• Editor's Choice: Best Back-to-School Tech Gifts
  • Get These 12 Student Discounts!

How to Make a Slideshow on PowerPoint

Whether for work or private, use slideshows to get your message across

slide show presentation in powerpoint

  • Central Washington University

Before You Begin

  • Step-by-Step: Make a Slideshow on PowerPoint
  • Play Music During the Slideshow
  • Set up the Slideshow
  • Add Timings to Each Slide
  • Edit Timings on a Slide
  • Create a Video Slideshow
  • Save a Slideshow to a CD or Other Removeable Media

When you're ready to present your PowerPoint slides to others, look no further than PowerPoint's slideshow feature. Use this tool for all kinds of slides, but those containing photos work best for most viewers.

Instructions in this article apply to PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 , PowerPoint 2019, PowerPoint 2016, PowerPoint 2013, PowerPoint 2010, and PowerPoint for Mac.

Before you create slides for your slideshow presentation, decide how long to make the slideshow, how it should flow, and the pictures you’ll use.

  • Length : A slideshow can be as long or as short as you need. The length of the slideshow should be appropriate for the topic and for your audience’s attention span.
  • Outline : It’s always smart to start with an outline; it helps you visualize your slideshow. An outline can be as simple as the list of topics you want to cover.
  • Pictures : Choose photos that are clear and tell a story.

With PowerPoint's Photo Album , select the pictures and PowerPoint creates the basic slideshow. Fill your slides with informative text and harmonizing background music, then turn your collection of slides into a self-running photo slideshow with music that can play as a video or be stored on a CD.

When you’re ready to make a photo slideshow with music, PowerPoint gets you up and running quickly. To get started, select Insert > Photo Album > New Photo Album .

Here’s how to add and format pictures for the slideshow using the Photo Album:

Add pictures

Select File/Disk and select the images you want in the picture slideshow.

Enhance photos

Place a checkmark next to the picture you want to enhance and change the orientation, contrast, and brightness. You’ll see the changes in the Preview window.

Add text boxes

To add a slide for text, select the image in the album list you want the text to follow and select New Text Box .

Rearrange slides

 Place a checkmark next to the picture you want to move and select the Move Up or Move Down arrows.

Choose a picture layout

 Select the Picture layout down arrow and choose how you want the pictures to appear in the slideshow.

Frame the pictures

 Select the Frame shape down arrow and choose a frame style. You’ll see a preview in the Album Layout area. This option will not be selectable if the picture layout Fit to slide is enabled.

Select Create when you’re finished.

Your photo slideshow is created in a new file. Add text to the slides and change the look of each slide.

How to Play Music During the Slideshow

Play music in the background during your slideshow to offer an audio counterpoint to all the visuals. The background music starts automatically with the slideshow and plays during all the slides.

To add background music to your presentation, select Insert > Audio > Audio on My PC , choose a music file, then select OK .

The audio icon appears in the middle of the current slide. To move it, drag it to a different place on the slide. When the audio icon is selected, the Playback tab appears. Select Play in Background and make changes to the audio file . Here are some suggestions.

  • Preview the music : Select Play to hear what the music will sound like during your slideshow.
  • Shorten the duration : Select Trim Audio to remove parts of the beginning and end of the music file.
  • Adjust the volume : Select Volume to make the background music louder or softer.

How to Set up the Slideshow

Once your slides are finished, it’s time to set up the slideshow. Start by deciding whether to show the slideshow in a window or full screen.

To set up the slideshow, select Slide Show > Set Up Slide Show and choose one of the following:

  • Browsed by an individual (window) : Run the slideshow automatically and inside a window. This option works best when you save the slideshow to a CD.
  • Browsed at a kiosk (full screen) : Run the slideshow automatically and at full-screen size. This option works best when you convert the slideshow to a video.

Select OK when you’re finished.

How to Add Timings to Each Slide in the Slideshow

Now it’s time to decide how long each slide will appear in the slideshow. To begin, select Slide Show > Rehearse Timings . The slideshow displays in full screen with a Recording toolbar and a timer.

While timing your presentation, use the Recording toolbar to advance through the presentation.

Select Next (arrow pointing to the right) to go to the next slide when the desired timing has been reached.

Select Pause to start and stop the timing.

Select Repeat to restart recording the time for the selected slide.

When you’re finished and have set the time for the last slide, close the Recording toolbar.

Select Yes to keep the recorded slide timings.

How to Edit Timings on a Slide

If you need to increase or decrease the time for your slideshow, change how long slides appear during the slideshow.

To change the timing for a slide:

Select View > Slide Sorter .

Select Transitions .

Select a slide.

In the Advance Slide After text box, enter how long the slide should appear in the slideshow before proceeding to the next slide, then press Enter .

The new timing applies to the slide.

How to Create a PowerPoint Video Slideshow

The easiest way to distribute and play your slideshow is in video format. This way, anyone can view your slideshow no matter what computer or device they use.

To convert a slideshow into a video:

Save the file.

Select File > Export .

Select Create a Video .

To force a smaller file size, select the Full HD drop-down list and choose a lower quality.

Select Create Video .

Select the destination folder and give the video a descriptive file name.

Select Save . It may take a few minutes to process the file and create the video.

How to Save a Slideshow to a CD or Other Removeable Media

To create a presentation that can be watched on any computer and can be stored on a CD or other removable media:

Select Package Presentation for CD > Package for CD .

Type a name for the CD.

Select Copy to Folder or Copy to CD and follow the on-screen directions.

When you’re finished, select Close .

Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day

  • Loop a PowerPoint Slide Show
  • How to Use Portrait and Landscape Slides in the Same Presentation
  • Tips for Memorial PowerPoint Presentations
  • How to Insert PDF Files Into PowerPoint Presentations
  • How to Do a Voiceover on PowerPoint
  • How to Use Speaker Notes in PowerPoint
  • How to Hide and Unhide a Slide in PowerPoint
  • 10 Best Places for Free PowerPoint Templates
  • 9 PowerPoint Presentation Tips for Students
  • The 10 Most Common PowerPoint Terms
  • How to Make a Shape Transparent in PowerPoint
  • How to Draw Freehand in PowerPoint
  • Place Text Over Video to Zest up Your PowerPoint Slides
  • What Is Microsoft PowerPoint and How Do I Use It?
  • Change a PowerPoint Show File to a Work File
  • Troubleshooting Audio Problems With PowerPoint

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

nuts and bolts speed training logo

How to Present a PowerPoint Slideshow (w/ Shortcuts)

  • PowerPoint Tutorials
  • Shortcuts & Hacks
  • May 11, 2019

There are a variety of ways to start a PowerPoint presention, depending on:

  • Where you start your presentation (from beginning or from current)
  • Which PowerPoint view you prefer to present in (Slide Show view or Presenter view)
  • How comfortable you are with keyboard shortcuts

Why would Microsoft include so many ways to present a presentation? My guess is that everyone learns PowerPoint differently, and has personal presentation styles.  The more options you have, the easier your life will be as there will always be a way to start your presentation the way you want to (or jump back into it when you need to).

See all the options below and find the method that works best for you and let the slide show begin !

NOTE: If you are running two presentations side-by-side, each presentation needs to be started as it’s own slide show. To see how to set up two PowerPoint presentations to run side-by-side like this before you start your slide show, read my guide here .

Table of Contents

Start slide show from beginning.

To start a slide show from the beginning, click the Slide Show tab and select From Beginning

To start a slideshow from the beginning of your presentation using the ribbon, simply.

  • Navigate to the  Slide Show tab
  • Select  From Beginning

Selecting  From Beginning  starts your presentation from the very first non-hidden slide in your presentation, regardless of which slide you are currently inside of your deck.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

You can also start your slide from the beginning of your presentation by hitting the Slideshow From Beginning keyboard shortcut,  F5 .

Regardless of which method you use, this is the classic way to start your presentation in full screen from your first title slide (regardless of where you are in your slide deck).

Let the slide show begin!

NOTE: To expand your knowledge and learn how to use PowerPoint’s FREE and HIDDEN built-in laser pointer to point things out during your presentation, read my guide here .

Take your PPT skills to the next level

Start slide show from current.

To start a slide show from the current slide, click the Slide Show tab and select From Current Slide

To begin your slide show from the slide you are currently on using the ribbon, simply

  • Navigate to the Slide Show tab
  • Select  From Current Slide

Selecting From Current Slide starts your slide show from whatever slide you are currently on, even if the slide is hidden.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

You can also start your slide from the current slide you are on by hitting the  Shift+F5  keyboard shortcut.

Because it’s often easiest to catch errors when building your slides in this full screen mode, I highly recommend learning the  Shift+F5  shortcut and using it frequently as you build your slides to spot them for errors.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

If you don’t want to bother learning the From Current Slide shortcut, you can also start your slideshow by clicking the  Slide Show  icon at the bottom of your screen.

This is a fantastic way to spot check your slides as you are building them. On top of that, it’s a fast and uncomplicated way to re-start your presentation from where you left off after demoing something on screen.

Start a mini-slide show in PowerPoint

You can also use the following hidden PowerPoint shortcut to run a mini slide show over the top of your current deck.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

To run a mini slide show, simply:

  • Hold down the  Alt key  on your keyboard
  • With your mouse, click the  Slide Show  icon

Doing so starts a small slide show of your presentation that you can see below, from the current slide you are on.

Example of running a mini presentation over the top of your PowerPoint slides

Presenter View

The Presenter View is an alternate way to run your presentation in PowerPoint. In this view, your slides are projected on screen, and the details of your presentation are displayed on your computer as pictured below.

Example of running a PowerPoint presentation in Presenter View

The presenter view includes your next (non-hidden) slides that is coming up, your current slide projected on screen, how long you’ve been talking and your speaker notes.

To run the presenter view from the current slide, click the Slide Show tab, hold the Alt key and click the From Current Slide command

To launch the  Presenter View  from the beginning of your presentation using your Ribbon, simply:

  • Navigate to the  Slide Show  tab
  • Hold down the  Alt key on  your keyboard
  • Click  From Beginning

Holding down the  Alt key  and clicking  From Beginning , the Presenter View will launch from the very first (non-hidden) slide in your presentation.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

You can also launch the presenter view from the beginning of your presentation at any time by clicking Alt + F5  on your keyboard.

Start Presenter View in PowerPoint From Current Slide

To start your slide show from the current slide using the presenter view, click the slide show tab, hold the Alt key and click

Did you know that you can access different views in PowerPoint by adding keys as you click commands in the PowerPoint ribbon?

To start the Presenter view from your current slide using your Ribbon, simply:

  • Hold down the Alt key on your keyboard
  • Click  From Current Slide

Holding the Alt key and clicking From Current Slide launches the Presenter View from your current slide. So, this is another way you can quickly practice your presentation, see your speaker notes and see what’s coming up next.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

You can also launch the Presenter View from the beginning of your presentation at any time by hitting Alt+F5 on your keyboard.

