# How to skip a Pomodoro phase in NotchStar

> Press the skip button next to play in Pomodoro mode to jump from focus to break or back. A skipped focus block still counts toward the four dots.

Canonical: https://www.notchstar.com/help/skip-pomodoro-phase-sessions/
Last updated: 2026-11-04

Published 2026-11-04.

To skip a Pomodoro phase in NotchStar, open Timers, choose Pomodoro and press the forward button that sits beside the play button. It appears only in Pomodoro mode. It jumps to the next phase straight away and leaves the timer stopped, ready for you to press play.

## What skipping does

- Skipping a focus block moves to the break and adds one to the focus sessions done, so a dot lights up.
- Skipping a break moves to the next focus block and raises the session number, for example from 1 of 4 to 2 of 4.
- After session 4 the number wraps back to 1.

The countdown resets to the full length of the new phase and does not start. The same happens when a phase ends by itself, except that a sound plays.

## When it helps

Skip a break if you feel fine and want to carry on. Skip a focus block if you finished early. Note that skipping a focus block counts it as done. If you want an honest count, press reset instead, which keeps the same phase and does not light a dot. The [Pomodoro guide](https://www.notchstar.com/guides/pomodoro-timer-on-mac/) suggests resetting an interrupted block.

## Limits

There is no button to go back a phase. Quitting NotchStar clears the session count. The presets are covered in [the presets page](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-pomodoro-presets/), and the tool is on the [Timers feature page](https://www.notchstar.com/features/timers/).

## Keep reading.

- [Timer, stopwatch and Pomodoro in the notch](https://www.notchstar.com/features/timers/): A timer, stopwatch and Pomodoro with session tracking, always one hover away in the Mac notch. It keeps counting while the notch is closed.
- [How to start a Pomodoro session in NotchStar](https://www.notchstar.com/help/start-a-pomodoro-session-notchstar/): Open Timers, choose Pomodoro, pick 25 and 5, 50 and 10 or 15 and 3 minutes, and press play. A ring and four dots track the cycle.
- [NotchStar Pomodoro presets: 25/5, 50/10 and 15/3](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-pomodoro-presets/): NotchStar's Pomodoro timer has three presets: 25 minutes focus and 5 break, 50 and 10, or 15 and 3. Here is how to switch and when to use each.
- [How to run a Pomodoro timer on your Mac](https://www.notchstar.com/guides/pomodoro-timer-on-mac/): The Pomodoro technique in practice: block lengths, breaks, what to do when you get interrupted, and how to run it from the Mac notch.

## More in Timers.

- [How to set a timer on your Mac with NotchStar](https://www.notchstar.com/help/set-a-timer-on-mac-notchstar/): Open the notch, choose Timers, pick a length from 5 to 60 minutes and press play. Pause and reset sit beside the play button.
- [How to start a Pomodoro session in NotchStar](https://www.notchstar.com/help/start-a-pomodoro-session-notchstar/): Open Timers, choose Pomodoro, pick 25 and 5, 50 and 10 or 15 and 3 minutes, and press play. A ring and four dots track the cycle.
- [Which timer lengths NotchStar offers](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-timer-lengths/): The NotchStar countdown timer offers 5, 10, 15, 25, 45 and 60 minutes from one menu. There is no custom entry. Here is how to pick one.
- [NotchStar Pomodoro presets: 25/5, 50/10 and 15/3](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-pomodoro-presets/): NotchStar's Pomodoro timer has three presets: 25 minutes focus and 5 break, 50 and 10, or 15 and 3. Here is how to switch and when to use each.
- [What happens when a NotchStar timer ends](https://www.notchstar.com/help/what-happens-when-notchstar-timer-ends/): When a NotchStar timer ends it plays your chosen sound and resets to its length. It does not repeat, show a banner or move other windows.
- [Can you run more than one timer in NotchStar](https://www.notchstar.com/help/run-two-timers-notchstar/): NotchStar has one Timer, one Stopwatch and one Pomodoro, each with its own state. Only one countdown should run at a time. Here are the limits.