How to run multiple countdown timers at once on Windows
Short answer
The Windows Clock app can run several timers at once: open its Timer page, add a timer for each task and start them together. For quicker setup, a timer tool with one-click presets helps. AppRig runs any number of named countdown timers and stopwatches side by side, and shows a Windows notification with the timer's name when one finishes.
The manual way
Windows comes with the Clock app (Alarms & Clock on older Windows 10 builds). Open it from the Start menu, go to the Timer page and use the + button to add a timer with a name and a length. You can add several timers and start them all; each counts down on its own, and Windows shows a notification with an alarm sound when one is done. A running timer can also be expanded into a small window that stays on top.
It works, but setting up each new timer takes a few clicks, and there is no quick way to spin up a fresh 5 or 10 minute countdown alongside the ones already running.
The faster way with AppRig
AppRig keeps timers inside its Clock tool. Click a preset chip (5 min, 10 min, 30 min or 1 hour) to start a countdown instantly, type a custom length like 25m or 1h30m, or start a stopwatch. Run as many as you like side by side, each as its own tile with a draining progress ring. Click a tile to pause or resume, click its name to rename it, and use the restart icon to run the same timer again.
Tiles change colour as they run, turning amber in the last 30 seconds and green when finished. When a countdown reaches zero, AppRig shows a Windows notification titled Timer done with the timer’s name, so you know which one went off. One honest limit: running timers stop if you close AppRig.
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Common questions
Can the Windows Clock app run more than one timer?
Yes. On the Timer page of the Clock app, use the + button to add a timer, give it a name and a length, and start it. Each timer runs on its own, so several can count down at once. When one finishes, Windows shows a notification and plays an alarm sound, so you know which task is up.
How do I keep a timer visible on top of other windows?
In the Windows Clock app, a timer can be expanded into a small window that stays on top of your other apps, so you can keep an eye on it while you work. If you only need to know when time is up, the notification is usually enough and the timer can stay in the background.
Will my timers still go off if I close the app?
It depends on the app. Windows Clock timers are designed to notify you even when the app is not in front of you, as long as the PC is awake. Many third-party timer apps only run while they are open, so check before relying on one for something important. A PC that goes to sleep can delay or miss any timer.
Related questions
AppRig does this and more, all in one local-first Windows app. See what AppRig does →