Big Focus Timer
Space start / pause·R reset
getkappi.com
A free full-screen focus timer
The Big Focus Timer is a free countdown built for one job: being impossible to ignore. Set a time, go full screen on a second monitor or tablet and keep the giant digits in view while you work. There’s nothing to sign up for and nothing to configure.
How to use it
- Type the one thing you’re working on. Optional but naming a single task makes it much harder to drift into a second one.
- Pick a time.45 minutes is a good default. Use 25 if you’re easing in.
- Go full screen and put it somewhere you’ll see it without turning your head.
- Put your phone out of reach or block it.
- Work until the chime. Then take 5 to 10 minutes off and go again.
Why a big timer works
A visible deadline turns “I’ll get to it” into a race. Work stops expanding to fill the afternoon (that’s Parkinson’s law) and you naturally speed up as the finish line gets closer. It’s the same idea behind the kitchen timer Alex Hormozi works with. Read the full breakdown in the Hormozi timer method.
Keyboard shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Space | Start, pause or resume |
| R | Reset |
| F | Toggle full screen |
| Enter | Start from the task field |
What’s included
- Giant full-screen countdown digits
- Presets for 15, 25, 45 and 60 minutes plus custom times up to 4 hours
- Soft chime when time is up
- Countdown shown in the browser tab title
- Keeps your screen awake while the timer runs
- Keyboard shortcuts: Space, R and F
- Optional one-line task so you remember what you're racing
- Remembers your last setup. No account, nothing uploaded
Frequently asked questions
Is the Big Focus Timer free?
Yes. It's completely free with no sign-up and no ads. It runs in your browser and your settings are saved only on your device.
How long should I set a focus timer for?
45 minutes is a strong default and what Alex Hormozi suggests. If long sessions feel hard start with 25 minutes and work up. Take a 5 to 10 minute break between blocks.
Will the timer keep running if I switch tabs?
Yes. The countdown is based on the clock rather than the tab staying open in front, so it stays accurate in the background. The time left also shows in the tab title and on desktop browsers the chime plays when it ends. Phones may pause sound in background tabs so keep the timer on screen there.
Will my screen turn off while the timer runs?
In browsers that support the Screen Wake Lock API (recent Chrome, Edge and Safari) the timer keeps your screen awake while it's running.
Why should the timer be big?
A countdown you can see from across the desk works on you without you checking it. A small timer or one on your phone means stopping to look. Looking at your phone is how most focus sessions end.
Can this timer block apps on my phone?
No, a website can't block apps. For that use Kappi on iPhone: start a focus session and it blocks the apps you choose with Apple's Screen Time until the session ends.
Keep going
Guide
Alex Hormozi's Timer Method: Use a Big Timer to Get More Done
What Alex Hormozi actually said about working against a timer, why a big visible countdown sharpens focus (Parkinson's law, goal gradient, phone distraction) and a step-by-step way to run it.
Free tool
Hormozi Timer
A free full-screen focus timer built around Alex Hormozi's kitchen timer habit: 35, 45 and 60 minute blocks, a 4 hour sprint and a count of every pause so you see how often you got distracted. No sign-up.
Free tool
52/17 Timer
A free full-screen interval timer for the 52/17 rule: a 52-minute focus block, then a 17-minute break that starts on its own, with 80/17, 112/26 and 25/5 presets and a count of finished blocks. No sign-up.