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title: Tools — Timer description: Interval timer with presets, sound, flash, and vibrate alerts.

Tools — Timer

The standalone interval timer, reachable from the Tools tab → segmented control → Timer. Designed for the "I just need a timer" use case where the full workout engine is overkill.

This is the simplest screen in the app on purpose. Two big numbers, three buttons, every preset one tap away.

Layout

  1. Big remaining-time display

    Center of screen. The current phase's countdown, full-width digits.

  2. Round indicator

    Below the time. "Round 3 / 8" for multi-round timers. Hidden when it's a single-phase timer.

  3. Phase pill

    Shows current phase (Work, Rest, Prep). Colored to match.

  4. Control row

    Start / Pause / Reset across the bottom.

  5. Quick-config row (top)

    Buttons for Prep / Work / Rest / Rounds. Tap any to inline-edit.

  6. Presets drawer (hamburger top-left)

    Saved configurations. Tap to load.

Built-in presets

| Preset | Prep | Work | Rest | Rounds | | ------------------------- | ---- | ---- | ---- | ------ | | Tabata | 10 s | 20 s | 10 s | 8 | | EMOM (every min on min) | 0 | 60 s | 0 | 10 | | 30/30 | 10 s | 30 s | 30 s | 8 | | 45/15 | 10 s | 45 s | 15 s | 8 | | Pomodoro | 0 | 25 m | 5 m | 4 | | Boxing rounds (3-min) | 30 s | 180 s| 60 s | 12 |

Alert types

Three independent toggles in the Timer's ⋯ menu:

  • Sound — countdown ticks + transition sting. Same sound bank as the main workout engine; Free tier uses Classic.
  • Flash — the iPhone torch (LED) pulses at the transition. Use this in headphones-on, sound-off contexts (running outside, swimming side decks).
  • Vibrate — the iPhone's haptic engine fires at transitions. Identical pattern to the Apple Watch wrist tap.

All three can be on together. They're not exclusive.

Background behavior

The Timer keeps running when:

  • The app is backgrounded — yes, audio + haptics continue, Live Activity appears.
  • The screen is locked — yes, same as above.
  • A phone call comes in — pauses automatically, resumes on call end.
  • Another app takes the audio session (e.g. Spotify) — the timer visual continues, only sound is suppressed.

Save as preset

  1. Configure the durations you want

    Tap Prep / Work / Rest / Rounds and set values.

  2. Tap ⋯ → Save preset

    Name it whatever you want.

  3. It appears in the drawer next to the built-ins

    Long-press to rename or delete.

Saved presets live in Core Data, sync via iCloud if you've enabled that.

Timer vs Workout

You'll feel the difference quickly. Use the Timer when:

  • You want a no-friction interval timer (Pomodoro, gym intervals).
  • You're cooking, studying, doing anything non-fitness with a need for an interval timer.
  • You're testing a duration before you build a full workout.

Use the workout engine (My tab → ＋) when:

  • You want voice cues, pre-block notes, cadence patterns, BGM.
  • You want session history and stats.
  • You want Apple Watch mirror.

The Timer doesn't write to Stats or HealthKit — it's stateless.

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