how to do voice over on powerpoint presentation

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How to record voiceover narration in powerpoint.

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If you’re sending out your presentation instead of giving it in front of an audience, but you feel adding a vocal explanation would better help to deliver the message, record a voiceover narration. Here’s how to do it.

Before you begin your PowerPoint narration, you’ll need to make sure you’ve made the proper preparations.

Set Up Your Mic

First, you’ll need a microphone. Most modern computers have a built-in microphone that gets the job done, but investing in a USB microphone will increase the audio quality of the narration by quite a bit.

The built-in microphone will be set as your input device by default, so if you plan on using it for the PowerPoint narration, you don’t need to take any additional steps in setting it up. However, if you plan to use a USB microphone for the narration, be sure to set it as the input device.

To do this on Windows, right-click the volume icon found on the right of the taskbar. In the menu that appears, select “Open Sound Settings.”

The “Sound Settings” window will appear. Here, scroll down to the “Input” section and click the box under “Choose your input device.”

If you’re using a USB microphone, it will appear here. Select it to set it as the input device.

The steps for Mac users are extremely similar. The only difference is you should go to "System Settings" and select "Sound" instead of right-clicking the volume icon like on Windows. From there, the steps are the same.

Take Notes and Rehearse

With your mic set up, you’re ready to start recording, right? Well, not quite. While you may not be physically standing in front of the audience delivering this presentation, you still need to treat it as though you are. This means going through the basics---taking notes and rehearsing your delivery.

One thing you can do to help you record a successful narration is to write out a script. As with a live presentation, though, you don’t want to sound like you’re reading straight from your notecards. Practice reading through the script a few times so that it sounds natural and fluid.

Once you’re confident in your delivery, it’s time to start recording.

Open the PowerPoint presentation in which you would like to record a voiceover narration. Head over to the “Slide Show” tab and, in the “Set Up” group, select “Record Slide Show.” Once selected, a drop-down menu will appear. Here, you can choose to start the narration from the beginning or from the current slide. If you choose to start recording from the current slide, make sure that you’re on the slide you’d like to start recording from.

Related: How to Record Your Screen with Microsoft PowerPoint

In this example, we’ll choose “Record from Beginning.”

Now, you’ll be in full-screen mode. You’ll notice a few extra tools appear, including a record button at the top-left corner of the screen. When you’re ready to start recording, click this button.

When you select the record button, a countdown timer will appear, giving you a three-second delay between clicking the button and starting your recording.

You can now start recording your voiceover narration! Continue through the presentation by clicking the right arrow to go to the next slide.

You can pause the recording at any time by pressing the pause button in the top-left corner of the window. The recording will automatically end when you make it to the last slide. Alternatively, you can press the stop button, also located at the top-left corner of the screen.

If you want to play your narration back, you can select the replay button.

A speaker icon will appear at the bottom-right corner of each slide that has a recorded narration. You can also play your narration back on each slide by hovering over the icon and pressing the play button.

If you’re not satisfied with the narration, simply repeat these steps to re-record.

• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• office 2019

How to do a voiceover on a PowerPoint presentation and add pre-recorded audio to your slides

• You can record a voiceover in PowerPoint and insert it into your next presentation using the software's Audio recording feature through the Insert menu.
• Recording and inserting a voiceover into PowerPoint is a relatively similar process on an Apple Macbook and Windows PC.  
• Once you've recorded your audio, you can click the microphone icon that appears on your slide and playback your recording. 
• Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories .

Public speaking is a valid and common fear. And although you might be trying to hone your public speaking with your free time at home , there's a way you can incorporate your voice into your next PowerPoint presentation without the pressure of speaking on the spot.

How? Microsoft PowerPoint has a feature that lets you create narration for all slides as you see fit. This way, you can record — and re-record — voiceovers for your presentations that won't make you cringe.

The process is virtually identical for both Mac and PC users and you can use your computer's built-in mic or a headset. Whatever your operating system of choice is, easily record narration over a PowerPoint slide in a few quick steps. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Microsoft office (from $149.99 at best buy), apple macbook pro (from $1,299.00 at apple), acer chromebook 15 (from $179.99 at walmart).

SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless Headset (From $92.49 at Amazon)

How to record a voiceover for PowerPoint on a PC

1. Open a new or existing or presentation in PowerPoint.

2. From the top toolbar, select "Insert."

3. Toward the far right side, click "Audio."

4. Choose "Record Audio…"

5. Name your audio file. 

6. Click the circle icon when you're ready to start recording.

7. Select "OK" when you're done recording.

8. A microphone icon will indicate the narration has been added to the slide. 

How to record a voiceover for PowerPoint on a Mac

1. Open a new or existing or presentation in PowerPoint for Mac.

2. Find and select "Insert" from the top toolbar. 

4. Select "Record Audio…"

5. Name the audio file, and click the circle icon when you're ready to start recording.

6. Click "Insert" when you're ready to finalize.

7. You can click the microphone icon on the slide to hear your recording.  

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How to Do a Voiceover on PowerPoint

Narrate your presentations with ease

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What to Know

• Single slide: Select a slide. Go to Insert > Audio > Record Audio . Type a name, select Record , then read your script. Select Stop .
• Entire slideshow: Select View > Normal and choose the first slide. Select Slide Show > Record Slide Show > Record from Current Slide .
• To review the recording, click the sound indicator (it looks like a speaker) and then select Play to hear your recording.

This article explains how to record a voiceover on PowerPoint for a single slide or for the entire slideshow. The instructions apply to PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 , PowerPoint 2019, PowerPoint 2016, and PowerPoint 2013.

How to Record a Voiceover for a Single Slide

Before narrating your PowerPoint presentation, be prepared:

• You’ll need a microphone attached to, or built into, your computer. Test the microphone to make sure it is working. Set the sound level so your audio is easy to hear.
• Prepare yourself for the narration. Write a script you can follow while recording the voiceover. Practice the presentation a couple of times so your voiceover will sound smooth.
• Decide whether to record the voiceover one slide at a time or record a voiceover for the entire presentation in one go.

The simplest way to record audio for a voiceover is to record one slide at a time. To get started, select the slide where you want to add the narration, then go to Insert > Audio > Record Audio .

Here’s how to record a voiceover on the slide:

Type a Name for the voiceover narration.

Select Record (the button with a red dot).

Read your script or ad-lib the narration.

Select Stop when you’re finished recording.

The Record Sound dialog box disappears, and a speaker indicating sound appears in the center of the slide.

To review the recording, click that sound indicator and then select Play to hear your recording.

When you're finished, click anywhere outside the playback controls to accept the recording.

You’ll see an audio icon in the middle of the slide. Move this icon anywhere on the slide to get it out of the way of other elements on the slide.

How to Record a Voiceover for an Entire Presentation

The voiceover for the entire presentation can be recorded at one time. In addition to recording a voiceover, you can record a video of yourself giving your presentation.

To set up your presentation when you want to narrate an entire slideshow:

Select View > Normal

Select the first slide in the presentation where you want to record audio.

Select Slide Show > Record Slide Show > Record from Current Slide .

In PowerPoint 2019, the Recording window opens.

In PowerPoint 2016 and earlier versions, a Record Slide Show dialog box prompts you for further options. In the Record Slide Show box, select options to set up the slideshow:

• Slide and animation timings: When recording, PowerPoint automatically tracks the timing of slide changes and any animations that occur.
• Narrations, ink, and laser pointer: When recording, PowerPoint automatically tracks when narrations, any inking, or laser pointing occurs.

Leave both checked to make automating your slideshow easier.

Select Record .

In PowerPoint 2016, select Start Recording .

Select Pause to temporarily stop the recording if you need a break.

If you made a mistake and want to start over, select Clear > Clear Recordings.

In PowerPoint 2016 select Clear > Clear Recordings on Current Slide .

When you’ve finished recording a slide, select the Advance button to advance to the next slide or press the spacebar on your keyboard.

