Add a Timer to Google Slides — Free, No Extension
Quick answer: To add a countdown timer to Google Slides, use an overlay timer instead of an extension. Open the free SlideTimerApp, set your time, pin it on top, then start your Google Slides slideshow. The timer floats over the present view and counts down — no Chrome extension or add-on to install, and the same timer also works in PowerPoint and Canva.
On this page
Does Google Slides have a built-in timer?
No — Google Slides does not include a presenter-controlled countdown timer. There is no menu setting that puts a running clock on your slides while you present, and the speaker notes panel shows a clock only as the current time of day, not a countdown you can start, pause or reset.
Because of that gap, presenters usually improvise in one of two ways, and it helps to know the limits of each before you rely on it:
- Embed a YouTube countdown video on a slide. You drop a pre-rendered "5-minute countdown" clip onto a slide and play it. It works, but the duration is fixed to whatever video you picked, you can't pause or extend it if a discussion runs long, and it only counts down while that one slide is on screen — advance the deck and the timer is gone.
- Type the time into speaker notes. You write "stop at 3:40" in your notes. That's just a static reminder; nothing actually counts down, and your audience never sees it.
A separate overlay window sidesteps both limits: it counts down on a duration you choose, stays visible across every slide, and you can pause, reset or add time live.
Why an overlay (not a Slides add-on)?
Google Slides has no built-in presenter countdown, and browser extensions or Workspace add-ons can be blocked on school or work accounts. An overlay timer is a normal desktop window that floats above the browser, so it works regardless of account restrictions and behaves the same across every presentation app. Unlike embedding a GIF or video into a slide or installing an add-in, SlideTimerApp is a separate overlay window — so it survives full-screen Slide Show, can be moved, resized and reset live, and is reused across every deck and every app.
| SlideTimerApp overlay | Chrome extension | Embedded video on a slide | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Needs install permission on your account | No | Yes | No |
| Move / resize during the talk | Yes | Limited | No |
| Same timer in PowerPoint & Canva | Yes | No | No |
| Pause / reset live | Yes | Varies | No |
How to add a countdown timer to Google Slides
- Download & open SlideTimerApp. Run the free portable app on your PC.
- Set the time and pin on top. Enter minutes/seconds (or a preset) and click the pin so it stays above the browser.
- Start your slideshow. In Google Slides, click Slideshow. The timer floats over the present view and counts down. Press Space to start/pause, R to reset.
Using the timer with Google Slides Presenter View
Google Slides splits a presentation into two parts: the full-screen slideshow window your audience sees, and the Presenter view tab, which shows your speaker notes and slide thumbnails on your own screen. SlideTimerApp doesn't replace either one — it's an always-on-top overlay, so it simply floats above whichever window is in front.
For a single-screen setup, leave the timer floating over the slideshow window and drag it into a corner so it never covers your content. For a two-screen setup, you have a choice: keep the overlay on the audience screen (everyone sees the countdown) or move it onto your laptop screen next to the Presenter view (only you see it). Because you can drag the overlay anywhere and resize it by pulling a corner, you can make it small and discreet for yourself, or large and bold for the room.
Google Slides on a Chromebook
Many classrooms run Google Slides on Chromebooks, so it's worth being clear: SlideTimerApp is a Windows app, and there isn't a native Chromebook (ChromeOS) build available. A portable Windows .exe doesn't run inside ChromeOS, so you can't simply download and open it on the Chromebook itself.
You still have a couple of honest options if your deck lives on a Chromebook:
- Present from a Windows PC. Open the same Google Slides deck in a browser on any Windows laptop — your slides are in the cloud, so they're already there — and run SlideTimerApp as the overlay on that machine.
- Mirror or screen-share. If you cast or screen-share the Windows screen (for example through Zoom, Google Meet or Teams) to the room's display, the overlay rides along with the shared screen, so the countdown appears wherever the Windows display is shown.
If you only have a Chromebook, an embedded YouTube countdown on a slide remains the practical in-browser fallback — with the fixed-duration, can't-pause limits described above.
Overlay vs Google Slides timer add-ons / extensions
If you search the Chrome Web Store or Google Workspace Marketplace you'll find timer add-ons and extensions for Slides. They can work, but they live inside the browser and your account — which is exactly where school and work restrictions tend to bite. Here's how the overlay approach compares:
| SlideTimerApp overlay | Slides add-on / extension | |
|---|---|---|
| Needs account permission to install | No | Yes |
| Works offline | Yes | No |
| Reuse the same timer in PowerPoint & Canva | Yes | No |
| Pause / reset / add time live | Yes | Varies |
The trade-off is simple: an add-on lives in the cloud document, while the overlay is a tool you carry to any deck. If you present in more than one app, the overlay travels with you. For a deeper side-by-side, see our presentation & speech timer guide.
Related guides
Add a timer to PowerPoint
The same overlay method for PowerPoint Slide Show.
Canva timer
Float the countdown over a Canva presentation.
Presentation & speech timer
Keep any talk on time, in any app.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add a timer to Google Slides?
Use an overlay timer. Open SlideTimerApp, set your time, pin it on top, then start your Google Slides slideshow. The timer floats over the present view and counts down — no extension or add-on required.
Is there a countdown timer for Google Slides without an extension?
Yes. SlideTimerApp is a separate overlay window, so it adds a countdown on top of Google Slides without installing any Chrome extension or add-on.
Does Google Slides have a countdown timer?
Google Slides has no built-in presenter-controlled countdown timer. People improvise by embedding a YouTube countdown video on a slide or by writing the time into speaker notes, but neither floats over the slideshow or can be paused and reset live. A separate overlay like SlideTimerApp solves this without any add-on.
How do I show a timer in Google Slides presenter view?
Open SlideTimerApp first, set your time and pin it on top, then start the slideshow from Google Slides. Because SlideTimerApp is an always-on-top overlay, it floats over the full-screen present view on your main display. Drag it to a corner so it never covers your slide content, and use Space to start or pause.
Does it work on a Chromebook?
SlideTimerApp is a Windows app and there's no native Chromebook build. On a Chromebook, present the same cloud deck from a Windows PC, or use the overlay while mirroring/screen-sharing your screen to the room. An embedded YouTube countdown remains the in-browser fallback.