Showing and Hiding Presenter View

Regardless of which view you start your PowerPoint slide show; you can switch between the two different slide show views without exiting presentation.

To show or hide the Presenter View, right click your slide show and select either show or hide presenter view

To switch between the two slideshow views (while giving your presentation), simply:

  • Right-click your slide in whichever presentation view you are currently in
  • Select either Show Presenter View or Hide Presenter View

When would you use a feature like this during a presentation? One example is if you want to view your notes without leaving the slide show mode.

NOTE: The letter r  for both  Show Presenter View  and  Hide Presenter View  is underlined. This means that it is a keyboard shortcut. So, if you want to quickly flip between these two presentation views, you can simply right-click your slide and hit the letter r on your keyboard. Doing so automatically switches the view you are in.

Controlling how your presentation runs

Another way to control how your presentation runs (including the default laser pointer and pen color), is the Set Up Slide Show dialog box.

Click the slide show tab, and select the Set Up Slide Show command to control how your PowerPoint presentation runs

To open the  Set Up Slide Show  dialog box, simply:

  • Select the  Set Up Slide Show  command

Doing so, opens all your PowerPoint slide show settings and options as pictured below.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

Inside the slide show settings dialog box, you can select:

  • How your presentation runs (full screen, window or in kiosk mode).
  • Your default pen and laser pointer color options ( see our laser pointer article here ).
  • Which slide you want start from, or which slides you want to show. You can also setup a custom show here.
  • How your slides progress (manually or using slide timings).
  • Which of your computer monitors (or screens) your slide show runs on.

The  Set Up Slide Show dialog box is also the secret to running multiple presentations at the same time in PowerPoint. To expand your knowledge and learn how to set this up, read our guide here .

Setup Slide Show SECRET Shortcut

Hold the Shift key and click the reading view icon to open the set up slide show dialog box

To use the SECRET shortcut to open the Set Up Slide Show dialog box, simply:

  • Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard
  • With your mouse, click the Reading View icon at the bottom of your screen

This is useful when you need to quickly cycle through lots of PowerPoint presentations and change how those presentations run. Instead of wasting time clicking through the Ribbon, simply hold the Shift key and click the  Reading View icon. This is also a friendly conversation starter with a fellow PowerPoint enthusiast at Happy Hour.

NOTE: The color of your Reading View icon might be different than in the picture above, as it is dependent on the Office Theme you selected for PowerPoint.

How to exit a PowerPoint presentation early?

Hit the escape key to exit slide show mode in PowerPoint

Regardless of how you start your full screen presentation, you can end your presentation at any time by hitting the Esc key on your keyboard.

Hitting  Esc  immediately takes you out of the   PowerPoint presentation mode and back to the normal editing view of your slides, on whatever slide you were last presenting.

Here is how you can use a combination of all the different keyboard shortcuts to spot check and practice your presentation in full screen before you finalize your presentation.

  • Hit  F5  on your keyboard to   start your presentation in full screen from the very first slide in your presentation. You can then use your arrow keys to advance, spot checking your slides for errors.
  • When you find an error, simply hit  Esc  key to return to the normal PowerPoint editing view to fix your slide.
  • When you are done, hit  Shift + F5  to return the full screen presentation mode from the slide you just updated. You can then continue spot checking your presentation (without having to start over from the beginning).

In this way you can quickly work your way through your slides and practice your presentation, fixing and adjusting your content as you go.

Understanding how to run your presentations is CRITICAL to the success of your presentation. Not only in presenting them live, but also in knowing how to spot check your slides as you build them.

I personally find it easiest to spot check your slides and quickly fix errors by running your presentation in slide show mode (or full screen). The last place you want to discover an error is during your presentation.

Using the commands and shortcuts above, you can quickly start, exit and step back into your slide show. Once you have these commands and features down, you will also look like a whiz during your presentations.

If you enjoyed the depth of this article, you will love our other PowerPoint training courses and free resources. To learn more, visit us here .

🔒 Unlock the PowerPoint Shortcuts Trusted by Industry Leaders KKR, American Express, HSBC, and More!

Join over 114,880 professionals from diverse fields including consulting, investment banking, advertising, marketing, sales, and business development who have supercharged their PowerPoint game with our proven methods.

✅ Customize compelling presentations effortlessly.

✅ Master time-saving techniques for faster deck creation.

✅ Boost your career prospects with top-notch PowerPoint skills.

Get FREE access to the Critical PowerPoint Shortcuts module of our premium training course by entering your name and email below.

DISCLAIMER: PC Users Only!

We respect your privacy and will keep your info safe and confidential.

Related Articles

About the author.

' src=

Popular Tutorials

  • How to Strikethrough Text (l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶) in Word, Excel & PowerPoint
  • How to Make Animated Fireworks in PowerPoint (Step-by-Step)
  • Strikethrough Shortcut (l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶) for Word, Excel & PowerPoint
  • How to Create a Flash Card Memory Game in PowerPoint (Like Jeopardy)
  • Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working: Solved

PowerPoint Tutorial Categories

  • Strategies & Opinions
  • Presentation Design
  • Pictures, Icons, Videos, Etc.
  • New Features
  • Miscellaneous
  • Charts & Data Viz

We help busy professionals save hours and gain peace of mind, with corporate workshops, self-paced courses and tutorials for PowerPoint and Word.

Work With Us

  • Corporate Training
  • Presentation & Template Design
  • Courses & Downloads
  • PowerPoint Articles
  • Word Articles
  • Productivity Resources

Find a Tutorial

  • Free Training
  • For Businesses

We help busy office workers save hours and gain peace of mind, with tips, training and tutorials for Microsoft PowerPoint and Word.

Master Critical PowerPoint Shortcuts – Secure Your FREE Training Module and Save Valuable Time!

⌛ Master time-saving expert techniques.

🔥 Create powerful presentations.

🚀 Propel your career to new heights.

We value your privacy – we keep your info safe.

Discover PowerPoint Hacks Loved by Industry Giants - KKR, AmEx, HSBC!

Over 114,880 professionals in finance, marketing and sales have revolutionized their PPT skills with our proven methods. 

Gain FREE access to a full module of our premium PowerPoint training program – Get started today!

We hate spam too and promise to keep your information safe.

You are currently viewing a placeholder content from Facebook . To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.

site logo

How to Start and Navigate a PowerPoint Slideshow

Use the method you're most comfortable with

Author avatar

A successful slideshow isn’t just about creating it, it’s about presenting it to your audience when it’s time. Here, we’ll show you the right keys to press, the action buttons to use, and the mouse clicks you need to start and navigate a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation.

How to Start and Navigate a PowerPoint Slideshow image 1

How to Start a PowerPoint Slideshow

You have a few ways to start a slideshow in PowerPoint. The one you use depends on which slide you want to begin with or if you want to use Presenter View. Plus, you can use the options in PowerPoint’s ribbon or keyboard shortcuts.

Ribbon Options

  • Go to the Slide Show tab.
  • To use Presenter View automatically, check the box in the Monitors section of the ribbon.
  • Select From Beginning or From Current Slide to begin the show.

How to Start and Navigate a PowerPoint Slideshow image 2

Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Start from the beginning: F5
  • Start from the current slide: Shift + F5
  • Start in Presenter View: Alt + F5

How to Navigate a PowerPoint Slideshow

When it comes to navigating the presentation, you can use the toolbar buttons in Slide Show view or Presenter View, the shortcut (right-click) menu, or keyboard shortcuts.

Next Slide or Animation

  • Select the right arrow button in the toolbar.
  • Click on the current slide.
  • Use the keys N , Enter , Page Down , Right Arrow , Down Arrow , or Spacebar .

Previous Slide or Animation

  • Select the left arrow button in the toolbar.
  • Right-click the current slide and pick Previous .
  • Use the keys P , Page Up , Left Arrow , Up Arrow , or Backspace .

How to Start and Navigate a PowerPoint Slideshow image 3

Specific Slide

  • Type the slide number and press Enter .
  • Select the See All Slides button in the toolbar and choose the slide.

Show a Hidden Slide

  • Use the H key on the slide before the hidden one.
  • Select See All Slides and choose the slide.

Go to the First Slide

  • Type slide number 1 and press Enter .
  • Use the Home key.

Go to the Last Slide

  • Type the last slide number and press Enter .
  • Use the End key.

How to Start and Navigate a PowerPoint Slideshow image 4

Open the Screen Tools

  • Select the Pen and Laser Pointer icon in the toolbar and choose the tool.
  • Right-click, move to Pointer Options , and pick the tool.
  • Use the tool keyboard shortcuts:
  • Laser pointer: Ctrl + L
  • Pen: Ctrl + P
  • Arrow: Ctrl + A
  • Eraser: Ctrl + E

How to Start and Navigate a PowerPoint Slideshow image 5

Display a Blank Black Slide

  • Select the Black or Unblack Slide Show icon in the Presenter View toolbar.
  • Right-click the slide and pick Screen > Black Screen .
  • Select the three dots and pick Screen > Black Screen .
  • Use the B or Period key.

Display a Blank White Slide

  • Right-click the slide and pick Screen > White Screen .
  • Select the three dots and pick Screen > White Screen .
  • Use the W or Comma key.

How to Start and Navigate a PowerPoint Slideshow image 6

End the Presentation

  • Right-click and pick End Show .
  • Select the three dots and pick End Show .
  • Use the Escape key.

How to Start and Navigate a PowerPoint Slideshow image 7

When you’re ready to present your PowerPoint slideshow, you have plenty of options for starting and navigating the show. Use what you’re most comfortable with at the time for a winning presentation.

For more, look at these tips to improve your PowerPoint presentation .

' src=

Sandy Writtenhouse is a freelance technology writer and former Project, Department, and Program Manager. She turned her education, job experience, and love of technology into a full-time writing career. With all sorts of gadgets in her home and her hands, she seeks to help others make life easier through technology. Read Sandy's Full Bio

Read More Posts:

slide show presentation in powerpoint

17 PowerPoint Presentation Tips From Pro Presenters [+ Templates]

Jamie Cartwright

Published: April 26, 2024

PowerPoint presentations can be professional, attractive, and really help your audience remember your message.

powerpoint tricks

If you don’t have much experience, that’s okay — I’m going to arm you with PowerPoint design tips from pro presenters, the steps you need to build an engaging deck, and templates to help you nail great slide design.

→ Free Download: 10 PowerPoint Presentation Templates [Access Now]

Download Now

Buckle up for a variety of step-by-step explanations as well as tips and tricks to help you start mastering this program. There are additional resources woven in, and you’ll find expert perspectives from other HubSpotters along the way.

