can i do a powerpoint presentation on zoom

How to Present PowerPoint Slides in Zoom

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Preparing to present PowerPoint slides in Zoom for the first time can feel overwhelming. It's a different experience than face-to-face presentations, and naturally, you want to get it right. But don't worry, we've all been there, and we're here to help.

In this article, we’ll guide you through the process step-by-step, so you can deliver your presentation with confidence and avoid awkward pitfalls. Let’s dive in.

Present PowerPoint Slides in Zoom by Sharing Your Entire Screen

One of the easiest ways to share your PowerPoint slide deck is by sharing your entire screen. Here’s how to go about it.

• Open your PowerPoint presentation.
• Start or Join a Zoom meeting . Knowing how to use Zoom like an expert makes this step easy.

When you hide the toolbar, it may appear as a minimized window in your taskbar. Click the window icon to reveal it when you’re ready to stop sharing.

• Press the Esc key on your keyboard to exit the slideshow after your presentation.
• Click Stop sharing .

Sharing your entire screen lets you seamlessly switch between your PowerPoint window and other windows while bringing your audience along. However, it has a downside—your audience will see sensitive details or notifications if they pop up.

Present PowerPoint Slides in Zoom by Sharing a Window

With this method, you share only your PowerPoint window, so your audience won't see other areas of your desktop, including popup notifications. Here’s how to get it done.

• Join the Zoom meeting.

Ensure your PowerPoint window is maximized and running in the background, or it won't appear under the Window tab.

• Click Stop sharing or Stop share when you’re done presenting.

This method is perfect for multi-tasking—that is, sharing your PowerPoint window while viewing your notes (in a separate document) or seeing what’s happening in Zoom.

Rock Your PowerPoint Presentation in Zoom Like a Pro

And that's a wrap! You now know all the key steps to present PowerPoint slides effectively in Zoom. Remember, you have two main options: share your entire screen when you need to switch between different windows during the presentation or share a specific PowerPoint window if you're multitasking and want to keep the rest of your desktop private.

Practice using these features before your next presentation, so you're comfortable and ready. Alongside this, using a whiteboard in Zoom can make your presentations more interesting.

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How to Share a PowerPoint on Zoom

Share your screen, whether or not you're the presenter

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What to Know

• Anybody can share a PowerPoint on a Zoom call but may need permission from the call’s organizer.
• To see notes, you’ll need a second screen to divide the view or have your notes on a separate device.

In this article, we’ll discuss how to share a PowerPoint, or any presentation, on Zoom. You can do this in a few clicks for more straightforward presentations, but for more complex presentations, you may want some more tools.

How Do You Share a PowerPoint in a Zoom Meeting?

For a presentation where you don’t need to see your notes, sharing a PowerPoint is a quick process.

Open your presentation, and close any windows you won't need. This will limit clutter and distractions.

Log into your Zoom call and when you’re ready to present, click Share Screen at the bottom. Choose your presentation from the menu.

When using a single screen, you should always pick the specific program you want to share. Doing this will protect your data and prevent pop-ups and other interruptions.

Go to the Slide Show tab in PowerPoint and click From Beginning . For the smoothest presentation, do this before anyone else joins the call, where possible.

Use the controls in the lower left-hand corner or keyboard controls to move through your presentation as usual.

 Be sure to click on the Presentation window if you’re going to use keyboard controls. PowerPoint won’t acknowledge inputs from the keyboard unless you’ve deliberately clicked on the window.

How Do You Share a PowerPoint With Zoom and Still See Notes?

The best way to see your notes is to use a second monitor and PowerPoint’s Presenter View tools. Then your notes and controls are on one screen, visible only to you, and your presentation is on the other.

Open your PowerPoint and go to Presenter View to see your notes . This mode opens two windows: The presentation and the control panel.

Drag the control panel to your primary screen and the presentation window to your second screen. You’ll be able to see and control your presentation while looking directly into your webcam if you’re using it, and you won’t have to hold your neck at an angle to use the controls.

Log into the Zoom call and click Share Screen at the bottom. Choose your presentation window.

If you’ll need to present other documents or materials in addition to your presentation, have them open and minimized on your screen and share your second monitor instead. Then you can quickly bring those materials up without disrupting your flow.

Tips for a Better Zoom Presentation

If you're not the call organizer, contact them and ask what permissions they've set up and whether you'll need permission to share your screen. 

For meetings with multiple people sharing the same presentation, book a call a day before and practice "handing off" control of the slides in Zoom. Alternately, the person sharing their screen should prepare to move to the next slide when cued. Everyone should also have an up-to-date copy of the presentation, so it can continue if somebody drops out of the meeting.

Keeping Murphy's Law in mind, having your notes in one or two other places is a good idea. Consider using your phone and a printed copy to ensure that you can rely on one of the two additional sources for your notes if everything goes wrong.

