3-Minute Timer
A bold three-minute countdown for elevator pitches, lightning talks and quick drills.
The short answer: press Start for a 3-minute countdown with an alarm at zero. To put a 3-minute timer on top of your PowerPoint while you present, download SlideTimerApp and tap the 3-minute preset — it floats over your live Slide Show instead of living in a browser tab.
What a 3-minute timer is good for
- Elevator pitches and startup demo rounds
- Rehearsing a Three Minute Thesis (3MT) talk
- Lightning talks and student show-and-tell
- Quick drills, stretches and brain breaks
Rehearsing a three-minute talk
Short formats such as the Three Minute Thesis give you one slide and a hard three-minute limit, so pacing is everything. Rehearse with the countdown floating over that slide: you learn where you should be at the two-minute mark, and the colour change in the last seconds tells you it is time for your closing line.
How to use a 3-minute timer in PowerPoint
This page is great for a quick countdown on your screen. But a browser tab cannot stay on top of a full-screen Slide Show. For that, use the free overlay app:
- Download SlideTimerApp. Open the free portable Windows app.
- Tap the 3-minute preset. Or type any minutes and seconds.
- Pin it on top and present. Press F5 — the 3-minute countdown floats over your slides and rings at zero.
Free 3-minute timer download for PowerPoint
SlideTimerApp floats a transparent 3-minute countdown over PowerPoint, Google Slides or Canva — a free ~3 MB download for Windows, no install and no sign-up.
Download SlideTimerApp free ~3 MB · Windows · works offlineMore timers
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10-minute timer
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15-minute timer
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20-minute timer
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30-minute timer
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45-minute timer
Free online 45-minute countdown.
60-minute timer
Free online 60-minute countdown.
Frequently asked questions
Is this 3-minute timer free?
Yes. It is a free online 3-minute timer that runs in your browser with start, pause and reset and an alarm at zero. No sign-up needed.
Can I use it to practise a 3-minute pitch over my slide?
Yes. Download SlideTimerApp, tap the 3-minute preset and start your slide show. The countdown floats on top of your slide, so you rehearse with exactly what you will see on the day.
Is there a free 3-minute timer download for PowerPoint?
Yes. SlideTimerApp is a free ~3 MB download for Windows that floats a 3-minute countdown on top of your live Slide Show. It is portable, so there is no installer and no add-in to enable inside PowerPoint — download it, tap the 3-minute preset and present. If you would rather not download anything, the timer at the top of this page runs in your browser instead.