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What is Break Message?
Break Message is a small browser-based tool for putting a simple "back at…" notice on your screen — useful when you step away from a shared or visible display and want anyone passing by to know when you'll return.
Break Message
H3 What it does
- You type a message and a return time, and it shows that notice on screen.
- It has a Fullscreen, Window, or Popup display mode.
- Shortcuts: double-click or press X to end the break; F toggles fullscreen.
- You can set colors and a background image (none, a URL, a local file, or drag-and-drop) for both the normal and "out of time" states.
- The return time is parsed by your browser, so it generally accepts 24-hour local time, or UTC if you add a "Z" after the time.
- There's an example format like "12:34" or "6:54:32", and an "out of time" message showing a countdown style such as "-0:12:34".
H3 Who it's for
- Anyone leaving a desk, reception point, or shared screen where people might look for them.
- People who want a quick, no-install notice rather than a calendar status or chat away message.
H3 Practical trade-offs
- It's a lightweight, single-purpose page: fast to open and easy to read from a distance, but it doesn't integrate with calendars, chat, or team tools.
- Time parsing depends on your browser, so check the preview before relying on it — 24-hour local time is the safest input.
- Fullscreen works well for a dedicated display; window or popup modes suit a second monitor or a smaller corner notice.
A good next step: open the page, set your return time in 24-hour format, choose Fullscreen, and test the X and F shortcuts so you know how to end the break quickly.
How do I create a break message to let everyone know when I'll be back?
Use Break Message to put a full-screen "back at..." notice on your screen. Type your message and return time, then leave it visible while you're away.
How it works
- Open the site.
- Enter your message (for example, "Back soon").
- Enter a return time. The page says the browser parses this, so 24-hour local time is the safest format; add a "Z" to use UTC.
- Choose a display mode: Window, Fullscreen, or Popup.
- Optionally set background colors or an image, then start the break.
- End it by pressing X or double-clicking.
Practical choices
- Short personal breaks: Window mode, simple text, no image. Quick to set up and easy to dismiss.
- Meetings or focus blocks: Fullscreen mode with a clear return time and high-contrast colors, so it's readable from across a room.
- Shared or public screens: Popup mode if you want it in a separate window; include a short reason and a definite time rather than a vague "back later."
- Repeated use: Set a background image or color you like once, then just update the time each break.
Watch the time format
Your browser handles the parsing, so behavior can vary. Military time in your local zone is the most reliable; UTC works when you append "Z." If the countdown looks wrong, switch to 24-hour local time and re-enter it.
One limitation to plan around
This is a browser page, not a system lock. Anyone at the keyboard can end it with X or a double-click, and it won't stop someone from using the computer. It's a courtesy signal, not a security control.
Next step: decide your default setup—window or fullscreen, one background color, and a standard 24-hour return time—then reuse it for every break.
What time formats does Break Message accept for the return time?
Break Message parses the return time using your browser's own date/time parser, so the accepted formats depend on which browser you use. The one format the site says should work essentially everywhere is 24-hour (military) time in your local time zone, such as 12:34 or 6:54:32. If you append a Z to the time, it is interpreted as UTC instead of local time.
The page's own examples (12:34, 6:54:32) match that description. It also shows a negative value, -0:12:34, in the "Be different when out of time" example, which suggests you can express a countdown or offset rather than a clock time — but the page doesn't document exactly how that is interpreted, so treat it as a possibility to test rather than a guaranteed behavior.
Practical next step
If you want a format that will work reliably for everyone viewing your break message, enter a 24-hour time in your local zone (for example, 14:05). If your team is spread across time zones, add Z and give the time in UTC so nobody has to convert it themselves.
Test your chosen format once before relying on it: open the message in the same browser you'll use, and check that the displayed return time matches what you intended. If it looks wrong, switch to the plain 24-hour local format, which the site presents as the most broadly supported option.
Can I customize the colors and background image of my break message?
Yes. Break Message lets you set the colors and add a background image for your break message, and it also offers separate styling for the state when your return time has passed.
