How to Quickly Insert a Countdown Timer in PowerPoint (+Video)

As a presenter, I find it essential to actively engage my audience. There are moments when I want them to be mindful of the time, and I can seamlessly incorporate a PowerPoint timer into my presentation to achieve this. Doing so allows me to create a sense of urgency, keep the flow organized, and ensure that my content aligns with the allotted time.

Whether it’s a timed quiz, a countdown display, or simply managing my speaking duration, adding a timer to a PowerPoint slide enhances the overall experience for both me and my audience.

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Let's learn how to add timer in PPT slides for powerful time tracking. — Let's learn how to add a timer to PPT slides for powerful time tracking. (Image Source: Envato Elements)

There are many different reasons that you use a PowerPoint timer. So, learning how to add a countdown timer to PowerPoint can be helpful. Here are a few examples:

If you must give a presentation in a short amount of time, you can add a timer to PowerPoint slides to keep you on track.
If you include a Q&A section in your presentation, you might want to add a timer so that the audience knows that they have a limited time to ask or answer questions.
A timer can also track the time left in a break for a longer presentation.

In this article, I’ll show you three different methods of inserting a timer in PowerPoint. You'll also explore some premium templates from Envato Elements and learn why templates are beneficial. Finally, we’ll look over some common PowerPoint questions and answers.

How to Add a Timer in PPT (Quickstart Video)

Are you in a hurry to add a timer to PowerPoint? Don't worry, we've got you covered with this quickstart video. In just a few minutes, you'll learn how to insert a PowerPoint timer into your slides:

Do you want to find out more about using a timer for PPT slides? Continue reading the written tutorial for step-by-step instructions.

How to Add a Timer to Your PowerPoint Presentation

Timers can have many purposes in your presentation. But mainly, you use them to keep track of time passing or let the audience know the time.

To demonstrate how to insert a timer in PowerPoint, I’ll use the Multima Multipurpose Template from Envato Elements.

Multima template example — Download the powerful Multima PowerPoint template from Elements today to follow along.

Also, for this tutorial, I’ll be focused on slide four. Here's what slide four looks like without edits made to the slide. It's nearly ready to insert PowerPoint timer graphics.

Add timer to PowerPoint — Here is slide #4 in the Multima deck, without any edits made.

Three methods can be used to add a timer to PowerPoint or insert a countdown clock in PowerPoint. Let's look at each of them in turn.

The tips in this section were written using Windows and Office 365. If you’ve got a different operating system or a different version of PowerPoint, your steps may be slightly different.

Method #1: Create a Bar Timer

The bar method is effective in showing the passage of time. With it, you can create a moving bar that moves at your own chosen speed. Timers for PPT slides are flexible when you use the bar method.

It’s a quick, easy way to mark time passing as you share a slide. Here are the steps for adding a bar timer to any presentation slide:

1. Create a Timer Base

To add a bar timer to PowerPoint, click on the Insert tab. Next, click on the Shapes button.

Insert timer into PowerPoint — Draw a rectangle shape to create the base for your timer on PowerPoint.

When you click this button, the shape menu drops down. Choose the rectangle shape. Next, draw the rectangle for your timer for PPT slides.

If you'd like, right-click on the rectangle and select Fill to change the color of the rectangle.

PowerPoint slides timer — Right-click on your rectangle and use the **Fill** option to change the color palette if you want.

To add text to the rectangle, click Insert and then click Text Box.

If you can make it so the end of the timer disappears on the edge of the slide, it'll look cleaner. For text, type something like "Presentation Will Resume Soon".

2. Add Movement to Your Timer

Click on your rectangle and click on the Animations tab. If you've added text, hold down the Control key and click on the text box. This selects both shape and text and ensures that they will animate together.

Timer insert for PowerPoint — Choose the **Fly Out** animation from the drop-down gallery to animate your bar timer.

Next, click on the More drop-down arrow on the Animations tab. You’ll see the full gallery of animation options drop down. From it, look at the Exit group. There, choose Fly Out.

Now, let’s adjust how the bar moves. This will make it look more like a timer, exiting off to one side of your slide. It will count down to the edge and disappear when the time is up.

PowerPoint timer slides — Use the To Left direction option to transform your rectangle into a moving timer.

