Keyboard shortcuts on aTimer

Every keyboard shortcuts aTimer supports, with examples. The whole site can be driven from the keyboard, which is the main reason to use a browser timer at a desk instead of unlocking your phone. Also searched as timer hotkeys, timer keyboard controls, start timer with spacebar.

The shortcut table

Key	What it does	Where it works
Space	Start or pause. Also dismisses the "Time's up" overlay.	All modes
R	Reset to the page preset or the length you typed	All modes
F	Toggle fullscreen	All modes
L	Record a lap	Stopwatch, while running
1 to 9	Set that many minutes	Timer mode, while stopped
Esc	Close the "Time's up" overlay	All modes
Enter	Save the typed time and start	Inside the time editor
Esc	Save the typed time without starting	Inside the time editor

Keys are ignored while you are typing in the editor or choosing a sound, so a stray Space does not start the timer by accident.

Editing the time

Click the digits while the timer is stopped and three fields appear for hours, minutes and seconds. The minutes field is selected first, so you can type a number straight away. Use Tab to move to seconds. Press Enter to save and start in one step, or Esc to save and wait. Hours go up to 99.

Worked examples

A 7-minute timer in two keystrokes: press 7, then Space. A small message confirms "7 minutes set".
Pause for a phone call: Space pauses, Space resumes. The button label changes to Resume while paused.
Run the same length again: when the overlay appears, press Space once to dismiss it and once more to restart.
Lap splits on a run: open the stopwatch, press Space, then L at every marker.
A timer on the TV: press F and the ring fills the screen. Press F again to leave. The fullscreen timer page covers projector use.

URL parameters

Any timer page accepts a custom length in the address, which is handy for bookmarks and for sharing a link with a class or team. Add ?h= for hours, ?m= for minutes and ?s= for seconds, joined with an ampersand.

Address	Result
atimer.net/?m=12&s=30	12 minutes 30 seconds
atimer.net/countdown-timer/?h=1&m=30	1 hour 30 minutes
atimer.net/online-timer/?s=45	45 seconds

If the parameters add up to zero, the page falls back to its normal preset. The online timer page is a good base address because its preset is short.

Settings that are remembered

Sound: Beep, Bell, Chime or Silent. Changing it plays a preview. See the silent timer page for quiet rooms.
Repeat: restarts the same length about a second after the alarm. The repeat timer page explains interval use.
Notify: shows a desktop notification when time is up, after you grant permission once.
Theme: the moon button in the header switches dark and light.

All four are stored in your browser and apply across every aTimer page on that device. Nothing is sent to a server.

What is not a shortcut

There is no key for changing the sound, toggling Repeat or Notify, or switching the theme. Those are deliberate clicks so a stray keypress during a test cannot silence the alarm. There is also no key to switch modes; use the Timer, Pomodoro, Stopwatch and Clock buttons above the ring. In Clock mode, Space switches back to the timer.

Try it

Practice on the online timer, time a run on the stopwatch, or put the fullscreen timer on a second screen.

Frequently asked questions

Why does pressing a number key not change the time?

Number keys only work in Timer mode while the timer is stopped. Press R to stop and reset first, or click the digits to edit the time while it is paused.

Can I set a time longer than 9 minutes from the keyboard?

Yes. Click the digits, type hours, minutes and seconds, and press Enter. Or add ?h=1&m=30 to any timer address for a 90-minute countdown.

Are my sound and repeat settings saved?

Yes. Sound, Repeat, Notify and the theme are stored in your browser and apply to every aTimer page on that device.