What is Multi Stopwatch?

Multi Stopwatch is a versatile timing tool that lets you run multiple independent stopwatches at the same time. Unlike a single stopwatch, this tool allows you to track several activities simultaneously—perfect for workouts, races, study sessions, cooking, or any situation where you need to time more than one thing at once.

Each stopwatch operates independently, meaning you can start, pause, reset, and record laps for each one without affecting the others. Whether you're timing multiple runners in a race, tracking different exercises in a workout, or measuring task durations for productivity, Multi Stopwatch keeps everything organized and accessible.

Who Is This Tool For?

Athletes & Coaches

Track multiple runners, swimmers, or players during training sessions and competitions.

Fitness Enthusiasts

Time workout sets, rest periods, and different exercises for optimal training results.

Students

Use timed study sessions for different subjects with the Pomodoro technique.

Cooks

Manage multiple dishes with different cooking times simultaneously.

Event Organizers

Time competitions, activities, and presentations with precision.

Anyone

Track multiple time-based activities at once for any purpose.

Key Benefits

Parallel Tracking

The main advantage of using multiple stopwatches is parallel tracking. Instead of manually resetting a single stopwatch between activities or trying to remember split times, you can dedicate one stopwatch to each activity.

Eliminates confusion between activities
Ensures accurate timing for everything
No manual calculations needed

Performance Analysis

The lap recording feature adds another layer of usefulness. When timing a run or workout, you can mark each lap or interval, and the tool automatically identifies your performance metrics.

Automatic best and worst lap identification
Visual performance indicators
Analyze progress without manual work

Your Data Stays Private

100% Privacy Guaranteed: All timing data is processed and stored entirely in your browser—no server uploads, no tracking, no data collection.

No server uploads - Your stopwatch data never leaves your device
Local storage only - Settings and timing history persist on your browser
No tracking - We don't collect any usage data or analytics on your timing activities

Table of Contents

1. What is Multi Stopwatch?
2. How to Use Multi Stopwatch
3. Features
4. Frequently Asked Questions

How to Use Multi Stopwatch

Getting started with Multi Stopwatch is straightforward. Follow these steps to begin timing your activities.

Add Stopwatches

When you first open the tool, you'll see a few default stopwatches ready to use. To add more:

Click the "Add Stopwatch" button in the header
Or click the "+" placeholder card in the grid
Or press N on your keyboard for quick access

Each new stopwatch appears with a default name like "Stopwatch 1" which you can customize by clicking on the name field.

Start and Control

Each stopwatch has three main controls:

Play/Pause

Start or pause the timer. The button icon changes based on the current state.

Lap

Record a split time while running. Each lap shows the time since the previous lap.

Reset

Stop the stopwatch and clear all recorded time and laps.

Record Laps

While a stopwatch is running, click the Lap button (or press L) to record a split time. The laps panel will appear showing:

Lap number
Lap time (duration of that specific lap)
Total elapsed time at that point

Performance Tracking: After recording at least two laps, the tool automatically highlights your best lap (fastest, in green) and worst lap (slowest, in red).

Use Global Controls

When managing multiple stopwatches, use the global control buttons:

Start All - Begin all stopped stopwatches simultaneously
Pause All - Pause all running stopwatches at once
Reset All - Reset all stopwatches to zero

Customize Your Setup

Personalize each stopwatch:

Name - Click the name to rename it (e.g., "Runner 1", "Warm-up", "Reading")
Color - Click the color button to choose from 6 colors for visual organization

Keyboard Shortcuts

Speed up your workflow with these shortcuts:

N

Add Stopwatch

Quickly create a new stopwatch

Space

Start/Pause

Toggle selected stopwatch

L

Record Lap

Mark split time for selected stopwatch

Tips for Best Results

Use Templates (Workout, Study, Work, Race) for pre-configured stopwatch groups
Switch to List View when managing many stopwatches for a compact layout
Enable Show Milliseconds in settings for precise timing
Color-code your stopwatches by activity type for easier identification

Features

Multi Stopwatch is packed with features designed to make timing multiple activities simple and efficient.

Multiple Independent Stopwatches

Run as many stopwatches as you need, each operating completely independently. Start, pause, reset, and record laps on any stopwatch without affecting the others.

Timing multiple participants in a race or competition
Tracking different exercises in a circuit workout
Managing parallel tasks or projects

Lap Recording with Analysis

Record split times during any running stopwatch. The lap feature captures comprehensive performance data.

