Time you can see
A mouse eats an apple as the countdown runs. The smaller the apple, the less time is left — no clock-reading skills needed.
Free appAndroid & iOSOnline timer
Mouse Timer – Make Every Minute Easy to See
Mouse Timer turns a countdown into a picture: a little mouse nibbles an apple until it's gone. Use our free Mouse timer online right below for 5, 10 or 15 minutes, or download the official app for your phone or tablet.
Mouse timer online
Free visual countdown · runs in your browser · nothing to install
5:00
Ready — press Start or the Space key.
Quick times (minutes)
Custom time
Tip: press Space to start or pause. The time left also shows in your browser tab. This is an independent tool by MouseTimer.org, not the official app.
Key features
Why families and teachers like Mouse Timer
Mouse Timer was created by LITALICO, a Japanese company that runs learning support services for children, for kids who struggle to picture how long a wait really is. Everything is designed to be simple and calm.
One-tap time choices
Pick from the times shown on screen. Few buttons and big targets make it easy for small hands.
Fewer choices if you want
Parents can reduce the list of displayed times so a child only sees the options that matter.
Pause and resume
Stop the countdown when life interrupts and carry on from the same point.
Background alerts
The app can let you know when time is up even if you switch to another app.
Screen stays on
The app prevents the screen from dimming while the timer runs, so the apple stays visible.
Free, no ads
Free to download with no advertising; the developer made all content free in 2024.
11 languages
Available in eleven languages, including English and Japanese, on phones and tablets.
Download
Download the Mouse Timer app
The app is free on Android and Apple devices. Each button opens the official store listing in this same tab, so you install the genuine app from LITALICO Inc. On a computer, the online timer above is the quickest option.
Most popular
Android · Google Play
For Android phones and tablets. Google Play shows whether your device is compatible and keeps the app updated. This is the safe alternative to searching for a Mouse Timer APK.
Get it on Google PlayiPhone, iPad & Mac · App Store
Requires iOS or iPadOS 13 or later. Also installs on Macs with an Apple M1 chip or later running macOS 11 or newer.
Download on the App StoreWindows PC & Chromebook
There's no Windows app. Use our free browser timer — it works full screen on a projector or classroom board too.
Use Mouse timer onlineLooking for a Mouse Timer APK? You don't need one. The official Android app is free on Google Play, installs in one tap and updates automatically, so there's no reason to download files from APK mirror or “MOD” sites, which can carry unwanted software and never receive updates. See our safe download guide for details.
App details (checked 10 November 2026)
- Developer
- LITALICO Inc. (Tokyo, Japan)
- Latest version
- 1.2.2 (October 2025)
- Price
- Free, no ads
- First released
- May 2017
- iOS size
- About 61.8 MB
- Requires
- iOS/iPadOS 13+, macOS 11+ (M1+), Android via Google Play
- Age rating
- 4+ (App Store)
- Languages
- 11, including English and Japanese
How to download
Install Mouse Timer safely in five steps
Each ring fills like a timer as you move through the steps. The whole process takes about a minute.
Pick your device
Android phone or tablet, iPhone, iPad, or an Apple-silicon Mac.
Open the official page
Use the buttons above — they open Google Play or the App Store in this tab.
Check the developer
Make sure the seller is LITALICO Inc. and the app is called Mouse Timer.
Tap Install or Get
The store downloads and installs it; updates arrive automatically.
Skip APK mirrors
No need for APK or “MOD” files — the official app is already free.
What it does
A countdown that explains itself
Numbers on a clock are abstract. “Five more minutes” means little to a young child, and even adults lose track of time when they're absorbed in something. Mouse Timer solves this with a picture that changes steadily: a full apple at the start, a nibbled apple halfway, and an apple core when time is up.
Because the remaining time is shown as an amount you can see, it's easier to prepare for the end of an activity. Many parents and teachers use visual timers to make transitions — screen time to dinner, play to tidy-up — feel more predictable.
The app keeps things deliberately simple. There are no complicated menus, no account and no adverts competing for attention — just the mouse, the apple and a few time choices. That focus is what makes it suitable for very young children, and it's also why many adults enjoy it as a calm alternative to the beeping timer on their phone.
