How to use a kitchen timer on your iPhone Lock Screen

Step by step

1. Open Simmerdial and turn the dial clockwise to choose a duration of up to 60 minutes. Release to start.
2. Allow system alerts when prompted. If you previously declined, check Simmerdial’s alarm permission in iOS Settings, then set the timer again.
3. Check that the countdown is running and that the app is not showing a system-alert warning.
4. Lock your iPhone and wake the screen to check the remaining time. On iPhones with Dynamic Island, you can also check the countdown there.

Do I need an app to see an iPhone timer while locked?

The built-in Clock app already supports timers while your iPhone is locked. Choose Simmerdial if you prefer setting one cooking countdown with a dial and adjusting it as you go. Lock Screen timing alone is not a reason to replace Clock.

Seeing time and hearing an alert are different

The Lock Screen countdown shows what remains. The system alarm provides the alert when time runs out, including when the app is closed, provided permission is granted and scheduling succeeds. A running countdown inside the app alone does not confirm that a system alarm is available.

If the timer does not ring

Return to Simmerdial and check for a warning. Review the app’s alarm permission in iOS Settings, then set a new timer. Try a short countdown while you are beside the phone to check the alert before relying on it for a cooking step. If system alerts remain unavailable, keep Simmerdial in the foreground to hear its in-app alert. Muting the dial’s clicking sound does not mute the system alarm.

Does every iPhone show a countdown in the Dynamic Island?

No. The Dynamic Island view requires an iPhone with Dynamic Island. On other supported iPhones, use the Lock Screen to check remaining time. Simmerdial requires iOS 26 or later, and its countdown and alerts work without an internet connection.

Use it while cooking

For a simmering step, set the duration specified by your recipe, then check the remaining time without reopening the app. If you need longer, open Simmerdial and add five minutes. The maximum remaining time is 60 minutes.

Reference

Apple: Set timers in Clock on iPhone

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