Table of Contents

How to Make a PowerPoint Presentation

Powerpoint presentation tips.

Microsoft PowerPoint is like a test of basic professional skills, and each PowerPoint is basically a presentation made of multiple slides.

Successful PowerPoints depend on three main factors: your command of PowerPoint's design tools, your attention to presentation processes, and being consistent with your style.

Keep those in mind as we jump into PowerPoint's capabilities.

Getting Started

1. open powerpoint and click ‘new.’.

A page with templates will usually open automatically, but if not, go to the top left pane of your screen and click New . If you’ve already created a presentation, select Open and then double-click the icon to open the existing file.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

10 Free PowerPoint Templates

Download ten free PowerPoint templates for a better presentation.

  • Creative templates.
  • Data-driven templates.
  • Professional templates.

Download Free

All fields are required.

You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

Creating PowerPoint Slides

3. insert a slide..

Insert a new slide by clicking on the Home tab and then the New Slide button. Consider what content you want to put on the slide, including heading, text, and imagery.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

  • Finally, PowerPoint Live is a new tool that enables you to do more seamless presentations during video calls and may be a better overall match for doing presentations remotely. Check out this video:

11. Try Using GIFs.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

12 Free Customizable Resume Templates

Fill out this form to access your free professionally-designed templates, available on:

  • Microsoft Word
  • Google Docs
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Google Slides

15. Embed multimedia.

PowerPoint allows you to either link to video/audio files externally or to embed the media directly in your presentation. For PCs, two great reasons for embedding are:

  • Embedding allows you to play media directly in your presentation. It will look much more professional than switching between windows.
  • Embedding also means that the file stays within the PowerPoint presentation, so it should play normally without extra work (except on a Mac).

If you use PowerPoint for Mac it gets a bit complicated, but it can be done:

  • Always bring the video and/or audio file with you in the same folder as the PowerPoint presentation.
  • Only insert video or audio files once the presentation and the containing folder have been saved on a portable drive in their permanent folder.
  • If the presentation will be played on a Windows computer, then Mac users need to make sure their multimedia files are in WMV format.
  • Consider using the same operating system for designing and presenting, no matter what.

16. Bring your own hardware.

Between operating systems, PowerPoint is still a bit jumpy. Even between differing PPT versions, things can change. The easiest fix? Just bring along your own laptop when you're presenting.

The next easiest fix is to upload your PowerPoint presentation into Google Slides as a backup option — just make sure there is a good internet connection and a browser available where you plan to present.

Google Slides is a cloud-based presentation software that will show up the same way on all operating systems.

To import your PowerPoint presentation into Google Slides:

  • Navigate to slides.google.com . Make sure you’re signed in to a Google account (preferably your own).
  • Under Start a new presentation , click the empty box with a plus sign. This will open up a blank presentation.
  • Go to File , then Import slides .
  • A dialog box will come up. Tap Upload.
  • Click Select a file from your device .
  • Select your presentation and click Open .
  • Select the slides you’d like to import. If you want to import all of them, click All in the upper right-hand corner of the dialog box.
  • Click Import slides.

When I tested this out, Google Slides imported everything perfectly, including a shape whose points I had manipulated. This is a good backup option to have if you’ll be presenting across different operating systems.

17. Use Presenter View.

In most presentation situations, there will be both a presenter’s screen and the main projected display for your presentation.

PowerPoint has a great tool called Presenter View, which can be found in the Slide Show tab of PowerPoint. Included in the Presenter View is an area for notes, a timer/clock, and a presentation display.

For many presenters, this tool can help unify their spoken presentation and their visual aid. You never want to make the PowerPoint seem like a stack of notes that you’re reading off of.

Use the Presenter View option to help create a more natural presentation.

Pro Tip: At the start of the presentation, you should also hit CTRL + H to make the cursor disappear. Hitting the “A” key will bring it back if you need it.

Your Next Great PowerPoint Presentation Starts Here

Now that you have these style, design, and presentation tips under your belt, you should feel confident to create your PowerPoint presentation.

But if you can explore other resources to make sure your content hits the mark. After all, you need a strong presentation to land your point and make an impression.

With several templates to choose from — both in PowerPoint and available for free download — you can swiftly be on your way to creating presentations that wow your audiences.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in September 2013 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

Don't forget to share this post!

Related articles.

20 Great Examples of PowerPoint Presentation Design [+ Templates]

20 Great Examples of PowerPoint Presentation Design [+ Templates]

How to Create the Best PowerPoint Presentations [Examples & Templates]

How to Create the Best PowerPoint Presentations [Examples & Templates]

How to Write an Ecommerce Business Plan [Examples & Template]

How to Write an Ecommerce Business Plan [Examples & Template]

How to Create an Infographic in Under an Hour — the 2024 Guide [+ Free Templates]

How to Create an Infographic in Under an Hour — the 2024 Guide [+ Free Templates]

Get Buyers to Do What You Want: The Power of Temptation Bundling in Sales

Get Buyers to Do What You Want: The Power of Temptation Bundling in Sales

How to Create an Engaging 5-Minute Presentation

How to Create an Engaging 5-Minute Presentation

How to Start a Presentation [+ Examples]

How to Start a Presentation [+ Examples]

120 Presentation Topic Ideas Help You Hook Your Audience

120 Presentation Topic Ideas Help You Hook Your Audience

The Presenter's Guide to Nailing Your Next PowerPoint

The Presenter's Guide to Nailing Your Next PowerPoint

How to Create a Stunning Presentation Cover Page [+ Examples]

How to Create a Stunning Presentation Cover Page [+ Examples]

Marketing software that helps you drive revenue, save time and resources, and measure and optimize your investments — all on one easy-to-use platform

How to Play PowerPoint Slides Automatically

Lia

The PowerPoint autoplay feature is an amazing tool for creating slideshows that advance automatically . Self-running PowerPoint presentations are great for leaving in kiosks or publicity booths. You can even show them with recordings or voiceovers to make sure your audience gets the most out of it. 

Forget worrying about clicking from slide to slide, today we will teach you how to play PowerPoint slides automatically!

slide show presentation in powerpoint

We’ll cover the following topics:

Why should you use the automatic slideshow PowerPoint feature?

  • How to Play PowerPoint Slides Automatically without Clicking - Option 1
  • How to play slideshow in PowerPoint automatically - Option 2

How to make PowerPoint slides advance automatically with audio 

  • How to loop slides in PowerPoint
  • Check out some experts’ best practices for Automatic slideshows in PowerPoint

How to automatically play PowerPoint presentations across devices

How to play powerpoint slides automatically without clicking on mac, elevate your presentation with professional designs: try 24slides today.

Using the automatic slideshow feature has many benefits . The main one is its practicality; it is a tool you can set up in advance so that you eliminate the need for ongoing attention and your presentation flow is better. 

And that’s not all, you can even add voiceovers, recordings, and even laser pointer gestures to make sure your audience gets the most out of your presentation.

It becomes particularly beneficial in the following scenarios:

  • Business presentations: An automatically progressing presentation can help you focus on your content without worrying about going slide by slide, which can often be distracting and disrupt your rhythm.
  • Publicity: Self-running presentations can be great if you use them for publicity. For example, if you have a kiosk or booth, a self-running PowerPoint slideshow can help you reach more people without them having to speak one-on-one with a salesperson. 
  • E-Learning: In e-learning modules or training presentations, autoplay can help learners progress through the material while listening to your lecture. However, they can also pause and rewind to go to the specific section they wish to revisit.
  • Photo or Video Slideshows: Autoplay is commonly used in photo or video slideshows for events such as weddings or birthdays. It can serve as a background loop, or you can present it at a special moment along with music or narration to enhance the experience.

How to Play PowerPoint Slides Automatically without Clicking: Option 1

There are a couple of different ways to make your slides run automatically, and we'll go over both options. This first option is for when you need a really customized presentation: personalized timing for each slide, voiceovers, or laser pointer gestures . 

If this is your case, go ahead with this section, but if you’d like something a bit simpler, proceed to Option 2.

  • The first step is to go to the Slide Show Tab. On the Set Up group, you’ll find the Set Up Slide Show option to start customizing your self-running presentation.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

  • Once the Set Up Show Window opens, deselect the Presented by a speaker option, as it refers to manually advancing your slides, either by clicking or using keys. Next, consider several options for the automatic slideshow:

slide show presentation in powerpoint

  • Browsed by an individual is one choice for creating a self-running PowerPoint presentation. This option permits you to deliver your slides within a window, as opposed to the typical full-screen mode. Ensure that the Use timings, if present option is enabled for this feature to function correctly.
  • Another option is the Browsed at a kiosk , which allows you to run a full-screen, continuous slideshow automatically. This option locks in both the looping and timing settings, ensuring that your slideshow will continue until you press the ESC key.

If you’re not sure what option is the best for you, remember you can always select manually the loop and timings option . Try different options with these and try out how your presentation will look like with the different settings.

  • The next step is to set your timings. This means defining how much time you want your PowerPoint slideshow to spend on each slide before automatically advancing to the next one.

To set your timings, click on Rehearse Timings , which will allow you to go through your presentation slide by slide, and it’ll record how much time you spend on each one. 

slide show presentation in powerpoint

After you finish going through all your slides, a message will pop up to save your timings. Click yes so you can save the time spent on each slide.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

How to play slideshow in PowerPoint automatically: Option 2

Let’s take a look at a different way of using the PowerPoint autoplay feature. This option is great if you’re looking for something simple and just want your slides to advance automatically at regular intervals. 

  • First, open the Transitions Tab and locate the Timing Group.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

  • Go to the After option and manually add how much time you want to spend on each of your slides.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

Select the Apply To All option so all your slides have the same timing.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

You can also deselect the On Mouse Click option, depending on whether you want to be able to advance your slides by clicking or not.

Adding audio to your automatic PowerPoint is a fantastic feature to enhance your professional image and communicate your content without needing to be present. Let’s take a look at how to do it:

  • Go to the Slide Show Tab and select Record Slide Show . Choose Record From Beginning to start with the first slide.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

When the fullscreen opens, you will be able to see your first slide along with several options:

  • Start in Settings (1) and select the tools you will be using. You have the option to use a microphone, or you can record yourself talking on camera. Choose your microphone and/or camera for recording.
  • Next (2) , decide whether you want to have the microphone or camera you selected turned on. You can also choose to have a video preview.
  • When you're ready to start recording, go to the top left corner (3) and click Record to start, Stop to pause, and Replay to review how it went.
  • Once you finish with a slide, click on the right arrow (4) to move to the next slide.
  • If you have Speaker notes in your slides, you can view them in (5) while you record.
  • In the Pens and Markers section (6) , you can draw on the screen and make any annotations you want.
  • Finally, the Clear option (7) allows you to clear existing recordings on the current slide or on all slides if you are unsatisfied and want to redo your recording.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

  • Now, to review what you've recorded, go to Set Up and make sure Play Narrations and Use Timings are checked. Then, click on From Beginning to start the presentation.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

How to loop slides in PowerPoint 

If you want to learn how to loop your slides in PowerPoint, follow these steps:

  • Go to the Slide Show tab and select Set Up Slide Show .

slide show presentation in powerpoint

  • When the Set Up Show window appears, go to the Show options group and tick the Loop continuously until ‘Esc’ option. Don’t forget to click OK to apply the new setup!

slide show presentation in powerpoint

And all done! Now, your presentation will loop until you select ‘Esc’.

