Use timer-only mode, the pop-out, full screen and an app window

Timer-only mode

Click the timer-only button in the header (or press F) to hide everything except the timer card. Press Esc, or click the button in the top corner, to show everything again.

Your window name shows in a top corner so you can tell windows apart — on the right by default, or on the left under In timer-only mode, show the window name on the on the Windows tab in Settings.

Pop out the timer

Click the pop-out button in the header (or press P) to open the timer in a small window of its own. The countdown sizes itself to fill the window, and on a short window the extras step aside so the digits stay big. Pressing P again brings the same window to the front instead of opening another. The pop-out keeps its own countdown and alerts running, so you can minimise the main page.

Set it up on the Layout tab in Settings, under Pop-out window. Click Open the pop-out to preview to see changes as you make them.

• Show in the pop-out window: status and calendar, event name, event time, the line under the countdown, the progress bar, the Join and Stop flashing buttons, Also coming up (needs Timers to show set to 2 or more), and the Happening now, Later and Focus cards (Focus needs a Focus day agenda calendar). The countdown is always shown.
• Pop-out header: the pop-out opens with its header collapsed to the items you tick — the window name, Google Calendar button and full-screen button by default. Its arrow button shows the full header.
• Pop-out window position: Where I last left it, or Always open at this position and size. For a fixed spot, click Choose on screen and draw it on a map of your screen — drag the box to move it or its edges to resize it, or select it and use the arrow keys (Shift + arrow keys resize). Then click Show it on screen to open a stand-in window on that spot, drag it into place and click Use this spot in it. Or put the pop-out where you want it and click Use the pop-out's current spot. If Chrome supports more than one screen here, an Allow other screens button appears; click it to place the pop-out on a second monitor.

Alerts and everything on the Display tab apply to the pop-out too, and an open pop-out updates as soon as you change a setting. If nothing opens, Chrome has blocked the pop-up: allow pop-ups for the page and try again.

Full screen

The full-screen button hides all of Chrome's toolbars with one click, and Esc brings them back. Chrome only allows full screen after a click, so Next Up can't start that way automatically. If Chrome doesn't allow it, press F11 (Windows) or Ctrl+Cmd+F (Mac) instead.

Its own window, without tabs

On the Windows tab in Settings, open Open Next Up by URLflows in its own window, set the window size, then click Launch in a clean window. It opens the whole of Next Up in a separate window with no tabs, bookmarks or toolbar, and you can close the original tab. Chrome still shows a thin, read-only address strip on these windows.

To remove that strip too, copy the Windows shortcut or Mac command from the same section. It opens Next Up as a small app window with no tabs or address bar that you can keep beside your work. Your settings and theme stay the same. If you move the file, copy the shortcut again.

Timer size

Use the − and + buttons, the − and + keys, or Timer size on the Display tab in Settings. It goes from 50% to 250%, in steps of 10. Press 0 to reset to 100%. The countdown always stays inside the card, however wide you make it.

Keyboard shortcuts

• F — timer-only mode on or off
• P — pop the timer out into its own window
• Esc — leave timer-only mode
• H — collapse or expand the header
• + / − — bigger or smaller timer; 0 resets it
• Ctrl+Z (Cmd+Z on a Mac) — in Settings, undo the last change

Related guides

Resize the timer card and rearrange the header in Arrange the layout and choose a theme. Alerts are covered in Set up alerts, colours and sounds.