With your rectangle selected, click on the Effect Options button on the Animations tab. On the drop-down, click To Left. This means that the animation effect will move to the left. Choosing this option gives your shape a timer effect.

3. Create a Custom Duration

With your rectangle selected, you can change the duration of the animation. This controls the exact speed of your countdown timer.

Countdown timer on PPT — Use the **Duration** menu to control your countdown timer on PPT.

On the Animations tab, find the Timing section on the right side. In the Duration section, you can adjust the timing using the up and down arrows. Or you can type in a custom value.

Just like that, you’ve built a custom timer in PowerPoint using the bar technique!

Method #2: Create a Clock

The clock method is like the bar method. This is great for people who want their timer to look more like a clock.

Here are the steps to add a clock timer to your slide.

1. Pick Your Clock Base

First, you need to choose a clock base. You can use a shape that came with the template or create your own. Remember, it needs to be a shape and not an image.

This shape will be the inner part of the clock that we'll use as the clock. Next, I'll show you how to make the outside of the clock.

Countdown clock for PowerPoint — Add a circle shape to insert PowerPoint timer clock faces.

To begin, I moved some elements from the slide to make room for the clock. Now, choose which shape you want your clock to be. I chose the circle.

Click on the Insert tab. In the toolbar, click on the Shapes button. When you click on this button, a shape menu drops down. Draw the circle where you want your clock to be.

Next, keep drawing shapes around the middle shape to create a clock. I chose more circles.

Insert a countdown clock in a PowerPoint — Use more circles to build your PowerPoint clock.

After you've drawn the shapes, you’ll need to add numbers to show time. Double-click inside the shape and type the number you want.

To add a text box, click the Insert tab. Next, click on the Text Box button in the toolbar button. Draw the text box in the outside shapes. Again, type the number that you want.

2. Pick Your Clock’s Color

Customize your clock by choosing the color. Begin by clicking on the shape.

Timer for PPT Slides — Use the **Shape Fill** menu to pick the color of your clock.

Next, click on the Shape Format tab. Then, click on the Shape Fill drop-down button, found in the Shape Styles group. You’ll see a color chooser menu appear. Click on any of the new shades to apply it to your clock shape.

3. Add Movement to Your Clock

Now you need to add movement to your clock to show time passing. Begin by clicking on the middle circle.

Insert PowerPoint timer — Use the **Wheel** animation to animate your timer for PPT slides.

Next, click on the Animations tab. In the Animation group, click the drop-down arrow. From the gallery, find the Wheel option and click on it to select it. This animates your circle like a ticking clock in PPT.

4. Customize Your Clock’s Duration

Adding a custom clock duration can make your timer more accurate. Start by selecting the middle circle.

Add timer in PPT — Customize the duration of your clock animation.

Next, click on the Animations tab. In the Timing section, find the Duration field. Click on it, and you can add a custom duration using the arrows.

Plus, you can type in a custom time value using your keyboard. This controls the speed of the Wheel animation that you just added.

Method #3: Use an Add-In

Here is how to use an add-in to add a PowerPoint timer to your slide:

1. Find the Add-In

Add-ins are PowerPoint tools that you can add to your PowerPoint toolbar. There are add-ins for lots of different tools, including timers. Here are the steps explaining how to add an add-in timer to your slide:

Timer on PowerPoint — Add-ins in PowerPoint help you add timers to your favorite slide.

To access the add-in menu, click on the Insert tab. Next, click on the Get Add-ins button in the toolbar.

This causes the add-ins store to pop up in a window. These give you features to insert PowerPoint timers. Choose the timer add-in that you want to add to PowerPoint.

Some add-in timers are free. Others cost money.

2. Choose the Add-in

The add-in chosen to countdown on PowerPoint is EasyTimer.

Before adding a timer to PowerPoint, it’s best to read the reviews. The one titled EasyTimer has the best review, so we will add that one. To add it to PowerPoint, click on the red Add button. There are many timers for PPT slides in the PowerPoint add-in store, such as:

Showmaster
Wooclap
Time UP

Choose the PowerPoint timer that suits your needs. Once you click Add, a box with the license terms and privacy policy will appear. After you’ve read it, click Continue.

3. Customize the Timer

Make your customizations to your timer on PPT slides.

