How to Use a Stopwatch on Mac: Clock App and Floating Option

To use a stopwatch on a Mac, open the Clock app (press ⌘Space, or Command-Space, type "Clock" and press Return), click Stopwatch, then click Start. Click Lap to record split times and Stop to pause. The Clock app comes with macOS 13 Ventura and later, so it is already on any Mac running Sonoma, Sequoia or Tahoe.

The Clock window is a normal window, so it disappears behind whatever app you click into. If you need the elapsed time in view while you work, the second half of this page shows how to keep a stopwatch floating on top with Gubb.

Use the built-in stopwatch on Mac (Clock app)

1. Press ⌘Space to open Spotlight.
2. Type Clock and press Return. You can also open Clock from the Applications folder.
3. Click Stopwatch at the top of the Clock window.
4. Click Start. The time starts counting up.
5. Click Lap to record a split. Each lap is added to a list below the time.
6. Click Stop to pause. Click Start again to continue from the same time.
7. Click Reset (shown while the stopwatch is stopped) to clear the time and the lap list.
   The Clock stopwatch shows hundredths of a second and keeps a lap list. Use it for timing runs, speeches, practice sets or anything where splits matter.

What the Clock app can't do

• Stay visible over other apps. Click into your browser or document and the Clock window moves behind it.
• Run on older macOS. Macs on macOS 12 Monterey or earlier don't have the Clock app. On those, search "stopwatch" in Google and use the stopwatch that appears at the top of the results. It runs only while that browser tab stays open.

If you want a countdown instead of a count-up, see how to set a timer on Mac.

Keep a stopwatch floating on top with Gubb

Gubb is our small notes app for Mac and Windows, and it includes a Timer with a Stopwatch mode. You can shrink the timer to a small pill and pin the Gubb window above other windows, so the elapsed time stays in view while you work in another app. This suits timing a task, a call or a writing session when you want to glance at the time without switching apps.

Start the stopwatch

1. Open Gubb.
2. Move the pointer to the right edge of the note. A column of buttons appears.
3. Click Timer.
4. Choose Stopwatch mode in the dialog.
5. Click Start. The time counts up in minutes and seconds (mm:ss).
6. Click Pause to stop it and Reset to set it back to zero.

Make it float

1. With the stopwatch running, click Minimize (the − in the dialog header). The timer turns into a small pill at the bottom center of the window, showing the mode name and the time.
2. In the right-edge button column, click Pin window on top. The pin icon tilts and changes color, and the tooltip changes to Unpin window.
3. Resize the Gubb window smaller and move it to a corner of the screen.

Gubb now stays above your other windows with the stopwatch visible. Click Maximize timer on the pill to bring the full dialog back. Close timer on the pill stops the stopwatch and resets it, so use Maximize timer if you only want to see more. The pin setting is remembered between launches, so the next time you open Gubb it will already float. The stopwatch also keeps running if you close or minimize the Timer dialog.

Limits of Gubb's stopwatch

• No laps or hundredths. It has Start/Pause and Reset only and counts in whole seconds.
• It can drift slightly. It counts in 1-second steps inside the app, so over a long session it may run a little off. Use the Clock app when exact timing matters.
• One timer at a time. Stopwatch, Countdown and Pomodoro share one timer, so you can't run a stopwatch and a countdown together in Gubb.
• Lost when Gubb quits. The stopwatch isn't saved. Minimize the timer instead of quitting the app.
• No menu bar display and no global shortcut. The time shows only in the Gubb window, and you start it by clicking.
• Break reminders unpin the window. If you use Gubb's break reminders, the window loses "always on top" after each break. Click Pin window on top again.

Gubb is a one-time purchase, and the direct Mac download comes with a 7-day free trial. You can download the Gubb trial or read more about the timer in the Gubb help center.

Which stopwatch to use

• Pick Clock if you need laps or precise times, or you only check the stopwatch now and then. It's free and already on your Mac.
• Pick the Google stopwatch if your Mac runs macOS 12 or earlier.
• Pick Gubb if you want the elapsed time in view at all times while working in another app, and whole seconds are precise enough.

For countdown timers and Pomodoro apps too, see our roundup of the best timer apps for Mac.

If it doesn't work

You can't find the Clock app. Your Mac is probably on macOS 12 or earlier. Check under Apple menu ▸ About This Mac. Update macOS if your Mac supports it, or use a browser stopwatch.

The Clock stopwatch keeps disappearing. It is behind your other windows. Put Clock and your work app side by side, or use a floating stopwatch as described above. Our guide to keeping a window on top on Mac covers the general options.

You can't see Gubb's Timer button. The button column stays hidden until the pointer is near the right edge of the note. Move the pointer all the way to the right side of the Gubb window.

Gubb's stopwatch went back to zero. Either Gubb quit or Close timer was clicked on the pill. The stopwatch isn't saved, so start it again and use Minimize next time.

Gubb stopped floating above other windows. A break reminder turns off "always on top" when it ends. Click Pin window on top again.

Gubb's time is a few seconds off after a long session. This is the drift described above. For timing where seconds matter, use the Clock app.

FAQ

Does a Mac have a built-in stopwatch?
Yes. The Clock app in macOS 13 Ventura and later has a Stopwatch tab with laps. Earlier macOS versions have no built-in stopwatch app.

Can I record lap times on a Mac?
Yes, in the Clock app: click Lap while the stopwatch runs. Gubb's stopwatch doesn't record laps.

Can I use a stopwatch and a countdown at the same time in Gubb?
No. Gubb runs one timer at a time. If you need both, run the countdown in Gubb and the stopwatch in the Clock app.