Individual lap duration - Time since the previous lap
Cumulative time - Total elapsed time at that moment
Performance indicators - Automatic highlighting of best and worst laps

Pre-built Templates

Get started quickly with four pre-configured templates:

Workout Warm-up, Exercise, Rest, Cool-down (4 stopwatches)
Study Reading, Practice, Review (3 stopwatches)
Work Task 1, Task 2, Meeting, Break (4 stopwatches)
Race Runner 1, Runner 2, Runner 3, Runner 4 (4 stopwatches)

Grid and List Views

Choose the layout that works best for your situation:

Grid View - Card layout with full controls and lap display, best for detailed monitoring
List View - Compact rows for managing many stopwatches at once

Color Coding

Assign one of six colors to each stopwatch for visual organization. Colors appear on the badge, making it easy to identify stopwatches at a glance—especially useful when tracking different teams, activity types, or people.

Global Controls

Manage all stopwatches with a single click:

Start All - Begin all idle stopwatches simultaneously
Pause All - Pause every running stopwatch
Reset All - Clear all stopwatches to zero

Millisecond Precision

Toggle milliseconds display in settings for precision timing down to hundredths of a second. Perfect for competitive timing, sports analysis, or any activity requiring exact measurements.

Background Operation

Stopwatches continue running accurately even when you switch to another browser tab or application. When you return, all times are correctly updated—no timing is lost.

Persistent Storage

Your stopwatches, settings, and recorded laps are automatically saved to your browser's local storage. Close the browser and return later—everything will be exactly as you left it.

Dark Mode Support

Full dark mode compatibility ensures comfortable use in any lighting condition, with properly adjusted colors maintaining readability and visual hierarchy.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many stopwatches can I run at once?

There's no fixed limit. You can add as many stopwatches as you need. Performance remains smooth even with dozens of stopwatches running simultaneously, though for practical organization, most users work with 2-10 stopwatches at a time.

Will my stopwatches keep running if I switch tabs?

Yes. All stopwatches continue running accurately in the background when you switch to another browser tab or application. The timing calculations use real timestamps, so there's no drift or lost time.

Are my stopwatch times saved automatically?

Yes, your stopwatches, recorded laps, and settings are automatically saved to your browser's local storage. When you return to the page, everything will be restored—including elapsed times for paused stopwatches and all recorded lap data.

How do I record a lap?

While a stopwatch is running, click the Lap button on that stopwatch's card, or select the stopwatch and press L on your keyboard. The lap will appear in the laps panel below the time display.

What do the green and red indicators on laps mean?

When you have two or more laps recorded, the tool automatically identifies your best lap (shortest time, marked in green) and worst lap (longest time, marked in red). This helps you quickly analyze your performance without manual comparison.

Can I rename my stopwatches?

Yes. Click on the name field at the top of any stopwatch card and type your preferred name. Names are saved automatically and can be up to 30 characters long.

How do I delete a stopwatch?

Click the X button in the top-right corner of the stopwatch card. The stopwatch and all its lap data will be removed immediately.

What are templates?

Templates are pre-configured sets of stopwatches designed for common use cases. Clicking a template (Workout, Study, Work, or Race) adds multiple named and color-coded stopwatches to your workspace instantly.

How do I show or hide milliseconds?

Open the Settings panel (gear icon) and toggle the "Show milliseconds" option. When enabled, times display as 00:00:00.00 with hundredths of a second.

Can I turn off the sound effects?

Yes. In the Settings panel, toggle "Sound effects" off to disable click and lap sounds.

How do I start or pause all stopwatches at once?

Use the global control buttons in the header: Start All begins all stopped stopwatches, Pause All pauses all running ones, and Reset All clears all stopwatches to zero.

What's the difference between Grid and List view?

Grid View shows each stopwatch as a full card with all controls and the lap panel visible—best for detailed monitoring of fewer stopwatches. List View displays stopwatches in compact rows without the lap panel, ideal for managing many stopwatches at once.

Is my data stored on a server?

No. All data is stored locally in your browser. Nothing is uploaded to any server. This means your timing data is private, but it also means the data won't sync across different devices or browsers.

Can I use keyboard shortcuts?

Yes. Press N to add a new stopwatch, Space to start/pause the selected stopwatch, and L to record a lap. Shortcuts are disabled when typing in input fields to avoid accidental triggers.