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iPhone Stopwatch: How to Use It

Updated · Standard formula, shown below

This guide shows you how to use the built-in Stopwatch app on your iPhone to time anything from a workout to a cooking recipe. You’ll learn how to start, stop, lap, and reset the timer, plus how to switch between digital and analog display modes. No special setup is needed—the app is preinstalled on every iPhone.

What You’ll Need

  • An iPhone with the Clock app (preinstalled, cannot be deleted)
  • iOS 14 or later (the steps are nearly identical on older versions)

Step-by-Step

  1. Open the Clock app. Locate the Clock icon on your Home Screen or in your App Library. It’s a white icon with a black clock face.
  2. Tap the Stopwatch tab. At the bottom of the screen, you’ll see four tabs: World Clock, Alarm, Stopwatch, and Timer. Tap Stopwatch.
  3. Start the stopwatch. Tap the large green Start button in the center of the screen. The timer will begin counting immediately, showing minutes, seconds, and hundredths of a second.
  4. Record a lap (optional). While the stopwatch is running, tap the white Lap button on the left. This records the time since you last pressed Lap and starts a new lap. The lap times appear in a list below the main timer. You can record as many laps as you need.
  5. Pause the stopwatch. To pause, tap the red Stop button (the same button you used to start). The time freezes, and the button turns green again.
  6. Resume timing. If you paused, tap the green Start button to continue timing from where you left off. The stopwatch does not reset when you resume.
  7. Reset the stopwatch. After stopping, tap the white Reset button on the left. This clears the current time and all recorded laps, returning the display to 00:00.0.
  8. Switch display mode (optional). While the stopwatch is running or stopped, tap the small circular icon in the top-left corner of the screen (it looks like a clock face with a hand). This toggles between the digital readout (numbers) and an analog dial (a traditional clock face with a sweeping hand). The analog mode shows the total elapsed time, not lap times.

Common Mistakes

  • Pressing Stop instead of Lap. The large button is Stop, not Lap. If you tap Stop, the timer pauses—you won’t get a lap record. Use the small white Lap button on the left for laps.
  • Forgetting to reset before a new timing. If you don’t tap Reset after stopping, the next time you press Start it will continue from the previous time, not from zero. Always reset before starting a new session.
  • Confusing Stopwatch with Timer. The Stopwatch counts up from zero. The Timer counts down from a set duration. They are separate tabs in the Clock app. Make sure you’re on the Stopwatch tab.
  • Expecting lap times to show in the main display. The main display always shows total elapsed time. Lap times are listed below in a separate list. If you want to see a specific lap, look at the list, not the big numbers.

Tips

  • Use Siri to start the stopwatch. You can say “Hey Siri, start stopwatch” to begin timing hands‑free. Siri can also stop it, but you’ll need to use the app to reset or view laps.
  • Keep the screen awake. The stopwatch continues running even if your iPhone locks, but the screen will turn off. To keep the time visible, go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock and set it to “Never” while timing (remember to change it back later).
  • Use the analog dial for a quick glance. The analog mode is great for seeing overall progress at a glance, like how far along a 10‑minute run is.
  • Lap times are saved only while the app is open. If you close the Clock app, the stopwatch keeps running, but the lap list is cleared. The total time is still there when you reopen, but individual laps are gone.
  • Share lap times manually. There’s no export function. To share, take a screenshot of the lap list (press Side button + Volume Up on Face ID models, or Home + Side on older models).

Troubleshooting

  • The stopwatch doesn’t start. Make sure you’re on the Stopwatch tab, not the Timer tab. If the button says “Start” and is green, tap it. If it’s gray, try force‑closing the Clock app (swipe up from the bottom and hold, then swipe the Clock app away) and reopen it.
  • The time disappears when I lock the screen. That’s normal. The stopwatch continues running in the background. Unlock your iPhone and open the Clock app to see the updated time.
  • I lost my lap times. Lap times are only stored in memory while the app is open. If you closed the app or restarted your iPhone, they’re gone. Unfortunately, there’s no way to recover them.
  • The stopwatch shows 00:00 but I know time passed. If you see 00:00, the stopwatch was reset. This can happen if you tapped Reset accidentally, or if the app was force‑closed and reopened (though that usually keeps the total, not laps).
  • The analog dial doesn’t show seconds. The analog mode shows a sweeping second hand, but it doesn’t display hundredths of a second. For precise timing, switch back to digital mode.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Can I use the stopwatch in the background while using other apps? Yes. The stopwatch continues running even if you switch to another app or lock your screen. You can check the time anytime by opening the Clock app.
  2. Does the stopwatch work with the Always‑On Display on iPhone 14 Pro and later? Yes, on models with Always‑On Display, the stopwatch time remains visible on the lock screen if you have the Clock app open when you lock the phone. Otherwise, you need to open the app to see it.
  3. Can I set a specific duration on the stopwatch? No, the stopwatch only counts up. To count down from a set time, use the Timer tab instead.
  4. How many laps can I record? There is no official limit. You can record as many laps as you want, but the list may become long. Older iPhones may slow down with hundreds of laps, but that’s rare.
  5. Can I export my stopwatch data to a fitness app? No, the Clock app doesn’t integrate with other apps. You would need to use a dedicated third‑party stopwatch or fitness app that supports export.
  6. Why does the stopwatch show 00:00.0 when I open it after a long time? If you force‑quit the app or restart your iPhone, the stopwatch resets to zero. If you simply leave it open in the background, it keeps the time. To avoid losing time, don’t force‑quit the app.

Related

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.