how to tell how long a ppt presentation is

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PowerPoint - How to see TOTAL run time after creating slide show

I have already created a slide show using the AUTOMATIONS tab and the Advance Slide Automatically After ---- function where I have manually entered the runtime of each individual slide until my Slide Show was complete. I now have a finished Show, but I want to determine its TOTAL Running Time. I would think the program would be able to give this information without running a Rehearsal, but I tried the Rehearsal function and found that will not accomplish this either.

How can I see the total run time?

• microsoft-powerpoint

6 Answers 6

I recently had the same need and having been unable to find a simple solution, I added a feature to a free add-in that I created for PowerPoint power users called BrightSlide . It adds the required info to the Timing group of the Transitions tab. Here's a couple of screenshots of the feature in action:

When clicking the Detail button (old screenshot from former product):

To access the feature in BrightSlide, click the BrightSlide tab followed by Settings & Help / Settings / Ribbon Setup and check Legacy Tools . You'll then see a new Legacy Tools drop down in the BrightSlide ribbon in which you can activate the Timing Pro tools. They will then appear in the PowerPoint Transitions tab.

• 3 It's worth nothing that this is commercial software. –  Lars Viklund Commented Nov 27, 2017 at 13:20
• @LarsViklund And it looks like you can no longer buy it. (Too bad, too, because I might have, depending on price.) –  Bob Brown Commented Mar 30, 2019 at 1:20
• Looks like this time-tracking component is called "TalkTime" and offered for free here: youpresent.co.uk/free-stuff/talktime-powerpoint . For the timings of individual slides, you can also use PPT's integrated rehearsal feature, as suggested in this SO post: stackoverflow.com/a/31803985/3017719 . –  Patrick Commented Jun 6, 2020 at 9:34
• Yep, that's a [different] free add-in to use when practising your presentation and gives you the total present (TalkTime) per slide/section/presentation that you set, based on the time you spend on the slide in slide show mode (hence different from the above which uses PowerPoint animation times). I developed TalkTime for Nolan Haims Creative: presentyourstory.com/… –  Jamie Garroch - MVP Commented Jun 9, 2020 at 15:07
• @LarsViklund and BobBrown - regarding the original feature, it's still available, and it's now free. It's part of a brand new add-in that I developed for BrightCarbon and it's called BrightSlide. You can get it here: brightcarbon.com/brightslide I'll update the original [old] post accordingly. –  Jamie Garroch - MVP Commented Jun 9, 2020 at 15:23

To know the total time of a presentation with recorded timing, go to the Slide Show menu, and select Record from current slide as follows

The following recording window will open with the total time of the presentation (in this case 16m 15s) in the bottom left, as I indicated with the red arrow (Note: this will not start the recording until you press the red button Record )

I tested this on the current (2021) latest PowerPoint for Office 365 (v16.0)

Here is the solution I found by a lot of trial and error. All you need to do is click on "Rehearse Timing" again, then move the bar on the bottom of the screen until you see the last slide. Click on that slide, and then end the show. It will show you the original timing you did. Then click yes or no, it doesn't matter, as it will record the same times.

This is not directly an answer to the OP's question about seeing the total time, but on a similar quest I've found this useful: If you go to the "Slide Sorter", either from the View ribbon or from the "Slide Sorter" button in the bottom line of the window, you'll see an overview of your slides along with the time for each slide.

This page doesn't give you the total time of all the slides, but it does tell you in a glance how long each of the slides takes, which helped me.

(My actual slides contain timing information for each and every slide, but the screenshot here only shows 00:05 for some slides; I don't know why... Works great for me)

• This number underneath isn't the "Duration" value, it's the "Advance Slide After" value –  Hugh Commented Sep 7, 2020 at 9:40

I just export the pptx to video, then look at the total video time . . .