To record yourself giving a PowerPoint presentation on Zoom, launch Zoom and PowerPoint; be sure to close all other applications. Create a new Zoom meeting, select Share Screen , select your PowerPoint presentation, and click Share . Launch your PowerPoint slideshow. In Zoom, choose Record > Record on This Computer . Your computer is now recording.

Join the Zoom meeting from your iPad using Zoom's mobile app for iOS. Open your PowerPoint presentation and tap Share Content from the meeting controls. You can use PowerPoint's annotation and drawing tools to make notations on your slides if you like.

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How to share PowerPoint presentations on Zoom

Published on March 1, 2023

A quality PowerPoint presentation can add immeasurably to an online meeting, so it’s essential to know how to share PowerPoint on Zoom . You can even check your notes while your meeting partners see your presentation. The only prerequisite is having permission to share your screen with the meeting. If you scheduled the meeting, then there’s no need to ask. But if it isn’t your meeting, you’ll need to ensure whoever called the meeting allows other participants to share their screens. Then follow the instructions below, and you can share your carefully constructed PowerPoint presentation over Zoom.

QUICK ANSWER

To share a PowerPoint presentation on Zoom, open your PowerPoint presentation and select the Slide Show tab. Start the slide show by clicking From Beginning. In Zoom, click the Share Screen button, and select the PowerPoint slideshow window. Click Share to begin sharing this window with the meeting.

KEY SECTIONS

How to present PowerPoint on Zoom with notes

First, open the presentation you want to share in PowerPoint and open the Slide Show tab. Click Set Up Slide Show.

The menu that comes up will let you set important parameters for your presentation. You can choose:

• Whether to present in a window or full-screen.
• Whether to operate the presentation manually or let it run automatically.
• Which monitor will have the presentation on it (for multiple-monitor setups.)

Set your preferences and click OK.

Next, open Zoom and either set up or join a meeting (again, make sure you have permission to share.) Click the Share Screen button at the bottom.

Use the menu that comes up to choose which window you want to share. You can also choose to share or not share audio in this window. Choose the PowerPoint window and click the blue Share button.

You will now be sharing your PowerPoint window with the meeting. Click one of the Begin Slide Show buttons in PowerPoint to begin your presentation.

At the top of the screen, there will be controls for screen sharing. When your slide show ends, click Stop Share to return to the meeting.

Presenting a PowerPoint presentation on Zoom works great with pre-recorded narrations. But what if you want to use your PowerPoint notes as you present live?

There are two situations to consider when you want to use your notes as you proceed through the slides in your presentation. One situation is when you have two monitors (a monitor and a projector), and the other is when you only have one screen.

With two monitors

It’s easy to see your notes when you have two screens to work with. Begin in PowerPoint by clicking Set Up Slide Show.

Set your show type to Presented by a speaker (full screen). Decide whether to advance through the slides manually or by using timings, and click OK. Now go to the Slide Show menu in PowerPoint and click the box that says Use Presenter View. Select the monitor to display the presentation in the drop-down box above it.

Now it’s time to start or join a Zoom meeting. When in the meeting, click Share Screen at the bottom.

From the menu of open windows on your computer that comes up, select the one named PowerPoint Slide Show .

You are now sharing one of your two screens with your Zoom meeting while, through your use of Presenter View, your other screen has your PowerPoint notes on each slide, controls for the presentation, a timer, and a preview of the next slide. It will look like this.

When your slide show has ended, you can use the End Slide Show control at the top of the page to return to your Zoom meeting. As you can see, using two monitors to share a PowerPoint presentation is convenient. But in a one-monitor situation, it can still be done.

With one monitor

To present with only one monitor and still have access to your PowerPoint speaker notes and controls, you will again use Presenter View, but differently. Start by opening Zoom, then continue by setting up your PowerPoint slide show to be full-screen.

Then start your slide show. It will begin in full screen.

In the lower left hand of the full-screen slide show, you will see a three-dot menu. Click the three dots, and a menu will come up. From that menu, select Show Presenter View.

Presenter View will now open in a separate window. Use Alt-Tab on your keyboard to navigate to Zoom, where you can start or join a meeting. When you’re in the meeting, click Share Screen.

From the window that opens, select the PowerPoint Slide Show window, and click the blue Share button.

You will now be sharing the full-screen presentation you started in PowerPoint with your Zoom meeting. Now use Alt-Tab again to navigate to the window whose name contains the words “PowerPoint Presenter View.” Use the sizing icon in the upper right to reduce the window size.

With the window reduced, you can see the full-screen slide show playing behind the Presenter View window while still having access to your notes and presentation controls.

If it’s your meeting, set up the PowerPoint presentation before the meeting’s start time for a more polished presentation so the invitees don’t see you setting up the slide show. If it’s someone else’s meeting, ask for permission to enter before they do, so you will have time to go through the abovementioned procedures.

Check out our list of the best PowerPoint tools and apps for Android for more presentation options on mobile.

Yes, they do. Since the presentation is still controlled by PowerPoint and merely shared over Zoom, all your animations, morphs, and transitions remain in your control.

