How to Add a Timer to Google Slides (Countdown, Stopwatch & Clock)

Quick Summary: 3 Steps to Add a Timer

Step 1

Install Live Slides Timer extension

Add the free Live Slides Timer extension to Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge from the Chrome Web Store.

Step 2

Insert a timer tag into any slide text box

Create or select a text box on your slide and type {{5:00-}} for a 5-minute countdown or {{0:00+}} for a stopwatch.

Step 3

Click Slideshow (Present) to activate

Enter presentation mode. The extension immediately replaces the placeholder tag with an active ticking timer.

Why Doesn't Google Slides Have a Built-In Presenter Timer?

While Google Slides is one of the world's most versatile presentation tools, it famously lacks a built-in countdown clock visible to both the speaker and the audience. Presenters often resort to clunky workarounds: running stopwatch apps on their phones, embedding YouTube countdown videos that show ads or buffer, or opening secondary monitor windows.

The cleanest and most reliable modern method is using a dedicated browser extension that converts simple text placeholders into high-performance ticking timers during presentation mode.

Step 1: Install Live Slides Timer

Head to the Chrome Web Store and install the free Live Slides Timer extension. It works seamlessly across Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Brave, and Opera.

Note: Unlike older legacy extensions that require you to restart Chrome or reload your existing presentations, Live Slides Timer works instantly on active tabs without requiring a refresh.

Step 2: Type Your Desired Timer Tag

Open your Google Slides presentation and click on any existing text box or create a new one. Enter any of the following tags:

{{5:00-}} — A 5-minute countdown that stops at 00:00.
{{10:00-}} — A 10-minute countdown.
{{0:00+}} — An open-ended count-up stopwatch.
{{now}} — A real-time digital clock showing local time.

Step 3: Enter Presentation Mode

Click the Slideshow (Present) button in the top right corner of Google Slides (or press Ctrl + F5 / Cmd + Enter). The text placeholder will immediately activate as a live digital clock!

Pro Tip: Adding Sound Alerts and Auto-Advance

You can enhance your timer with actions that trigger when it hits zero:

{{5:00-|@}} — Plays a gentle bell chime when time is up.
{{5:00-|]}} — Automatically flips to the next slide when the timer reaches zero.
{{5:00-|@|]}} — Rings the chime and advances to the next slide simultaneously.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the audience see the timer?

Yes. Because the timer renders directly on the slide canvas, any audience viewing your projector, TV screen, or screen share (Zoom, Google Meet, Teams) will see the timer countdown.

Can I format the font and color of the timer?

Yes! Format the text box in Google Slides just like any normal text (change font family, font size, bold, or text color). Live Slides Timer inherits all CSS text styling.