---
title: Countdowns
url: 'https://presenteringest.com/help/live-control/countdowns'
markdown: 'https://presenteringest.com/help/live-control/countdowns.md'
date: '2026-10-20'
description: "Run a countdown on every Presenter Ingest presenter's screen: set the time, start, pause, add or take off time, and show overtime."
---

# Countdowns

Set a countdown, check it, then start it on every presenter's screen. Pause it, add time or count up the overtime.

A **countdown** shows on every presenter's page, on the right of the banner. You set it up first, check it, and only then start it.

![The Countdown card](https://presenteringest.com/user/pages/help/03.live-control/03.countdowns/countdown.webp)

## Set the time

Choose **Length** or **To a time**:

- **Length**: press a preset (30s, 1m, 2m, 5m, 10m, 15m, 30m, 45m or 1h), then fine-tune with the **−10m −5m −1m −30s** and **+30s +1m +5m +10m** buttons. The clock shows the time you've set, marked **Not started**: presenters don't see it yet.
- **To a time**: pick the time to count down to, e.g. 14:30. The clock shows how long that is from now.

## Start, pause and clear

- **Start** puts the countdown on every presenter's screen. The clock turns green: "Running: presenters see this now".
- **Pause** freezes it on presenters' screens. While it's paused, you can change the time with the presets or the +/- buttons, then press **Resume**.
- **Clear** takes it off presenters' screens.

While it's running, the presets and +/- buttons change the live countdown straight away.

## Label and overtime

Open **Label and overtime** for two options:

- **Label**: replaces "Time remaining" on presenters' screens, e.g. "Session starts in".
- **After time's up, count up the overtime**: instead of stopping at zero and showing "Time's up", the countdown turns red and counts up ("Overtime +02:15") until you clear it. This setting is kept for the booking.

The last minute is highlighted in amber on presenters' screens, and "Time's up" in red.

Last updated 19 October 2026

Still stuck? [Send us a message](https://presenteringest.com/contact) and we'll help.

---

## Navigation

- Parent: [On the day: live control](https://presenteringest.com/help/live-control.md)
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