The presentation can be as long as the meeting can be, which varies according to what Zoom plan you have.

To see your PowerPoint notes while presenting with one monitor on Zoom, you can use the Presenter View option in PowerPoint, which allows you to view your notes and presentation on separate screens. Open your PowerPoint presentation, and then click on the Slide Show tab at the top of the screen. Next, click the Presenter View button to display your presentation on one screen and your notes on the other. Then, start your Zoom meeting and share your screen with your presentation in Presenter View. This will enable you to see your notes and presentation simultaneously on Zoom.

Yes, you can share a PowerPoint on Zoom if you are not the host, as long as the host has permitted you to share your screen. Once you are in the meeting, click on the Share Screen button at the bottom of the screen and then select the PowerPoint window from the list of available options. This will share your PowerPoint presentation with the other participants in the Zoom meeting.

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How to Share a PowerPoint Presentation on Zoom

Jordan Read more March 7, 2021

PowerPoint presentations are a handy, practical tool in any corporate environment. When you present a problem or a plan visually, people often find it easier to remember or assimilate it. And when you combine a PowerPoint presentation with Zoom, you make business meetings even better.

But how do PowerPoint and Zoom work together exactly? Well, you can do it in three different ways. All of which we’ll cover in detail in this article.

Method 1 – Dual Monitors

One of the great things about Zoom is that the hardware equipment isn’t overpriced. Depending on the size and needs of your company, your Zoom meetings can stay as small or as big as you need them to be.

For example, if your Zoom meeting room has a dual monitor system, one screen can show the entire PowerPoint presentation full screen. While the other monitor can contain presenter’s notes or anything else that can contribute to the meeting.

Here’s how you share a PowerPoint presentation on dual monitors in Zoom:

That’s all there is to it. However, if it turns out that the monitor you’re sharing isn’t the correct one, go to Display Settings, and click “Swap Presenter View and Slide Show”. Therefore, you don’t have to start the whole process from the beginning.

Method 2 – Single Monitor in a Window

The first method is very practical and gives you a clear view of the presentation and the presenter. But not every Zoom meeting room has dual monitors, nor does it need them. A smaller meeting room works just fine with a single monitor, and fortunately, you can share a PowerPoint slide show with just a single monitor.

Either in a window or with a full screen. The window option is very useful when it comes to multitasking while sharing a presentation. Here’s how you share a PowerPoint presentation in a window:

That should do it. Now you have a PowerPoint presentation in a single window, and you can still access the in-meeting chats or any other application or file that you need for the meeting.

Method 3 – Single Monitor in Full Screen

If you’re dealing with a single-monitor situation in your Zoom meeting, and a very important PowerPoint presentation is on its way, the full-screen option is a great idea. The full screen slide show means that there’ll be no onscreen distractions. With no chatting, or opening other files, your focus stays on the presentation itself. Here’s how you make the full screen PowerPoint slide show in Zoom:

And now your presentation is in full screen, and everyone can see it clearly.

Sharing Sound with Zoom

Did you know that the Zoom screen sharing feature lets you share the audio as well? That’s right. People who attend the meetings remotely can now receive both the video and audio. But the one pre-requisite is that you have to use Zoom for Desktop for Windows or Mac.

Therefore, if you want to share a YouTube clip, for example, you just have to click “Share sound”. However, there is one disadvantage. You can’t share the computer sound when the meeting is shared on multiple screens at the same time. It only works when one screen at a time is being shared. Still, it’s a pretty useful feature.

Present Your Work More Efficiently with Zoom

PowerPoint slide shows have been around forever. Once you figure out how to make the most of them, the sky is the limit. It’s one of the most creative software options from Microsoft Office. In comparison, Zoom is new. But it’s taken the corporate world by the storm. The company emphasized that it “just works”, and what more can you ask from a tool that is designed to make work meetings run smoothly? Time is the most precious commodity, and PowerPoint, together with Zoom helps you make significant savings in this regard.

Let us know what you think about PowerPoint and Zoom in the comments section below.

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How to Present on Zoom: Google Slides and Powerpoint Presentation Guide & Tips

Presenting in front of your peers and superiors has to be one of the most daunting tasks ever. You’re never quite sure about the feedback you’d be getting, which only adds to the tension. However, in this pandemic season, the task of presenting has somehow gotten even more challenging. There are a lot of technical hurdles to overcome, which can seriously take the winds out of someone’s sail — especially if they are not very experienced on the matter.

Zoom, of course, has been the most popular video conferencing application over the last few months and offers a plethora of tools to put our minds at ease. Today, we’ll take you through all of them and even give you a couple of pointers to improve your presentation in Zoom.

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What is Zoom Screen Share and why is it important?

Screen Share is one of the most used and most important features of Zoom. It allows you to demonstrate your thoughts, give your peers a glimpse of your ideas. You can either share an application window, your entire desktop, or even a whiteboard — the possibilities are limitless here.

