How to set a timer on iPhone

Here is how to set a timer on iPhone in every way Apple offers. It also covers when a browser timer like this one is the better tool. The Clock app covers most needs, but it cannot fill a laptop screen or a projector, which is where the timer above comes in. Also searched as iphone timer, set timer iphone, siri timer.

Method 1: the Clock app

Open Clock and tap the Timers tab at the bottom.
Scroll the hour, minute and second wheels to the length you want.
Tap When Timer Ends to pick a sound, or leave the default.
Tap Start. The countdown shows on the lock screen and in the Dynamic Island on newer models.

Recent timers appear as a list under the wheels, so you can restart yesterday's 12-minute pasta timer with one tap.

Method 2: ask Siri

Hold the side button, or say "Hey Siri" if that is turned on, then say "set a timer for 10 minutes". Siri confirms and starts it. You can also ask "how much time is left on my timer", "pause my timer" or "cancel my timer". Siri timers appear in the Clock app like any other.

Method 3: Control Center

Swipe down from the top-right corner (or up from the bottom on an iPhone with a Home button). Press and hold the timer icon and a slider appears. Drag to pick a length from one minute to two hours and tap Start. If the icon is missing, add it under Settings, Control Center.

Useful settings

Want to	Do this
Run several timers	iOS 17 or later: tap the plus button in the Timers tab to add another
Label a timer	Type a name in the Label field before starting, for example Laundry
Use it as a sleep timer	When Timer Ends, scroll to the bottom, choose Stop Playing
Change the sound	When Timer Ends, pick any ringtone or a purchased tone
See it on the lock screen	Timers show as a Live Activity automatically on iOS 16.1 and later

The Stop Playing option is the one people miss. It turns any podcast, playlist or white noise into a sleep timer with no extra app.

Limits of the phone timer

The display is phone-sized, so it cannot serve a classroom, a kitchen across the room or a meeting.
There is no repeat option for intervals; each round needs a tap.
Your timer lives on your phone. You cannot send someone a link to the same preset.

When a browser timer is the better choice

At a Mac or PC, a browser tab is quicker than reaching for the phone. The remaining time shows in the tab title while you work. Press F for a fullscreen countdown on a projector or TV. Every preset here has its own address, such as atimer.net/10-minute-timer/, which you can bookmark or share. The honest caveats: a browser timer on the phone itself goes quiet when the screen locks, and it does not run in the background like a system timer. For a timer in your pocket, use the Clock app. For a timer on a screen, use this page.

Try it

Open the 10 minute timer and press Space. For a wall-size display, try the fullscreen timer. If you came here looking for a way to stop music at night, the sleep timer page explains both the iPhone method and the browser option.

Frequently asked questions

Can I set more than one timer on iPhone?

Yes, on iOS 17 and later. Start a timer, then tap the plus button in the Timers tab to add another. Each one shows on the lock screen as a Live Activity.

How do I make my iPhone stop playing music after a set time?

In the Clock app's Timer, tap When Timer Ends and choose Stop Playing at the bottom of the list. When the timer ends, audio from any app stops.

Why would I use a browser timer instead of the Clock app?

For a screen bigger than your phone: a Mac or PC, a projector, a TV. A browser timer also has fullscreen mode and preset links you can share with a class or team.