Focus timer (work and breaks)
Set the length of work and breaks, then start: the tool runs one session after another and rings at each change. With 25, 5 and 15 minutes and 4 sessions, a cycle lasts 2 h 10 min.
- Checked on thousands of cases
- Updated November 6, 2026
Quick challenge
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Test yourself: every answer is computed by the tool, and the wrong choices are the most common traps.
How it works
Formula: Cycle = n × work + (n − 1) × short break + long break
The tool alternates a work session and a break. After the number of sessions you choose (4 to start), the break is a long one. A full cycle lasts n × work + (n − 1) × short break + long break: 4 × 25 + 3 × 5 + 15 = 130 minutes. Like the timer, it works out the end of each phase from your device's clock.
Worked examples
Starting settings: 25, 5 and 15 minutes, 4 sessions
A cycle lasts 2:10:00, 1:40:00 of it work.
50-minute sessions, 10- and 30-minute breaks, 3 sessions
A cycle lasts 3:20:00.
An 8-hour day with the starting settings
3 full cycles fit: 12 work sessions.
Common mistakes
Counting a short break after every session, the last one too: you would get 2:15:00.
The last session is followed by the long break: 2:10:00.
Trying to change the lengths mid-countdown.
The settings are locked while it runs: reset to change them.
Locking your phone during a session and counting on the alarm.
Keep the page on screen: the alarm may be late when the page is hidden.
What the calculation leaves out
- The lengths are your settings: the tool imposes none.
- The time shown stays right in the background, but the browser may delay or mute the alarm when the page is hidden or the phone is locked.
One cycle with the starting settings (2:10:00)
| Phase | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| Work 1 | 0:00 | 25:00 |
| Short break | 25:00 | 30:00 |
| Work 2 | 30:00 | 55:00 |
| Short break | 55:00 | 1:00:00 |
| Work 3 | 1:00:00 | 1:25:00 |
| Short break | 1:25:00 | 1:30:00 |
| Work 4 | 1:30:00 | 1:55:00 |
| Long break | 1:55:00 | 2:10:00 |
Frequently asked questions
Which lengths should I choose?
None is required: the starting values (25, 5 and 15 minutes) are common settings. Adjust them to your work.
Can I skip a break?
Yes: the Skip button jumps straight to the next phase.
Does it ring with the screen locked?
Not always: many phones pause web pages when the screen is locked. Keep the page on screen.