duration, for example 25 minutes.
5. Name the shortcut, for example "Focus 25".
6. Open the shortcut's details with the info button. Then turn on Pin in Menu Bar or add a keyboard shortcut.
   Now you can start the timer with one click in the menu bar or one key combination from any app. It runs in the Clock app, so you get the same alert.

Each shortcut has a fixed length. Make one for each duration you use often.

Set a timer in Terminal

If you already work in Terminal, or your Mac is too old for the Clock app, two standard commands make a spoken timer:

sleep 300; say "Time is up"

sleep 300 waits 300 seconds (5 minutes), and then say reads the text aloud. For a different length, change the number of seconds: 600 is 10 minutes and 1800 is 30 minutes.

The command doesn't change any settings, so there's nothing to undo. To cancel the timer, press Control-C in that Terminal window. Closing the window also stops it, so leave the window open until the timer goes off.

There's no countdown display and no notification. You only get the spoken message.

Keep a floating timer on screen with Gubb

None of the built-in methods keeps a countdown visible above your other windows. We make an app that can do this. Gubb has a timer that shrinks into a small pill, and you can pin the Gubb window above other windows. That lets you watch the minutes count down while you write or study.

1. Move the pointer to the right edge of the Gubb window until a column of buttons appears, then click Timer.
2. Choose Countdown. (Stopwatch counts up instead.)
3. While the timer is stopped, set min (0–999) and sec (0–59). It starts at 25:00.
4. Click Start.
5. Click Minimize (the − button in the timer's header). The dialog shrinks to a small pill at the bottom centre of the Gubb window that shows the mode and the time left.
6. Click Pin window on top in the right-edge column. Then make the Gubb window smaller and move it to a corner of the screen.
   The pill has two buttons. Maximize timer opens the full dialog again, and Close timer stops and resets the countdown. The timer keeps running while the dialog is closed or minimized.

Know these limits before you rely on it:

• No sound when it ends. The timer finishes silently. It tries to show a notification, but that notification may not appear on macOS. For anything you can't afford to miss, like an oven or a meeting, use the Clock app.
• One timer at a time. Quitting Gubb clears the timer, so keep the app running while a timer is on.
• Pomodoro mode works the same as Countdown. It doesn't switch between work and break periods or count sessions.
• It can drift. The timer counts in 1-second steps inside the app, so long timers may finish a little early or late.
• Breaks unpin the window. If you also use Gubb's break reminders, a break turns off Pin window on top. Click it again afterward.

The timer is one part of Gubb, which also has notes, to-do lists and clipboard history. The Mac download comes with a 7-day free trial. If you only need a timer, the free built-in options are enough.

Which method to use

• Clock app or Siri: best when the timer has to get your attention.
• Shortcuts: best when you set the same length many times a day.
• A floating timer: best when seeing the time left matters more than the alarm, for example during Pomodoro work sessions or timed writing.

If it doesn't work

• There's no Clock app. Your Mac is running macOS 12 Monterey or earlier. Update macOS if your Mac supports a newer version, or use the Terminal method.
• Siri doesn't respond or won't set the timer. Check that Siri is turned on (open System Settings and search "Siri") and that your microphone is working. If you'd rather type than speak, search System Settings for "Type to Siri".
• The timer ended but you heard nothing. Check the volume and output device. If a Focus such as Do Not Disturb is on, notifications may be held back. Open System Settings, click Notifications, find Clock, and make sure its notifications are allowed.
• Start Timer doesn't appear in Shortcuts. The action comes from the Clock app, so it isn't available on macOS 12 or earlier. Search the action list for "timer" instead of browsing the categories.
• The Terminal timer never went off. The Terminal window was closed or the command was stopped with Control-C. Run the command again and leave the window open.
• Gubb's timer disappeared. Quitting Gubb clears the timer. Start it again and keep Gubb running until the timer finishes.

FAQ

Is there a stopwatch on Mac too?
Yes. The Clock app has a stopwatch, and Gubb's timer has a Stopwatch mode. See how to use a stopwatch on Mac for the steps.

Does macOS have a built-in Pomodoro timer?
No. You can run repeated 25-minute timers in the Clock app or with a shortcut, but nothing switches between work and breaks for you. For apps that do, see our list of Pomodoro timers for Mac.

How do I keep a timer window on top of other apps?
macOS has no built-in "always on top" setting for app windows. Some apps, including Gubb, have their own pin option. Our guide to keeping a window on top on Mac covers the choices.

To compare dedicated apps, see the best timer apps for Mac.