How does the Swap Timer work?
Set an interval and a warning time, then start. The Live Session shows a large countdown ring, which interpreter is active, and the last and next swap. Pause, resume, swap, and stop work the same way from the app, Apple Watch, the Lock Screen, and Siri.
Say “Start the swap timer in SignPrep” to begin, and “Who’s on in SignPrep” to find out how long until the next swap. In the Shortcuts app, Start Swap Timer offers a 10, 15, 20, or 30 minute preset.
Read more about the Swap Timer and the Swap Clock, for turns that follow the real clock.
When does the timer appear on an assignment?
The Live Session card appears in an assignment from one hour before the start until the assignment ends, and offers Swap Timer and Swap Clock. The timer button at the top of the Assignments tab opens the Live Session without going through an assignment. More on Live Session.
Can I read it from across the room?
Yes, with Ambient Mode, which is made to be set down. Rest the phone nearby during an assignment and read the Swap Timer at a glance: large text keeps the timing legible from a distance, and the colours pulse when it is time to swap.
The full-screen view shows timing, A/B interpreter roles, and assignment progress, with swap actions available. Setup and end controls stay in the standard Live Session view.
Open it with the expand button at the top right of the Live Session. It also starts on its own after ten seconds without a touch while the timer is running and not paused, unless VoiceOver or Switch Control is on, and a swipe down exits it. More on Ambient Mode.
Does it work on Apple Watch and the Lock Screen?
Yes. On Apple Watch you can start, pause, resume, swap, and stop the Swap Timer, with wheel pickers for the interval and warning time. On the Lock Screen, the Swap Timer’s Live Activity shows the countdown, phase, interpreter dots, and swap count, with Swap & Restart, Pause, and Stop buttons. More on Live Activities and Apple Watch.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Swap Timer and Swap Clock?
Swap Timer is best when you want structured intervals, such as swapping every 15 or 20 minutes. It predicts the next swap and cycles through Running, Swap Soon, and Swap Now states.
Swap Clock is best when swaps need to follow the real clock or happen flexibly. It shows the current time, the elapsed time since the last swap, and clock-based segments for Interpreter A and Interpreter B.
Can I use Swap Timer and Swap Clock at the same time?
No. Only one timing mode can run at a time. In the app, starting one mode stops the other so the active interpreter state stays clear across the app, Watch, widgets, and Live Activities. By voice, Siri refuses to start one while the other is running and asks you to stop timing first.
Can I control the Swap Timer and Swap Clock from outside the app?
The Swap Timer, yes: pause, resume, swap, and stop work the same way from the app, Apple Watch, the Lock Screen, and Siri. Its Live Activity carries Swap & Restart, Pause (or Resume) and Stop buttons, and Apple Watch can start it and drive it. The Swap Clock is narrower: you start, pause, resume, and stop it in the app or by voice, its Live Activity has no buttons, and the Apple Watch screen mirrors it with a single Swap button. On iOS 27, on a compatible device where Siri AI is available, Siri AI can start the Swap Timer but not the Swap Clock, so use the Siri phrase “Start the swap clock in SignPrep” for the clock.
More answers are on the Support page.
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