Timer Plugin provides timing functionality (typically accurate to within a few milliseconds, subject to the limits of the underlying OS timer and task scheduler) and supports both count‑up and countdown modes. Total duration and interval can each be specified in any time unit (from milliseconds to days), with support for exact time and date. Can execute bangs on start, tick, pause, resume, stop, dismiss, and reset events. It offers automatic measure updates, time formatting codes (including total seconds, total milliseconds and tick counts). It's sole purpose is to offer an easy way to create timer skins.
*This GIF was created entirely in Rainmeter using Finalshot + Timer plugins and gifski.
- Multiple Output Units: Elapsed/remaining in milliseconds, seconds, minutes, hours, days, and tick count.
- Custom Formatting: TimeMeasure‑style format codes, including total seconds, milliseconds, and tick counts.
- Full Control: Start, Stop, Pause, Resume, Reset, Dismiss, Toggle commands.
- Set Target Time: Countdown to a specific date/time or duration.
- Event Bangs: Execute Rainmeter bangs on Start, Tick, Pause, Resume, Stop, Dismiss, Reset.
- Intervals: Fire bangs at regular ticks.
Download the latest .rmskin package from releases:
The package includes the plugin and 5 example skins to get you started.
- Yincognito for testing and feedback.
- Everyone who dares to test and share experiences! 🙏
- Fixed a crash when updating at 10ms.
- Fixed missed updates and intervals firing all at once when the pc wakes up from sleeping.
- Fixed a crash when entering an invalid number of decimal places.
- Added Repeat option
- Added OnRepeatAction
- Now ResetOnStop default is -1
- Now actions use SendNotifyMessage to send bangs to Rainmeter.
- Now Interval and Update are correctly synced
- Added TestingGrounds skin to the package.
- Suttle mods to other skin examples.
For a basic timer:
[MeasureTimer]
Measure=Plugin
Plugin=Timer
DurationUnits=Seconds
Duration=35
UpdateTimer=1000
OnStopAction=[!Log "Time's up!"]- Returns
hh:mm:ssby default. Stops after 35 s and logsTime's up!. - Set
Duration=-1to run indefinitely. - Control via bangs:
- Start:
LeftMouseUpAction=[!CommandMeasure MeasureTimer "Start"] - Stop:
LeftMouseUpAction=[!CommandMeasure MeasureTimer "Stop"] - Toggle:
... "Toggle"]
- Start:
The timer runs on its own thread—no need to adjust Rainmeter's UpdateDivider.
| Value Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Number | 0 = Stopped, 1 = Running, 2 = Paused |
| String | Formatted time (default hh:mm:ss). Use Format= codes (see below) or enable Countdown=1 for remaining time. |
Examples:
Format=Total Elapsed sec: %ts ; -> "Total Elapsed sec: 2675"
Format=Hour:%H Min:%M Sec:%S ; -> "Hour:01 Min:25 Sec:08"
Format=%k ; tick count, e.g. "125"Options (defaults shown):
[MeasureTimer]
Measure=Plugin
Plugin=Timer
; ms between updates (<=0 disables)
UpdateTimer=1000
; default output format
Format=%t
DurationUnits=milliseconds
Duration=-1
; overrides Duration when set:
TargetTime=""
FormatLocale=""
IntervalUnits=milliseconds
Interval=-1
Countdown=-1
ResetOnStop=-1
Repeat=-1
OnStartAction=[]
OnStopAction=[]
OnResumeAction=[]
OnPauseAction=[]
OnResetAction=[]
OnDismissAction=[]
OnTickAction=[]
OnRepeatAction=[]- UpdateTimer: ms between updates (timer always runs).
-1hides display but timer continues. - Duration/TargetTime: Set stop point by duration or date/time string.
- FormatLocale: e.g.
es-MXto parse localized dates. - Interval: fires
OnTickActionevery N units. - Countdown: show remaining rather than elapsed time.
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
%D |
Days (zero‑padded) |
%H |
Hours (zero‑padded) |
%M |
Minutes (zero‑padded) |
%S |
Seconds (zero‑padded) |
%F…%FFFFFFF |
Fractional seconds (tenths → 10⁻⁷s), trailing zeros trimmed |
%d |
Days (no padding) |
%h |
Hours (no padding) |
%m |
Minutes (no padding) |
%s |
Seconds (no padding) |
%f…%fffffff |
Fractional seconds (up to 7 digits) |
%T |
Shortcut for hh:mm:ss.ff |
%t |
Shortcut for hh:mm:ss |
%tf |
Shortcut for hh:mm:ss.fffffff |
%td, %th, %tm, %ts, %tms |
Total elapsed days, hours, minutes, seconds, milliseconds (supports {N} decimals) |
%k |
Tick count |
- OnStartAction: bangs on start
- OnStopAction: bangs on stop
- OnPauseAction: bangs on pause
- OnResumeAction: bangs on resume
- OnResetAction: bangs on reset
- OnDismissAction: bangs on dismiss
- OnTickAction: bangs each interval
- OnRepeatAction: bangs each repeat
Use [!CommandMeasure "MeasureName" "Command"]:
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
Start |
Start timer & fire OnStartAction |
Stop |
Stop timer & fire OnStopAction |
Toggle |
Toggle start/stop |
Pause |
Pause timer & fire OnPauseAction |
Resume |
Resume (or Start if stopped) & fire OnResumeAction |
ToggleResume |
Toggle resume/pause |
Reset |
Reset to 0 (or Duration if countdown) & fire OnResetAction |
Dismiss |
Stop & fire OnDismissAction |
TimeStamp or TS
- Returns formatted elapsed (or remaining) time, e.g.
