How to Add a Countdown Timer in vMix Using a Browser Input
vMix has no built-in shared countdown, but you do not need a plugin or a paid title pack. Add a free TimedFlow viewer as a Browser input, control it from any second device, and put a live clock on your stream in about five minutes.
Quick Summary
- Create a free timer room and copy its viewer URL (
/r/<slug>) - Add it in vMix as Add Input → Web Browser at 1920×1080
- Use a transparent overlay to float the timer over your program
- Start, pause, and reset from a phone or laptop using the controller link
Why Use a Browser Input for Your Timer
vMix ships with a countdown title, but those titles are static: they live inside vMix, they are awkward to restart mid-show, and only the person at the vMix machine can touch them. A vMix countdown timer driven by a Browser input flips that around. The clock lives on a web page, so it renders identically on every input and every display, and it is controlled from a separate browser tab — even on a different device across the room. That means your host can watch the same countdown on a confidence monitor while an operator drives it, and the audience sees a clean overlay on the stream.
TimedFlow is browser-based and free to start, with unlimited timer duration on the free tier, so it slots into this workflow with zero installs. Nothing to license, nothing to update — just a URL.
Step 1: Create Your Timer Room
Open timedflow.com/r/new in any browser. You do not need to sign in — a room is created instantly and you land on the controller. Set your countdown duration (for example, 10:00 for a pre-show hold), then copy two links from the share panel:
Step 2: Add the Web Browser Input in vMix
In vMix, click Add Input and choose Web Browser. Paste your viewer URL into the URL field. For a full-frame clock, set the resolution to 1920×1080 to match your production; for an overlay strap, a shorter height such as 1920×400 keeps the browser input tight around the timer. Click OK, and vMix renders the live countdown as a normal input you can cut to, overlay, or place in a multiview.
Match Your Canvas
Set the Browser input resolution to your project resolution so the timer never scales or blurs on the program output.
Transparent Overlay
The TimedFlow viewer renders on a solid background by default; use a vMix overlay slot to float just the digits over your program.
Step 3: Go Fullscreen or Overlay
For a pre-show or intermission slate, cut the Browser input to program full-frame — a big centered countdown is exactly what a waiting audience wants. During the show, add the timer as an overlay (Overlay 1–4) so it rides on top of your live camera or slides, then toggle it in and out with a single click when a speaker needs a visible clock. Because the timer is a web page, its wrap-up colors (green to amber to red) come through on the overlay automatically as time runs low.
Step 4: Control It From Another Device
Drive the Clock Hands-Free
Open the controller URL on your phone or a second laptop. Start, pause, add a minute, or reset — the vMix Browser input updates in real time because both are pointed at the same room. Your vMix operator never has to leave the switcher to manage timing.
- Send a flash message ("wrap up", "2 min to Q&A") that appears over the timer
- Add time on the fly when a segment runs long, without touching vMix
- Hand the controller link to a producer so timing and switching stay separate
Troubleshooting Tips
If the timer looks small, the Browser input resolution is larger than the timer's natural size — lower the input resolution so the digits fill the frame. If the input goes blank after a while, right-click the Browser input and reload it; a wired network connection keeps the live sync rock-solid for long shows. Doing the same thing in OBS instead? See our OBS Studio countdown timer guide, which uses the same viewer URL in a Browser Source.
Where This Setup Shines
A browser-driven timer is ideal for the shows vMix is built for: livestreams, webinars, and multi-session conferences. See the full feature list on the features page, or start from the stage timer if you also run in-room displays.
Add a Live Timer to Your Next vMix Show
Create a free timer room, paste the viewer URL into a Browser input, and control the countdown from your phone. No plugins, no sign-up required.