Check out some expert best practices for Automatic slideshows in PowerPoint

Now that you've learned how to make a PowerPoint slideshow run automatically, we'll give you the secrets to make your presentation stand out . Let's take a look at some insights from our expert designers .

Avoid too much text

Remember that your time per slide is limited , so it is important not to put too much text since your audience will not have time to read it. Try to express your message in the shortest possible text, and if necessary, revise and rewrite it as many times as necessary to synthesize it.

Limit interactive elements

Limit or avoid interactive elements such as hyperlinks that rely on user interaction since they may not function in PowerPoint autoplay mode.

However, if you want your audience or potential clients to take a specific action, consider using a QR code. Only make sure to leave the slide displayed for enough time for them to use it.

Practice, practice, practice

Keep in mind that your speech needs to fit perfectly with your timings for each slide. So, practicing your presentation multiple times is crucial to ensure a seamless and synchronized delivery. 

First, go to the Slide Show Tab and select Set Up Slide Show .

slide show presentation in powerpoint

  • When the Set Up Show Window opens, deselect the Presented by a speaker option and consider the following options to set up your automatic slideshow:

slide show presentation in powerpoint

  • Browsed by an individual : With this option, you can show your slides within a window instead of the typical full-screen mode. Make sure that the Use timings, if present option is selected.
  • Another option is the Browsed at a kiosk : This option locks in both the looping and timing settings, ensuring that your slideshow will continue until you press the ESC key.
  • Next, you need to set your timings. This involves determining the duration for each slide so that it advances automatically to the next one when you have finished presenting it.

To set your timings, go to the Slide Show Tab and click on Rehearse Timings.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

A window will open, allowing you to go through your presentation slide by slide, and it will record how much time you spend on each one . As you progress through each slide, it will confirm the time spent, and you can either agree or choose to re-record.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

After you finish going through all your slides, a message will pop up to save your timings . Click yes so you can save the time spent on each slide.

If you’re looking to create a presentation that truly wows your audience, you might want to consider professional design assistance for your PowerPoint. Lucky for you, we’re here to help. Check out the fantastic designs 24Slides can help you create today!

slide show presentation in powerpoint

You might also like

  • How to Add a Timer to Your Powerpoint Presentations
  • 11 Time-Saving PowerPoint Hacks For Creating Quick Presentations
  • How To Loop a PowerPoint Presentation
  • Add a PowerPoint Real-Time Clock to Your Presentations

Create professional presentations online

Other people also read

Tutorial: Save your PowerPoint as a Video

Tutorial: Save your PowerPoint as a Video

24Slides

How To Convert Google Slides To PowerPoint and Vice Versa

How To Add Animations To PowerPoint

How To Add Animations To PowerPoint

Your current User-Agent string appears to be from an automated process, if this is incorrect, please click this link:

Top searches

Trending searches

slide show presentation in powerpoint

15 templates

slide show presentation in powerpoint

pink flowers

255 templates

slide show presentation in powerpoint

62 templates

slide show presentation in powerpoint

11 templates

slide show presentation in powerpoint

49 templates

slide show presentation in powerpoint

student council

Create engaging presentations, faster, free templates for google slides, powerpoint and canva, or kick off your next project with ai presentation maker.

SmartStart: Smart moves for smarter teaching

Inside Out Disney

Inside Out Disney

Disney

249 templates

Slidesclass

Slidesclass

379 templates

Editor’s Choice

Editor’s Choice

3646 templates

Pride

84 templates

Summer

225 templates

Minimalist

4004 templates

Social Media

Social Media

699 templates

Mental Health

Mental Health

410 templates

Nature

1219 templates

Travel

434 templates

Presentation Maker

Presentation Maker

1537 templates

Technology

1068 templates

Event

3182 templates

Latest themes

Economics Thesis Defense: The role of business valuation in the global financial system presentation template

It seems that you like this template!

slide show presentation in powerpoint

Register for free and start downloading now

Economics thesis defense: the role of business valuation in the global financial system.

Download the Economics Thesis Defense: The role of business valuation in the global financial system presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides. Your business demands smart solutions, and this consulting toolkit template is just that! This versatile and ingenious toolkit will provide you with the essential tools you need to shape...

Cute Slideshow Infographics presentation template

Premium template

Unlock this template and gain unlimited access

Cute Slideshow Infographics

Download the Cute Slideshow Infographics template for PowerPoint or Google Slides and discover the power of infographics. An infographic resource gives you the ability to showcase your content in a more visual way, which will make it easier for your audience to understand your topic. Slidesgo infographics like this set...

Volleyball Sport Club presentation template

Volleyball Sport Club

Download the Volleyball Sport Club presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides. Are you looking for a way to make your school academy stand out among the competition? This template is designed to showcase all the fantastic aspects of your center. With perfect slides that allow you to easily add information...

Pastel 3D Pitch Deck presentation template

Pastel 3D Pitch Deck

Download the Pastel 3D Pitch Deck presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides. Whether you're an entrepreneur looking for funding or a sales professional trying to close a deal, a great pitch deck can be the difference-maker that sets you apart from the competition. Let your talent shine out thanks to...

Modern Doodle Minitheme presentation template

Modern Doodle Minitheme

Download the Modern Doodle Minitheme presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and start impressing your audience with a creative and original design. Slidesgo templates like this one here offer the possibility to convey a concept, idea or topic in a clear, concise and visual way, by using different graphic resources....

Comic Book Story Book presentation template

Comic Book Story Book

Download the Comic Book Story Book presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides. The magic of storytelling takes a new form in this enrapturing storybook. Every bedtime, playtime, or fun classroom activity can be transformed into an enchanting journey into the realms of imagination. Match these slides to your words to...

Popular themes

Steps for Studying a Text presentation template

Steps for Studying a Text

Reading a book is good practice. Books are a source of knowledge! However, the complexity of the text you're reading affects the time you'll spend understanding it and memorizing it. That can be a problem when studying, so here's a template with some tips on how to face difficult texts...

Welcome to Middle School Class presentation template

Welcome to Middle School Class

Welcome, everyone! This is our middle school class, take a look! Our students, our teachers, our subjects, our schedules… We have written everything about it in this presentation! The cool waves of color flow amazingly with this design. Everything is super creative and colorful! Prepare for the back to school...

Notebook Lesson presentation template

Notebook Lesson

These are the last days before the Summer break! We know that there are some pending lessons that you need to prepare for your students. As they may be thinking about their friends and their holidays, catch their attention with this cool template!

Minimalist Business Slides presentation template

Minimalist Business Slides

Minimalism is an art style that frees the canvas and that lets the content stand out for itself. It’s a way of conveying modernism, simplicity and elegance and can be your best ally in your next presentation. With this new design from Slidesgo, your business presentations will be as professional...

Chalkboard Background Theme for Elementary presentation template

Chalkboard Background Theme for Elementary

Download the Chalkboard Background Theme for Elementary presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and easily edit it to fit your own lesson plan! Designed specifically for elementary school education, this eye-catching design features engaging graphics and age-appropriate fonts; elements that capture the students' attention and make the learning experience more...

Colorful Theme presentation template

Colorful Theme

Download the Colorful Theme presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and start impressing your audience with a creative and original design. Slidesgo templates like this one here offer the possibility to convey a concept, idea or topic in a clear, concise and visual way, by using different graphic resources. You...

Infographics

Fresh Lemon Pattern Newsletter Infographics presentation template

Fresh Lemon Pattern Newsletter Infographics

Download the Fresh Lemon Pattern Newsletter Infographics template for PowerPoint or Google Slides and discover the power of infographics. An infographic resource gives you the ability to showcase your content in a more visual way, which will make it easier for your audience to understand your topic. Slidesgo infographics like...

College Lessons with Cycle Diagrams presentation template

College Lessons with Cycle Diagrams

Download the College Lessons with Cycle Diagrams presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides. As university curricula increasingly incorporate digital tools and platforms, this template has been designed to integrate with presentation software, online learning management systems, or referencing software, enhancing the overall efficiency and effectiveness of student work. Edit this...

Educational Infographics presentation template

Educational Infographics

Download the Educational Infographics template for PowerPoint or Google Slides and discover this set of editable infographics for education presentations. These resources, from graphs to tables, can be combined with other presentations or used independently. The most important thing is what you will achieve: transmit information in an orderly and...

Education presentation templates

Workshop

914 templates

Math

587 templates

Literacy

122 templates

Lesson

812 templates

Science

1046 templates

School

3493 templates

Thesis Defense

Thesis Defense

1005 templates

Teacher Toolkit

Teacher Toolkit

121 templates

Music

426 templates

Art

844 templates

Smartick

59 templates

Editable in Canva

Judaism: Culture and Traditions Workshop presentation template

Judaism: Culture and Traditions Workshop

Download the Judaism: Culture and Traditions Workshop presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides. If you are planning your next workshop and looking for ways to make it memorable for your audience, don’t go anywhere. Because this creative template is just what you need! With its visually stunning design, you can...

Branded Content Minitheme presentation template

Branded Content Minitheme

Download the Branded Content Minitheme presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and start impressing your audience with a creative and original design. Slidesgo templates like this one here offer the possibility to convey a concept, idea or topic in a clear, concise and visual way, by using different graphic resources....

What's new on Slidesgo

See the latest website updates, new features and tools and make the most of your Slidesgo experience.

Make presentations with AI

SmartStart educational webinar: Smart moves for smarter teaching | Quick Tips & Tutorial for your presentations

SmartStart educational webinar: Smart moves for smarter teaching

The best Slidesgo AI tools for students | Quick Tips & Tutorial for your presentations

The best Slidesgo AI tools for students

Browse by tags.