[&Measure:TimeStamp()]or[&Measure:TS("%th{4}")].
Note: Set
DynamicVariables=1on the meter/measure using these.
Default: 1000
Defines the update interval of the measure in milliseconds.
Values:
<= 0Disabled> 0Enabled
The plugin measure will not update until started, once started it will update once every 1000ms (1 second) by default.
When UpdateTimer=-1, the measure will not update but the timer will run and work normally. The only difference is that the measure will not display the elapsed/remaining time.
The lowest possible value for UpdateTimer is 1, however, setting it this low doesn't offer better precision. For most tasks leaving it at 1000 is just fine. If a low update is required, setting it at 16 is the lowest recommended.
The timer itself runs on a different thread, this means that it doesn't depend on Rainmeter's Update to work. This Update value is only the rate at which the plugin's measure is updated to report the timer's elapsed/remaining time to Rainmeter by updating its Number and String values.
The measure will also update automatically when executing any command that changes its state (Start, Stop, Pause, Resume, Reset, Dismiss) even if UpdateTimer=-1 is set. The update will occur before executing the actions. For example, if [!CommandMeasure Timer Stop], the timer will first stop, then it will update the measure and finally will execute the OnStopAction. The same order applies to all other commands.
In short, if you don't need to display the elapsed/remaining time, then simply leave UpdateTimer=-1, the timer will still run normally.
If you need to display the time or use the string value for anything else, set UpdateTimer=1000 (or lower if needed).
If you only need to display the time on each tick, set UpdateTimer and Interval to the same value.
If your skin will only display the time given by the timer and nothing else that needs regular updating, it's recommended to set Update=-1 on [Rainmeter] to avoid the regular skin updates from interfering with the plugin’s measure update. This won’t stop the plugin from ticking at the right time because again, the timer is in a separate thread and it will continue regardless of Rainmeter’s update cycle. The OnTickAction is still executed at the right moment.
Default: %t
Defines the format string returned by the measure. It works pretty much like the Format option of the Time measure.
Values:
"Any string with or without %Codes"
It can use any Format Code from the Format Codes list to return the formatted elapsed time on every measure update.
Example:
Format= %H-%M-%S will return the elapsed/remaining time as 07-25-32.
Check the Format Codes section to see all available Format Codes.
Default: Milliseconds
Defines the units the Duration option will take.
Values:
1,ms,mil,millisecond,milliseconds2,s,sec,second,seconds3,m,min,minute,minutes4,h,hour,hours5,d,day,days
Although you can set e.g. DurationUnits=2, the option itself can't take math directly, as it is in reality a string option, not a number option.
Default: -1
Defines the duration of the timer in the units set by the DurationUnits option.
Values:
<= 0: Disabled> 0: Timer duration
Once the timer reaches the set duration it will stop automatically and will execute the OnStopAction.
When Duration=-1 (or any value <= 0) the timer will run until manually stopped.
If ResetOnStop is enabled, the timer will return to 00:00:00 when it stops.
All units take fractional numbers except milliseconds. Any fraction in ms will be floored to the nearest integer.
Default: ""
Defines the duration of the timer with a formatted time string.
Values:
2025/04/26 06:48:17: The timer will stop on April 26, 2025 at 06:48:17 AM.
When a TargetTime string is given, the Duration value is ignored.
Some valid time string formats include:
Full date and time:
- 2025-04-19 16:30
- April 19, 2025 4:30 PM
- 4/19/2025 16:30
- 19/04/2025 16:30
Date only:
- 2025-04-19
- April 19, 2025
- 4/19/2025 or 19/04/2025 or 04/19/2025
Time only:
- 4:30 PM
- 4:30 AM
- 16:30
- 04:30 (24-hour)
When a time-only value is given, it will assume today's date. If the time has already passed, it is then assumed to be tomorrow.
If a date in the past that is greater than one day is given, it will fail and start with duration=-1. An error will be logged.
If an invalid format is given, then it will start with duration=-1. An error will be logged.
To use a specific date format, use the FormatLocale option.
Default: ""
An optional value that defines the "language - locale" that the formatted date/time string defined in TargetTime is in.
Example:
es-MX
For a list of all valid locales visit: Microsoft LCID List
If this option is not defined, the plugin will compare the given TargetTime string to a set list of common locales.
