20-20-20 eye break reminder for Chrome

Give your eyes a break.
Without breaking your focus.

BreakChime is a free Chrome extension that reminds you to look away from your screen every 20 minutes while coding, studying, or working.

Add to Chrome — Free Try the demo

No account · No ads · Minimal permissions

BreakChime
Next break in
18:34

Active

I’ll watch the clock. You keep going.
◡
Eye Buddy
Level3
209/300 XP

Interactive demo

See what happens in 20 seconds.

Try a simplified preview of BreakChime. Start a break, snooze it, change a setting, or let Eye Buddy earn XP.

Preview only — your extension settings stay unchanged.

The 20-20-20 habit

Set up 20-20-20 reminders in Chrome.

The 20-20-20 rule is simple: every 20 minutes, look at something about 20 feet away for 20 seconds. BreakChime keeps the reminder timer for you.

  1. Add BreakChime to Chrome, then open it from Chrome’s Extensions menu.
  2. Keep the default 20-minute interval and 20-second break, or open Settings → Timing to enter your own values. Click Save Settings to apply them.
  3. Keep Chrome running and your computer awake. When a reminder arrives, look away from your screen. Pause the timer when you need to, or snooze a reminder until later.

A reminder and habit tool—not a medical treatment.

20minutes
20feet
20seconds
We make a great team!
◡
Eye BuddyLevel 3
209/300 XP

A tiny bit of encouragement

Hi. I’m Eye Buddy.

You take breaks. I level up.

Complete a break and Eye Buddy earns 10–24 XP. It’s a small reward for keeping a simple habit—nothing to maintain, and no streak to worry about.

Complete a break→Earn XP→Level up

Privacy, plainly

It doesn’t know what you’re browsing.

BreakChime has no account system. Its manifest requests four permissions, each tied to a specific reminder feature.

No browsing history or webpage access

BreakChime requestsChrome permissions
  • ✓
    NotificationsTo tell you it’s break time.
  • ✓
    AlarmsTo schedule reminders.
  • ✓
    StorageTo remember settings and progress.
  • ✓
    Offscreen audioTo play your reminder chime while the popup is closed.

Does not request

  • × Browsing history
  • × Access to webpages
  • × Location
  • × Personal information

Customization

Blink reminders for screen breaks.

BreakChime’s Blink Reminders setting adds “blink fully” to the look-away prompt during your break. Turn it on or off in Settings → Break Experience. It’s a gentle prompt during scheduled breaks; it doesn’t watch your eyes or detect blinking.

Make the rest of the break your own: adjust the reminder interval, break duration, and snooze length under Timing. Choose a reminder sound or mute it under Sound, and switch between light and dark mode under Break Experience.

Try the settings in the demo
Settings×
Reminder Interval (minutes)20How often to remind you (1–1440 minutes)
Break Duration (seconds)20How long each break should last (5–300 seconds)
Snooze Duration (minutes)5How long to delay when you snooze (1–120 minutes)
Blink RemindersShow blink exercise during breaks
Dark ModeEasier on the eyes in low light
Sound NotificationsPlay sound when break starts

Good to know

Frequently asked questions.

Is BreakChime free?

Yes. The current extension is free, with no account and no ads.

Is BreakChime the same as Blink & Break?

Yes. BreakChime is the new name for Blink & Break. The Add to Chrome links use the same extension listing.

What happens when I pause?

The remaining time is stored. Resume continues from that point instead of starting over.

Can I change the timing?

Yes. Reminder intervals are 1–1440 minutes, breaks are 5–300 seconds, and snooze is 1–120 minutes. Save Settings applies the new interval immediately; a paused timer stays paused.

What is Eye Buddy?

Eye Buddy is the round blue companion inside the extension. Completed breaks earn XP, and enough XP raises its level.

BreakChime superhero eye mascot

Ready when you are

Your next eye break is 20 minutes away.

Add BreakChime to Chrome — Free

No account · No ads · Minimal permissions