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AhaSlides Timer in preview: the presenter screen shows a ring countdown at 4:57 with Pause, Add 1 minute and Reset buttons and a count of people done, beside a phone showing the same countdown and an I'm done button
Group tasks, breaks and quick writing exercises all need a clock that everyone can see. Timer is an unscored slide that puts one shared countdown on your screen and on every participant’s phone, in four styles with their own music and sounds. You start it, pause it or add a minute as you go, and see how many people tap I’m done. To add one, click New slide and search for Timer.

Timer at a glance

How to run Timer

1

Add the slide

In the editor, click New slide, then search for Timer or find it in the Content group. See Add a slide with the slide type picker if you haven’t used the picker before.
2

Name the activity

Type what people should do in Your question, for example “Quick warm-up: write three ideas”. It shows above the clock on your screen and on phones.
3

Set the time

Enter Duration (minutes) and Duration (seconds). A new slide starts at 5:00.
4

Choose a style

Pick a Timer style: Ring, Hourglass, Rocket race or Flip clock. Switch Music and sounds on or off to suit the room.
5

Start it live

Click Preview to try it, or Present and share the access code. When you reach the slide, press Start.

Present a Timer slide

Before you press Start, phones show “Waiting for the presenter” and your screen shows the full time. Once it’s running, both show the same countdown. While the clock runs, you have these controls on your screen: The last 10 seconds are shown as a warning. When the time is up, the clock shows “Time’s up” and phones show it too. The Ring style shows the empty ring instead of text. If I’m done button is on, each phone shows an I’m done button while the clock runs or is paused. After someone taps it they see “You’re done”. Your screen shows how many people have tapped, for example “3 of 12 done”, so you can end the activity early when most of the room has finished.

Timer settings

Changing a setting updates a clock that hasn’t started straight away. A clock that is already running keeps its time until you click Reset.

Use Timer in a self-paced presentation

In a self-paced presentation, each person gets their own countdown. It starts when they reach the slide, and if they reload on the same device it carries on from where it was. There are no presenter controls and no I’m done button.

Ideas for using Timer

  • Classes: give pairs five minutes to discuss a question, then bring the room back together when the clock ends.
  • Workshops: time a brainstorm, a sketch sprint or a reading break, and use Add 1 minute when the energy is still high.
  • Team meetings: keep updates, stand-ups and retros to time without anyone watching their own watch.
  • Events: count down a coffee break so everyone is back in their seat on time.

Frequently asked questions

Is Timer scored?

No. There are no points, answers or leaderboard.

Do participants hear the music and sounds?

The music and sounds play on the presenting screen, not on phones. They follow your presentation’s volume, music and sound effects settings.

Does Add 1 minute change the saved time?

No. It only extends the current run. Reset goes back to the duration in the settings.

Can I use Timer to limit a quiz question?

Timer is its own slide, so it doesn’t add a limit to other slides. To time a question, use that slide’s own time limit setting. Have a question? Contact our support team: if you’re logged in, use the chat bubble in the bottom-right of your dashboard; otherwise contact us here or email hi@ahaslides.com. Want to connect with other users? Join the AhaSlides community to share tips, request features, and see how others engage their audiences.