Pomobox FAQ

Pomobox includes: customizable focus/break timers (15-60 min), detailed productivity statistics, activity heatmap calendar, focus-enhancing BGM (lo-fi, ambient, nature sounds), daily goals tracking, and beautiful dark/light themes. All features are free.

Yes! Access Settings (gear icon) to adjust: Focus duration (15-60 min), Short break (3-15 min), Long break (15-30 min), and sessions before long break (2-6). Changes apply to your next session.

Click the music icon to open the BGM panel. Choose from curated tracks (lo-fi, ambient, nature sounds). Adjust volume, skip tracks, or enable shuffle. BGM plays during focus sessions and pauses during breaks by default.

Pomobox tracks: total focus hours, completed pomodoros, current streak, longest streak, daily/weekly/monthly trends, peak productivity hours, and session completion rate. View detailed stats on the Statistics page.

Set a daily pomodoro goal in Settings (default: 8 sessions). The progress ring shows completion. Hit your goal to maintain your streak. Goals reset at midnight local time.

Yes! The calendar heatmap shows your activity history. Darker colors = more focus time that day. Click any day to see details. Your streak counter shows consecutive days meeting your daily goal.

Yes! Pomobox is a Progressive Web App (PWA). Once loaded, the timer, BGM, and core features work without internet. Statistics sync when you're back online. You can even install it as a standalone app.

By default, data is stored locally in your browser using IndexedDB. This means your data stays on YOUR device—we can't see it. If you create an account, you can optionally sync across devices.

Absolutely. Local-only mode means zero data leaves your device. Your session data is stored locally by default. If you enable sync, data is encrypted and only you can access it.

Pomobox works on all modern browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge (latest versions). For the best experience, we recommend Chrome or Firefox. Some older browsers may have limited functionality.

Yes! On supported browsers, look for the 'Install' option in the address bar or menu. This creates a standalone app with its own window—no browser tabs, full-screen focus experience.

If using local-only storage, clearing browser data will erase your statistics. To protect your data: 1) Create an account to enable cloud sync, or 2) Export your data regularly (Settings > Export Data).

Create a free account, then enable sync in Settings. Your statistics, settings, and tasks sync across all devices logged into your account. Changes sync automatically when online.

Most people find 8-12 pomodoros (4-6 focused hours) sustainable. Quality matters more than quantity. Start with 6 and adjust based on your energy and workload. Track your stats to find your optimal number.

For minor interruptions: note them on paper and continue. For urgent ones: pause or void the pomodoro, handle it, then restart fresh. The key is not trying to 'resume' mid-session—either complete it or start over.

This is debated! Purists say always take breaks. Pragmatically: if you're deep in productive flow, extend by 5-10 minutes, then take a proper break. Don't skip breaks entirely—just be flexible.

Best break activities: stand up, stretch, walk around, hydrate, look at distant objects (rest your eyes). Avoid: social media, email, news—these don't rest your brain. The goal is genuine mental recovery.

Focus on streaks and stats—watching your numbers grow is motivating. Set realistic daily goals. Use the timer's completion sound as a reward signal. Pair sessions with enjoyable BGM. Celebrate milestones.

Yes, with adaptation. Creative work often needs longer sessions (40-50 min). Use pomodoros for 'execution' phases (writing, designing). For 'ideation,' free-form exploration might work better. Experiment!

The 25-minute default isn't sacred. Try: 45-50 min for deep work (coding, writing), 15-20 min for difficult tasks or low energy, 30 min as a middle ground. Find what works for YOUR attention span.

Most people notice immediate benefits in focus quality. Measurable improvements in output typically appear after 1-2 weeks of consistent use. Habit formation takes 3-8 weeks. Trust the process.

No! Pomobox works fully without an account. All features are free. An account is only needed if you want to sync data across devices or save your data to the cloud as backup.

Yes, 100% free with all features included. No premium tiers, no feature locks. We believe productivity tools should be accessible to everyone. The project is open source.

Yes! Pomobox is open source. You can view the code, contribute, or even self-host. Check our GitHub repository for details. Community contributions are welcome.

We welcome feedback! Report bugs or request features through our GitHub Issues page. Be as specific as possible—include browser, OS, and steps to reproduce for bugs. We review all submissions.

The best support is using and sharing Pomobox! You can also: star the GitHub repo, contribute code, report bugs, suggest features, or share with friends who could benefit from better focus.