Countdown Timer for OBS Studio: Overlay Setup Guide
Step-by-step guide to adding professional countdown timer overlays in OBS Studio for livestreams, broadcasts, and virtual events. Multiple methods from simple to advanced.
Quick Summary
- Use OBS Browser Source to embed a web-based countdown timer as a stream overlay
- TimedFlow provides transparent-background timer views designed for OBS overlays
- Control the timer remotely from your phone while managing OBS on your computer
- Works for Twitch, YouTube Live, Facebook Live, and any RTMP stream
Why Add a Countdown Timer to Your Stream
Professional streamers and broadcast producers use countdown timer OBS overlays for a reason: they create anticipation, maintain viewer engagement, and add a polished, broadcast-quality feel to any livestream. Whether you are counting down to the stream start, timing a segment, or displaying a break countdown, a visible timer transforms the viewer experience.
An OBS timer overlay serves multiple purposes: it tells viewers when the stream will begin (reducing early drop-offs), signals when you are returning from a break (keeping viewers on the page), and paces your content segments. Major broadcasters and esports tournaments rely on countdown overlays -- and now, the same tools are accessible to independent streamers and small production teams.
Pre-Stream Countdown
Build anticipation before going live. Viewers know exactly when to expect content.
Segment Timing
Time interviews, challenges, Q&A sessions, and other segments for professional pacing.
Break Timer
Show viewers when you will return from breaks, reducing viewer drop-off.
Method 1: Browser Source Overlay (Recommended)
The cleanest and most flexible way to add a streaming countdown timer to OBS is using a Browser Source. This embeds a web-based timer directly into your OBS scene as a transparent overlay.
Step-by-Step Setup
- 1
Create Your Timer on TimedFlow
Set the countdown duration, colors, and display options. Copy the timer URL. TimedFlow offers an OBS-optimized view with a transparent background.
- 2
Add a Browser Source in OBS
In OBS, click the "+" button in Sources, select "Browser". Name it something like "Countdown Timer". Paste the TimedFlow URL into the URL field.
- 3
Configure Browser Source Settings
Set width to 800 and height to 200 (or adjust to your scene layout). Check "Shutdown source when not visible" to save resources. Leave FPS at 30.
- 4
Position and Resize
Drag the browser source to your desired position in the scene. Common placements: top-center for pre-stream, bottom-right corner for during-stream, or full-screen for "Starting Soon" scenes.
- 5
Control Remotely
Open the TimedFlow control link on your phone or a second browser tab. Start, stop, and reset the timer without touching OBS. The browser source updates in real time.
Recommended OBS Browser Source Settings
Method 2: Text Source with Script
For streamers who prefer a lightweight, fully offline approach, OBS supports reading timer text from a file. However, this method requires running a separate script to update the file, and you lose the visual styling, color transitions, and remote control capabilities of the browser source approach.
How It Works
- A script (Python, Lua, or shell) writes the remaining time to a text file every second
- OBS reads the text file using a "Text (GDI+)" source with "Read from file" enabled
- The text updates on screen as the file content changes
Drawback: No color transitions, no remote control, requires script management. Use the browser source method instead for a better experience.
Method 3: Window Capture
If browser sources cause performance issues on your system, you can open the timer in a regular browser window and capture it using OBS Window Capture:
- 1. Open TimedFlow in a separate browser window (not a tab)
- 2. Resize the window to show only the timer digits
- 3. In OBS, add a "Window Capture" source and select the browser window
- 4. Use ALT+drag on the red borders in OBS to crop the capture to just the timer area
- 5. Apply a "Color Key" or "Chroma Key" filter to remove the background if needed
This method works well but is less clean than the browser source approach since you need to manage an additional window and the cropping can be finicky. Use it as a fallback if browser sources are not performing well on your machine.
OBS Scene Setup Ideas
Professional streamers use multiple OBS scenes with different timer placements for different parts of the broadcast:
"Starting Soon" Scene
A full-scene layout with a large centered countdown, your branding, social media handles, and background music. This runs before the stream officially begins. The timer tells viewers exactly when content starts, reducing the "is this live?" confusion.
