A screenshot showing the search results for the previous search term in the Google Slides Insert Video pop up.
Step 2: Insert the video into your presentation
Click on the video you want to insert and then click Select. The timer will appear on your slide, along with a Format options box to the right of the screen (we’ll cover this in a minute).
Google Slides screenshot showing a slide in the process of being designed. A timer video is on the slide.
You can resize the timer to suit your needs; here, I’ve resized it to fit the slide.
Google Slides screenshot showing the nodes used to resize the timer video
You can use the Format options bar to choose how you want to start the timer – either on a click, automatically, or manually by pressing play.
Google Slides screenshot with the format options side panel option. The play options are highlighted. The options are: Play (on click), Play (automatically), Play (manual).
The same screenshot as above but the Start time and end time boxes are highlighted showing that these are editable.
And finally, if your ideal timer is cursed phone number in usa with irritating background music, you can choose Mute audio (but remember that, if you do mute the video, you won’t be able to hear any audio signals when the timer hits zero).
Same screenshot as before but with the Mute Audio check box highlighted
Voila! One countdown timer to keep your audience on track.
The verdict
Autoplay in Google Slides offers a really straightforward way to pace your presentation if you don’t want to rely on manual clicks to move between slides. However, it’s not visible, so your audience won’t know when the slide is going to advance. Embedding a video timer offers you an easy way to let your audience know what’s happening and when. It’s worth playing around with both functions to see which best meets your needs. The drawback here is that you have to rely on the options available on YouTube, so it’s less customizable. Whichever option you go for, it’s important to rehearse your entire slideshow beforehand to make sure that all the timings fit together as planned. Everyone gets pre-presentation nerves; but practice makes perfect! Visit our ULTIMATE guide to powerful, panic-free presenting for tips that’ll make your next presentation smooth, straightforward, and (dare I say?) enjoyable.