How to Rehearse Timings in PowerPoint (and Advance Slides Automatically)
"How long is my presentation?" is a question PowerPoint can answer precisely. Rehearse Timings runs a stopwatch while you practise, records how long you spend on each slide, and tells you the total. You can then keep those timings so the slides advance on their own.
Quick reference
| What you want | How |
|---|---|
| Practise with a stopwatch | Slide Show → Rehearse Timings |
| Keep the timings | Click Yes at the end |
| See the time per slide | View → Slide Sorter (shown under each slide) |
| Same time on every slide | Transitions → After → set seconds → Apply To All |
| Stop slides advancing on their own | Slide Show → untick Use Timings |
1. Rehearse
1. Go to Slide Show → Rehearse Timings.
2. The show starts with a small Recording toolbar in the corner showing the time on this slide and the total so far.
3. Present as you would on the day. Press Space or click to move on.
4. At the end, PowerPoint shows the total time and asks whether to keep the timings.
2. The show starts with a small Recording toolbar in the corner showing the time on this slide and the total so far.
3. Present as you would on the day. Press Space or click to move on.
4. At the end, PowerPoint shows the total time and asks whether to keep the timings.
Click Yes to save them, No to throw them away and just use the number.
2. Pause or redo a slide
On the toolbar, Pause stops the clock while you take a sip of water. Repeat (the curved arrow) restarts the timer for the current slide if you fluffed it.
3. See the timings
Switch to View → Slide Sorter. Each slide has its time underneath — a quick way to spot the one you're spending too long on.
4. Use the timings to advance automatically
Once saved, the timings are on. Press F5 and the slides move on by themselves at the recorded moments — ideal for a video export or a self-running display.
To present manually again without losing them, untick Slide Show → Use Timings. Tick it again when you need them.
5. Set a fixed time per slide instead
No need to rehearse for a simple loop:
1. Transitions tab.
2. Under Advance Slide, tick After and type the seconds.
3. Click Apply To All.
2. Under Advance Slide, tick After and type the seconds.
3. Click Apply To All.
Leave On Mouse Click ticked too if you want to be able to move on early.
6. Clear the timings
Slide Show → Record ▾ → Clear → Clear Timings on All Slides. Or untick After on the Transitions tab and Apply To All.
Troubleshooting
My slides are jumping ahead on their own. Saved timings are on. Untick Use Timings on the Slide Show tab.
The total time is wrong. You paused the rehearsal and forgot to resume, or left it running. Rehearse again.
The timing toolbar is in the way. Drag it by its left edge to another corner.
Wrapping up
Slide Show → Rehearse Timings, present it once, read the total. Say Yes if you want the slides to advance themselves, and untick Use Timings when you'd rather drive.