  • Kids 2041 templates
  • Food 954 templates
  • Technology 1068 templates
  • Travel 434 templates
  • Animal 1106 templates
  • Art 844 templates
  • Health 3799 templates
  • History 1439 templates
  • Environment 529 templates
  • Galaxy 193 templates
  • Fashion 245 templates
  • Biology 512 templates
  • Summer 225 templates
  • Architecture 155 templates
  • Music 426 templates
  • Research 1656 templates
  • Culture 2092 templates
  • Background 10019 templates
  • Back to School 198 templates
  • Coloring Page 352 templates

What do our users say about us?

user testimonial avatar

I just wanted to thank you! I learned more about slides in one day of quarantine than in my whole life

Gabriela Miranda

user testimonial avatar

Your slides are so unique and gorgeous! They really help me with PowerPoint presentations for school and now even my mom uses them for work

Marie Dupuis

user testimonial avatar

I would like to thank to you for these amazing templates. I have never seen such service, especially free! They are very useful for my presentation.

Ali Serdar Çelikezen

user testimonial avatar

Thank you Slidesgo for creating amazing templates for us. It's made my presentation become much better.

Thiên Trang Nguyễn

Create your presentation Create personalized presentation content

Writing tone, number of slides, register for free and start editing online.

Find the perfect PowerPoint presentation template

Bring your next presentation to life with customizable powerpoint design templates. whether you're wowing with stats via charts and graphs or putting your latest and greatest ideas on display, you'll find a powerpoint presentation template to make your ideas pop., presentations.

Help your data, insights, and recommendations make a statement with beautiful and easily customizable presentation templates.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

Certificates

Celebrate accomplishments big and small with customizable certificate templates. From gift certificates to awards for finishing a course or training, find a template that highlights their accolades.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

Boost visibility for your show, project, or business with easily customizable poster templates. Find templates for all your promotion needs and make them uniquely yours in a flash.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

Keep track of whatever you need to in style. From personal planning to promotional calendars, find templates for every kind of project and aesthetic.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

Infographics

Say more with less using helpful and easily customizable infographic templates. Add clarity to business presentations, school projects, and more with these helpful templates.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

Start with the best PowerPoint templates

Light sales pitch presentation white modern-simple

Elevate your storytelling

Tips, tricks, and insider advice from our business and design experts

A quick way to create beautiful, powerful PowerPoint presentations

Create captivating, informative content for PowerPoint in just a few minutes—no graphic design experience needed. Here's how:

slide show presentation in powerpoint

1. Find the perfect PowerPoint template

slide show presentation in powerpoint

2. Customize your creation

slide show presentation in powerpoint

3. Show it off

Let's create a powerpoint design, frequently asked questions, where can i find slide templates and themes that i can customize.

To find customizable slide templates and themes, you can explore the business presentations templates or search by PowerPoint templates . Once you find a template that resonates with you, customize it by changing its color scheme, add in your own photos, and swap out the font.

How do I use pre-made PowerPoint templates?

After you've chosen a PowerPoint template to use, customize it. Explore [design tips] on how to customize a deck that resonates with your brand while putting emphasis on the topic at hand. Play with other design elements, like photo shapes, to make each slide unique.

How can I make or edit my own custom PowerPoint templates?

Start from scratch by creating your own PowerPoint template . Follow tips for designs and business presentations so that your unique template is cohesive and relevant to your brand. Incorporate your brand's color scheme and graphics so that all your slides aren't text only.

What kinds templates can I get online for PowerPoint?

You can get PowerPoint templates that have modern designs, animated ones, or even hand-drawn art in each slide. The color schemes range from bold to subtle. Each template's slides are also organized based on what you may want to include in your presentation . You can use the template as a starting point and customize its specific details from theme.

Popular categories

Modern resume

How To Make Your PowerPoint Interactive: A Complete Guide

How To Make Your PowerPoint Interactive: A Complete Guide

Are your audience being idle throughout your presentation? Do you want to know how to make a PowerPoint interactive?  An interactive presentation will help you to make the inactive audience into active participants. You can use interactive elements to keep your audience engaged. Above all, an interactive PowerPoint presentation will give a dynamic and interesting experience for both the presenter and the audience. Whether you’re presenting in a classroom, a boardroom, or a conference hall, interactive presentations will help to get a better experience.   

 This guide will explain the different aspects of making your PowerPoint presentation interactive. You can learn what makes a PowerPoint presentation interactive, and tips to make the presentation more interactive and engaging. We have covered everything you need to know to make your next presentation a success. 

Table of Contents

  • What is an Interactive PowerPoint? 

Advantages of Interactive PowerPoints

  • Enhancing Understanding 
  • Participation 
  • Know Your Audience  
  • Setting Clear Goals 
  • Use Animations   
  • 3D Elements  
  • Triggered Animations  
  • Non-Linear Slide Navigation  
  • PowerPoint Morph Transition  

Live Quizzes

  • Running Polls  

Brainstorming Sessions

  • Draggable Objects  

Creating Interactive Games

  • Gathering Feedback   
  • Data Visualization  
  • Key Takeaways 
  • Tips for Continuous Improvement  

What is an Interactive PowerPoint?

An interactive PowerPoint is a presentation that includes elements that allow audience participation and engagement. It can be animations, live polls, interactive charts, and other features that make the audience an active part of the presentation. Moreover, static presentations and interactive PowerPoints utilize non-linear navigation, allowing the presenter to adapt the flow of the presentation based on audience input and interaction. 

Why Make Your Presentation Interactive?

Interactive presentations help to engage your audience more effectively than traditional presentations. By using interactive elements that promote audience participation, you can keep the audience focused, make the presentation memorable, and create a dynamic and engaging experience. 

How do I make my PowerPoint engaging? To make your PowerPoint engaging, use interactive elements like animations, quizzes, polls, and multimedia to actively involve your audience and maintain their interest throughout the presentation.

Interactive PowerPoints will help you to improve audience engagement in your presentation. You can use polls, quizzes to engage your audience as active rather than passive listeners. This interaction and engagement will lead to better retention and presentation experience. 

Enhancing Understanding

Audience interaction with the presentation will help you make the complex information more understandable. You can use interactive elements like animations and 3D models to illustrate your message more clearly. 

Participation

An interactive PowerPoint presentation also encourages audience participation. You can use discussion prompts which can lead your audience to ask questions to make the environment more collaborative. 

How To Create Interactive PowerPoint – Things to Remember

To make your PowerPoint interactive, include elements such as clickable links, live polls, quizzes, and non-linear navigation that could help in improving audience participation and engagement. Also try the use of animations, 3D models, and games to make your presentation dynamic.  

Know Your Audience

Understanding your audience is the first and most important part of creating an interactive PowerPoint. Customize elements to retain their interest, knowledge levels, and preferences. And that could make your presentation to be the most relevant and engaging for your audience.  

Setting Clear Goals

Next, set the exact goal of the presentation that you need to achieve. No matter what the presentation is about. It could be to educate or entertain, but having a clear goal and objective will help in selecting the most appropriate elements to use in the presentation design to engage your audience. 

How Do You Make an Interactive PowerPoint – Pre-Presentation Tips

How do you add an interactive element to a presentation? To add an interactive element to a presentation, use the help of features like clickable links quizzes, polls, animations with triggers, or non-linear slide navigation in your PowerPoint slides. These elementsengage your audience and enhance their participation throughout the presentation.

Use Animations

Animations can bring your slides to life, but it’s essential to use them wisely. Overusing animations can be distracting and reduce the effectiveness of your presentation. Instead, use animations to highlight key points, illustrate concepts, and maintain audience interest.  

Animations will help you to make your slides more impressive but don’t overload them. Overusing animations will distract the audience. Use animations to highlight key points and showcase concepts, to keep audience retention.   

3D Elements

The use of 3D elements helps to make your presentation visually impressive and interesting, and it could also explain complex ideas in digestive form. It is possible to insert editable 3D models in PowerPoint to provide a more interesting experience for your audience. PowerPoint offers stock 3D elements and also you could use elements from external sources.  

Triggered Animations

Another interesting feature is triggered animations which occur when anyone interacts with a specific element in the presentation. It could be a button, image, or any other. These triggered animations will help you to pop up additional pieces of information, get feedback on quizzes, or navigate into the different sections of the presentation.  

Non-Linear Slide Navigation

Non-linear slide navigation helps you to jump to different slides based on audience input. This could help to make your presentation more flexible and responsive to the audience. Use hyperlinks or action buttons to create a non-linear navigational flow.  

PowerPoint Morph Transition

The Morph transition in PowerPoint helps to create a seamless animation from one slide to another, making it look like objects moving within the same slide itself. This could be used to create engaging visuals and smooth transitions, keeping your audience’s attention. 

How to Create an Interactive PowerPoint Presentation – During Presentation Tips

Image to showcase Kahoot and Mentimeter

Live quizzes can be a fun and engaging way to make your presentation more interactive. It can also be used to test your audience’s knowledge and reinforce key points. You can use tools like Kahoot and Mentimeter which can be integrated into your Microsoft PowerPoint to conduct real-time quizzes and display results instantly.  

Running Polls

Image to showcase Slido and Poll Everywhere

Polls can gauge audience opinions, collect feedback, and make your presentation more and more interactive. Tools like Slido or Poll Everywhere help to run polls during your presentation and show live results on your slides.  

Brainstorming sessions by using tools like virtual whiteboards and collaborative documents will make your PowerPoint presentation interactive and engaging. Encourage your audience to contribute ideas, discuss topics, and participate in problem-solving activities with the help of these brainstorming sessions.  

Draggable Objects

As PowerPoint doesn’t have a prebuilt feature supporting draggable elements, you can use third-party tools like iSpring Suite to create drag and drop feature in your presentation. 

Games will surely help to make your presentation more engaging and fun. You can add simple games like trivia, puzzles, or interactive stories to keep your audience entertained and involved.  

How To Create an Interactive Presentation – Post-Presentation Tips

Gathering feedback.

Getting feedback after your presentation will help you understand what worked well and what you need to improve. You can use polls and surveys to collect audience opinions and suggestions that could help in delivering your next presentation.  

Data Visualization

Interactive data visualizations allow the audience to explore data and information in more detail. Interactive charts and graphs are the best tools to present your data in a more engaging and informative way. Try them. 

Summary and Best Practices

Key takeaways.

Now you have learned how to make PowerPoint Interactive. Interactive PowerPoint presentations will enhance the audience’s engagement, understanding, and participation. Use interactive elements to create a more dynamic and memorable presentation.  

Tips for Continuous Improvement

  • Experiment with Different Tools : Try new interactive tools and features to find what works best for the audience and your presentation.  
  • Practice : Always practice well and make sure you are comfortable with all interactive elements and tools before your presentation.  
  • Gather Feedback : Collect feedback and use them to continually improve your presentations and make them more effective. 

slidebazaar logo

At SlideBazaar, we help you create engaging and memorable presentations. Choose from our collection of professional templates or opt for our custom design services for a personalized touch. Your presentations deserve to be elevated to new heights, and we’re here to help you achieve just that!

