Set multiple timers in iOS 17
While each major version of iOS comes with a series of feature updates, once in a while, we'll find certain features that make us wonder why Apple took so long to implement them.
This time, we're going to explore the new feature on the iPhone that allows you to set multiple timers.
This is a long-awaited feature, as it was not possible for iPhone users to fulfill this need until then – especially after Apple added this feature to watchOS 8 for the Apple Watch in 2021 and iOS 12 for the HomePod in 2018.
In other words, in the last two years, the iPhone and iPad have been two of the few Apple devices that can't run multiple timers at the same time – at least without resorting to third-party apps.
Since iOS 14.7, you can use the Home app to set multiple timers on HomePods, but you won't find them in the Clock app.
Thankfully, Apple has finally solved this problem with iOS 17. It's undoubtedly a belated update, but at least it's coming.
As on the Apple Watch and HomePod, you can now use Siri on your iPhone to manually set and check multiple timers by voice or through the Clock app.
What's more, you can also give each timer a name so you can remember exactly why you set them. This feature is especially useful in busy kitchen scenarios such as dealing with multiple recipes.
Use Siri to set multiple timers on your iPhone
Use Siri to set multiple timers on your iPhone
In many cases, Siri is the easiest way to start a timer, and it works the same way that an Apple Watch or HomePod does.
Just press and hold the side button on your iPhone or call Siri using "Hey Siri" or "Siri" and ask it to set, check, or cancel the timer, with the option to add a name. For example:
- Hey Siri, set a timer for 35 minutes.
- Siri,15 分钟倒计时。
- Hey Siri, set a two-hour timer to take the rotisserie chicken out of the oven.
- Siri, check my timer.
- Hey Siri, check my rotisserie chicken timer.
- Siri, cancel my coffee timer.
Use the Clock app to set multiple timers on your iPhone
Use the Clock app to set multiple timers on your iPhone
If you don't want to use your voice to set the timer, you can set it directly in the "Clock" APP. This is similar to how you've always been able to set a single timer, but now you can add multiple timers and even access a preset time and restart the most recent timer. Here's how to do it:
- Open the Clock app on your iPhone.
- Select Timer in the bottom right corner.
- If no timer is running, you will be taken directly to the screen to set the timer. Select the number of hours, minutes, and seconds you want it to run, and if you want to give it a name, you can also choose a label.
- Select When the timer is over and choose the sound you want to play when the timer runs out. If you want to use it as a sleep timer, you can also choose "Stop Playback".
- Press the green "Start" button to start the timer.
- If the timer is already running, select the plus button in the upper-right corner to create another timer.
- Follow steps 3 and 4 above to set up additional timers.
- When you're done, select Start in the top right corner.
- Note that when setting a different timer, you can also choose from a range of preset times. Selecting one of them will start a new timer that immediately counts down from the selected time without any additional steps.
You can also restart other recent timers from the "Recents" section by selecting the green play button on the right. These timers can't be edited; they can only be started or deleted (by swiping from right to left).
Once one or more timers start running, you'll see them all counting down at the top of the Timers screen. You can pause and resume any timer by tapping the pause/play button on the right, edit the label or sound of the timer in progress by tapping on the time, or cancel it using the standard swipe left delete gesture.
Manage timers from your iPhone lock screen
Manage timers from your iPhone lock screen
Any new timer that you start using Siri or the Clock app will appear as a real-time activity on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island on your iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 15 models.
The lock screen will show all the running timers in the stack, with the shortest timer at the top. Clicking on the stack expands the list of timers sorted from the shortest to the longest.
From here, you can pause and resume the timer by selecting the Pause/Play button, cancel the timer by tapping the X, or turn it off from the home screen by swiping from right to left. Note that turning off the timer from the lock screen doesn't cancel it - it's still visible in the Clock app and turns off at the specified time.
Pause and resume the timer by selecting the Pause/Play button, and cancel the timer by tapping the X
Agility will display the shortest remaining timer that is still displayed on the lock screen. Turning off the timer from the lock screen will also turn it off from the Dynamic Island. You can tap and hold the Dynamic Island to pop up the status of the current time, or tap once to open the Clock app to see all the running timers.
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