Place the timer at center-bottom, large enough to read at any window size.
"Live" Scene with Corner Timer
Your main streaming scene with a small timer in the top-right or bottom-right corner. Use this for timed segments like interviews, challenges, or Q&A sessions. The timer is visible but does not dominate the scene.
Size the browser source to about 200x60px for a subtle corner placement.
"Be Right Back" Scene
Similar to the starting soon scene but for mid-stream breaks. A medium-sized timer with a "Back in..." message above it. This is crucial for retaining viewers during breaks -- when they can see how long the wait is, they are far less likely to leave.
A 5-minute BRB timer retains 3x more viewers than no timer at all.
"Ending Soon" Scene
A countdown to the end of stream, giving viewers a chance to catch final moments, drop follows, and say goodbye. This creates a natural, graceful ending rather than an abrupt cut.
Use a 3-5 minute countdown with a thank-you message.
Advanced Tips for OBS Timer Overlays
Use Scene Transitions
Configure OBS to automatically switch scenes when the timer ends. For example, transition from "Starting Soon" to your live scene when the countdown hits zero. This requires OBS Advanced Scene Switcher plugin.
Automate your stream flow with timer-triggered transitions.
Match Your Brand Colors
Use TimedFlow's color customization to match the timer digits to your stream branding. If your overlay uses purple and white, set the timer to display in those same colors for a cohesive look.
Consistent branding across all stream elements builds viewer trust.
Layer with Alerts
Place the timer source below your alert sources in the OBS source stack. This ensures donation alerts, follows, and subscriptions display on top of the timer rather than behind it.
Source order: Timer → Webcam → Alerts (bottom to top).
Use Custom CSS
OBS browser sources support custom CSS injection. You can override font sizes, add text shadows, or adjust spacing to perfectly fit your scene layout without changing the timer source itself.
Add text-shadow for better readability over busy backgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a browser source timer affect stream performance?
A single browser source displaying a countdown timer uses minimal resources -- typically less than 1% CPU and under 50MB of RAM. This is negligible compared to your game, webcam, and encoding workload. TimedFlow's timer is lightweight by design, using simple text rendering with no heavy animations.
Can I use the timer overlay in Streamlabs OBS?
Yes. Streamlabs OBS (SLOBS) supports browser sources the same way as regular OBS Studio. The setup process is identical: add a browser source, paste the TimedFlow URL, configure the size, and position it in your scene.
How do I get a transparent background for the timer?
TimedFlow provides an overlay-optimized URL that renders with a transparent background. In the OBS browser source settings, the background automatically appears transparent. If you see a colored background, add this custom CSS: body { background: transparent !important; }
Can I control the timer without alt-tabbing out of my game?
Absolutely. Open the TimedFlow control panel on your phone or a second monitor. You can start, stop, and reset the timer from there while keeping your game in focus on your primary display. The browser source in OBS updates automatically.
Does the timer work with OBS virtual camera for Zoom/Teams?
Yes. When you use OBS as a virtual camera for video calls, the timer overlay is included in the output. This is a great way to add a professional timer to Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet calls through OBS compositing.
Conclusion
Adding a countdown timer OBS overlay is one of the simplest ways to level up your stream production quality. Whether you are a solo streamer building anticipation before going live, a podcast host timing interview segments, or a corporate broadcast producer managing a multi-hour event, the browser source method gives you a professional timer overlay in under five minutes.
The combination of OBS Browser Source and TimedFlow delivers a powerful, flexible, and free timing solution. You get transparent overlays, color-coded warnings, remote control, and real-time sync -- all without installing plugins, writing scripts, or leaving your browser.
Start with a simple "Starting Soon" countdown on your next stream. Once you experience the difference it makes for viewer retention and stream professionalism, you will want timers in every scene.
Add a Timer to Your OBS Stream
Get a professional countdown overlay for OBS in under 2 minutes. Transparent background, remote control, free to start.