FAQ & Help Center

What is FakeTimer?

FakeTimer is a free online countdown timer that displays one duration to your audience while the actual countdown runs at a different pace. For example, you can show a 10-minute countdown on screen while only 9 minutes of real time pass. The timer adjusts its tick speed so everything looks natural — it simply counts down faster or slower than real time.

How do I set up a timer?

Is FakeTimer free?

Yes, completely free. No registration, no premium tier, no hidden fees. Just open the page and start using it. We keep FakeTimer free because we believe everyone should have access to creative timing tools.

Do I need to create an account?

No. FakeTimer works instantly in your browser with zero setup. There's no account creation, no email required, and no app to download. Just visit the site and go.

How does the speed multiplier work?

The speed is calculated by dividing Display time by Actual time. If you set Display to 10 minutes and Actual to 5 minutes, each displayed second passes in half a real second — the timer ticks at 2x speed. If Display is less than Actual (say, 5 displayed over 10 real minutes), the timer runs at 0.5x speed, making each displayed second last two real seconds.

Can people tell the timer is fake?

For small differences (10-20% faster or slower), it's virtually undetectable. Human time perception is surprisingly poor — most people can't tell if a second is slightly longer or shorter than normal. For larger differences (2x speed or more), the ticking becomes noticeably fast, but this can also be used intentionally for comedic effect or dramatic tension.

What happens when the timer reaches zero?

The display shows "00:00" and stops. If you've enabled sound using the bell icon, an audio alert plays. You can then click "Reset" to return to your original settings and start again.

What does "Hide Interface" do?

Clicking "Hide Interface" removes all controls and branding from the screen, leaving only the countdown number visible. This is essential for presentations, streaming overlays, or any situation where you want a clean, distraction-free timer display. Click "Show Interface" to bring everything back.

Can I use FakeTimer in fullscreen?

Yes. Press F11 on your keyboard (or use your browser's fullscreen option) to go fullscreen. The interface elements automatically hide in fullscreen mode, giving you a clean, large countdown display that's perfect for projecting onto a screen or monitor.

How can I use FakeTimer for game nights?

Set a faster timer for trivia rounds to ramp up pressure, or slow it down to give players "mercy seconds" they don't know about. You can create trick rounds where the timer looks like 60 seconds but actually runs for 45, or give bonus time by displaying 30 seconds while 40 real seconds pass. It works great for charades, Pictionary, trivia, and party games. Read our full game night guide.

How do I use FakeTimer for presentations?

Display a slightly faster timer to keep speakers concise without them knowing they have a few extra seconds. For example, show a 5-minute countdown that actually runs for 5 minutes and 30 seconds — speakers wrap up early, leaving buffer time. Use "Hide Interface" for a clean display. See our presentation guide.

Can I use FakeTimer for Twitch or YouTube streaming?

Yes. Add FakeTimer as a browser source in OBS or Streamlabs. Use "Hide Interface" mode for a clean overlay. Create suspense by manipulating countdown speed during subscriber challenges, boss fight timers, or just chatting segments. Pair it with chat commands for interactive experiences. Read our streaming setup guide.

Is FakeTimer useful for teachers and classrooms?

Teachers use FakeTimer to manage classroom activities — set a slightly faster timer for tests to encourage students to work efficiently, or slow it down for activities where you want students to feel less rushed. It's also great for timed group work, spelling bees, and classroom games. The fullscreen display makes it easy to project for the whole class to see.

How does FakeTimer help with marketing and sales?

Countdown timers create urgency in marketing campaigns. A timer that ticks slightly faster than real time heightens the feeling of scarcity during flash sales, product launches, or limited-time offers. Display it on landing pages or event screens to drive conversions. Read our marketing guide.

The timer isn't starting. What's wrong?

The sound alert isn't playing.

The timer display looks too small on my screen.

Try using fullscreen mode (F11 on desktop) for a larger display. On mobile, rotating to landscape orientation gives the numbers more horizontal space. Using "Hide Interface" also helps by removing surrounding elements and centering focus on the countdown.

Can I pause the timer?

Currently, FakeTimer supports Start and Reset only. There is no pause function. If you need to stop the timer, click Reset, which will bring it back to the beginning. We may add pause functionality in a future update.

Does FakeTimer store my data?

No. FakeTimer runs entirely in your browser. Your timer settings are not sent to any server, stored in any database, or tracked in any way. When you close the page, everything is gone. We don't use cookies for tracking your timer usage.

Does FakeTimer work offline?

Once the page is loaded, the timer functionality works without an internet connection. The timer runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript. However, you need an internet connection to initially load the page.

What's the best speed difference to use without anyone noticing?

Keep the difference within 10-20% for an undetectable adjustment. For example, displaying 10 minutes over 9 real minutes (1.1x speed) or 10 minutes over 11 real minutes (0.9x speed). Research on time perception shows most people can't consciously detect speed changes below 15-20%, especially when they're focused on a task.

How do I use FakeTimer as an OBS overlay?

Can I use FakeTimer on a projector for events?

Yes, and it works very well. Open FakeTimer on the computer connected to the projector, set your times, start the countdown, then press F11 for fullscreen. The interface automatically hides in fullscreen mode, leaving a large, bold countdown number that's easy to read even from a distance. The dark background (black) is ideal for projection.

What's the maximum time I can set?

Both the Actual and Display fields accept values from 0 to 59 minutes. For longer durations, you can run multiple sessions back-to-back. The timer is optimized for short-to-medium duration countdowns where time manipulation has the most noticeable impact.