You can also start a screen sharing session without jumping through hoops of creating a separate meeting. Simply click/tap on the ‘Share Screen’ button in the Zoom client — both PC and mobile — and you’re good to go.

Related: How to use Zoom Filters

Remember you’ll need a sharing key or meeting key for this to work. If you don’t have access to either, you must share your screen while you’re in a meeting.

To share your screen during a meeting, first, log in with the appropriate credentials and start a meeting. Then, hit the ‘Share Screen’ — ‘Share’ while on mobile — button right in the middle of the meeting options panel and what you want to share with the class.

We’ve covered the topic of screen sharing on Zoom quite extensively in a separate article. So, be sure to check that out .

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How to present a Powerpoint PPT in Zoom?

Microsoft Office suite is, without a doubt, the most widely-used presentation applications on the planet. It’s been on our computers for ages and it’s likely to stay put for a considerable amount of time.

With that said, Zoom doesn’t straight up give you the option to load the Microsoft Office component in the application. Still, there’s a pretty straightforward method of presenting in front of the class.

Related: 50+ Best Zoom Games

You can achieve the desired results with the help of Zoom’s Screen Sharing feature — yes, the bit we covered in the previous section. It simply allows you to pick a window of your choice and share it with the class.

What’s even more awesome is that the participants could even pitch in and share their thoughts if they see fit. Alternatively, you can also share your entire desktop screen, which is the best way to get more screen real estate.

With the basics out of the way, let’s see how you can present a slide on Zoom.

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1. Create a separate slideshow window

If you have a traditional single-screen setup, this is the only guide you need to concern yourself with. The methodology is split into two bits — one: PowerPoint and two: Zoom.

First, open up Microsoft PowerPoint and pick the slide you want to share. Now, click on the ‘Slide show’ tab and hit ‘Set Up Slide Show.’

Then, select ‘Browsed by an individual (window)’ under ‘Show type.’ Hit ‘Ok’ to confirm.

Finally, switch to slide show mode by clicking on the ‘Slide Show’ tab and selecting either ‘From Beginning’ or ‘From Next Slide.’

This would open a slide show window, separately. If you do not want to show the slideshow in a separate window, all you have to do is skip the previous step — ‘Browsed by an individual (window)’

2. Present PPT on Zoom

Now, go back to your Zoom meeting and click on the ‘Share Screen’ option.

Now that the PPT has been launched in a separate window, you can easily select that window on the next screen and commence the slideshow. Click on ‘Share’ to begin.

Here’s how it’d look:

How to present using Google Slides on Zoom?

If Microsoft PowerPoint is a little too heavy for you, you could always opt for Google’s adequately powerful alternative called Slides. It allows you to create interesting yet simple presentations and share as you see fit. Of course, it also needs Zoom’s Screen Share feature to work as intended, which, at this point, should feel pretty natural to you.

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1. Use Presenter View

Now, if you want a more immersive experience and also keep track of the notes you might have, we recommend using the ‘Presenter View.’ With the View enabled, Google Slides would create a separate window for all your notes, which only you’d be able to see. The main presentation window, on the other hand, would remain clutter-free and free from distractions.

To use the ‘Presenter View,’ first, you simply need to go to your presentation page, click on the little downward arrow right next to the ‘Present’ button at the top-right.

Now, hit ‘Presenter View.’

As soon as you click that button, you’ll get a separate space for all your notes, while another clean window would appear for slideshows.

2. Use Zoom to present

Now that the windows have been separated, you can easily use Zoom to present the slideshow window. While in a meeting, click on the ‘Share Screen’ button and select the browser window with Google Slides on top.

Finally, hit ‘Share’ to start the screen-sharing session.

Some tips for a successful presentation

As we’ve discussed, presenting is one of the most daunting tasks in the world for most, even virtually. The techy jargon often only adds to the tension, making many people dread the sessions, even when they are completely prepared. Below are some basic handy tips for your next presentation.

Related: How to annotate on Zoom

1. Master your craft

Knowing the material is always the best way to prepare for a hectic presentation. If you know what you’re presenting and have complete faith in the report, you’re ought to do exceptionally well. However, when it comes to Zoom presentations, knowing just the material isn’t enough. You also need to make sure all your components are in order and you’re presenting with confidence.

Try a couple of dry runs, see if your presentation is working just as it’s supposed to. Practice the pitch if you have to. Checking all of these boxes would improve your chances of success, remarkably.

2. Dress for the occasion

When you’re not forced to present in a swanky conference room, it’s not difficult to lose track of the dressing etiquette. However, you must remember the scale of your presentation and try your best to look the part. Wearing a perfectly ironed shirt and fitted trousers would not only impress your peers and superiors, but it’ll also instill a sense of confidence in you.

Related: How to see everyone on Zoom

3. Create a quiet environment

Zoom is quite capable of filtering some noise out of video chats. However, it doesn’t have the quality to cancel out everything you throw at it. So, before you start a video conferencing session and go about your presentation, make sure you’re in a relatively quiet environment. There can be a bit of noise, here and there, but make sure your subtle points aren’t drowned by some rogue barks from the street below.

