Timing up instead of down
A stopwatch counts up from zero, so you use it when you do not know how long something will take: a lap round a track, a speech, a repeated task or a reaction test. Press Start, press Lap to record a split without stopping, and press Pause to hold the total.
Each lap row shows the lap time and the running total. The fastest lap is marked and so is the slowest, which makes the spread easy to see at a glance when you do ten or twenty laps. Copy laps turns the list into plain text you can paste into a message or spreadsheet.
On a keyboard, Space starts and pauses and L records a lap. The display shows hundredths of a second. Like the countdown pages, it reads the device clock rather than counting ticks, so a busy or background tab does not drift.
For a long list of laps, the fastest and slowest are marked, so a run of twenty laps shows its spread without scrolling back through the numbers. Copy laps gives you plain text you can drop into a spreadsheet, and the lap number, lap time and running total line up in columns after you paste.
Press Full screen to fill the display with the clock, useful when a coach, teacher or group has to read it from a distance. Space starts and pauses, L records a lap, and the keyboard shortcuts work the same whether the page is small or full screen.
Use a stopwatch when the end is unknown and a timer when it is fixed. If you know the length in advance, such as a 10 minute round, the countdown timer rings for you and you can look away. If you want to see how long something took and compare repeats, a stopwatch is the right tool, and the lap list is the record.
Stopwatch or countdown?
They are the same clock running in opposite directions. The right one depends on whether the end is known.
| Situation | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Time a lap, a speech or a task | Stopwatch | The end is unknown, laps record the pieces |
| Stop at a fixed length | Countdown timer | It rings at zero, so you can look away |
| Work and rest rounds | Interval timer | It switches phases with a tone |
Hundredths of a second are shown, but your own button press is usually the larger error.
Questions about this timer
How accurate is it?
It shows hundredths of a second and reads your device clock. Your own reaction time on the button is usually the larger error, so it is not suited to official race timing.
What is the difference between lap time and total?
Lap time is the time since the previous lap button press. Total is the time since you first pressed Start.
How do I save my laps?
Press Copy laps. You get a text list that you can paste into notes, a chat or a spreadsheet.
Does pausing remove my laps?
No. Pause only holds the clock. Reset clears the time and the lap list, so copy first if you need them.
Can I time with the screen in full screen mode?
Yes. Full screen shows the clock large, and Space and L still start, pause and record laps from a keyboard.
Is a stopwatch or a timer better for a presentation?
Use a timer if you have a fixed slot and want a warning at zero. Use the stopwatch if you want to record how long each section actually took.