5 minute timer
Five minutes is the classic warning before a change. A 5-minute pie starts as a full disk, and the whole room watches it empty.
5:00
Time is up.
The free Hourpie app can alert you even when this tab is closed, and it keeps the pie on your lock screen and in widgets.
The iPhone, iPad, and Android app is coming soon. See what the app does
Want it on your lock screen? See the free app
Give a five-minute warning
Stopping an activity without notice is hard, for many children and for many adults with ADHD. Saying "five minutes" helps, but the words are gone a moment later. A pie on the screen keeps the warning visible, so nobody has to ask how much time is left.
Run the warning
- Say "five minutes" and start the pie at the same moment.
- Leave the pie where everyone can see it.
- When half the pie is gone, say what should be finished.
- When the pie is empty, move to the next activity without a second warning.
What fits in 5 minutes
In the classroom
- Clean-up time
- A quick vocabulary review
- Independent reading check-in
At home and at work
- Tidying one room before you leave
- Getting dressed in the morning
- A short break during homework
Try this
Use the same five-minute length every time. A warning that always lasts as long is easier to plan around.
The Hourpie app keeps a 5 minute timer on your lock screen.See the app
5 minute timer questions
How do I start a 5 minute timer?
Press Start. This page opens with the pie set to 5 minutes. When time is up, the timer plays three soft tones and counts the time over.
Can I show it to a class or change the length?
Yes. For a class, turn on Projector colors and press Full screen. To change the length, tap another length under the pie, or drag around the pie to set any time from 1 to 180 minutes.
Why give a five-minute warning?
People stop more easily when they know the end is coming. A pie shows how much of the five minutes is left, so nobody has to ask.
Is 5 minutes long enough for a break?
For a short pause between tasks, yes. Stand up, get water, and come back when the pie is empty. The Pomodoro Technique uses five-minute breaks between 25-minute work sessions.