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Use zoom for PowerPoint to bring your presentation to life

If you would like to make your presentations more dynamic and exciting, try using zoom for PowerPoint .  

To add a zoom, go to Insert > Zoom .

To summarize the entire presentation on one slide, choose Summary Zoom

To show selected slides only, choose Slide Zoom

To show a single section only, choose Section Zoom

When you create a zoom in PowerPoint, you can jump to and from specific slides, sections, and portions of your presentation in an order you decide while you're presenting. 

Note:  See the Requirements table below regarding which versions of PowerPoint support the features described in this article. 

Summary zoom 

A summary zoom is like a landing page where you can see the pieces of your presentation all at once. When you're presenting, you can use the zoom to go from one place in your presentation to another in any order you like. You can get creative, skip ahead, or revisit pieces of your slide show without interrupting the flow of your presentation.

Create a summary zoom

Go to Insert > Zoom .

Select Summary Zoom .

The Insert Summary Zoom dialog box opens.

Select slides you want to include in your summary zoom. These become the first slides of your summary zoom sections . To learn more about using sections in PowerPoint, see Organize your PowerPoint slides into sections .

If you already have sections in your presentation, the first slide of each section is preselected by default. If you don't want to include certain sections in your zoom, deselect them. Then, if you want PowerPoint to get rid of any sections you didn't include in your summary zoom, clear the check box next to Keep unused sections in your presentation . Don't worry—the slides in the sections you're discarding will still be part of your presentation.

Once you've selected all the slides you want to use for your summary zoom, select Insert . Your summary zoom is created, and it appears as a new slide just before the first slide you included in your summary zoom.

Add or remove sections from your summary zoom

Once you've created a summary zoom, you might still want to add or remove sections of your presentation. If you've made changes since first making your summary zoom that you want to capture, you don't have to start from scratch—just update your summary zoom.

Select your zoom, and then select the Format tab on the ribbon.

Select Edit Summary , choose the sections you want to have in your summary zoom, and then select Update .

Note:  You won't be able to add or remove sections from your presentation in this view, just from your summary zoom.

A slide zoom can help you make your presentation more dynamic, allowing you to navigate freely between slides in any order you choose without interrupting the flow of your presentation. They're a good option for shorter presentations without lots of sections, but you can use slide zooms for lots of different presentation scenarios.

Slide zooms help you drill down into multiple pieces of information while feeling as though you're staying on the same canvas.

Create a slide zoom

Select Slide Zoom .

The Slide Zoom dialog box opens. Select the slides you want to use in your slide zoom.

Once you've selected all the slides you want to use, select Insert .

An item for each slide you selected in step 3 is added to the slide. Select each item in turn and drag to arrange them on the slide. 

Tip:  If you want to, you can create a slide zoom quickly by simply selecting the slide you want from the thumbnail pane and dragging it onto the slide you'd like to have your slide zoom on. This way, you can create slide zooms and change them quickly, and arrange them however you like simply by clicking and dragging.

Change the preview image of your slide zoom

Your slide zoom by default will be a preview thumbnail image of the slide, but you can choose a new image from your PC or the web to represent the section or slide you'll be going to.

Select Change Image to choose a new picture from the web or your PC to use instead of the thumbnail.

Choose or search the web for the image you want. When you've selected the image you want, select Insert .

You can also choose various looks for your zooms from Zoom Styles —you can change the border, add visual effects, or pick from any of the border and effect combinations in the gallery.

Section zoom

A section zoom is a link to a section already in your presentation. You can use them to go back to sections you want to really emphasize, or to highlight how certain pieces of your presentation connect. To learn more about using sections in PowerPoint, see Organize your PowerPoint slides into sections .

Create a section zoom

Select Section Zoom .

Select the section you want to use as a section zoom.

Select Insert . Your section zoom will be created.

Tip:  If you want to, you can create a section zoom quickly by simply selecting the section name you want in the thumbnail pane and dragging it onto the slide you'd like to have a section zoom on.

Change the preview image of your section zoom

Your section zoom by default will be a preview thumbnail image of the slide, but you can choose a new image from your PC or the web to represent the section or slide you'll be going to.

More zoom options

Zoom for PowerPoint truly lights up when you make it your own. Select the Format tab of the ribbon to get to the Zoom Tools , which you can choose to create just the look and feel you're going for when you present.

Choose to return to the home page or continue through your presentation

If you want to return to the zoom slide after viewing sections or slides in your summary, slide, or section zoom, make sure the Return to Zoom check box is selected. If you want to move on to the next slide after viewing part of your zoom, uncheck it.

(If you're working with a summary zoom or a section zoom, you'll return to the zoom slide by default when you're presenting after going to the section. If you're using a slide zoom, you'll move on to the next slide by default after viewing your slide zoom.)

Make the background of your zoom transparent

Another way you can change the look of your zoom is by choosing to adopt the background of the slide where your zoom lives to make the zoom almost indistinguishable from the main canvas while you present. Select Zoom Background to make your summary, section, or slide zooms blend in to their home slide.

