How to Use Snaz in OBS to Create a Countdown Timer to a Specific Time

Snaz is a free utility often used by streamers to generate dynamic text files that can be displayed in OBS. One of its most popular uses is creating countdown timers — perfect for showing how long until your stream starts or an event begins.

This guide will walk you through setting up Snaz to count down to a specific time and displaying it in OBS.

Step 1: Download and Install Snaz

Go to the official Snaz download page: https://github.com/JimmyAppelt/Snaz
Download the latest release.
Run the 'SnazSetup.exe'.
Open 'Snaz.exe' to launch the program.

Step 2: Set Up the Countdown in Snaz

In Snaz, go to the Time, date and countdown tab.
Under Countdown to specific time, set:
- Count to: date — choose the day of your event.
- Count to: time — choose the exact time the countdown should end.
Choose the Output Format for your countdown (for example: HH:mm:ss or D days HH:mm:ss).
Check the Output File Path — this is where Snaz will save a .txt file with your countdown. (Default is something like C:\Snaz\TextFiles\Countdown.txt)
Click Start to begin the countdown.

Step 3: Add the Countdown to OBS

Open OBS Studio.
In your Sources panel, click the + icon and choose Text (GDI+).
Name your new text source (e.g., “Countdown Timer”).
In the Text Source Properties window:
- Check Read from file.
- Browse to the .txt file location from Snaz’s Output File Path.
- Select the file and click Open.
Adjust the font, size, and colour to match your stream design.
Click OK, then position the text in your scene as desired.

Step 4: Test Your Setup

Make sure Snaz is running and the countdown is active.
Switch to OBS — the timer should update automatically every second.
Start your stream or recording to see it live.

Tips & Troubleshooting

If the countdown doesn’t update in OBS, make sure Snaz is running and that OBS is pointing to the correct .txt file.
Snaz must remain open while streaming for the countdown to update in real-time.
You can customize the output format in Snaz to match your style.
For recurring events, you can quickly change the date and time in Snaz without redoing your OBS setup.

Tips & Troubleshooting

Using Snaz with OBS is an easy way to add a live, accurate countdown timer to your stream. With a few minutes of setup, you can let your viewers know exactly when your event will start, making your stream look more professional and engaging.