Clock & Timer

BirdTab can show a large clock or a countdown timer above the search box. The clock is on by default. To show or hide it, click the gear icon (bottom-right), choose Settings, and use the Show Clock switch. You can also click the close button next to the clock. Switch between the clock and the timer from the options button (three dots) next to the display.

Clock
Timer

Shows the current time, updated every minute (or every second if seconds are on).

Options

Open the clock’s options button (three dots) to change:

Option	Default
24-hour clock	Off (12-hour)
Show seconds	Off
Switch to Timer

A countdown timer you set up and control directly from the new tab page.

Setting up

In Timer mode, you see hours, minutes, and seconds fields. Set your duration (default: 5 minutes) and click Start. While the timer runs, the search box and shortcuts are hidden and the remaining time appears in the browser tab title.

Controls

Control	Action
Start	Begins the countdown
Pause / Resume	Pauses or resumes the countdown. You can also click the time itself.
Reset	Stops the timer and returns to setup

Alarm

An optional alarm, a short bird-like chirp, sounds when the timer reaches zero. It plays for up to 30 seconds, or until you click Reset.

The alarm is off by default. Turn on Alarm sound from the timer’s options button (three dots).

Multi-tab sync

Timer state syncs across all open BirdTab tabs: pausing in one tab pauses everywhere. When the alarm is on, only one tab plays it.

Pomodoro Technique

The timer is a natural fit for the Pomodoro Technique, a focus method that alternates timed work sessions with short breaks. BirdTab includes presets for every phase:

Phase	Preset	What to do
Work session	25m	Focus on a single task, ignore distractions
Short break	5m	Step away, stretch, breathe
Quick reset	1m	A brief pause between back-to-back tasks

A typical Pomodoro cycle:

Open a new BirdTab tab and switch to Timer mode.
Click the 25m preset and click Start. Work on one task until the timer ends.
Turn on Alarm sound (options button → Alarm sound) so you don’t have to watch the clock.
When the alarm sounds, click Reset, click 5m, and start your break.
After four work sessions, take a longer break (set a custom duration like 15–30 minutes in the minutes field).

Because BirdTab syncs timer state across tabs, you can open a new tab mid-session without losing your countdown.

Keyboard shortcuts

When a timer field (hours, minutes, or seconds) is selected in setup mode:

Shortcut	Action
Number keys	Type digits into the selected field
`Backspace`	Remove a digit
`Tab` / `Shift` + `Tab`	Move between hours, minutes, and seconds
`Arrow Left` / `Arrow Right`	Move between fields
`Arrow Up` / `Arrow Down`	Increase or decrease the selected field
`Enter`	Start the timer
`Escape`	Deselect the field

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I turn the alarm on or off?

Click the options button (three dots) next to the timer and toggle Alarm sound. When on, a bird-like chirp plays for up to 30 seconds when the countdown reaches zero. Click Reset to stop it early.The alarm is off by default.

How do I change the timer duration?

There are two ways:Quick presets: below the time fields you’ll find one-click presets:

1m: one minute
5m: five minutes (default)
25m: classic Pomodoro work session

Custom duration: click the hours, minutes, or seconds field and type a value. Click Start or press Enter when ready.

Getting Started

Features

Help

Options

Setting up

Controls

Alarm

Multi-tab sync

Pomodoro Technique

Keyboard shortcuts

Frequently Asked Questions

​Options

​Setting up

​Controls

​Alarm

​Multi-tab sync

​Pomodoro Technique

​Keyboard shortcuts

​Frequently Asked Questions

Options

Setting up

Controls

Alarm

Multi-tab sync

Pomodoro Technique

Keyboard shortcuts

Frequently Asked Questions