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Pause for N Seconds with timeout.exe

Use the built-in timeout command to wait a fixed time in CMD or batch scripts, with optional keypress-to-skip.

WindowsbatchcmdLow risk
Run timeout /t 10 /nobreak to wait 10 seconds, or add /nobreak to ignore key presses until the timer expires.

01Command

Command
$ timeout /t 10 /nobreak

02What it does

timeout /t <seconds> counts down and lets the user skip the wait by pressing any key; /nobreak ignores keys except Ctrl+C. It works in interactive CMD and batch files, but inside non-interactive contexts (Task Scheduler scripts without input redirection, PowerShell pipelines) it fails with 'ERROR: Input redirection is not supported' — there, use PowerShell's Start-Sleep instead.

03Risk

RiskLow risk

04Undo

✓No undo needed — this command does not change persistent state.

05Sources

  • timeout - SS64
    SS64 · technical · 2026-09-17
    Evidence: Reference for timeout including the /nobreak and /nobreak behaviors and caveats in piped contexts.
  • timeout
    Microsoft Learn · vendor-doc · 2026-09-17
    Evidence: Documents timeout /t with /nobreak and the ignore-keyboard-input flag.

Last verified: 2026-09-17 · Category: System & Settings

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