Visual Timer Online
A visual timer shows time as a colored pie that shrinks while the minutes pass, so there are no digits to read. A child who cannot tell a clock yet, or anyone who finds ticking numbers stressful, can see at a glance how much is left. Drag the handle around the circle to pick 1 to 60 minutes, press Start, and watch the wedge disappear.
How the shrinking circle works
The wedge is the time you have left. When the timer starts the circle is full, whatever length you chose; at the halfway point half of it is gone, and when the last sliver vanishes, time is up. On the setup dial, before you start, the wedge is measured against one hour like a 60-minute dial: a 15 minute timer fills a quarter of the circle and a 30 minute timer fills half.
Pick a solid Pie that gets smaller, or a hollow Ring that thins out, in Settings. No numbers show unless you ask for them, which is the point: you see time pass instead of counting it.
How to use the visual timer
- Set the time. Drag the handle around the circle (whole minutes, with a tick every 5 minutes and marks at 15, 30, 45 and 60). For an exact time, type into the min and sec boxes, up to 60:00, or select +1 min, +5 min or +10 min to add to the time already set. On a keyboard, focus the dial and press the arrow keys for 1 minute, Page Up or Page Down for 5.
- Press Start. The circle fills most of the screen and begins to shrink.
- Select the screen to show Pause (it becomes Resume) and Cancel. They hide again by themselves after a few seconds, so the screen stays a clean picture.
- At the end the circle pulses, "Time's up!" appears and a short chime plays. After about 6 seconds the timer returns to the setup dial on its own, or select the screen to dismiss it sooner.
Choose a color, style and background
Select the round gear button to open Settings, then Done when you are finished:
- Color — red (the default), orange, green, teal, blue, purple, pink, or any color from the custom picker. Give each kind of task its own color.
- Style — Pie or Ring.
- Background — Light (the default) or Dark for the timer screen, which cuts glare in a dim room.
- Show numbers — off by default; turns on a MM:SS readout on the circle.
- Chime at the end — on by default; a short chime, plus a buzz on phones that support vibration.
- Silent mode — see below.
Silent visual timer for classrooms and quiet rooms
With Silent mode on there is no sound and no buzz. When the time is up, the screen fades slowly toward the timer color and back, about once every 3 seconds, with no flashing, and it stays on until someone taps anywhere ("Press anywhere to dismiss"). That makes it usable in a library, a test, a meeting or a classroom where a bell would be a disruption. If your device asks for reduced motion, the screen shows a steady tint instead of the fade. Chime at the end is switched off while Silent mode is on.
Who a visual timer helps
- Kids and toddlers who cannot read a clock: transitions, tidy-up time, turns.
- Teachers running centers, quiet work or a test on a shared screen.
- ADHD and time blindness: a shape that shrinks makes time pass visible.
- Homework, chores and focus blocks for anyone who dislikes a ticking clock.
Screen stays awake, settings stay on your device
While the timer runs it asks your device to keep the screen awake, where the browser supports it. Your color, style, background, sound choices and last duration are remembered on this device. Nothing is uploaded and there is no account.
Visual Timer FAQ
What is a visual timer?
A visual timer shows the time left as a shape you can see instead of numbers you have to read. Here it is a colored pie (or ring) that shrinks as the minutes pass, so you can tell at a glance how much time remains, even across a room.
Can I use this visual timer for kids and toddlers?
Yes. A child who cannot read a clock yet can still see the colored wedge getting smaller, which makes "five more minutes" something they can watch instead of take on trust. Pick a color they like, keep Show numbers off, and use it for tidy-up time, screen time, homework or a turn-taking game.
Is there a silent visual timer for the classroom?
Yes. Turn on Silent mode in Settings and the timer makes no sound and no buzz. When time is up the whole screen fades slowly to the timer color and back, about once every three seconds with no flashing, and it stays that way until you click anywhere. Open the page on the computer connected to your projector or whiteboard and the circle scales to fill the space, so it can be read from the back of the room.
Can I hide the numbers on a visual timer?
They are hidden by default. The timer shows only the shrinking circle until you switch on Show numbers in Settings, which puts the time left as MM:SS on the circle. Turn it back off if watching the digits makes you anxious or the room starts clock-watching.
Can I set a visual timer for 5, 10, 15 or 30 minutes?
Yes. Drag the handle to the 15 or 30 mark on the dial, or type the exact minutes and seconds into the min and sec boxes. The +1 min, +5 min and +10 min buttons add to whatever time is already set. The timer runs from 1 second up to 60:00, and it remembers the last time you set.
Is there an online version of the Time Timer?
This works on the same idea as the well-known red-disk Time Timer: a colored wedge that gets smaller as time runs out. It is a separate, independent tool, not made by or connected to the Time Timer company. It runs in your browser, with no app to install and no account, and the default color is red.
Can a visual timer help with ADHD or time blindness?
Many people who lose track of time find a shrinking shape easier to feel than a row of digits, and a visual timer is a common focus aid for kids and adults with ADHD. It is a tool for pacing, not a treatment, so use it alongside whatever support works for you. A short timer with a distinct color for each kind of task is a good way to start.
Will the screen stay on while the visual timer runs?
Yes, where your browser supports it. The timer asks the device to keep the screen awake while it counts down, so the circle stays visible. Keep the page open and in front: if you switch to another app, the device may put the screen to sleep and the end chime may not play.
Is this visual timer free, and is anything uploaded?
It is free and needs no account. It runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded. Your colors, style, sound settings and the last time you set are saved on this device only, so they are there next time you open it.
Recommended
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Time Timer Home MOD 60-Minute Visual TimerA silent desk timer with the same shrinking colored wedge, for quiet work or tidy-up time.
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Timex TIME Machines Kids Analog WatchA first watch with a clear dial, so a child can start to read the time on their own.
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Alpine Muffy Kids Ear MuffsSoft ear muffs that take the edge off noise, for calm focus at the table.
Helps keep the tools free. ✨
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