# Focus with the Pomodoro timer > Pick a task or habit, press Space, and the focus timer counts the time on it. Pomodoro mode runs sets of 25 minutes, each followed by a 5 minute break. Every 4 sets, the break lasts 15 minutes. Timer mode counts without breaks. Change each length in the timer settings. - Page: https://dabadoro.com/docs/focus-timer/ - Applies to: Dabadoro 1.2 - Last updated: 2026-10-22 *Figure: The focus timer panel with a study task picked, set 3 of 4.* - The round timer is a button too. Click it to start or pause. - The title of the card you picked on the schedule. - The set and the two breaks, with their lengths. - It turns into Pause while the clock runs. *Example data.* ## Start a focus session The timer always runs on one task or habit, and the time is saved to it. *Example data: the picked task's card fills as you focus.* 1. **Pick a task or habit** Click its card on the schedule, or use **Today's schedule** at the top right in fullscreen. A task in the Tasks list must be dragged into your day first. Until then the panel reads **No activity selected**. **Start focus** stays grey for a finished item or a past day. 2. **Press Start focus** Or press `Space`. Press it again, or **Pause**, to stop the clock. 3. **Finish the item** Press the tick (Mark activity as finished) beside **Pause**. ## Choose Timer or Pomodoro Pomodoro splits your time into sets and breaks. Timer counts on one clock with no breaks. *Figure: The foot of the timer panel: the Timer and Pomodoro switch, the Timer settings gear, Expand in app and Fullscreen.* - **Timer or Pomodoro**: Switch here, or press `P`. - **Timer settings**: Opens **Focus timer**, where every length lives. Breaks never count toward your [focus totals](https://dabadoro.com/docs/analytics/). When a set ends, the panel moves to the break: press **Start break**, or **Skip break**. Why a timed set makes starting easier is in [the method](https://dabadoro.com/docs/method/#timer). ## Set the length of sets and breaks Each length is a stepper in the timer settings. *Figure: One cycle: 4 focus sets of 25 minutes, 3 short breaks of 5 minutes and a long break of 15 minutes.* - **One cycle**: 2 h 10 min - **Focus**: 1 h 40 min - **Breaks**: 30 min Ranges: Focus 1 to 120 min, Short break 1 to 60 min, Long break 1 to 120 min, Long break frequency 1 to 24 sets. 1. **Open the timer settings** Press the gear at the foot of the timer panel. Or open Settings, then the [**Timer** tab](https://dabadoro.com/docs/settings/#timer), and press **Open** beside **Timer settings**. 2. **Change the lengths under Session durations (min)** A short break follows each full set, and a long break every **Long break frequency** sets. 3. **Press Save** Closing with unsaved changes asks first: **Save changes**, **Keep editing** or **Discard**. - **Auto-start breaks** starts each break as soon as a set ends. Off by default. - **Auto-start focus** starts the next set as soon as a break ends. Off by default. ## Pick an alarm sound The alarm plays when a set or a break ends, and when a timed item finishes. *Figure: Sound and notifications in the Focus timer settings: Alarm sound Echo, Test sound, Volume 50%, Alarm repeat 1.* *Sounds: None, Harmonic, Echo or Celestial.* Choose a sound under **Sound & notifications** and press **Test sound**. **Alarm repeat** plays it more than once. If you hear nothing, check that the sound is not **None** and **Volume** is above zero. ## Count sets across tasks By default each task counts its own sets. The Cycle section, in beta, counts them across everything. *Figure: The Cycle section of the Focus timer settings, in beta: Global set counter on, Reset cycle at midnight on, Current cycle 2 of 4 sets and Reset cycle.* *Example data.* With **Global set counter** on, switching tasks keeps your place in the cycle. **Reset cycle at midnight** starts a fresh cycle each day, and **Reset cycle** starts one now. ## Focus in fullscreen Two buttons at the foot of the panel give the timer more room. *Normal: The timer beside your day.* *Expand in app: The timer fills the window.* *Fullscreen: The timer fills the screen.* > **Shortcut:** Press `F` to step through the three views, and `Esc` or **Exit** to come back. In another app, the [floating timer](https://dabadoro.com/docs/floating-timer/) keeps the countdown on top of your windows. ## Know when the timer stops The timer stops on its own in three cases. *Figure: The Habit crossed midnight dialog for Read 20 pages on 19 Oct 2026.* *Example data.* - A timed item finishes when its planned time is up, and pays its coins. - One activity tracks at most 6 hours, and a planned timer goes up to the same cap. - A habit belongs to one day. At midnight its timer stops and asks: **Mark as completed** or **Not completed**. > **Tip:** Log work done without the timer with Complete activity in the card's menu. ## See also - [Pomodoro focus timer](https://dabadoro.com/focus-timer/): What the timer is for. - [Floating timer](https://dabadoro.com/docs/floating-timer/): The countdown on top of other windows.