BROWSE BY CATEGORY

  • PowerPoint Templates
  • Keynote Presentations
  • Infographic
  • Free slides

QUICK LINKS

  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy

EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get updates of our PowerPoint templates and slide designs before anyone else.

Convert Pdf To PowerPoint

Convert pdf to powerpoint with this easy to use and fast pdf converter. you can convert a pdf to powerpoint, choosing either ppt or pptx. turn your documents into presentation with this online tool..

Firefox extension for PDF2Go

Stay connected:

How to convert PDF to Powerpoint?

  • Upload your PDF file.
  • Choose PowerPoint 2007-2013 (*.pptx) or PowerPoint 2003 or older (*.ppt) from the dropdown menu.
  • Click on "Start".

Background image showing a folder

Convert PDF To PowerPoint Online for free and wherever you want

Turn your pdf into powerpoint.

Can you convert a PDF to PowerPoint? Yes, you can! And it's easy!

Upload your PDF via drag & drop, browsing your device, providing a link or uploading it from a cloud storage. Afterwards, choose the PowerPoint format you want; either PPT or PPTX.

Done? Perfect, click on “Save Changes” and let us do what we do best: convert PDF to PowerPoint.

No Registration Needed

On PDF2Go, you don't have to register to use the PDF to PowerPoint converter. You also don't have to install or download anything. The only exception is your converted PPT or PPTX presentation file.

Stay safe from malware, viruses and other threats for your computer and other device.

Create A PowerPoint File

Why would you want to convert a PDF file into a PowerPoint presentation? PPT and PPTX files are great for holding a presentation or giving a speech. They underline what you say just perfectly.

Convert information you have gathered in a PDF document and easily create slides for your PowerPoint presentation. All you need now are some transitions and effects!

100% File Safety

We do everything to keep your file safe. Secure upload with SSL, regular deletion of files from our servers, no manual checking and absolutely no changes when it comes to the rights of your documents.

If you still have questions, feel free to check our Privacy Policy.

Possible Presentation Files

Convert any PDF, no matter how many pages or how many images and media is embedded, to create slides. We support the common Microsoft PowerPoint presentation formats.

Mobile PDF Converter

Convert PDF to PPT or PPTX, online and from everywhere. With an online service like PDF2Go, you can easily convert PDF to PowerPoint from home, work or on the go. Even on vacation.

This online service is optimized for mobile usage on your computer, tablet, laptop or even on your phone.

Rate this tool 4.4 / 5

You need to convert and download at least 1 file to provide feedback

Feedback sent

Thank you for your vote

Blog & Articles

How to Embed Fonts in Word and PowerPoint

How to Embed Fonts in Word and PowerPoint

Learn how to embed the fonts in your presentations or documents and share them with others

How to Efficiently Use the PDF2Go Chrome Extension

How to Efficiently Use the PDF2Go Chrome Extension

The article explains how to efficiently use the PDF2Go chrome extension

How to Insert a PDF Into a PowerPoint

How to Insert a PDF Into a PowerPoint

Add a PDF to your PowerPoint presentation – either as an object or as an image.

Dictionary & File Formats

PDF is short for Portable Document Format. PDF documents can contain formatted text, different fonts, hyperlinks, images, and even media such as sounds and videos.

A JPG (or extended JPEG, Joint Photographic Experts Group file) is an image file format.

OCR is short for Optical Character Recognition. This process is used to recognize the visual representation of text, for example in an image.

We do our best to identify the content of your URL

Select this if your URL is a file

Select this if your URL is a website and you want take a screenshot of it

Select this if your URL is a website and you want to save it as PDF

Select this if your URL is a website and you want all its assets in your task

Piwik

How-To Geek

How to loop a powerpoint presentation.

4

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Quick Links

Set up your slideshow to be looped, apply automatic slide transitions.

Slideshows are sometimes used to display images at events, such as weddings or trade shows. Whatever the occasion might be, you’ll want to loop your PowerPoint presentation so your guests aren’t staring at a blank screen. Here’s how it’s done.

First, open your PowerPoint presentation in which you would like to loop. Once open, navigate to the “Set Up” group of the “Slide Show” tab and then select the “Set Up Slide Show” button.

Set up slide show

The “Set Up Show” window will appear. In the “Show options” group, check the box next to “Loop Continuously until Esc.” Once selected, click “OK” in the bottom-right corner of the window.

Loop Continuously until Esc

Now, when you play your slideshow, it will end only when you press the “Esc” key instead of when you've finished the last slide.

Related: How to Make YouTube Videos Loop Continuously

One caveat: With the way we currently have it set up, the slideshow will proceed only when someone clicks the mouse button. That’s fine if there will be a speaker present at all times. Otherwise, you’ll need to set up automatic slide transitions.

Head back to the “Set Up Show” window by selecting “Set Up Slide Show” in the “Set Up” group of the “Slide Show” tab.

There are a couple of options you need to select, but one important note is that you must first select “Using Timings, If Present” under the “Advance Slides” group.

Use timings if present

The next option we select will lock a few things in place (which is why you need to select “Using Timings, If Present” first).

Under the “Show Type” group, select “Browsed at a Kiosk (Full Screen)." The “Loop Continuously until Esc” option will be enabled automatically if you haven’t already turned it on, and the option you’ve selected under “Advance Slides” will remain unchanged.

Select “OK” when ready to proceed.

Browsed at a kiosk

Without the “Browsed at a Kiosk” option enabled, the automatic slide progressions would be disabled if someone were to press the Back key. With it enabled, the Forward and Back keys are locked, allowing the slideshow to automatically progress unattended without fear of someone breaking it.

Now it’s time to set the timings of the slides. Head over to the “Transitions” tab. In the “Timing” group, check the box next to “After” and set the timing at which you’d like each slide to progress. Note that it doesn’t matter if the box next to “On Mouse Click” is checked or not---it won’t work.

After that, select the “Apply to All” option in the same group.

Set slide transition time

Now, when you play your slideshow, it will continuously loop without interruption. To exit the slideshow, press the “Esc” button.

  • Microsoft Office
  • Start the presentation and see your notes in Presenter view Article
  • Add speaker notes to your slides Article
  • Rehearse and time the delivery of a presentation Article
  • Record a slide show with narration and slide timings Article
  • Print your PowerPoint slides, handouts, or notes Article
  • Create a self-running presentation Article

slide show presentation in powerpoint

Record a slide show with narration and slide timings

You can record your PowerPoint presentation—or a single slide—and capture voice, ink gestures, and your video presence. When completed, it’s like any other presentation. You can play it for your audience in a Slide Show or you can save the presentation as a video file. So, instead of just “handing the deck” to someone, people can see your presentation with the passion and personality intact. 

A new feature for Microsoft 365 was rolled out in early 2022. Exactly when your business has this feature is also based on when your admin distributes new features in Microsoft 365.

This article contains procedures for both the new experience and the classic experience:

New experience

Classic experience

Your browser does not support video. Install Microsoft Silverlight, Adobe Flash Player, or Internet Explorer 9.

All recording tools are in the  Record  tab in the ribbon, but you can start by selecting the  Record  button. 

Record button in top bar

You can also record by selecting one of the options in the Record section of the Record tab.

Record a Slide Show with timings and Narrations screenshot one

If you have notes in your presentation, they’re turned into text at the top of the screen so you can use them like a teleprompter as you record.  

Tip:  Use the auto-scroll feature in teleprompter and set it to scroll at your preferred speed.

Record a Slide Show with timings and Narrations screenshot two

There are several options you can use when you record a presentation. You can turn your camera and microphone on or off by selecting the icons at the top. There are several options you can use when you record a presentation. You can turn your camera and microphone on or off by selecting the icons at the top. To change your camera or microphone, choose the  Select more options  <···> icon. You can even add a customizable camera that can be resized, repositioned, and formatted to go with your slide content. Select Edit , then select Cameo . Adjust the formatting for the camera, then select Record again to return  to the recording environment. 

In the  Select the camera mode  menu, you can select Show Background  or  Blur Background .

Blur background

You can also change the layout in the  Views menu to switch between  Teleprompter ,  Presenter View , or  Slide View .

View menu

When you’re ready, select  Start recording  and a countdown will begin.

Use the onscreen laser, colored pens, or highlighters in the tray below markup slides and it’ll record as well.

To record narration for a specific slide, use the previous or next arrows.

Note:  Narration won’t record during slide transitions so let those play first before you start speaking. 

Pause  the recording as needed or select  Stop  if you’re done.

To review the video, select the  Play  button. 

To quickly delete and re-record your video on current slide or on all slides, select Delete . While Clear  will delete the recorded narration, Reset to Cameo  additionally replaces the recorded narration with the camera feed for an easy retake.  

Record a slide show with narration and slide timings screenshot four

When you’re done, select  Export  >  Export Video .

After you successfully export the video, you can view the video by selecting View and share video .

View and share video

At any time, you can return to your document by selecting the  Edit  button.  

Want more? 

About Record in PowerPoint

Create a self-running presentation   

Export or turn your presentation into a video

Classic experience

Turn on the Recording tab of the ribbon: On the File tab of the ribbon, click  Options . In the Options  dialog box, click the Customize Ribbon  tab on the left. Then, in the right-hand box that lists the available ribbon tabs, select the Recording  check box. Click OK .

The Customize Ribbon tab of the PowerPoint 2016 Options dialog box has an option to add the Recording tab to the PowerPoint ribbon.

To get ready to record, select Record on either the Recording  tab or the Slide Show  tab of the ribbon.

Clicking the upper half of the button starts you on the current slide.

Clicking the lower half of the button gives you the option to start from the beginning or from the current slide.

The Record Slide Show commands on the Recording Tab in PowerPoint.

(The Clear  command deletes narrations or timings, so be careful when you use it. Clear  is grayed out unless you have previously recorded some slides.)

The slide show opens in the Recording window (which looks similar to Presenter view), with buttons at the top left for starting, pausing, and stopping the recording. Click the round, red button (or press R on your keyboard) when you are ready to start the recording. A three-second countdown ensues, then the recording begins.

The Presentation Recording window in PowerPoint 2016, with video narration window preview turned on.

The current slide is shown in the main pane of the Recording window.

You can stop the recording any time by pressing Alt + S on your keyboard.

Navigation arrows on either side of the current slide allow you to move to the previous and next slides.

PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 automatically records the time you spend on each slide, including any Animate text or objects  steps that occur, and the use of any triggers on each slide.

You can record audio or video narration as you run through your presentation. The buttons at the lower-right corner of the window allow you to toggle on or off the microphone, camera, and camera preview:

On/off buttons for the microphone, camera, and camera previewing window

If you use the pen, highlighter, or eraser, PowerPoint records those actions for playback also.