In the Zoom Styles group, select Zoom Background . The zoom will adopt the background of the home slide.

Change the transition options of your zoom

By default, your zooms will use the zoom transition when you present, which is what helps make the zooms feel so lively. However, if you don't want to use the zoom transition, or if you want to change the duration of the transition, you can do so.

In the Zoom Options group, make sure the box next to Zoom Transition is checked if you want to use the zoom transition when presenting your zoom.

If you don't want to use the zoom transition when presenting, uncheck the box next to Zoom Transition .

To change the timing of the zoom transition, use the up and down arrows next to the Duration indicator to change how long the zoom transition lasts.

Requirements

See the following table for details on the minimum version numbers required in PowerPoint to create or play zoom links.

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Microsoft PowerPoint lets you zoom in and out on a specific part of your PowerPoint slideshow, which can be handy both while editing and for drawing attention to important objects or ideas during the presentation. Here’s how to do it.

Whether you’re in normal view or slideshow view, PowerPoint lets you zoom in and out as the need arises. There are a few ways you can do this, depending on which view you're in.

The first method is by using the zoom bar at the bottom-right of the window (which isn’t available in the slideshow view). This method is convenient as the zoom bar is immediately accessible. To use the zoom bar,  click and drag the bar left or right to zoom out or in, respectively. You can also resize the slide to fit your current window by clicking the box to the right of the zoom bar.

Another method is using the “Zoom” tool, found on the “View” tab.

In the “Zoom” window, you can select a zoom percentage from the list of available options or enter a precise percentage into the “Percent” box. Once ready, click “OK,” and your slide will zoom to the selected amount.

Those two methods are great for when you're editing and need to take a closer look at something. But if you’re in the middle of giving your presentation and want to zoom in on a specific part for emphasis, you can do that too.

Select the magnifying glass from the presenter view and then click the part of the slide you want to zoom. Once zoomed in, you can click and drag to move the slide around. When you’re finished, click the magnifying glass again to zoom back out.

One last tip: In both normal and slideshow view, you can hold the Ctrl key while scrolling your mouse wheel to zoom in and out. This also works if you want to resize your slide thumbnails .

That’s all there is to it!

• Office 2016

Zoom Feature in PowerPoint – How to Use it Correctly!

By: Author Shrot Katewa

It is hard to accept but even the most seasoned PowerPoint users find it hard to create a table of contents that is visually modern-looking and interactive! The “ Zoom ” feature can help not only with the table of contents but much more than that!

The zoom feature in PowerPoint helps create visual links between sections of your presentation. It makes the presentation interactive by adding a clickable thumbnail of a slide or a section in your presentation and allowing you to easily navigate within your presentation with cool effects!

Even if you use PowerPoint regularly, chances are you aren’t fully aware of the “Zoom” feature in PowerPoint.

And, by now if you are thinking about zooming in on the slides using the functions provided at the bottom-right corner of PowerPoint, then you really need to go through this article as you might not be aware of one of the most awesome features in PowerPoint called “ Zoom “.

1. What is Zoom in PowerPoint?

Imagine if you could just click on an image on your slide and it just zooms into that image, opening the section of your presentation that provides more information about that image! The “Zoom” feature in PowerPoint, does exactly that!

The zoom feature in Microsoft PowerPoint is a new feature that makes your presentations interactive and dynamic. Using the zoom feature in PowerPoint, you can create a zoom slide from which you can jump to and from specific slides or sections in any order you may need during the presentation.

Let’s explore this feature by checking out some of the different types of “zoom” that you can add to your presentation –

1a. Summary Zoom

The “Summary Zoom” in Microsoft PowerPoint is a landing page where you can see the summarized slides within a page.

In the summary zoom, you can select which slides to show. You can even create summary slides to show on the summary zoom. During the presentation, you can click on any slide on the summary to proceed according to the need of the audience rather than the preset slide progression.

1b. Section Zoom

In Microsoft PowerPoint, “Section Zoom” is a slide that contains the preview and the link to the sections within the presentation.

You can click on them to jump from one section to another to highlight the important parts of your presentation.

1c. Slide Zoom

The “Slide Zoom” feature in PowerPoint allows you to navigate freely through the slides in a presentation. In the slide zoom, you can add all the slides or a few selected slides.

From this section, you can move freely between slides, emphasize the important slides, and even cut the presentation short without seeming so to the audience.

2. How to Insert Slide Zoom in Microsoft PowerPoint?

To use the “Zoom” feature in PowerPoint, first, click on the “Insert” tab. Then, click on the “Zoom” button from the ribbon. Choose the type of zoom from “Summary”, “Section”, and “Slide” zoom. Next, select the slides from the window that pops up by holding the “Ctrl” key, and click on “Insert”.