When you’re done recording your narration on the slide, select Stop and close the recording window to return to the presentation.

You may have noticed some controls at the bottom left side of the screen. These are a few controls to aid you in your presentation.

These handy handy tools include the Laser Pointer , Highlighter , and Eraser . As you advance through your presentation, mark or highlight parts of your slides as you narrate. PowerPoint records the timing of these marks (if you left the boxes checked) to go along with your narration. Likewise, using the laser pointer shows a simulated red laser dot so that you can point out different things on your slides as you narrate your presentation.

How to Listen to the Recorded Voiceover

Once you’ve recorded your narration, you can go back to the slides and listen to your voiceover.

Here’s how to play a narration:

Select the slide containing the voiceover you want to hear.

Look for the recording icon on the slide. It should appear as either a small video screenshot or a speaker icon on the slide.

Hover over select this icon and then click Play to preview the recording.

How to Turn a Voiceover Off

If you don’t want to hear your narrations when playing a slideshow, but want to keep the narrations with the slide, turn voiceover off.

To turn voiceover off, select Slide Show and click to deselect the Play Narrations checkbox.

How to Delete a Voiceover

There are a couple of ways to delete voiceover audio in your presentation. To delete the audio on a single slide, find and select the recording on that slide, then press the Delete key.

To delete the voiceover from all the slides in a presentation: Select Slide Show and then select the down arrow to open the Record Slide Show menu. Then, select Clear Narration on All Slides .

Embedding Versus Linking Audio Files in PowerPoint

When you use the PowerPoint tools to record a voiceover narration, the audio file is embedded in PowerPoint. This means the audio is part of the PowerPoint file and not stored in a separate file, making it easy to play your presentation on any device.

If you have audio you recorded using other software and it's stored on your computer, you can link to the audio file. Linked files keep your presentation size smaller, but links can be broken if the audio file isn't available to the PowerPoint presentation. To prevent broken links, store the presentation file and the audio files in the same folder on your computer.

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The Best Way to Add a Voice Over to PowerPoint

Marketing Content Strategist

Table of contents

Why record voice overs for powerpoint, recorded powerpoint presentations are more flexible, forget powerpoint’s built-in recorder — there’s a better way, how to record voice over for powerpoint.

• Pro tip: Edit your video in Camtasia 

Tips for getting great audio

Frequently asked questions, subscribe to techsmith’s newsletter.

Microsoft PowerPoint is generally considered to be little more than a tool for creating and giving live presentations. It can, however, be used to create great content, such as educational and instructional videos — all you have to do is add a voice over. 

Knowing how to do a voice over on PowerPoint is a brilliant way to transform a bunch of slides into a dynamic piece of professional content that can reach audiences far beyond the conference room. While PowerPoint comes with a built-in presentation recorder, it’s not without its limitations. But, there is a better way. 

Tools like TechSmith’s Camtasia , ideal for screen recording and video editing, and TechSmith’s Audiate , designed for audio editing, make voiceover work a breeze. In this post, we’ll show you how to harness both of these tools for maximum impact.

Before we dive into the how-to, it’s important to understand why voice overs are so powerful in PowerPoint presentations and how exactly the help to ensure your presentation isn’t boring . So, in this post, we’ll also discuss:

• The importance of voice overs for PowerPoint presentations .
• Step-by-step instructions to record your voice over .
• A practical example to guide you through the process .
• Best practices for achieving high-quality audio .

The shift to digital and remote working, learning, and collaboration has firmly taken root. From Zoom meetings to virtual classrooms, and even messaging platforms like Slack, remote communication has become a normal part of everyday life. This digital transition means that meetings, workshops, employee training, classroom lectures, and presentations are increasingly moving online.

In today’s digital world, delivering your presentation doesn’t always require being there in person. Instead, you have the freedom to rehearse, record, and edit your presentation in advance, ensuring it’s polished before anyone sees it. It also means that your audience can watch your presentation at a time that suits them. 

