{"id":7863,"date":"2022-01-30T17:04:27","date_gmt":"2022-01-30T17:04:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/01\/30\/how-to-create-a-countdown-timer-in-microsoft-powerpoint\/"},"modified":"2022-01-30T17:04:27","modified_gmt":"2022-01-30T17:04:27","slug":"how-to-create-a-countdown-timer-in-microsoft-powerpoint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/01\/30\/how-to-create-a-countdown-timer-in-microsoft-powerpoint\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Create a Countdown Timer in Microsoft PowerPoint"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Microsoft<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no built-in timer in PowerPoint, but you can create your own using a mix of objects and animations. There\u2019s also a neat add-in you can use if you need a quick solution. Let\u2019s take a look.<\/p>\n

Create a Custom Countdown Timer<\/h2>\n

You can create a custom countdown timer in PowerPoint by adding to on-screen shapes an exit animation with a set time to complete the animation. You can use one shape if you want, but if you use multiple shapes for the timer, you\u2019ll need to set each animation to begin in order once the last animation is finished. Note that the longest duration you can set for a single animation is 59 seconds.<\/p>\n

First, open the PowerPoint presentation<\/a> you\u2019d like to add the timer to, and then insert the shapes<\/a> of your choice (Insert > Shape). You can insert as many or as few shapes as necessary. In this example, we\u2019ll insert five rectangles with rounded edges.<\/p>\n

\"Rectangles<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve got the shapes set, add a number to them by double-clicking the shape and typing the number. The numbers can represent minutes or seconds. If you want the duration of the timer to be 5 minutes, then you can add 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 in the boxes and set each animation duration to 59 seconds.<\/p>\n

\"Rectangles<\/p>\n

Next, add an exit animation to each shape. You\u2019ll need to add the animation in the order you want each animation to disappear. To add an animation, click the shape to select it, go to the \u201cNavigations\u201d tab, and then choose an exit animation. Exit animations are red.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

After you select the animation, set the duration of the animation in the Timing group. As mentioned earlier, the max duration you can set is 59 seconds.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

After you set the first animation, select the next shape, give it an animation, and then set the duration. However, for this one, you\u2019ll also need to adjust when the animation starts. For a seamless countdown, you\u2019ll want to select \u201cAfter Previous.\u201d This means the animation will start when the previous animation is finished.<\/p>\n

\"Select<\/p>\n

Continue this until all of the shapes have been assigned an exit animation and duration.<\/p>\n

Get a Ready-Made Timer Using an Add-in<\/h2>\n

To insert a countdown timer using an add-in<\/a>, open the PowerPoint presentation<\/a>, navigate to the \u201cInsert\u201d tab, and then click \u201cGet Add-ins\u201d (\u201cStore\u201d on Mac).<\/p>\n

\"Click<\/p>\n

The Office Add-ins window will appear. There are multiple countdown timer add-ins you can choose from, but we\u2019ll be using \u201cBreaktime\u201d in this example. Search for \u201cBreaktime\u201d and then click the red \u201cAdd\u201d button to the right.<\/p>\n

\"Click<\/p>\n

When you add the add-in, the timer will appear on the current slide of your presentation.\u00a0 If you want to add the timer to a different slide, navigate to the slide and then click Insert > My Add-ins > Breaktime.<\/p>\n

You can set the timer in minutes and seconds, start and stop the timer, and reset it back to the input time. You can even give your timer a background by choosing one from the \u201cType\u201d option.<\/p>\n

\"Timer<\/p>\n

That\u2019s all there is to it. Timers serve an important purpose, but depending on what you\u2019re hoping to accomplish, you may also want to consider adding a progress bar<\/a> or even a clock<\/a> to your presentation.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> How to Create a Progress Bar in Microsoft PowerPoint<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n