Here’s a step-by-step process with visual aids on what you need to do –

Step-1: Click on the “Insert” tab

The first step is to open the “Insert” menu. Click on the “Insert” tab which is located in the menu ribbon at the top of the screen.

Step-2: Click on the “Zoom” button

In the “Links” section of the “Insert” menu, click on the “Zoom” button. This will open a dropdown menu. Click on the “Slide Zoom” option from the dropdown menu.

Step-3: Choose the Slide and Click on “Insert”

Clicking on the “Slide Zoom” option will open the “Insert Slide Zoom” dialog box.

Select the slides you want to include in the slide zoom and then click on the “Insert” button at the bottom of the dialog box. Now all you have to do is arrange the slides in the slide zoom according to your preference.

3. How to Edit Slide Zoom in PowerPoint?

Once you add the slide zoom to your presentation, you can easily edit it. To access the editing pane, all you have to do is click on the slide zoom. Then click on the “Zoom” tab in the menu ribbon.

3a. Change Borders in Slide Zoom

To add or change the border of the slides in slide zoom, click on the “Zoom Border” option. In the dropdown menu, you can click on your preferred color for the border.

You can also click on the “Weight” option and select the border width from the secondary menu. To change the border design, click on the “Dashes” option.

3b. Add Effects in Slide Zoom

You can add various effects in the slide zoom. To do so, you have to first click on a single or multiple slides in the slide zooms where you want to add effects.

Then click on the “Zoom Effects” option. In the dropdown menu, you can click on any effect option to open a secondary pop-up menu. Click on your preferred effect. You can add multiple effects on a single zoom slide.

3c. Remove Background in Slide Zoom

In Microsoft PowerPoint slide zoom, you can remove the slide background of each slide in the slide zoom. Click on the “Zoom Background” option in the “Zoom Styles” section under the “Zoom” tab. This will remove the background of the selected slide.

4. How to Change Picture in Slide Zoom?

In Slide Zoom, the default thumbnail pictures are a screenshot of the slides. However, you can change the pictures if you want. All you have to do is follow the 4 easy steps.

Step-1: Click on the “Zoom” tab

The first step is to click on the slide thumbnail that you want to change. Then click on the “Zoom” tab at which is the last tab in the menu ribbon.

Step-2: Click on the “Change Image” option

The second step is to click on the “Change Image” button which is the first option in the “Zoom Options” section of the “Zoom” menu (as shown in the image in step 1).

Then click on the “Change Image” option from the dropdown menu.

Step-3: Click on “From a File”

When you click on the “Change Image” option, it will open a dialog box. In the “Insert Pictures” dialog box, click on the “From a File” option. This will open another dialog box.

Step-4: Click on the “Insert” button

In the “Insert Picture” dialog box, click on the image which you want to add to the slide thumbnail in the slide zoom.

Then click on the “Insert” button at the bottom of the dialog box. In the slide zoom, the original thumbnail will be changed to the selected image.

4a. How to Reset Picture in Slide Zoom?

Once you change the picture of the slide thumbnail in the PowerPoint slide zoom, you can revert it to the original thumbnail.

All you have to do is click on the “Change Image” button in the “Zoom” menu. Then click on the “Reset Image” option from the dropdown menu.

5. How to Stop Slide Zoom?

In the Microsoft PowerPoint slide show, the presentation will return to the slide zoom, after each slide. To stop this, select the slide in the slide zoom and then click on the “Zoom” tab in the menu bar.

In the “Zoom” menu, click on the “Return to Zoom” option. The checkmark in the box next to it will disappear. This will stop the slides from returning to the slide zoom screen.

5a. How to Return to Slide Zoom?

Once you stop the slide zoom on Microsoft PowerPoint, you can turn on the feature again. All you have to do is select the slide again and click on the “Zoom” tab. Then click on the box next to the “Return to Zoom” option.

The checkmark will appear again. Now the screen will return to the slide zoom after the selected slide during the presentation.

Credit to nakaridore (on Freepik) for the featured image of this article (further edited)

Critical PowerPoint Shortcuts – Claim Your FREE Training Module and Get Your Time Back!

How to zoom in on PowerPoint slides (3 different techniques)

• PowerPoint Tutorials

Fun & Exciting 3-Part Playable PowerPoint Quiz Template (Free Downloadable + Step-by-Step Tutorial)

Ausbert Generoso

Tired of boring presentations where students zone out? Want to spice things up and get everyone actively involved? A PowerPoint quiz template might be just what you need to turn your slides into an interactive experience. With this template, you can transform your slides into an engaging 3-part quiz game that keeps everyone hooked from start to finish.

In this blog, you’ll not only get a step-by-step tutorial but also a downloadable template to help you get started. With a few smart tweaks and the help of ClassPoint , your quizzes will be more fun and dynamic—no extra hassle required.

Get Your Free Playable PowerPoint Quiz Template

Your next quiz session is on us! Get this for free with everything already set up and prepped just for you.

PowerPoint Quiz Template Part 1: Hyperlinks + Multi-Question Types

Slides you’ll need.