While this is excellent for perfecting your presentation without the pressure of a live audience, adding a voice over to a recorded presentation can significantly amplify its impact. Imagine a live presentation without the human touch of a voice – it’s like having a deck of slides without the story. There’s a reason why they’re called TED Talks, not just TED Decks.

With your voice breathing life into your PowerPoint, what was once a standard presentation becomes an immersive experience. Whether it’s for an online class, a webinar, or a remote business meeting, your message will resonate more when it’s heard.

As we navigate a world that increasingly blends face-to-face and virtual interactions, the power of a well-narrated presentation can’t be underestimated. It’s about breaking down barriers to communication, reaching people wherever they are, and making sure your message isn’t just delivered but remembered.

The Easiest and Fastest Way to Record and Edit Voice Over for PowerPoint!

Audiate makes recording and editing your voice as simple as editing text in a document.

While live meetings and educational sessions have their place, they require everyone to be in the same place at the same time (even if the place is virtual). That’s fine if all your employees, students, or other audience members are in the same time zone. 

But what if your company has employees all over the world? That 2 p.m. ET meeting at your company’s HQ will take place at midnight for your employees in Sydney, Australia.

Moreover, what about employees, students, or others who have to share technology? Or don’t always have access to high-speed internet? Or the privacy necessary to meet at the appointed time?

By offering your presentation asynchronously (which is just a fancy word for “on-demand”), you give people the flexibility to consume your content when it’s convenient or easier for them. Plus they can consume it at their own pace, they have more opportunities to absorb and understand the information.

That doesn’t mean that synchronous (just a fancy word for “live” or “in-person) meetings, training sessions, classes, etc. aren’t important or useful. It just means that providing your audience with more options gives your content more value.

The first thing you’ll probably notice when you decide to record a voice over for your PowerPoint presentation is that PowerPoint has a built-in recorder. Just click the record presentation button and you’re good to go.

This will get the job done, but it’s not the best way to do it. And you know what they say, “If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right”. If, for example, you want to make small edits to your recording at a later stage, you’re going to really regret using PowerPoint’s built-in recorder, as it doesn’t allow you to edit mistakes or verbal flubs. 

With PowerPoint, you only get one take. That means you have to remember what you want to say, advance your slides, and do your best to avoid stumbling — just like if you were doing it in front of a live audience.

Quick-and-dirty recordings work in some cases, but for others — especially anything that will be consumed outside your company —  you might want something a little more professional. Creating an on-demand recorded presentation will let you do exactly that.

Plus, by recording your voice over separately, you can ensure that your recordings are professional and more engaging.

Now, if you’re not going to use PowerPoint’s built-in recorder, what are you going to use? Well, this is where Audiate comes in…

Audiate is, without a doubt, one of the best tools you can use to record and edit a voice over. You’ll find out why in the following steps, but perhaps one of the coolest features of Audiate is that it allows you to edit audio recordings as if they were text files. 

All you have to do is delete the words, sentences, and sounds you don’t want. We’ll tell you all about it shortly, but it’s really easy to use and integrates seamlessly with Camtasia. Best of all you can download a free trial for both Audiate and Camtasia , without giving up your credit card details — just click the links in this sentence!

Okay, so we told you that Audiate is easy to use. And when we say easy, we mean it’s almost ridiculously easy — and we’re going to prove it to you.

1. Start with a script

Whether you’ve created a new presentation or you’re recording one you’ve given a thousand times, writing a script will ensure you know what you want to say, exactly how and when you want to say it. It also helps you stay on topic and remember important points. 

If you already have a slide deck, you can use that as the outline for your script. Then, just write up what you would say to your audience if you were presenting it live.

Of course, if you don’t want to write a full, word-for-word script, even a bulleted list of talking points is better than nothing at all. Trust us, a script will save you a ton of editing time later.

2. Record your audio

Gone are the days when audio recording and editing were reserved for professional audio producers, fraught with complex settings and overwhelming interfaces.

Audiate revolutionizes this process with its simplicity and user-friendliness. Its intuitive UI is designed for ease of use, allowing you to start recording your voice over in just a few seconds. To start, simply hit the Record button and start talking. Audiate will transcribe your audio in real-time, which means your words will appear on screen, as you speak. 

