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How to Rehearse and Record Slide Timings in PowerPoint

Tap through each step to rehearse and record slide timings in PowerPoint.

  1. Click the "Slide Show" tab

    Go to the "Slide Show" tab at the top of the ribbon.

  2. Click "Rehearse Timings"

    Clicking "Rehearse Timings" in the "Set Up" group starts the slide show and begins timing it.

  3. Go through the slides as if presenting live

    Talk through each slide at your normal presenting pace and advance to the next one; the time spent on each slide is recorded automatically.

  4. Choose whether to save when you finish

    When you end the show, your total time is shown, and choosing to save records those times as the automatic advance timing for each slide.

  5. Why this is useful

    Setting slides to advance automatically to match a fixed presentation length lets a talk run at a steady pace even for an unattended kiosk or a looping display.

Rehearse Timings vs. Record Slide Show β€” knowing which to use

Rehearse Timings only captures timing, with no audio, video, or ink annotations. Record Slide Show captures narration and any on-slide markup as well. Use Rehearse Timings for simple pacing practice, and Record Slide Show when you want a fully narrated, self-running version of the deck.

What happens to the timings once saved

After saving, a small time value appears under each slide's thumbnail. You can edit these manually as well, by typing a duration directly into the "Advance Slide: After" field on the Transitions tab for a specific slide, and you can turn off automatic advancing later by unchecking that same option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I re-record just one slide's timing without redoing the whole presentation?

Yes. Starting Rehearse Timings from that specific slide instead of the beginning, or typing a duration directly into the Transitions tab's "Advance Slide: After" field, lets you adjust one slide without rerunning the whole rehearsal.

Does saved timing data get lost if I edit the slide content afterward?

No, timing data attached to a slide stays intact even if you edit its text or design; only deleting the slide, or unchecking the auto-advance option, removes it.