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Animated Countdown Timers in PowerPoint for Mac (2023)

Learn how to create four types of animated countdown timers for your next live stream or webinar.

Bar Style Timer

From the Shape button, add a rectangle

Adjust the dimensions to 1 inch high and 2.6 wide

Change the fill to a dark color

Change the shape outline to the same color

change the weight to 6pt

Right click over the shape and choose Edit Text

Add the number 5

Change Font Size between 72 and 96

Next, select the shape

From the Animations tab

Apply the Wipe Exit Animation

From the Effects Animation button

Change the direct to From Right

Click the Animation Pane button

In the Timing section set the animation duration

Change the Duration change to 59:00

In PowerPoint the maximum duration 59 seconds

to create a full minute

Add a Delay of one second

With the Shape selected, duplicate it by pressing Cmd D

Move the new shape next to the first one

With the second shape selected, duplicate it 3 more times

Use the Align Middle option to make sure they are centered

Change the number of each shape from 4 to 1

Change Fill of each shape making each one lighter

In the Animation Pane, select the 4 to 1 shapes

Change the Start to After Previous

If you want the slide to move automatically to the next slide after the countdown

In the Transition tab

Uncheck On Mouse Click

And then check After and leave the time at zero

Stopwatch Timer

This uses the same animations as the bar timer but with circles and a few more graphical elements.

From the Shape button, add a circle

Change the fill to a dark color

From the Shape Outline option, choose No outline

Right click over the shape and choose Edit Text

Add the number 1

Select the shape

From the Animations tab, apply the Wheel Exit Animation

Click the Animation Pane button

In the Timing section set the animation duration

Change the Duration to 59:00

In PowerPoint the maximum duration 59 seconds

to create a full minute

Add a Delay of one second

With the Shape selected, duplicate it by pressing Cmd D

Move the new shape next to the first one

With the second shape selected, duplicate it 3 more times

Change the number of each shape from 2 to 5

In the Animation Pane, move the animations

so 5 is at the top of the list and 1 is at the bottom

select the 4 to 1 shapes

Change the Start to After Previous

Change Fill of each shape making each one lighter

Select all of the circles

From the Shape Format tab, select Align Center and Align Middle

Change the dimensions to 4 inches x 4 inches

Change Font Size 96 or larger

for this option I will use 150

Now insert a stopwatch icon

From the Insert tab, click the Icons button

Type in stopwatch

Choose the one with a thinner outline

click the Insert button

Resize to fit over the circles

In the Graphic Format tab, click Convert to Shape

Select the minute & second hands

Press the Delete key to remove them

Now add the title Break Time

From the Insert tab, click the Icons button

Type in tea

Choose the tea cup and mug with a solid fill

click the Insert button

Resize each to 4 inches

Rearrange so they are next to each other

Add a text box and type in Break is Over

Resize the font to 96 and center it

From the Shape format tab, Align Center and Middle to the slide

Now set the animations so the break time objects disappear and the Break is Over text appears

Choose the stopwatch, coffee mug, tea cup, and Break Time

From the Animations tab, choose the Exit Disappear

In the animation pane, select the Stopwatch

Change the Start to After Previous

Select the Break is Over text box

From the Animations tab, apply the Appear animation

Set the Start to After Previous

Number Countdown for a Short Amount of Time

Add a text box and type in the numbers 01

This will keep the text boxes a similar size

Change the Fill to match your background

Remove any outline

From the Animations tab, apply the Exit animation Wipe

Change the Effect to From Top

Change the Duration to 1 second

Duplicate the text box

Move it next to the first text box

Select the second text box and duplicate it using Cmd D

Move the text box next to the second text box

Press Cmd D 8 more times

Change the numbers of each text box

From the Animations tab, click the Animation Pane button

In the Animation Pane, move the animations

so 10 is at the top of the list and 1 is at the bottom

select the 9 to 1 shapes

Change the Start to After Previous

Select all of the text boxes

From the Shape Format tab, choose Align Center and Align Middle

Change the font size to about 200

Move the numbers where you want them on the slide

Breaktime Add-in

This is the best option is you want to have a longer numerical countdown.

From the Insert tab, click the Get Add-ins button

In the search box of the pop-up window, type timer

and press the Search button or the Return key

Several options will appear on the search results list

All of them generally work the same way

Some of them do require an account and/or payment

The one I recommend is Breaktime

Click the Add button

If prompted, click Continue to agree to their terms of use

Once you have added the timer to PowerPoint,

you can insert it onto any slide from the My Add-ins button on the Insert tab

Once inserted, resize it to the size you want

You can use the Height and width on the Shape Format tab

or use the sizing handles

Now all you need to do is adjust the minutes and seconds

If you want to add a background image

Select an option from the Type drop down menu

This one of the limiting aspects of the timer You can't customize the background images or change the background color.

One nice feature of this add-in is that in full presentation mode, you can adjust the timer if needed.

When ready click the Start button to begin the countdown The controls fade away once the countdown begins.

About the Author

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Jennifer Sharkey is known as the Virtual Presentation Specialist. She has 20+ years of experience public speaking and helping others. She draws from her experience as an associate professor, academic librarian, and coach to help new, holistic female coaches master virtual presentations and gain more clients. Her unique immersive program helps her students gain confidence, present engaging content, and tame the tech in 12 weeks (or less).


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