A countdown timer can be used to announce a break, start a presentation, or as a lead-up to a major announcement. While PowerPoint does not come with a default timer, there are various other methods by which you can insert a timer for PowerPoint. In a previous post, we showed you how to add a timer to Google Slides. In this tutorial, we will show you the different methods that can be used to add a timer to PowerPoint.
What are the Common Uses of the Timer in PowerPoint?
When people start using presentation apps like PowerPoint, their questions might be basic, such as how to start a presentation or use a process map template to create a business presentation. As presenters mature, they become interested in more complex questions such as, “Can I add a clock to my PowerPoint presentation or put a timer on a PowerPoint slide? Before we show you how to add a clock or timer in PowerPoint, let’s first explore the benefits of one! A presentation timer can be used for a number of reasons during a PowerPoint presentation. Below is a list of some common uses of timers on PPT slides.
Countdowns to a Major Development
It goes without saying that the most common use of a timer in a PowerPoint presentation is to show a countdown. This might include the start of a presentation, before revealing a product or important information, or the countdown to the start of an event.
Breaking Down Sessions
A countdown timer can be helpful for breaking down different sessions during a PowerPoint presentation, separating one session from another with a short countdown.
Break Countdowns
If you want your audience to take a short break and be back on time, an on-screen countdown timer can be a great way to help everyone keep track of time.
To Track Time for Activities
Some activities during interactive presentations might require time allocation. A timer on the screen can help ensure each activity has a specified time. Such PPT timers can also display a countdown for participants during a debate or show each presenter how much time they have left before their session ends.
To Inform the Audience
Countdown timers can also be used to inform the audience about the time remaining for an activity, session, or event. This can help keep the audience informed and enable better time management.
How to Insert Timer on PowerPoint Slides
Method 1: Create a Timer in PowerPoint
You can create your own timer in PowerPoint using PowerPoint Shapes and Animations. You can use any shape or design you prefer. In the below example, we will create a countdown timer using oval shapes.
Step 1: Add Shapes to PowerPoint Slide
To get started, insert an oval shape in PowerPoint via Insert -> Shapes. You can also choose to use other types of shapes since this method does not require a specific shape to create a countdown timer.
Step 2: Design a Timer According to Your Required Time Duration
You can design a timer by adding shapes and text to it. It can include 10 shapes counting from 10 to 1 or whatever time you might prefer, such as one shape for each minute, leading up to the point when the time runs out. A shape at the center announcing that the time’s up can also be included.
Step 3: Set the Color and Label Timer Shapes
One or more of the shapes you use for the timer can also be recolored to differentiate them and to separate the timer from the final announcement. You can also change the outline of the shape, stylize the text, and make other adjustments to create a visually appealing design. If you find yourself short of ideas for making your slide look good, you can use PowerPoint Designer to get inspiration for the design of your timer.
Step 4: Animate Timer Shapes
Select the shapes and use an animation to animate them (e.g., Appear). From the Animations tab via the Timing menu, you can decide whether the shapes are triggered by clicking or automatically, one after the other.
Step 5: Set Timer To Play Out in a Sequence
In this example, we triggered the shapes from 10 to 1 to play out one after another automatically while setting a slight delay for each shape.
Step 6: Add a Specific Time in the Timer to PowerPoint
By setting the time for 1 second allocated to each shape, we triggered the timer to play out from 10 to 1, followed by an eleventh shape labeled ‘Time’s Up’. If you’re wondering how to add a specific time in the timer to PowerPoint, the timing menu can be used for this very purpose. However, the time you wish to reveal will also depend upon the way you design your timer in PowerPoint, such as a 10-second timer, 10-minute timer, or some other time duration that might suit you.
If you are looking for information about setting time when switching slides, see our tutorial about how to set time duration to switch slides in PowerPoint.
Example of an Animated Timer in PowerPoint
The below GIF animation shows a countdown sequence designed using shapes and animations in PowerPoint, with a one-second time allocated to each shape in the design. Using this method, you can create a countdown timer by revealing shapes or other types of elements within a PowerPoint slide that can be labeled with numbers to represent time. This way, you can create a countdown timer for any time duration. Furthermore, you can also use colorful slide elements to present different points in time by coloring or using colorful slide elements representing seconds, minutes, hours, etc.
