How to use the Pomodoro timer
- Decide what you will work on, then press Start (or the space bar). The ring shows how much of the session is left.
- Work until the tone sounds. The timer then switches to a break; press Start again when you are ready, or tick Start the next session automatically.
- After every fourth focus session the break is a long one.
- Use Skip to end the current phase early and Reset to go back to the first focus session.
- Change the lengths under Settings. They are remembered, together with the number of sessions completed today.
The Pomodoro Technique
The technique was developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s and named after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer he used as a student. Its core is simple: choose a task, work on it without interruption for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break, and after four such "pomodoros" take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes. The fixed interval makes it easier to start — 25 minutes is short enough not to be daunting — and the regular breaks guard against the fatigue of long unbroken stretches.
The count of completed pomodoros is part of the method, not decoration. It shows how much focused time a task really took, which makes the next estimate better. That is why the timer counts only completed focus sessions: skipping or resetting one does not add to the day's total.
The cycle
| Step | Default length |
|---|---|
| Focus 1 → short break | 25 min → 5 min |
| Focus 2 → short break | 25 min → 5 min |
| Focus 3 → short break | 25 min → 5 min |
| Focus 4 → long break | 25 min → 15 min |
| then back to focus |
Accuracy
Like the countdown timer, this timer stores the moment the current phase ends and computes the remaining time from the clock, rather than subtracting a second at a time. Browsers slow down timers in background tabs, but the display is correct as soon as you look at it again, and the tab title shows the time left while you work elsewhere.
What is stored
Your four lengths, the auto-start choice and today's count are saved in this browser under the key pomodoro-cfg, so they are there next time. The count resets at midnight. Nothing is sent to a server, and there is no account.
Examples
With the default settings, eight completed focus sessions run: short, focus, short, focus, short, focus, long, focus, then short breaks again, with the second long break after the eighth session. A full cycle of four sessions takes 25 × 4 + 5 × 3 + 15 = 130 minutes, a little over two hours.
Many people adapt the lengths. Writers and programmers who need longer to get into a task often use 50-minute sessions with 10-minute breaks; students revising may prefer 30 and 5. The method works as long as the sessions are uninterrupted and the breaks are real breaks.
Limits
- Keep the tab open. Closing it stops the timer. A sleeping device will not sound the alert, but the timer is correct again when it wakes.
- Sound needs an unmuted device, and browsers only allow it after you have pressed Start.
- One device, one browser. The daily count is stored locally and does not sync between devices.
- Clearing site data in your browser removes the saved settings and count.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a Pomodoro?
Traditionally 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break, with a 15–30 minute break after every four. You can change all three lengths in Settings.
Does it work in the background?
Yes. The remaining time is calculated from the clock, so it stays accurate when you switch tabs, and the tab title shows the time left.
Can I use the keyboard?
Press the space bar to start or pause when you are not typing in a field.
Where is my data stored?
Only in your browser, under the key pomodoro-cfg: the lengths, the auto-start setting and today's count.
Why did the count not go up when I skipped?
Only completed focus sessions count, so the total reflects real focused time.