Once you’re done recording, just click Stop, and Audiate will finish transcribing. This process not only makes recording a stress-free experience but also ensures that editing your voice over is super easy. 

3. Edit and export your recording

Everyone makes mistakes or hesitates when recording — even the guy who does all the voice overs for movie trailers. The beauty of Audiate lies in its ability to correct these mishaps. Because Audiate displays your spoken words as text, it eliminates the need to comb through audio waveforms. 

Made a mistake? Just find the word or sentence, highlight it, and delete it. Audiate even offers the option to automatically remove common hesitations like “umms” and “uhhs” in just a few clicks .

Need to rearrange your content? Audiate lets you cut and paste words or entire sections as needed. Adding more audio is just as easy — simply hit Record, and your new audio will be added to the end of the existing file, ready to be cut and pasted wherever you need it to be.

If you plan to add captions to your video (which we recommend you do), be sure to go through the transcription and correct anything that Audiate may have misheard to ensure the text matches what you said.

That’s it, you have now successfully recorded and edited your voice over! All that’s left to do is click the Export button and save it as a .WAV file. You can also click File and Export Script, which will save your transcript as an .SRT file that Camtasia can use to add captions.

In the next section, we’ll show you how to add your edited audio to your video in Camtasia.

Pro tip: Edit your video in Camtasia 

Camtasia is a powerful, but easy-to-use video editor. Even if you’ve never made a video before, you can quickly learn to create professional-quality content — here’s how: 

Import your slides

With Camtasia, you can import PowerPoint slides and insert the audio afterward. No more recording your screen while you run through your slides.

Just click File > Import > Media or, in the Media tab, click the Import Media button and navigate to select your PowerPoint files.

As it stands, Camtasia can’t import presentations made with Google Slides or Apple Keynote. However, if you created your deck in either of those applications, you can save your file as a PowerPoint presentation (.ppt file) and Camtasia can import that instead.

Once you’ve imported your slides, do the same thing for your audio recording.

Add your slides to the timeline

Once your slides and audio are in the Media Bin, drag the audio over to the Timeline. Then, simply add your slides to the Timeline as needed. 

Now you can adjust the slide timing and the amount of time they’re visible to ensure they correlate with what’s being said in your voice over. 

With everything in its right place, you can export and share your video with your audience, but there are a few more things you can do to ensure the audio is as good as it can possibly be…  

Take your video a step further

Use Camtasia’s callouts and other features to add arrows, highlight important information, or otherwise enhance the video experience for your viewers. That’s something you definitely can’t do in PowerPoint.

When you’re ready to add your captions, click Modify and Add Captions to import your captions file. Drag it to the timeline and Camtasia will automatically put the captions in the right spot in your video. 

When you’re satisfied that your video is done, you can save the file locally or upload it to any of Camtasia’s array of destinations, including YouTube, Google Drive, Vimeo, and TechSmith’s Screencast (to name a few).  

Now your video really is ready to be shared with the world!

Just remember that if you ever need to edit or update your video, you can easily go back into Camtasia, replace whatever slides need changing, and import whatever new audio you’ve recorded. If you had recorded your presentation using PowerPoint, you’d have to start from scratch. 

Improving Your Internal Communications

A guide to how visual content can help create a more collaborative and productive work environment.

Now we know you’re ready and raring to get started with your voice over, but we’d be remiss if if we didn’t give you a few pointers on how to record high-quality audio . 

So, before you go, here are a few extra tips: 

• Start with a script . You’ll speak more confidently and you’ll stay on point.
• Use a better mic . Your computer microphone will work in a pinch, but if you really want the best audio (or, if you plan to make more videos), invest in a decent USB microphone. Some of the best microphones for recording videos will probably cost a lot less than you think. 
• Stay hydrated . Your voice sounds better when your vocal chords are nice and hydrated. So, be sure to keep water handy while you’re recording and take a sip when you need to. You can edit out that part later.
• Speak slowly and clearly . When people are nervous they tend to race through whatever they’re trying to say. So, remember to breathe, slow down, and enunciate.