• Your answer could be improved with additional supporting information. Please edit to add further details, such as citations or documentation, so that others can confirm that your answer is correct. You can find more information on how to write good answers in the help center . –  Community Bot Commented Jun 8, 2023 at 13:15
• Welcome to Super User! Your answer is not in line with the question which is soliciting solutions in PowerPoint. Please avoid answering old questions that have answers unless you have something significant to add. –  Blindspots Commented Jun 8, 2023 at 13:59

From this Office support article :

On the Slide Show tab, in the Set Up group, click Rehearse Timings. The Rehearsal toolbar appears and the Slide Time box begins timing the presentation. Next (advance to next slide) Pausecallout Slide Time callout Repeat Total presentation time While timing your presentation, do one or more of the following on the Rehearsal toolbar: To move to the next slide, click Next. To temporarily stop recording the time, click Pause. To restart recording the time after pausing, click Pause. To set an exact length of time for a slide to appear, type the length of time in the Slide Time book. To restart recording the time for the current slide, click Repeat. After you set the time for the last slide, a message box displays the total time for the presentation and prompts you to do one of the following: To keep the recorded slide timings, click Yes. To discard the recorded slide timings, click No. Slide Sorter view appears and displays the time of each slide in your presentation.

• 2 Please don't just copy-paste content, but 1) make sure it looks like it should and don't just press Ctrl-V and be done with it 2) use blockquote formatting to highlight the parts that you did not write. This is also important. –  slhck Commented Oct 30, 2014 at 8:14

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Presentation Training Institute

A division of bold new directions training, how to estimate the amount of time your presentation will last.

A presentation should last as long as it takes to adequately deliver your message. Furthermore, you need to make sure you adhere to any specific time restrictions. For these reasons, it’s important to know how long your presentation will last so you can plan accordingly and ensure you are not boring your audience to tears. Here are a few tips for determining the length of your presentation.

Consider the Complexity

Much of your time will be based on the complexity of your topic. If your topic is heavy in stats, graphs, and complex material than it will take you longer to present. The goal is to make sure your information is clearly presented to your audience so you will need to consider the complexity of the topic to determine how long it will take you to explain it thoroughly.

How Many Slides are Being Used and How Detailed are They?

Another factor that will determine the length of your presentation is the number of slides you are using and the amount of detail in each slide. In general, you should talk for less than a minute per slide. However, some slides might be more text heavy and require a bit more time to explain. You should never speak for more than 3 minutes, however, on one slide. If it takes you longer than that, you should consider adding another slide. Presenters should be mindful of how much time they spend per slide, so they remain focused on communicating their ideas more efficiently.

How Many Different Points are in the Presentation?

Every presentation should have an introduction and a conclusion but the number of main points in the body of the presentation will vary. Consider how many points you will be addressing and how many slides will be associated with each point. Generally, you should spend no more than 5-7 minutes per main point.  

Give Your Presentation

The best way to determine how long your presentation will last is to perform it live. Perform it exactly as you would in front of your audience and time yourself. You can even record yourself, so you know where to make adjustments if needed.

Once you have finalized your presentation it is important to rehearse it several times. The more familiar you are with the presentation the more efficient you will be with transitions and overall delivery.

How To Time Slides on PowerPoint

One reason why PowerPoint has remained the number one presentation tool is that it offers several helpful features.

For increased flexibility, PowerPoint also allows you to time your slides. You can use PowerPoint slide timing on any slide you desire, and you will see your slides automatically advance at the set time.

PowerPoint slide timing is vital for any presenter who wants to deliver a perfect presentation. If you discover that the timing of your slides needs to be adjusted while rehearsing your presentation, you don't have to start over. You can adjust the timing of your slides by following some simple steps.

We will tell you all you need to know to time your slides on PowerPoint.

What Options Are Available?

Each presentation is unique. Before timing your slides, you should consider what your presentation requires. There are several ways by which you can switch slides during your presentation.

As its name suggests, manual control requires you to take a hands-on approach to your presentation. You will have to switch between slides from your computer or with a presentation clicker for PowerPoint . The latter works just like a remote control. Use manual control when you want to have complete control over your slides.

As for automatic timing, it allows you to deliver your presentation hands-free. In other words, you won't have to bother about controls. All you have to do is press play. The program will display your slides one after according to the set time.

If you think automatic timing is correct, the following line of action is to decide how much time to set. Will a 10-second window be sufficient for the viewing of each slide? What about 15? That's for you to decide.