After you click Continue, your PowerPoint timer will appear on a slide. Use the drop-down menus to customize the timer to suit your needs.

3 Easy Tips to Keep Your Presentation Brief

Here are three tips to keep your presentations brief:

1. Focus on Key Points

Focus on important information to make your presentation shorter. (Image Source: Envato Elements)

If you want to do more than use a PowerPoint countdown timer to keep your presentations brief, you should ensure that you only focus on key points or essential information. This means that you should cut out any fluff or unnecessary information. It helps to figure out what your presentation is about and expand on that idea.

2. Don’t Rush

If you’ve put a timer in PPT slides or want to make a short presentation, don’t talk fast to make your presentation shorter. You need to do your research and ensure that you are presenting facts and only telling the main story of your presentation.

3. Use Pictures

Images can help you get your message to the audience. (Image source: Envato Elements)

Pictures can give the audience a lot of information, whether it’s a chart that shows data or an emotional picture to prove a point. If you’re using a timer on PowerPoint and want to create a brief presentation, use images to help illustrate your points. Here are some articles that will help you learn how to keep your presentation brief:

FAQ About Microsoft PowerPoint

If you don’t know much about PowerPoint or know some, you still might have questions. Here are some common PowerPoint questions and answers:

1. How Do I Make an Interactive Quiz in my Presentation?

First, figure out what questions you want to ask your audience. After deciding which questions, you want to type up the questions and the multiple-choice answers.

Next, add any icons and animations. For a more in-depth tutorial on how to add an interactive quiz to your presentation, read this article:

How to Make a Basic Interactive Quiz in PowerPoint From a PPT Template (+Video)
Andrew Childress
30 Aug 2021

2. How Do I Show the Different Options for a Decision?

You can show the decision-making process and different possible outcomes through a decision tree. You can either create a node decision tree or a branch decision tree. Learn how in this tutorial:

How to Quickly Make a Decision Tree in PowerPoint By Customizing Templates (+ Video)
Alexis (Lexi) Rodrigo
09 Jan 2024

3. How Do I Give My Presentation Over Zoom?

It's become more common to present PowerPoint Presentations over a video call. To present your presentation over Zoom, you need to have both Zoom and Microsoft PowerPoint. Here's an in-depth tutorial on how to give your PowerPoint presentation over Zoom:

How to Share PowerPoint Presentations in Zoom Webinar Meetings in 2024 (+Video)
Andrew Childress
28 Apr 2023

4. How Do I Add an Image to my PowerPoint presentation?

There are several ways to add images to presentations:

You can copy and paste an image into your presentation.
Another way to add a photo to your presentation is to click on the Insert tab. Next, click on the Pictures button. Choose an option from the drop-down menu depending on the location of your image. Now, double-click on the image and resize as needed.

Discover more about working with images below:

How to Work With Images in PowerPoint (Complete PPT Picture Guide)
Andrew Childress
31 Oct 2022

5. How Do I Add Charts or Graphs to My PowerPoint Template?

Charts and graphs can be helpful when presenting data.

To add a chart or graph to your template, click on the Insert tab. In the toolbar, click on the Chart button. When you click on this button, a chart menu drops down. Choose the chart you want.

For a more in-depth tutorial, read this article:

How to Make Great PPT Charts & Graphs in Microsoft PowerPoint (+Video)
Andrew Childress
27 Dec 2021

Learn More About PowerPoint

Here are some articles that can help you learn more about PowerPoint:

Find More PowerPoint Templates

Find more PowerPoint templates by reading these articles:

Whether you're looking for a template to use to add a timer to PPT or you just need a good presentation template, Envato Elements is your best choice.

Find PowerPoint Templates

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With premium professional templates, your slide decks will shine. You’ll create stunning designs in moments. It’s the best value for creatives like you in 2024 and beyond.

Add a Timer to Your Next PowerPoint Presentation

Countdown timers in presentations can help you keep track of time. Or they can make the audience aware of the time. Either way, insert PowerPoint timers for accurate time tracking.

In this article, you found out how to add a timer to PowerPoint. We also went over the benefits of templates from Envato Elements. Finally, I answered common PowerPoint questions.

Now that you know how, why not download a PowerPoint template now? Use it to add a timer to your next PowerPoint presentation.