Examples:
FormatLocale=lo-LA
TargetTime=25 ເມສາ 2025
FormatLocale=cy-GB
TargetTime=25 Ebrill 2025
Default: Milliseconds
Defines the units the Interval option will take.
Values:
1,ms,mil,millisecond,milliseconds2,s,sec,second,seconds3,m,min,minute,minutes4,h,hour,hours5,d,day,days
Although you can set e.g. IntervalUnits=3, the option itself can't take math directly, as it is in reality a string option, not a number option.
Default: -1
Defines the interval in the units set by the IntervalUnits option at which the timer will execute the OnTickAction.
Values:
<= 0: Disabled> 0: Tick interval
Example:
If IntervalUnits=Hours and Interval=1, the timer will execute the OnTickAction once an hour.
When Interval <= 0, the OnTickAction will never be executed.
Every time the timer reaches the interval, it counts a "tick" up. The total ticks count can be returned by using the Format Code %k on the Format option, the OnTickAction, or on any other action.
All units take fractional numbers except milliseconds; any fraction in ms will be floored to the nearest integer.
Note: It is important to understand that the timer has a delay of around ±16ms. This means that if you set an interval every 1000ms, those intervals won't tick at exactly 1000ms. More like 1003ms, 1018ms, 998ms, etc.
Default: -1
Sets the timer to return the remaining time instead of the elapsed time.
Values:
-1: Disabled1: Enabled
If enabled, and Duration or TargetTime are set, the strings returned by the Format Codes will start from the Duration and will stop at zero.
Default: -1
If enabled, the string value of the measure will reset to zero when the timer stops.
Values:
-1: Disabled1: Enabled
Default: -1
Repeats the timer when it finishes.
Values:
-1: Disabled0: Repeat timer until manually stopped.1+: Repeat timer given number of times.
Example: when Repeat=5 the timer will repeat 5 times, and then it will stop. Each time the timer repeats, it executes the OnRepeatAction
The following actions can use the Format Codes to export the timer's elapsed time.
Executes given bangs when the timer starts.
Example:
OnStartAction=[!Log "The timer has started at %t."]
Logs: The timer has started at 00:25:00. (when countdown=1)
Executes given bangs when the timer stops.
Example:
OnStopAction=[!Log "The timer has stopped on tick %k."]
Logs: The timer has stopped on tick 325.
Executes given bangs when the timer resumes.
Example:
OnResumeAction=[!Log "The timer has been resumed at minute %M."]
Logs: The timer has been resumed at minute 35.
Executes given bangs when the timer pauses.
Example:
OnPauseAction=[!Log "The timer was paused at %T."]
Logs: The timer was paused at 00:25:37.125.
Executes given bangs when the timer is dismissed.
Example:
OnDismissAction=[!Log "Timer dismissed at %H:%M."]
Logs: The timer was paused at 05:25.
Executes given bangs when the timer is reset.
Example:
OnResetAction=[!Log "Reset after %h hours and %m minutes."]
Logs: Reset after 5 hours and 3 minutes.
Executes given bangs when the timer reaches the set interval (ticks).
Example:
OnTickAction=[!Log "Tick %k."]
Logs: Tick 27.
Executes given bangs on each Repeat.
Example:
OnRepeatAction=[!Log "Timer has repeated"]
The following commands are used with the !CommandMeasure MeasureName "Command" bang.
Starts and executes the OnStartAction.
Example:
[!CommandMeasure MeasureName "Start"]
Stops and executes the OnStopAction.
Example:
[!CommandMeasure MeasureName "Stop"]
Toggles the timer and executes the OnStartAction or OnStopAction.
Example:
[!CommandMeasure MeasureName "Toggle"]
- If not running, first it will
Startand then will executeOnStartAction. - If paused, it will
Resumeand executeOnResumeAction.
Example:
[!CommandMeasure MeasureName "Resume"]
Pauses and executes OnPauseAction.
Example:
[!CommandMeasure MeasureName "Pause"]
- If not running, it will
Startand executeOnStartAction. - If running, it will
Pauseand executeOnPauseAction. - If paused, it will
Resumeand executeOnResumeAction.
Example:
[!CommandMeasure MeasureName "ToggleResume"]
- If running, it will restart from 0 and execute
OnStartAction. - If paused, it will
Stopand executeOnResetAction. - If not running and not at 0, it will reset to 0 and execute
OnResetAction.
When Countdown=1, it will reset to the Duration.
Example:
[!CommandMeasure MeasureName "Reset"]
Stops the timer and executes OnDismissAction.
Example:
[!CommandMeasure MeasureName "Dismiss"]
- Argument:
"String" - Default:
%t
Returns the elapsed time formatted using Format Codes.
Examples:
[&Measure:TimeStamp()] or [&Measure:TS()] => 12:25:17
[&Measure:TimeStamp("%ts")] => 2600
[&Measure:TimeStamp("Hour: %h, Minute: %m")] => Hour: 5, Minute: 25
If Countdown=1 is set on the measure, it will return the remaining time.
Note: DynamicVariables=1 is required to be set on the Measure/Meter where the section variable is used.