Pomodoro Timer How to set a custom pomodoro time on iPhone
25 minutes doesn't suit everyone. In Settings, the Timer section changes Focus Duration, Short Break, Long Break and Sessions Before Long Break. Want to keep a combination and switch back to it later? Build it in the Modes tab with Add Custom Mode instead.
★ 5 (5) Why change the classic 25/5/15?
The 25-minute block is a starting point, not a rule carved into the method. Reading a dense chapter or writing code often needs longer just to get going. A tired afternoon, or your first week trying this at all, usually goes better with shorter ones.
Pomodoro Timer ships the classic numbers in the Study mode. Everything underneath it is yours to change.
Change the default lengths in Settings
- Open the Settings tab.
- In the Timer section, set Focus Duration (5 to 90 minutes).
- Set Short Break (1 to 30 minutes) and Long Break (5 to 60 minutes).
- Use the stepper on Sessions Before Long Break to choose 2 to 8 focus sessions per cycle.
- Go back to the Timer tab and tap play: the new lengths apply from the next phase you start.
Save your own combinations as custom modes
A custom mode keeps a full recipe: a Name, an emoji, the three lengths and the cycle. A 40/8/20 combination is a common choice; it's handy if you switch between a long writing block in the morning and short admin blocks in the afternoon.
- Open the Modes tab and tap Add Custom Mode.
- Type a Name and pick an emoji.
- Under Durations, set focus (5 to 120 minutes, in 5-minute steps), short break (1 to 30) and long break (5 to 60, in 5-minute steps).
- Under Cycle, choose how many focus sessions come before the long break.
- Save the mode, then tap it in Modes whenever you want to use it.
The free version keeps 1 custom mode, which is one of its tighter limits: if you want a writing mode and a reading mode and an admin mode, you're paying for Premium. Premium also unlocks the Deep Work and Light Focus presets.
How long is a pomodoro cycle with different settings?
After each focus block the app gives you a short break, unless you have reached the sessions-before-long-break count; then it gives you the long break and starts counting again. That makes it easy to work out a whole cycle before you begin.
| Mode | Focus / short / long | Sessions | Focus time | Break time | Cycle length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study | 25 / 5 / 15 min | 4 | 100 min | 30 min | 2 h 10 min |
| Deep Work (Premium) | 50 / 10 / 30 min | 4 | 200 min | 60 min | 4 h 20 min |
| Light Focus (Premium) | 15 / 5 / 10 min | 4 | 60 min | 25 min | 1 h 25 min |
| Custom example | 40 / 8 / 20 min | 3 | 120 min | 36 min | 2 h 36 min |
Should the next phase start automatically?
In a custom mode you will also see Auto-Continue with two switches, Auto-start Break and Auto-start Focus, plus Countdown Before Start (3 to 30 seconds). These are Premium. On the free version each phase waits for you to tap play, which some people prefer because it forces a real pause.
Where people get this wrong
- Changing numbers every day. The cycle never stays put long enough to tell what is working.
- Setting a long break shorter than the short break. The app lets you, but the cycle loses its point.
- Picking 8 sessions before the long break with long blocks: at 50 minutes each, that's over 6 hours before a real rest.
Questions and answers
What is the longest focus time I can set?
Is this a free customizable pomodoro timer?
How long is a pomodoro break?
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