⭐ Introduction: Why Teachers Use Radial (Circular) Timers in PowerPoint
A radial timer—sometimes called a circular countdown, analog timer, or pie timer—is a timer where a coloured ring decreases as time passes.
Teachers love radial timers because they are:
highly visible from the back of the classroom
intuitive for students (especially KS3/KS4)
excellent for behaviour routines
perfect for group work and silent tasks
visually more engaging than digital countdowns
Many schools use them for:
starters (“Do Now” tasks)
retrieval practice
transitions and behaviour management
revision rounds
practical science tasks
assemblies
This guide explains how to create one in PowerPoint, what the limitations are, and the easiest way to add a smooth, animated radial timer using UbiTimer.
❗ Can PowerPoint Create a Radial Timer by Default?
Not really.
PowerPoint does not have a built-in circular countdown animation.
Teachers often try the following:
Method 1 — Pie shape + wipe animation
Set a circle shape, fill it, then animate it with “Wipe”.
➡ Not smooth
➡ Cannot count down in real time
➡ Doesn’t show minutes/seconds
➡ Very hard to adapt for different timings
➡ Breaks easily when resizing
Method 2 — Video of a radial timer embedded
A pre-made video of a countdown.
➡ Cannot stop or pause
➡ Cannot change the duration
➡ Does NOT run across slides
➡ Doesn’t match school colours
➡ Usually looks low-quality when projected
Method 3 — Online circular timers (embedded browser object)
Embedding an online circular timer website.
➡ Requires internet
➡ Often blocked in schools
➡ Not safe for classroom environments
➡ Cannot customise colours or fonts
➡ Doesn’t integrate into your slides
Conclusion:
PowerPoint alone cannot produce a proper, accurate, real-time radial timer suitable for teaching.
Teachers who want a professional circular countdown typically use an add-in like UbiTimer, because it generates a radial timer automatically.
⭐ What Is a “Global Timer” in PowerPoint?
A Global Timer is a countdown or stopwatch that:
appears on every slide
keeps running even as you move around the presentation
does not reset
supports pause, resume, and reset
stays in the same position across slides
helps teachers maintain lesson pace
This is extremely useful during:
silent work periods
revision lessons
behaviour routines
starters and plenaries
practical tasks
group activities
assemblies and events
inspections or observations (timed segments)
⭐ The Easiest Way to Create a Global Timer in PowerPoint
(Teacher-friendly method — UbiTimer)
PowerPoint doesn’t support global timers natively, but the UbiTimer PowerPoint add-in gives teachers a simple, reliable way to create one.
Here’s how it works.
🎯 How to Make a Global Timer Using UbiTimer
1. Open the UbiTimer add-in
Inside PowerPoint → go to Home → UbiTimer.
2. Choose your timer duration
Example: 10 minutes for a revision session.
3. Turn on “Use the same timer across all slides”
This activates Global Timer Mode.
The timer becomes consistent across slides.
4. Add the timer once
Place it in the corner or at the top where it won’t block your content.
5. Start the slideshow
The timer now keeps ticking no matter which slide you move to.
⭐ Features teachers love:
Works in every classroom (Windows, Mac, Office 365 online)
Timer stays synchronised across all slides
Can be resized or styled (fonts + colours)
Supports dark mode and bright classrooms
Perfect visibility at the back of the room
No technical setup required
🏫 Classroom Examples: How Teachers Use Global Timer
1. Silent Starter (5–10 minutes)
While students begin work, you move through slides with instructions or examples — the timer continues uninterrupted.
2. Group Work (3–10 minutes)
Students see how long they have left while you walk around supporting groups.
3. KS3/KS4 Revision Sessions
Set a 20-minute practice timer that stays visible while you move through model answers, scaffolding, and tasks.
4. GCSE Exam Practice
During timed past paper attempts, students benefit from a clear, consistent countdown.
5. Assemblies and Events
Staff see exactly how long is left — essential for keeping big events running smoothly.
🔧 Troubleshooting: Common Issues and Solutions
❌ The timer restarts when I move slides
✔ Ensure Global Timer Mode is enabled
✔ Add the timer only once (not on every slide)
❌ The timer doesn’t appear on some slides
✔ It may be behind a shape — bring to front
✔ Make sure the slide isn’t using a very different layout
✔ Use “Apply to All Slides” for placement consistency
❌ The timer doesn’t auto-start
✔ Enable Auto-Start Timer
✔ Check count-up vs count-down mode
✔ Ensure the slide doesn’t have conflicting animations
❌ The timer is too small for students at the back
✔ Increase font size to 90–120pt
✔ Choose high-contrast colours
✔ Consider radial mode for better visibility
📸 Recommended Images for This Article
Add 3 easy screenshots:
1️⃣ Global Timer toggle in UbiTimer
Alt text: “Enable Global Timer Mode in PowerPoint using UbiTimer add-in”
2️⃣ A lesson slide with a global timer running
Alt text: “PowerPoint global timer running across slides during a lesson”
3️⃣ The UbiTimer taskpane showing timer duration settings
Alt text: “Set a timer that continues across slides in PowerPoint using UbiTimer”
These increase dwell time + SEO.
❓ FAQ: Global Timers in PowerPoint
Can PowerPoint run a timer across slides?
Not natively. It resets when changing slides. A global timer requires an add-in like UbiTimer.
Can I pause or reset the timer?
Yes — UbiTimer supports pause, resume, and manual restarts.
Can students still see the timer if I switch slides quickly?
Yes — that’s the purpose of Global Timer Mode.
Does it work in PowerPoint Online (Office 365)?
Yes, UbiTimer works cross-platform.
Is it suitable for assemblies?
Absolutely. Many schools use global timers for assemblies and events.
🎓 Conclusion
A Global Timer makes lessons smoother, more organised, and more predictable for students.
Whether you’re timing starters, group activities, revision tasks, or school assemblies, having a countdown that continues across all slides gives your lesson structure and clarity.
Since PowerPoint doesn’t support global timers by default, UbiTimer offers the easiest and most reliable way for teachers to add one in seconds.