30-60-90 Day Plan Slides for PowerPoint .

Timing PowerPoint Slides.

With PowerPoint, you can easily adjust your recorded slide timings. We have broken down the process into these easy steps:

1: Open your presentation

2: You will find all the slides on the left-hand side of your screen. Click on that area and press Ctrl + A to select them.

3: You will find the "Transitions tab" on the upper part of your screen. Click on it.

4: Look for "Advance Slide" in the transition Timing group. Below it, the box on the right-hand side of the "After" will show you the display time for your slides. Edit it as required.

When you need to change only one slide, you should select that slide alone in Step 2. This will be helpful when you have a slide with much more content than others. You can also deactivate the manual control by unchecking the "On Mouse Click" check box under Advance Slide.

To deactivate slide timings for any slide, click on it and uncheck the "After" check box. You can also deactivate all slide timings quickly by going to the Slide Show tab and unchecking Use Timings. This will mean that your slides will no longer advance automatically.

Once you have made all necessary adjustments, you can confirm your work by selecting Slide Sorter view. This will show you a thumbnail of all the slides with their timings.

Additionally, you can use the manual control and automatic timing together by checking the "After" and "On Mouse Click" boxes.

Check out these Fully Editable PowerPoint Charts and Graph Templates .

Setting Transition Speed.

Animations and transitions are two outstanding features of PowerPoint. These special effects allow you to alter how you switch between slides and display your text and images.

PowerPoint allows users to adjust the speed of their slide transitions using the "Duration" box. The longer the duration, the slower the slides advance to the next slide, and vice versa. The following steps are for setting transition speed:

1: Click the slide whose transition speed is to be adjusted.

2: Go to the Transitions tab . In the Timing ribbon, you will find the Duration box. Enter your preferred speed in seconds.

To set the same transition speed for all slides, select Apply To All.

Adding Sounds To Transitions.

Presentations are more exciting and engaging when you add sound effects to transitions. You can add sound effects to your transitions by following these steps:

1: Choose the slide with the transition in question.

2: Go to the Timing ribbon in the Transitions tab. In the Sound setting, you will find a list of sound effects you can use.

If you can't find a suitable sound effect, add your preferred sound.

1: Click on Other Sound in the Sound setting.

2: Choose your preferred sound from the Add Audio dialog box.

Changing the Effects of a Transition.

PowerPoint allows users to modify the effects of some of its transitions.

2: Select Effect Options from the Transition to This Slide ribbon . Choose your preferred option.

We are introducing the cutest presentation templates !

Final Thoughts.

There is nothing complicated about adjusting your recorded slide show timings. You can modify the transition timing of your current slide and the entire presentation by following the steps described in this guide.

• How do I set slide timings in PowerPoint?

Go to the Timing ribbon in the Transitions tab. Under the Advance Slide option, enter the number of seconds to display the slide in the After box.

• How do you make your slides change every 15 seconds?

Go to the Timing ribbon in the Transitions tab. Under the Advance Slide option, type "15" in the After box. Select Apply To All.

• Why do I need to time my slides?

When your slides advance automatically, you won't need to be at your computer or use remote control. It is also an excellent way to ensure your audience has enough time to read your slides.

Related Articles:

Microsoft PowerPoint for beginners .

How To Print PowerPoint with Notes .

Microsoft Teams PowerPoint Presenter View .

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• Start the presentation and see your notes in Presenter view Article
• Add speaker notes to your slides Article
• Rehearse and time the delivery of a presentation Article
• Record a slide show with narration and slide timings Article
• Print your PowerPoint slides, handouts, or notes Article
• Create a self-running presentation Article

Rehearse and time the delivery of a presentation

PowerPoint helps you record and time a presentation before you present it to an audience.

Tip:  For the most powerful rehearsal experience consider opening your presentation in PowerPoint for the web and using Presenter Coach. For more information see:  Rehearse your slide show with Presenter Coach.

Rehearse the presentation

Select  Slide Show  >  Rehearse Timings .