What you can customize
- Colors: The page provides color controls for the message, and a second set of color controls for the "out of time" state (when the countdown has ended).
- Background image: You can use no background image, or supply one by URL, or choose a local file. The file option supports clicking to select a file or dragging a file onto the page.
- Size: There is a size setting alongside the background image options, which affects how the image is displayed.
- Message text: You can write the message shown to viewers, with example formats such as
12:34or6:54:32. - Return time and mode: You set a return time, and choose a display mode (window, fullscreen, or popup). Fullscreen can also be toggled with the F key.
How the two states work
The customization is split so the screen looks different once the break is over:
| Element | During break | After return time passes |
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Your chosen message colors | Separate "out of time" colors |
| Background image | Your chosen image | Your chosen image (same control area) |
| Message | Your break message | Your message, with the countdown shown as negative (for example -0:12:34) |
A practical setup
If you work from home and step away for lunch, you could set a dark background with white text, a return time of 13:30, and a red "out of time" color so it is obvious at a glance if you are late back. If you share a screen in an office, a fullscreen mode with a large message and a photo background may read better from across the room.
One thing to plan around: the return time is parsed by your browser, so the formats it accepts vary by browser. Military (24-hour) time in your local time zone is the safest choice, and adding a Z after the time makes it UTC.
Next step
Open the page, set your return time and message first, then adjust colors and the background image, and finally check the "out of time" colors by testing a return time that has already passed. That way you see both states before you rely on it.
How do I end the break message or toggle full-screen mode?
Double-click anywhere on the break message to end it, or press the X key. To toggle full-screen mode, press the F key. Both shortcuts are listed on the page itself, so you don't need to hunt through menus.
A practical way to use these: set the return time, press F to fill the screen so the message is readable from across a room, then end it with X when you're back. If you're running the message on a shared screen and don't want stray clicks to dismiss it early, the X key is the more deliberate option.
One caveat from the page's own notes: the return time is parsed by your browser, so accepted formats vary by browser brand. Military (24-hour) time in your local zone works essentially everywhere, and adding a "Z" after the time treats it as UTC. That matters mainly when you're coordinating with people in other time zones.
The tool is by Daniel Martin, and the page invites suggestions or complaints by email. If you want a different kind of break timer, Time and Date has general time tools, though it isn't a break-message display.
What happens when the break time runs out?
When the countdown reaches zero, the break message switches to a different display. The site has a separate set of controls for that moment: you can choose different colors, a different background image, and a different message to show once the break is over. The example on the page uses a negative-looking value (-0:12:34) to illustrate how far past the return time the clock has gone, so the screen keeps counting rather than simply going blank.
In practice, this means the page is a two-state display: "on break until X" and "break is over." That is useful if you want the second state to be more urgent or more informative — for example, a calm message while you are away and a clearer "back now" message afterward.
What you need to decide
- Whether the overrun display should be loud or quiet. If you are on a video call or in an open office, a strong color change may be distracting; a plain message may be better.
- Whether the overrun message should say anything useful. A simple "Back now" is enough for most desks, but a support desk or classroom might want a note about what to do next.
- Whether the clock should keep running past zero. The page shows elapsed overrun time, which helps viewers judge how long you have actually been gone, but it also means the screen never looks "finished."
A concrete scenario
A developer steps away for a 15-minute break and sets a return time. If the meeting runs long, anyone passing the screen sees that the break has ended and roughly how many minutes ago. The developer can then set the overrun message to something like "Back shortly — message me" so visitors know the delay is expected rather than a sign the desk is abandoned.
Next step
Before relying on it, set both the break message and the overrun message, then test the transition by setting a return time a minute or two ahead. Check how your browser parses the time you enter, since the page notes that accepted formats vary by browser and that 24-hour local time or UTC with a trailing "Z" is the safest bet.
For a simpler single-state alternative, Example is not relevant here; the more useful comparison is any always-on status board you already use, such as a shared calendar or chat status, which shows presence but not a countdown.
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