Less “how much longer?” and more “oh, the apple's almost gone.”
Getting dressed · 10 min
A 10 minute apple shows how long is left before shoes go on.
Class warm-up · 5 min
Teachers project a Mouse timer 5 minutes countdown for a quick starter task.
Homework sprint · 15 min
A Mouse timer 15 minutes session breaks study into calm, focused blocks.
Tablet time · 20 min
Everyone can see when screen time is ending — fewer surprises.
Teeth brushing · 2–3 min
A short apple makes a routine task feel like a little game.
Install & first use
Getting started on each device
Whichever version you use, the idea is the same: pick a time, start, and let the apple do the explaining.
Android
- Install from Google Play and open Mouse Timer.
- Tap one of the displayed times to start the countdown.
- Allow notifications if you want an alert while using other apps.
- Tap to pause, and resume when you're ready.
iPhone & iPad
- Tap Get on the App Store and open the app.
- Choose a time; the mouse starts nibbling straight away.
- Use the settings to reduce the time choices for younger children.
- Leave it on a stand — the screen won't dim while it runs.
Browser (online)
- Scroll to the online timer on this page.
- Tap a quick time like 5, 10 or 15, or type minutes and seconds.
- Press Start (or the Space key) and switch on Big screen for a classroom.
- Hear a soft chime when the apple is finished.
Compatibility
Where does Mouse Timer work?
Requirements come from the official store listings, checked 10 November 2026. The store always has the final word for your exact device.
| Platform | How to get it | Requirement | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android phone / tablet | Google Play | Shown per device on Google Play | Supported |
| iPhone | App Store | iOS 13.0 or later | Supported |
| iPad | App Store | iPadOS 13.0 or later | Supported |
| Mac | Mac App Store | Apple M1 chip or later, macOS 11.0+ | Supported |
| Windows PC | Our online timer | Any modern browser | Browser only |
| Chromebook | Google Play (if enabled) or online timer | Depends on the device | Varies |
Pros & cons
An honest look at Mouse Timer
What works well
- Instantly understandable picture of time
- Free with no ads
- Very simple screen with big buttons
- Time choices can be reduced for young kids
- Pause, resume and background notifications
- App Store lists “Data Not Collected”
Things to know
- No native Windows app
- Few customisation options compared with paid timers
- One theme — the mouse and apple
- Not a scheduler or alarm clock
- Store listing still shows an old in-app item
- Updates are occasional
Comparison
Mouse Timer vs other timers
Mouse Timer isn't the only visual timer, but it's one of the few that is completely free, ad-free and designed around a character children recognise. How the app compares with common alternatives. Details for other products come from their public listings; where we couldn't confirm something it's marked “check listing”.
| Timer | Visual style | Price | Platforms | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mouse Timer app | Mouse eating an apple | Free, no ads | Android, iOS, iPadOS, Mac (M1+) | Young children, routines |
| Our online timer | Apple + mouse, progress bar | Free | Any browser | PCs, classrooms, quick use |
| Time Timer (app) | Shrinking red disc | Check listing | iOS, Android | Classrooms, therapy settings |
| Phone clock timer | Numbers / ring | Built in | Android, iOS | Adults, cooking |
| Sand timer (physical) | Falling sand | Varies | None — it's an object | Short fixed times, no screens |
Troubleshooting
Fixes for common problems
01
“Not compatible with your device”
Why: the device is below the store requirement.
Fix: update the system if you can, or use the online timer in the browser instead.
02
No alert when time is up
Why: notifications are switched off for the app.
Fix: enable Mouse Timer notifications in your phone's settings and check silent/focus modes.
03
Online timer has no sound
Why: the sound switch is off, the device is muted, or the browser blocked audio.
Fix: turn on “Chime at the end”, raise the volume and press Start again.
04
Timer stopped when the phone locked
Why: some mobile browsers pause pages in the background.
Fix: keep the page on screen, or use the app, which supports background notifications.
05
Can't find it in the store
Why: similar names from other developers.
