Presentation timer
Running long is the most common presenting mistake. Presenter Cue’s talk timer starts when you start and sits next to your notes.
Step by step: presenter view on a projector
- Extend your screen. Connect the projector or TV and set it to extend your desktop. Then open presenter view with the notes button beside Present.
- Open the audience window. Drag the audience window onto the projector and click it for full screen. The room sees only the slides.
- Present from your laptop. Keys, a clicker or your phone move both screens together. Press T to pause the timer, B for a black screen and Esc to end.
Where to find it
- Presenter view shows the talk time and the clock beside your notes.
- Your phone remote shows the same timer; tap it to pause or start.
The timer starts when you start presenting. Press T to pause or resume, and R to reset it, for example after a rehearsal run.
Plan your timing
- About one slide a minute is a good default for talks; pitches run a little faster.
- Rehearse once with the timer and note the time at each section slide.
- Put a time cue in a slide’s notes: “should be at 6:00 here”.
The timer is part of Presenter Cue Pro, with presenter view and the phone remote.
Planning your timing
Work backwards from your slot. Leave time for questions (often a quarter of the slot), then divide the rest across the slides that matter most. Write a target time into the notes of a few key slides, such as “halfway: 5:00”, so a glance at the timer tells you whether to speed up.
Rehearsing with the timer
- Present the whole deck once, out loud, with the timer running. Don’t stop to fix things.
- Note where you ran long. Usually it’s one or two slides.
- Cut the note, not your pace. Shorten what you say on those slides rather than planning to talk faster.
- Rehearse again and check you finish with a minute to spare.
On the day
The timer starts when you start presenting and shows in presenter view and on your phone remote, where only you can see it. If you start late or are interrupted, pause it with T; R resets it.
Typical slots
| Situation | Usual length | Slides |
|---|---|---|
| Lightning talk | 5 minutes | 5 to 10 |
| Demo day pitch | 3 to 5 minutes | 7 to 10 |
| Team update | 5 to 10 minutes | 4 to 6 |
| Conference talk | 20 to 30 minutes | 12 to 20 |
| Class presentation | 3 to 10 minutes | 5 to 10 |
These are common ranges, not rules. Always follow the time the organiser gives you.
When you’re running long
- Skip, don’t rush. Jump past a slide by typing its number and pressing Enter, and summarise it in a sentence.
- Protect the ending. The last slide (what you want people to do) matters more than any middle slide. Mark it in your notes as “never skip”.
- Cut questions short politely. Offer to continue afterwards and point to your contact details on the closing slide.
Questions
Does the timer count down?
It counts up from the start of your talk. Write your target times in the notes of key slides.
Does the audience see the timer?
No. It shows in presenter view and on your phone remote only.
Can the timer count down?
It counts up from the start of your talk. Write your target times into your notes and compare as you go.
Is the timer free?
The timer is part of Pro, with presenter view and the phone remote: $10 for 7 days or $99 a year.
Last updated .