Inking tools in the Recording window

If you re-record your narration (including audio and ink), PowerPoint erases your previously recorded narration (including audio and ink) before you start recording again on the same slide.

You can also re-record by going to Slide Show  >  Record .

You can pick a pointer tool (pen, eraser, or highlighter) from the array of tools just below the current slide. There are also color selection boxes for changing the color of the ink. ( Eraser  is grayed out unless you have previously added ink to some slides.)

To end your recording, select the square Stop button (or press S on your keyboard).

When you finish recording your narration, a small picture appears in the lower-right corner of the recorded slides. The picture is an audio icon, or, if the web camera was on during the recording, a still image from the webcam.

Sound icon

The recorded slide show timing is automatically saved. (In Slide Sorter view, the timings are listed beneath each slide.)

In this process, what you record is embedded in each slide, and the recording can be played back in Slide Show. A video file is not created by this recording process. However, if you need one, you can save your presentation as a video with a few extra steps.

Preview the recorded slide show

On the Slide Show  tab, click From Beginning  or From Current Slide .

During playback, your animations, inking actions, audio and video will play in sync.

Shows the "from beginning" button on the slide show tab in PowerPoint

Preview the recorded sound

In the Recording window, the triangular Play  button near the top left corner lets you preview the recording of the slide that currently has the focus in that window.

Start, Stop, and Play buttons in the Recording window

In Normal view, click the sound icon or picture in the lower-right corner of the slide, and then click Play . (When you preview individual audio in this way, you won't see recorded animation or inking.)

Click Play

You can pause playback while previewing the audio.

Set the slide timings manually

PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 automatically records your slide timings when you add narrations, or you can manually set the slide timings to accompany your narrations.

In Normal view, click the slide that you want to set the timing for.

On the Transitions tab, in the Timing group, under Advance Slide , select the After check box, and then enter the number of seconds that you want the slide to appear on the screen. Repeat the process for each slide that you want to set the timing for.

If you want the next slide to appear either when you click the mouse or automatically after the number of seconds that you enter—whichever comes first—select both the On Mouse Click and the After check boxes.

You can use manual slide timings to the trim the end of a recorded slide segment. For example, if the end of a slide segment concludes with two seconds of unnecessary audio, simply set the timing for advancing to the next slide so that it happens before the unnecessary audio. That way you don't have to re-record the audio for that slide.

Delete timings or narration

The Clear command is for deleting timings or narration from your recording that you don't want or that you want to replace.

In the Recording window, the Clear command in the top margin of the window allows you to:

Clear recordings on the current slide

Clear recordings on all slides

In Normal view, there are four different Clear commands that allow you to:

Delete the timings on the currently selected slide

Delete the timings on all slides at once

Delete the narration on the currently selected slide

Delete the narration on all slides at once

If you do not want to delete all the timings or narration in your presentation, open a specific slide that has a timing or narration that you do want to delete.

On the Recording tab of the PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 ribbon, on the Record Slide Show button, click the down arrow, point to Clear , and then choose the appropriate Clear command for your situation.

The Clear commands on the Record Slide Show menu button in PowerPoint.

Turn off timings or turn off narrations, and ink

After you've recorded your PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 presentation, any timings, gestures, and audio you performed are saved on the individual slides. But you can turn them all off if you want to view the slide show without them:

To turn off recorded slide timings: On the Slide Show tab, clear the Use Timings box.

To turn off recorded narrations and ink: On the Slide Show tab, clear the Play Narrations box.

Publish the recording to share it with others

Once you've edited the recording to your satisfaction, you can make it available to others by publishing to Microsoft Stream.

With the presentation open, on the Recording tab, select Publish to Stream .

Type a title and a description for the video.

Set other options, including whether you want others in your organization to have permission to see the video.

Select the Publish button.

The upload process can take several minutes, depending on the length of the video. A status bar at the bottom of the PowerPoint window tracks the progress, and PowerPoint shows a message when the upload is finished:

PowerPoint notifies you when the upload is finished

Click the message to go directly to the video playback page on Microsoft Stream.

Create closed captions

To make your video more accessible by including closed captions, choose from these options, which are described in separate Help articles:

Manually write a closed caption file yourself

Get a closed-caption file automatically generated by Microsoft Stream

Once you have a closed-caption file, you can add it to your video file by using PowerPoint .

Record a slide show

With your presentation open, on the Slide Show tab, click Record Slide Show .

(The Clear command deletes narrations or timings, so be careful when you use it. Clear is grayed out unless you have previously recorded some slides.)

In the Record Slide Show box, check or clear the boxes for your recording, and click Start Recording .

Shows record slideshow dialog in PowerPoint

More about these options:

Slide and animation timings : PowerPoint automatically records the time you spend on each slide, including any animation steps that occur, and the use of any triggers on each slide.

Narrations, ink, and laser pointer: Record your voice as you run through your presentation. If you use the pen, highlighter, eraser, or laser pointer, PowerPoint records those for playback as well.

Important:    Pen, highlighter, and eraser recording are available only if you have the February 16, 2015 update for PowerPoint 2013 or a later version of PowerPoint installed. In earlier versions of PowerPoint, pen and highlighter strokes are saved as ink annotation shapes.

At the top left corner of the window is the Recording toolbar, which you can use to:

Go to the next slide

If you re-record your narration (including audio, ink, and laser pointer), PowerPoint erases your previously recorded narration (including audio, ink, and laser pointer) when you start recording again on the same slide.

You can also re-record by going to Slide Show > Record Slide Show .

To use ink, eraser, or the laser pointer in your recording, right-click the slide, click Pointer options , and pick your tool:

Laser Pointer

Highlighter

Eraser (This option is grayed out unless you have previously added ink to some slides.)

To change the color of the ink, click Ink Color .

To end your recording, right-click the final slide, and click End Show .

Tip:  When you finish recording your narration, a sound icon appears in the lower-right corner of each slide that has narration.

The recorded slide show timings are automatically saved. Timings are shown in Slide Sorter view just beneath each slide.

In this process, what you record is embedded in each slide, and the recording can be played back in Slide Show. A video file is not created by this recording process. However, if you want a video file, you can save your presentation as a video with a few extra steps.

On the Slide Show tab, click From Beginning or From Current Slide.

During playback, your animations, inking actions, laser pointer, audio and video play in sync.

Preview the recorded audio

In Normal view, click the sound icon in the lower-right corner of the slide, and then click Play.

PowerPoint automatically records your slide timings when you add narrations, or you can manually set the slide timings to accompany your narrations.

On the Transitions tab, in the Timing group, under Advance Slide , select the After check box, and then enter the number of seconds indicating how long the slide should appear on the screen. Repeat the process for each slide that you want to set the timing for.

Tip:  If you want the next slide to appear either when you click the mouse or automatically after the number of seconds that you enter—whichever comes first—select both the On Mouse Click and the After check boxes.

The Clear command is for deleting timings or narration from your recording that you don't want or that you want to replace. There are four different Clear commands that allow you to:

On the Slide Show tab of the PowerPoint ribbon, on the Record Slide Show button, click the down arrow, point to Clear, and then choose the appropriate Clear command for your situation.

Turn off timings or turn off narrations, ink, and laser pointer

After you've recorded your PowerPoint presentation, any timings, gestures, and audio you performed are saved on the individual slides. But you can turn them all off if you want to view the slide show without them:

To turn off recorded narrations, ink, and the laser pointer: On the Slide Show tab, clear the Play Narrations box.

Turn your mouse into a laser pointer

Animate text or objects

Turn your presentation into a video

Create a self-running presentation

Record your presentation

...

Toggle video and audio options in the options  dropdowns in the recording toolbar.

Image of audio and video options with dropdowns

Note:  Your video will be re-recorded just as you had styled. 

After you exit Recording Studio with the  Esc  key (or by clicking  End show ) you will see narration (audio/video) applied to your slide along with the proper slide timings and ink animations. 

Tip:  Audio, video, and inking elements can all be resized and moved in edit view after recording. 

...

Reset to Cameo 

To delete your recording and retain your camera style, do the following: 

On the Record tab, select Reset to Cameo .

...

Clear timings or narration 

On the Record tab, select Clear Recording

...

Keyboard shortcuts during the recording process

Task

Keyboard Shortcut

Advance to the next slide or animation

N

Click

Spacebar

Right Arrow

Down Arrow

Return

Page Down

Return to the previous slide or animation

P

Delete

Left Arrow

Up Arrow

Page Up

Toggle screen blackout

B

. (period)

Toggle screen whiteout

W

, (comma)

End slide show

Esc

Command+. (period)

Erase drawing on screen

E

Go to next slide if hidden

H

Change pointer to pen

Command+P

Change pointer to arrow

Command+A

Hide arrow on mouse move

CONTROL+H

Shortcut menu

CONTROL+click

Related information

Present with Cameo

Save a presentation as a movie file or MP4

Record audio in PowerPoint for Mac

Add or delete audio in your presentation

Prepare to record

To begin, open the presentation you want and click the Slide Show tab.

Tip:     If your presentation has a lot of slides, you might find it more convenient to work in Slide Sorter view. Click View > Slide Sorter to try it out.

Here are some things to check before you begin recording:

If you want to record only part of your slide deck, do one of the following before you begin:

Select the slides you don't want to include, and click Hide Slide .

Click Custom Show > Custom Slide Show > + (add).

Select Hide Slide or Custom Show to record a subset of slides

Use the Rehearse button to change the timing between slides without affecting the narration or gestures you've already recorded.

Try out different timing between slides with the Rehearse button

Make sure your microphone is set up correctly. On the Mac, go to System Preferences > Sound .

Record your slide show

If you want to add narration or commentary to the slide show, make sure your microphone is set up and working.

To start recording:

Click the Slide Show tab, select the slide where you want the recording to begin, and then click Record Slide Show .

Click Record Slide Show to start recording

During recording, use Ctrl+click to access the recording commands that let you navigate through the slides, change cursors, or trigger screen blackouts or whiteouts.

Control-click to see a list commands while you're recording

Click End Show to stop recording.

A Save dialog box appears. Click Yes to save your recording, or No if you want to record it again.

Saving overwrites anything you've previously recorded. If you want to record another slide show with the same set of slides, save your presentation file with a different name.

Click Play from Start to preview your recording.