Select Next , click the mouse or press the Right Arrow key to go to the next slide.

The time for the current slide is shown to the right of the  Pause  icon. The time to the right of that is the time for the whole presentation.

Select Pause  to pause the recording. Select  Resume Recording  to resume.

Select  Yes to save the slide timings, or  No to discard them.

You can also press Esc to stop the recording and exit the presentation.

View the timings

Select  View >  Slide Sorter . The amount of time allotted to a slide is shown at the bottom-right of the slide.

Turn off recorded slide timings before you give a presentation

To prevent slides from automatically advancing, use the recorded slide timings as follows:

On the Slide Show tab of the ribbon, select  Set Up Slide Show .

In the dialog, under Advance slides , select Manually .

To turn the slide timings on again, switch back to  Use Timings, if present .

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How to Time Your PowerPoint Slides for More Effective Presentations

Giving an effective PowerPoint presentation requires careful planning and preparation. One important aspect that is often overlooked is properly timing your slides. Setting the right duration for each slide will ensure your presentation flows smoothly, keeping your audience engaged from start to finish.

1. Plan Your Presentation Structure

Before timing your slides, you need to plan out the overall structure and flow of your presentation.

2. Time Your Entire Presentation

Once your presentation structure is set, the next step is timing your entire presentation.

Timing your entire presentation first provides a benchmark for how long each slide should be displayed.

3. Use Slide Sorter View

4. set slide duration.

With your presentation timed and Slide Sorter View enabled, you can specify exactly how long each slide displays on screen.

For a 20 minute, 10 slide presentation, a 2 minute (120 second) duration works well.

You can still manually override durations for certain slides if needed. For example, your title slide may only need 5 seconds while a slide with a diagram may need a full 2 minutes for explanation.

5. Rehearse with Slide Timings

To rehearse with timings:

Rehearsing with timings is key to finalizing your presentation flow before the actual presentation.

6. Save Slide Timings

To save slide timings:

Saving locks in the slide durations. The slides will now automatically transition based on your set timings when presenting.

7. Disable Timings If Needed

You can enable timings again later if needed for future presentations.

About The Author

Vegaslide staff, related posts, how to open a powerpoint document in google docs, powerpoint xp: formatting text, how to practice your presentations with powerpoint’s presenter coach, how to add page numbers in powerpoint.

How-To Geek

How to time your powerpoint slides for more effective presentations.

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Delivering a presentation is not just about giving good slides, it is also about making sure that our presentation finishes by the time our audience wants to have their tea break---so practicing how long to speak for each slide is essential for a proper presentation.

Rehearsing our Slides

Before we rehearse, make sure that we select our first slide. Now open the 'Slide Show' tab and click the 'Rehearse Timings' button.

Powerpoint will start the usual presentation mode with a timer panel. The clock on the panel will start ticking once we enter the presentation mode.

Click on the arrow button to move on the next slide and Microsoft Powerpoint will record each timing as you progress from one slide to the next one. You can also click on the pause button just in case you need to answer the phone or turn off the oven while you're rehearsing your slides.

You will see a summary on how much time you have spent on each slide at the end of the rehearsal.

Create a Self-Running Presentation

You can even set a self-running power point slides and let it run according to these timing, relieving us from the need to manually navigate the slides. Bear in mind that we can run into a situation where Powerpoint changes the slides before we finish, so make sure that you can deliver each slide based on your rehearsal timing.

Click on the setup slide show button.

Select the 'Browsed at a kiosk (full screen)' option to setup a self-running Powerpoint presentation. Press the 'esc' key to stop the self-running presentation.

You can re-adjust the presentation timing by recording back from the beginning or from the current slide.

If we're still not happy with the timing, we can clear all the slides timing and redo our presentation rehearsal.

Delivering a good presentation is not an easy task and requires a lot of practice. There are tons of great things that we can do with Powerpoint to add punch to our presentation, for example:

• Adding live web pages to our presentation
• Animating text and objects
• Putting video from the web in our presentation
• Using your mouse as a laser pointer in PowerPoint 2010

What other tips do you have for giving an effective presentation?

• Microsoft PowerPoint