• Mode Selection Slide:

• This serves as your main “homepage” for selecting quiz question types.
• Insert shapes with labels like “Multiple Choice,” “Word Cloud,” etc. These shapes will act as buttons.
• Each button should be linked to the specific slide that contains the type of question indicated on the button. A button labeled “Multiple Choice” should link to a slide with a multiple-choice question.
• Question Slides:

• Add question prompts and embed ClassPoint quiz questions on these slides.
• Add ClassPoint quiz questions in Edit Mode from the Inknoe ClassPoint tab, and run them in Slide Show Mode.

Get the full interactive experience of this PowerPoint quiz template when you download ClassPoint for free.

• Return to Main Selection Slide:

• Insert an additional slide that links back to the mode selection slide.
• Place this after each question slide so users can easily return to the main menu for selecting other question types.
• On the mode selection slide, click on one of the buttons (shapes) and go to the Insert tab.
• Select Link > Place in This Document, then choose the slide you want this button to link to.

• Repeat this process for each button, linking them to their corresponding question slides.
• As for the returning slide back to the main selection slide, do just the same. You may do this one time and just duplicate it after each question slide.
• After setting up all the links, switch to slideshow mode to verify that everything works correctly.

Running the Quiz

• To run the quizzes, ensure you’re on slide show mode and click on the embedded quiz question button. This action will send the slides to participants’ devices where they can answer directly.
• Participants will see the slides on their devices and can submit their answers in real-time.
• Responses will be collected as they are submitted, allowing you to track answers immediately.
• Award stars for correct answers (objective questions) or for participation (subjective questions).
• At the end of the session, reveal the leaderboard to show who performed best. You can also display the leaderboard between questions to encourage friendly competition.

PowerPoint Quiz Template Part 2: Drag & Drop, Slide Zoom, and Multiple Choice

• Main Navigation Slide:

• Similar to the earlier part, this slide acts as your “homepage” for navigating between different quiz slides.

• For this setup, we’re using only multiple-choice questions. Each question will have a different difficulty level, so you can award varying numbers of stars using ClassPoint’s Stars feature .
• On the main navigation slide, click Insert > Zoom dropdown > Slide Zoom.
• In the window that appears, select the question slides you want to turn into “mini slides” a.k.a. the slides you’re going to navigate to and from later.

• From the Zoom Border dropdown, select “No Outline.”
• Note: You need to enable “Return to Zoom” for each mini slide individually.
• For this example, add star icons on top of each shape to indicate the number of stars awarded for each question, ranging from 1 to 3 stars.
• Group each shape with its star icons so they count as one object. This grouping is useful for the next step where we’ll convert them into Draggable Objects.
• Select all the shapes you want to convert.
• Go to the Inknoe ClassPoint tab, click on the More Features dropdown, and toggle “Drag enabled” in the side panel.

• Start the slideshow and click the Draggable Objects icon on the ClassPoint toolbar.
• Drag a shape to reveal the mini slide behind it. Then, go back to cursor mode from the ClassPoint toolbar and click on the mini slide to go directly to that slide.
• Click on the embedded ClassPoint Multiple Choice quiz buttons on each question slide to run the quiz and award stars based on the indicated stars

PowerPoint Quiz Template Part 3: AI-Powered Quiz in PowerPoint

• Information Slide

• Just one slide with the information you want to quiz on. That’s it!
• While on your information slide and in presentation mode, click the AI icon on the slideshow toolbar.
• Choose question types: Multiple Choice , Short Answer , or Fill in the Blanks .
• Select Bloom’s Taxonomy levels to adjust the complexity of the questions.
• Pick your preferred language.

• Click “Generate Question.”
• ClassPoint AI will quickly generate a quiz question from the content of your information slide based on the settings you selected.
• Check the correct answer.
• Generate another question if needed.
• Save the question to your PowerPoint presentation.
• Generate as many questions as you like and save them as slides. They’re all prepped and ready for quiz time—no more manual setup of question slides or quiz buttons!

Before You Go

Before you jump into your quiz game, here are some quick tips to make sure everything goes off without a hitch:

• Less is more : Don’t overcrowd your quiz with too many questions or distractions—keep the focus sharp so students stay engaged.
• Mix it up : Use a variety of question types to keep things interesting and cater to different learners.
• Test run : Go through the whole quiz yourself to catch any issues before it’s game time.

With this PowerPoint quiz template, you’ll have everything set for an interactive, engaging game without the hassle of complicated setups. It’s designed to save you time while keeping your participants excited and focused. So go ahead, try it out, and enjoy the fun that comes with a quiz everyone’s eager to play!

More downloadable PowerPoint templates

How to Make a Jeopardy Game on PowerPoint (Playable Template)

Free PowerPoint Trivia Template for Different Difficulty Levels

Wheel of Fortune PowerPoint Template and Tutorial (Free DIY Template & Step-by-Step Guide)

5 Interactive PowerPoint Game Templates for Unforgettable Lessons

About Ausbert Generoso

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