Lock screen break reminder for Mac and Windows

CapyBreaks runs on the computer, not in a browser tab. Close the browser and the reminder still reaches you. The eye break timer on this site runs only while its browser tab stays open.

Lock screen mode is off until you turn it on. Open Settings, choose the Custom tab, and use the card titled Focus Mode. The switch is labeled Enable break timer lock screen. The note under that label says it displays a full-screen overlay with a countdown when it is time to take a break.

That switch applies to every reminder that is turned on: breaks, eye breaks, water, stretching, and posture. A reminder that is turned off does not open the overlay. Eye Breaks stay off until you turn them on. That interval starts at 20 minutes.

With lock screen mode on, a due reminder opens a full-screen window with no title bar. The window stays above other windows and takes focus, and a countdown covers the screen. The small Cappy reminder is not shown for that reminder. You can wait out the countdown, or press Skip to close the overlay early.

The countdown length is fixed for each reminder type. A break counts down for 20 seconds. An eye break counts down for 20 seconds. Water counts down for 30 seconds. Stretching counts down for 60 seconds. A posture check counts down for 15 seconds. With the switch on, the Custom tab lists those same lengths. You can set how often a reminder is due, from 1 to 360 minutes. The countdown length stays fixed.

The break screen is titled Break, and the line under the title says "Step away and give yourself a moment." The eye break screen is titled Eye Break, and the line says "Look 20 feet away for 20 seconds." The water screen is titled Hydration, and the line says "Take a sip of water and stay refreshed." The stretch screen is titled Stretch, and the line says "Stand up and release the tension." The posture screen is titled Posture, and the line says "Sit up straight and relax your shoulders."

Skip closes the overlay immediately. The interval for that reminder starts over when the overlay opens, including when you skip. The next reminder still waits for the interval you set.

When the countdown reaches zero, the overlay says "Well done!" and closes after 1.5 seconds.

The full-screen overlay does not play a sound. With lock screen mode off, the small reminder plays a sound and Cappy stays on screen for 5 seconds. Volume starts at 70 percent, and you can set it from 0 to 100 in steps of 5. The message bubble above Cappy is on until you turn it off. A break says "Take a break!" Water says "Drink some water!" Stretching says "Time to stretch!" An eye break says "Rest your eyes!" The timer for that reminder starts over when the small reminder appears.

These reminders are on when you first open the app: a general break every 60 minutes, a reminder to drink water every 30 minutes, a reminder to stretch every 45 minutes, and a posture check every 20 minutes.

See the Stretch reminder page for the 45 minute stretch timer, including the line "Stand up and release the tension." See the Water reminder page for the 30 minute drink water reminder. See the Posture reminder page for the 20 minute posture check. See Break reminder for Mac and Break reminder for Windows for every default interval.

The overlay is a window in CapyBreaks. Skip closes it, and so does the end of the countdown. It does not ask for your Mac or Windows password.

CapyBreaks is a reminder app. It will not fix back pain, headaches, or an eye condition. You still choose whether to stand up, look away, or drink the water.

Working hours are off until you turn them on. The starting schedule is weekdays from 9:00 to 17:00. Saturday and Sunday start off. When working hours are on, a reminder that comes due outside those hours is skipped, and the timers start over when the next working period begins.

A reminder that comes due while the microphone is in use, or while a fullscreen app is active, is skipped and the timers start over. On Windows, reminders also pause when Windows reports presentation mode. On Mac, a presentation in a window that does not fill the screen does not by itself pause reminders. Default idle detection skips a due reminder after 5 minutes without keyboard or mouse and starts the timers over. A screen share by itself does not pause reminders.

Those checks run before the overlay opens. A skipped reminder does not show the full-screen countdown.

Personal is $14.99 once for up to 3 devices, with a 7-day trial. The 7-day trial starts the first time you open the app. You do not need a CapyBreaks account, and you do not need a credit card to start the trial.

Team is $9.99 per seat. Team is a one-time charge, with a minimum of 2 seats. It does not renew on its own.

For a team, office, or business, see the Break reminder for teams page.

Windows installs from the Microsoft Store. The Mac download is an Apple-silicon DMG.

See pricing for what Personal and Team include.