How to Play
- Pick a target: 5.00 s, 10.00 s or Blind 10 s.
- After a short 3-2-1 countdown the clock starts running from 0.00 on its own.
- Tap the big STOP button when you think the clock shows the target. On a computer, Space or Enter works too.
- Your miss appears straight away, for example +0.13 if you were late or −0.08 if you were early. Land within two hundredths and you get a Perfect!
- The next attempt begins by itself about a second later. After three attempts, your three misses are added together to give your score.
Rules
Your score is the total time you were off across all three attempts, so a smaller number is better. A run of 0.42 s off beats a run of 0.90 s off. Being early and being late count exactly the same.
If you never tap, the attempt stops five seconds after the target and counts as five full seconds off. The worst possible run is therefore 15 seconds off.
In Blind 10 s the digits are visible for the first three seconds only. After that the clock keeps running unseen, and you must judge the remaining seven seconds by feel. The finishing time is shown once you press STOP.
A solo run counts as a good one when your total is 0.30 s or less on the normal targets, or 0.60 s or less in blind mode.
Tips & Strategy
- Count with a steady rhythm. Saying "one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two" quietly in your head keeps your inner beat even, which matters most in blind mode.
- Start your press a little before the target. A finger needs roughly a tenth of a second to move, so begin the tap as the clock passes 4.9 instead of waiting to see 5.00.
- Watch the seconds digit, not the hundredths. The last two digits blur at full speed. Track the whole seconds and let your rhythm handle the final stretch.
- Learn from each miss. If your first try was +0.15, nudge your next press slightly earlier. Three attempts give you room to correct yourself.
- Keep your thumb resting on the button. Lifting your hand away adds travel time and makes your timing less consistent.
Game Modes
Solo is a score attack. Your best total for each target is saved on this device, so you can keep chasing a smaller number day after day.
Two players on one phone uses a split screen. Lay the phone flat between you; the top half is turned round so the player opposite can read it. Both clocks run at the same time and each person stops their own. On a keyboard, the bottom player uses A and the top player uses L.
Three to eight players on one phone take turns. Each person plays all three attempts, sees their score, then passes the phone to the next name on the list. Everyone gets exactly the same challenge, so the table at the end is fair.
Play with Friends Online
Choose Play Online, create a room and send the link or code to up to seven friends on WhatsApp or Telegram. When the host starts, everybody plays the same challenge at the same moment on their own phone. Results pop into the table as each player finishes, and the lowest total wins. If someone's connection drops and they never finish, the host's phone ends the race for them after a fair waiting time. Nothing needs to be installed and nobody has to sign up.
Stop the Clock FAQ
Why does my score go up instead of down?
The score is how far off you were, added up across three attempts. Less time off means better timing, so the smallest number tops the table.
Is stopping early better than stopping late?
No. Stopping 0.10 s early and stopping 0.10 s late both add 0.10 s to your total. Only the size of the miss counts.
How hard is the blind mode?
Much harder than it looks. Most people drift by a few tenths over seven unseen seconds. Scoring under 0.60 s in total is a genuinely strong run.
Can I pause in the middle of a run?
Opening the rules on a single phone freezes the clock until you close them again. Online races keep running, because everyone is playing at the same time.
Does the game work on a laptop?
Yes. Press Space or Enter to stop the clock when playing alone or taking turns, or use A and L when two people share a split screen.
Last updated: 2026-10-01
