Hands-Free Rest Timer: Siri and the Action Button
Short answer
For a hands-free rest timer, use one that Siri and the Shortcuts app can control. Then you can say a phrase to log your set and start your rest, ask how much rest is left, and hear the answer out loud. On iPhones with an Action Button, you can put the same action on the button, and on any recent iPhone, Back Tap can run it with a double or triple tap on the back of the phone. The iPhone Clock timer works with Siri too, but you have to say the time and stop the alarm after every set.
Why go hands-free between sets
The moment you pick up your phone to start a rest, you see everything else on it. A 90-second rest turns into a few minutes of messages. A hands-free rest timer keeps the loop short: finish the set, say one phrase or press one button, put the weight down, and wait for the cue that you're up.
It also helps when your phone is out of reach: on a bench across the rack, in a pocket, or on the floor next to the platform. If you're not sure how long each rest should be, start with how long to rest between sets.
Option 1: Siri and the Clock app
The simplest hands-free timer is already on your phone. Ask Siri to "set a timer for 90 seconds" and the Clock app starts a countdown, which also shows on your Lock Screen.
It works, but it's built for cooking, not lifting:
- You say the time after every set. Siri doesn't know it's set 4 of 5 or that you rest 2 minutes on squats.
- It plays an alarm you have to stop, which means picking the phone up anyway.
- It doesn't count your sets or tell you how long you've gone past your rest.
For an occasional timer that's fine. For a full session of 15 to 25 sets, the repetition adds up.
Option 2: a rest timer app with Siri shortcuts
Many apps now come with built-in shortcuts that Siri, Spotlight, and the Shortcuts app pick up on their own. Apple's developer documentation says these App Shortcuts are available as soon as someone installs your app, with nothing to record or register first.
For a rest timer, the actions that matter are:
- Log a set and start the rest in one phrase.
- Check how much rest is left, answered out loud so you don't have to look.
- Change the rest length when you move from a big lift to a small one.
- End the workout when you're done.
Because Siri speaks the answer, this works with AirPods in and the phone in your bag.
Option 3: put it on the Action Button
On iPhone models that have an Action Button, you can choose what the button does in Settings. Apple's documentation for developers notes that people can assign any App Shortcuts an app provides to the button.
To set it up:
- Open Settings, then Action Button.
- Swipe to Shortcut and tap Choose a Shortcut.
- Pick your rest timer app's "Log set" action.
Now a press of the button logs the set and starts your rest, without unlocking or looking at the screen.
Option 4: Back Tap
Back Tap is an accessibility setting that runs an action when you double-tap or triple-tap the back of your iPhone. It's handy on phones without an Action Button.
- In the Shortcuts app, make a new shortcut and add your timer app's "Log set" action.
- Open Settings, then Accessibility, Touch, and Back Tap.
- Choose Double Tap or Triple Tap, then pick the shortcut you made.
If a double tap ever fires when you didn't mean it to, switch to triple tap.
Which hands-free option to use
| Option | Best for | Needs |
|---|---|---|
| Siri | Phone in a pocket or bag, AirPods in | Siri on your phone or headphones |
| Action Button | One press, no talking | An iPhone with an Action Button |
| Back Tap | Phones without an Action Button | A shortcut and a firm double or triple tap |
| Lock Screen button | Phone on the bench in front of you | A rest timer with a Live Activity |
Most lifters end up mixing them: a button or Siri to log the set, and a buzz or chime to tell them they're up. For the full phone-down routine, see how to time rest without looking at your phone.
How Between does it
Between is a rest timer for lifting, and its main actions work with Siri, Shortcuts, Spotlight, and the Action Button from the moment it's installed. Say the phrase with "Between" in it:
| Say | What happens |
|---|---|
| "Log a set in Between" | Your rest timer begins. Siri answers, "Set 4 done. Resting 90 seconds." |
| "Check my rest in Between" | Siri tells you how much rest is left. |
| "Rest 2 minutes in Between" | Switches to any rest time saved in Settings. |
| "Undo my last set in Between" | Takes back a set you logged by mistake. |
| "End my workout in Between" | Asks to confirm, then reads back your sets and average rest. |
| "Start intervals in Between" | Opens the app and starts your saved work, rest, and rounds. |
Logging a set works with your phone locked. You get a buzz on your Apple Watch and a short chime over your music 10 seconds before your next set and again when you're up, so you can stay hands-free until it's time to lift. You can also log your next set from the Lock Screen or the Smart Stack on your watch.
Frequently asked questions
Can Siri start a rest timer between sets?
Yes. Siri can start a Clock timer if you say the time each set. A rest timer app with Siri support can do more: log the set, start your saved rest, and tell you how much is left, all by voice.
Do I need to set up a Siri shortcut first?
Not for apps that include built-in App Shortcuts. They're available as soon as the app is installed. With Between, just say "Log a set in Between".
Can I log a set with the Action Button?
Yes, on iPhones that have one. Go to Settings, then Action Button, choose Shortcut, and pick Between's "Log set" action. Each press logs a set and starts your rest.
Does a hands-free rest timer work with my phone locked?
Between's Log set works with the phone locked, by Siri, the Action Button, or the Lock Screen button. Siri answers out loud, so you don't need to look at the screen.
What's the difference between Back Tap and the Action Button?
The Action Button is a physical button on some newer iPhones. Back Tap is a setting, not a button, so it works on phones without one. It runs a shortcut when you double-tap or triple-tap the back of the phone. Both can log a set in Between.