You may want to print this list of keyboard shortcuts to refer to while you're recording:

Task

Keyboard Shortcut

Advance to the next slide or animation

N

Click

Spacebar

Right Arrow

Down Arrow

Return

Page Down

Return to the previous slide or animation:

P

Delete

Left Arrow

Up Arrow

Page Up

Go a specific slide

Slide number + Enter

Toggle screen blackout

B

. (period)

Toggle screen whiteout

W

, (comma)

Stop/Restart automatic show:

S

End slide show

Esc

Command+. (period)

Erase drawing on screen

E

Go to next slide if hidden

H

Change pointer to pen

Command+P

Change pointer to arrow

Command+A

Hide arrow on mouse move

CONTROL+H

Shortcut menu

CONTROL+click

Advance on mouse click (rehearsing only)

M

Set playback options

When you've finished recording and are ready to distribute the presentation, click Set up Slide Show and choose the options that are right for your audience.

Set the show type and other options before you distribute the show

Show type     Show full screen or windowed.

Show options     Turn off narration or animations.

Slides     Choose a subset of slides, or a Custom show if you've set one up.

Advance slides     Set up this version of the slide show so someone can page through it manually.

Add, change, or remove transitions between slides

Start the presentation and see your notes in Presenter view

We're sorry. PowerPoint for the web doesn't support recording a slide show.

Facebook

Need more help?

Want more options.

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

Microsoft 365 subscription benefits

slide show presentation in powerpoint

Microsoft 365 training

slide show presentation in powerpoint

Microsoft security

slide show presentation in powerpoint

Accessibility center

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.

slide show presentation in powerpoint

Ask the Microsoft Community

slide show presentation in powerpoint

Microsoft Tech Community

slide show presentation in powerpoint

Windows Insiders

Microsoft 365 Insiders

Was this information helpful?

Thank you for your feedback.

COMMENTS

  1. How to Make a Slideshow on PowerPoint

    Start by deciding whether to show the slideshow in a window or full screen. To set up the slideshow, select Slide Show > Set Up Slide Show and choose one of the following: Browsed by an individual (window): Run the slideshow automatically and inside a window. This option works best when you save the slideshow to a CD.

  2. How to Make a Slide Show

    Six steps for creating a slide show. 1. Plan your slide show. Before getting too deep into your slide show project, it's a good idea to select and save the photos and videos you want to use. This helps you create a slide show more efficiently and purposefully, ensuring a better outcome. 4.

  3. PowerPoint: Presenting Your Slide Show

    In this video, you'll learn the basics of presenting your slide show in PowerPoint 2019, PowerPoint 2016, and Office 365. Visit https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/...

  4. Present your slide show

    You can show your presentation to an audience with PowerPoint Mobile. Start presenting. On the Slide Show tab, in the Start Slide Show group, select From Beginning or From Current Slide.. Presenter View. If you have a two-screen setup in which you are projecting from your device to a large screen, you can see Presenter View visible on your device while your audience sees the slide show on the ...

  5. How to Make a PowerPoint Presentation (Step-by-Step)

    To do that, simply go up to the Home tab and click on New Slide. This inserts a new slide in your presentation right after the one you were on. You can alternatively hit Ctrl+M on your keyboard to insert a new blank slide in PowerPoint. To learn more about this shortcut, see my guide on using Ctrl+M in PowerPoint.

  6. How to Present a PowerPoint Slideshow (w/ Shortcuts)

    Navigate to the Slide Show tab. Hold down the Alt key on your keyboard. Click From Beginning. Holding down the Alt key and clicking From Beginning, the Presenter View will launch from the very first (non-hidden) slide in your presentation.

  7. How to Start a PowerPoint Slideshow

    Start a Slideshow in PowerPoint's Web App. To play a slideshow on the web, launch your preferred web browser and access PowerPoint on the web. Then, open your presentation. From PowerPoint's ribbon at the top, select the "Slide Show" tab. In the "Slide Show" tab, start your slideshow from the first slide by clicking the "From Beginning" option.

  8. Create a presentation in PowerPoint

    Create a presentation. Open PowerPoint. In the left pane, select New. Select an option: To create a presentation from scratch, select Blank Presentation. To use a prepared design, select one of the templates. To see tips for using PowerPoint, select Take a Tour, and then select Create, . Add a slide.

  9. Free Online Slide Presentation: PowerPoint

    Share and collaborate. Start with Microsoft Copilot. Generate a presentation outline instantly with Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365. Expand your ideas. Ask for more information or a new slide on your topic directly through Copilot in PowerPoint. Use a free template. Choose from thousands of customizable templates to kickstart your slideshow.

  10. Create and present a custom show

    Go to Slide Show > Custom Slide Show, and then select Custom Shows. In the Custom Shows dialog box, select New. Tip: To preview a custom show, click the name of the show in the Custom Shows dialog box, and then click Show. Under Slides in presentation, choose the slides that you want to include in the custom show, and then select Add.

  11. How to make PowerPoint Photo Slideshow

    Learn how to create a photo slideshow in Microsoft PowerPoint in this tutorial video. See step-by-step how to import photos, how to make quick edits to the p...

  12. 60 Effective PowerPoint Presentation Tips & Tricks (Giant List)

    Research, plan, and prepare your presentation professionally. It helps you deliver an effective message to your target audience. Designed Correctly. Your visual points should stand out without overwhelming your audience. A good PowerPoint visual shouldn't complicate your message. Practiced to Perfection.

  13. 8 Tips to Make the Best PowerPoint Presentations

    Make Bullet Points Count. Limit the Use of Transitions. Skip Text Where Possible. Think in Color. Take a Look From the Top Down. Bonus: Start With Templates. Slideshows are an intuitive way to share complex ideas with an audience, although they're dull and frustrating when poorly executed.

  14. How to Start and Navigate a PowerPoint Slideshow

    When it comes to navigating the presentation, you can use the toolbar buttons in Slide Show view or Presenter View, the shortcut (right-click) menu, or keyboard shortcuts. Next Slide or Animation Select the right arrow button in the toolbar. Click on the current slide. Use the keys N, Enter, Page Down, Right Arrow, Down Arrow, or Spacebar.

  15. 17 PowerPoint Presentation Tips From Pro Presenters [+ Templates]

    1. Open PowerPoint and click 'New.'. A page with templates will usually open automatically, but if not, go to the top left pane of your screen and click New. If you've already created a presentation, select Open and then double-click the icon to open the existing file. Image Source.

  16. How to Play PowerPoint Slides Automatically

    How to automatically play PowerPoint presentations across devices How to play PowerPoint slides automatically without clicking on Mac. First, go to the Slide Show Tab and select Set Up Slide Show. When the Set Up Show Window opens, deselect the Presented by a speaker option and consider the following options to set up your automatic slideshow:

  17. Free Online Slide Presentation: PowerPoint

    One person. Sharing and real-time collaboration. PowerPoint for the web and PowerPoint desktop app for offline use. Premium templates, fonts, icons, and stickers with thousands of options to choose from. Dictation, voice commands, and transcription. Advanced spelling and grammar, in-app learning tips, use in 20+ languages, and more.

  18. Free Google Slides themes and Powerpoint templates

    Download the Branded Content Minitheme presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and start impressing your audience with a creative and original design. Slidesgo templates like this one here offer the possibility to convey a concept, idea or topic in a clear, concise and visual way, by using different graphic resources.... Multi-purpose.

  19. PowerPoint design templates

    You can get PowerPoint templates that have modern designs, animated ones, or even hand-drawn art in each slide. The color schemes range from bold to subtle. Each template's slides are also organized based on what you may want to include in your presentation. You can use the template as a starting point and customize its specific details from theme.

  20. How to Create a Custom Show in Microsoft PowerPoint

    Open your PowerPoint presentation and select the Slide Show tab. In the Start Slide Show section of the ribbon, click "Custom Slide Show" and then "Custom Shows." In the small pop-up window, click "New" to create a custom show. Next, you'll see a Define Custom Show window. Give your new slideshow a name at the top.

  21. Start the presentation and see your notes in Presenter view

    Start presenting. On the Slide Show tab, in the Start Slide Show group, select From Beginning. Now, if you are working with PowerPoint on a single monitor and you want to display Presenter view, in Slide Show view, on the control bar at the bottom left, select , and then Show Presenter View.

  22. How to Make Your PowerPoint Interactive: Step-by-Step Guide

    Above all, an interactive PowerPoint presentation will give a dynamic and interesting experience for both the presenter and the audience. Whether you're presenting in a classroom, a boardroom, or a conference hall, interactive presentations will help to get a better experience. ... polls, animations with triggers, or non-linear slide ...

  23. How do I type on slides in a powerpoint presentation while presenting

    I use PowerPoint ( a template provided by the school) to write down what is said during the lesson. Similar to Google Docs but then in PowerPoint. Can I do this simply by sharing my screen and selecting the PPT (in normal mode)? I need sufficient space on my computer screen's left side to display my notes.

  24. Go-To-Market Strategy McKinsey. Free PPT & Google ...

    Free Google Slides theme, PowerPoint template, and Canva presentation template. Perfect for business professionals, this beige, minimal, and elegant template helps you craft compelling go-to-market strategies with ease. Available as a PowerPoint or Google Slides template, it's designed for impactful infographics and streamlined presentations.

  25. Convert PDF To PowerPoint

    Do you want to turn your PDF documents into editable and interactive PowerPoint presentations? With PDF2GO, you can easily convert PDF to PowerPoint online, without installing any software. Just upload your PDF file, choose the output format and download your PPT or PPTX file in seconds.

  26. How To Get Free Access To Microsoft PowerPoint

    Click on "Blank presentation" to create your presentation from scratch, or pick your preferred free PowerPoint template from the options at the top (there's also a host of editable templates you ...

  27. How to Loop a PowerPoint Presentation

    First, open your PowerPoint presentation in which you would like to loop. Once open, navigate to the "Set Up" group of the "Slide Show" tab and then select the "Set Up Slide Show" button. The "Set Up Show" window will appear. In the "Show options" group, check the box next to "Loop Continuously until Esc.".

  28. What Are Effective Presentation Skills (and How to Improve Them)

    Presentation skills are the abilities and qualities necessary for creating and delivering a compelling presentation that effectively communicates information and ideas. They encompass what you say, how you structure it, and the materials you include to support what you say, such as slides, videos, or images. ... PowerPoint: Microsoft's iconic ...

  29. When will PowerPoint enable the viewing of Non-Printing/Non-Visible

    To make a suggestion in PowerPoint, choose File>Feedback>Send a Suggestion. Post your idea, then others can vote on it. Post your idea, then others can vote on it. Author of "OOXML Hacking - Unlocking Microsoft Office's Secrets", ebook now out John Korchok, Production Manager [email protected]

  30. Record a slide show with narration and slide timings

    On the Slide Show tab of the PowerPoint ribbon, on the Record Slide Show button, click the down arrow, point to Clear, and then choose the appropriate Clear command for your situation. ... When you've finished recording and are ready to distribute the presentation, click Set up Slide Show and choose the options that are right for your audience.