Method 2: PowerPoint Timer Add-ins
Another easy method to add a timer in PowerPoint is to use timer add-ins. There are a range of third-party add-ins that can help you supercharge your PowerPoint presentations with stylish countdown timers. PowerPoint add-ins can enable you to avoid spending time making countdown timers from scratch and add a layer of reliability since most add-ins are designed to work seamlessly without the need for an Internet connection. These timers use Macros or PowerPoint Animations to embed timers in PowerPoint presentations. Providing the end user with basic configuration options to start using a custom PowerPoint timer.
Step 1: Go to the Office Store
To get started, go to File -> Get Add-ins to access the Office Store in PowerPoint. If you are new to the Office Store, it is home to add-ins for Office applications, including PowerPoint.
Step 2: Select and Add a Timer Add-in to PowerPoint
While there are several add-ins for adding timers to PPT slides, we will use the EasyTimer add-in to demonstrate the process of adding a timer in PowerPoint.
Step 3: Select a Timer Type
The EasyTimer add-in provides three different types of timers, including an analog clock, a bar, and a digital clock.
You can select a timer type that suits your needs and add design elements or a relevant PowerPoint theme to add color to the timer. The timer add-in mainly has a black-and-white layout, with the green bar timer being an exception.
Step 4: Select Duration and Sound Effect
Once you have selected the type of timer you wish to use, select the time duration, optional sound effects, and click Start when you need to start the timer. You can also pause, stop, or reset the timer anytime using the buttons on the timer slide. Once the timer has started, you can switch to SlideShow mode and the timer will continue to operate. There are also options to Snooze the timer right from within Slide Show mode in PowerPoint.
Method 3: Insert a Video as a Timer
You can also insert online timer videos into a PowerPoint slide, including an online or offline video made for use as a countdown timer.
Step 1: Select a Countdown Timer Video
To create a timer using a video, search for a video with the time duration you need. Many YouTube timer videos specifically created for this purpose are available.
Step 2: Copy URL for Countdown Timer Video
To proceed, copy the URL of the video with the countdown timer. You can also copy the specific time duration for the timer video on websites like YouTube via the Share button.
Step 3: Insert Online Timer Video
You can insert a video from an online source in PowerPoint via Video -> Online Videos. Use this option to insert the timer in PowerPoint.
Note: To use an offline timer video, pick a video via your device.
To insert the video, paste the URL you copied earlier into the dialog box that appears. A preview of the video will then become available. Click Insert to add the video to your PowerPoint slide.
Step 4: Adjust and Play Timer Video
Once a video is added, you can adjust it on the slide using drag and drop to resize it, as well as add a frame, border, and effects, and make other adjustments via the Video Format tab.
The image below shows the countdown timer video running in Slide Show mode in PowerPoint. The only downside of using an online timer might be the need for a stable Internet connection to avoid disruption. In such a case, you can also opt for an offline video embedded in PowerPoint to create your timer.
Method 4: Use PowerPoint Templates
By using PowerPoint templates or countdown-themed Google Slides templates with PowerPoint, you can add a timer to your slides and discuss countdown themed topics.
Animated PowerPoint Timer Analog Clock
The Animated PowerPoint Timer Analog Clock is a presentation template with built-in timer slides. These slides provide timers for 1 minute, 10 minutes, and 30 minutes. You can copy and insert these timer slides in your PowerPoint presentations to add an analog countdown timer. Countdown timers like this presentation template can have a wide array of implications for an audience.
Research has shown that countdown timers are good for customer retention when used in online ads, such as when a product has a countdown until it is on sale. Similarly, you can use templates like the Animated PowerPoint Timer Analog Clock to boost engagement by adding a timer before a major announcement, during presentation breaks, or to create curiosity before revealing important information.
If you’re looking for a more generic clock and time-themed presentation template, you can check out the Analog Clock Time Management Diagram for PowerPoint. You might also find these Clock Templates for PowerPoint and Time Templates for PowerPoint useful for making similar presentations.
Final Words
A timer for PPT slides is not as commonly used as it should be, considering the various benefits a countdown timer can provide. The audience can easily relate to a clock for time management, be it an analog or digital clock or a bar showing the remaining time. By using timers, you can add curiosity to your slide decks, make events more lively, and provide a guide for remaining time during breaks, debates, and as presenters start their sessions.
There are many methods for adding a countdown timer to PowerPoint slides. You can create a custom design and use animations to time your slide elements to act as a timer, use a PowerPoint add-in, insert a timer video, or use a PowerPoint template with a built-in timer. The way you use a timer can vary depending on your needs and creativity. However, the uses and benefits of a timer can be immense and enable making your presentation or event look professionally organized.