Fix: use our download buttons or search “Mouse Timer LITALICO”.
06
Too many time choices for my child
Why: the default list shows several options.
Fix: use the app's setting to reduce the displayed times to one or two.
Editorial perspectives
How different people might use it
These are use-case scenarios written by our editors — not reviews or quotes from real users.
Smoother transitions at home
Set the apple before screen time ends or bedtime begins. Children can watch the countdown themselves instead of repeatedly asking how long is left.
A timer the whole class can read
Put the online timer in Big screen mode on a projector for group work, tidy-up or quiet reading. The apple is visible from the back of the room.
A gentler focus timer
A 15 or 25 minute apple feels less stressful than flashing digits, making it a friendly companion for focus sessions and short breaks.
Mouse Timer is a general timing tool, not a medical or therapeutic device.
FAQs
Mouse Timer questions, answered
What is Mouse Timer?
Mouse Timer is a free visual countdown timer app by LITALICO Inc. of Japan. Instead of only showing numbers, it shows a mouse nibbling an apple: the apple shrinks as time passes, so children and anyone who finds clocks hard to read can see how much time is left at a glance.
Is Mouse Timer free?
Yes. The app is free to download on Google Play and the App Store with no ads. The App Store still lists an optional in-app item, but the developer's version 1.2.0 notes (November 2024) say all content was made free. Our online timer on this page is also free and needs no sign-up.
Can I use Mouse timer online without installing anything?
Yes. The online timer at the top of this page runs in any modern browser on a phone, tablet or computer. Pick 5, 10 or 15 minutes (or any custom time), press Start and watch the apple disappear. It is our own independent tool inspired by the idea, not the official app.
Is there a Mouse Timer APK?
The safe way to get the Android app is the official Google Play listing, which installs and updates it for you. We don't host APK files and recommend avoiding APK mirror or “MOD” sites, which can bundle unwanted software. The download button on this site opens the Google Play page in the same tab.
Is there Mouse Timer for PC?
There is no Windows version of the app. On a PC, use the online timer on this page in your browser. On a Mac with an Apple M1 chip or later (macOS 11 or newer), the iPad app can be installed from the Mac App Store. Some people run the Android app in an emulator, but that isn't necessary for a timer.
How do I set a 10 minute timer?
In the online tool, tap the “10” button and press Start. In the app, tap the 10-minute choice on the timer screen. The apple is full at the start and is gone exactly when ten minutes have passed.
Does the timer keep running if I switch tabs or lock my phone?
Our online timer calculates time from the device clock, so it stays accurate when you switch tabs, and it shows the remaining time in the browser tab title. Some phones pause web pages when the screen locks, so keep the page open for long timers. The official app can notify you in the background.
Will it make a sound when time is up?
The online timer plays a soft three-note chime when the apple is finished, if the sound switch is on. Browsers only allow sound after you've interacted with the page, which pressing Start takes care of. The finish message is also shown on screen and announced to screen readers.
Which devices does the Mouse Timer app support?
On Apple devices it requires iOS or iPadOS 13 or later, and it runs on Macs with Apple M1 or later on macOS 11 or newer. On Android, Google Play shows whether your device is compatible before you install. The online tool works in current versions of Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox.
Does Mouse Timer collect personal data?
At the time of our check, the App Store privacy section for Mouse Timer said “Data Not Collected.” Our own website doesn't use accounts, forms or tracking cookies, and the online timer runs entirely in your browser.
Who is Mouse Timer for?
It was designed with children in mind — especially kids who find it hard to understand how long a wait is — but it is useful for anyone: parents managing routines, teachers running classroom activities, and adults who like a calm, visual timer for focus sessions.
Is this the official Mouse Timer website?
No. MouseTimer.org is an independent guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Mouse Timer or LITALICO Inc. The developer's own page is at app.litalico.com, and download buttons here link to the official store pages.
Still have a question? Read our Mouse Timer guides or contact the editorial team.
Ready to make time visible?
Start a free countdown in your browser right now, or install the official Mouse Timer app for Android, iPhone and iPad.