Not at all. With the right tools, you can easily add voice overs to PowerPoint slides and turn your presentation into an engaging educational or informational video!

Not much! A decent microphone and a quiet place to record will go a long way in ensuring your recording sounds great.

While PowerPoint’s built-in recorder works in a pinch, you’ll save your self a lot of time and effort by using a standalone audio recorder like TechSmith’s Audiate.

We highly recommend TechSmith Camtasia. It’s super easy to use and can import PowerPoint slides directly!

Additional Resources

How to record a voice over: the complete guide, how to record audio: a helpful guide, how to generate ai voice: enhancing your workflow with ai.

Blog > Record voice narration for PowerPoint

Record voice narration for PowerPoint

01.11.21   •  #presentation #powerpoint #voiceover #narration.

In this blog post, you'll learn how you can add a narration for your PowerPoint presentation. Adding audio or video narration can be very helpful, especially in a time where many seminars and meetings have to be conducted online. If you would rather give your presentation using a live stream (which has many benefits), scroll down to the bottom and learn how you can do that!

Here's what you need for recording:

• a microphone (your computer's microphone should do)
• a finished set of PowerPoint slides
• a video camera (only if you want to record video as well)

• Open your PowerPoint presentation or create a new one.
• In the taskbar, select Slide Show . Then click Record Slide Show .
• Choose the option Record from Beginning .

• You'll now get to a different view, which we'll call "Recorder View". Here's an overview:

• In the bottom right corner, you'll see three icons. The one on the left is for switching the microphone on/off. Make sure this function is turned on. The icon in the middle is for turning on/off your camera. You can choose if you want to switch the video recording on or not. The last icon is only available if you've chosen the video recording function. If the function is enabled, you'll be able to see a video preview.
• In the top right corner under "Settings", you can choose what microphone (and camera) you'd like to use. This is only relevant if you have an external recording device that you would like to use. If you're recording with your computer, you don't have to set anything here.
• Now it's time to record. Click the big red Record button on the top left and start speaking.
• Tip: You can either record all the slides at once without pressing pause, or you record each slide individually, then click pause, then go on to the next slide and record again. However, it's important to note that PowerPoint creates an individual audio file for each slide, even if you record all at once.
• Important : PowerPoint does not record during transitions, so only speak when you're on a slide.

• You can also draw on your slides with the painting tools on the bottom. These drawings will be saved to your presentations.
• On the bottom left corner, you'll see what slide you're on. You can also see two time counts. The first one is for the recording on the current slide, the second one is for the recording of the presentation overall.
• If you want to delete the whole voiceover, click Clear and Clear Recordings on all Slides . If you only want to delete the recording on the specific slide you are on, click Clear Recording on current Slide.
• If you want to re-record the audio from one slide after deleting it, just go to that slide and click Record again. Record what you want to say, then click Stop when you're done.
• Once you're done, leave the Recorder View. Click the small x in the top right corner or hit Esc .
• You can now either save the presentation as a regular PowerPoint file (just click Save and you're done) or as a video. If you'd like a video, follow the instructions below:

Save Presentation as Video

• Go to File in the PowerPoint taskbar

• Choose Export on the left, then Create a Video .

• Select the quality you'd like. We recommend Full HD (1080p).
• In the following drop-down menu, make sure Use Recorded Timings and Narrations is selected.

• The setting Seconds spent on each slide is only for the slides where there is no recording (if you have recordings on all of your slides, you can just ignore this setting.)
• Click Create Video and choose where the video should be saved. The video creation might take a while, so don't close PowerPoint right away!

Live interaction with polls & quizzes

If you prefer to give a talk where you can also interact with your audience, then the free software SlideLizard is the ideal solution! Using live polls , Q&A and feedback , your presentations will become even more exciting and interactive. SlideLizard integrates directly with PowerPoint, making it a breeze to use.

Can I record a presentation in PowerPoint?

Yes, PowerPoint also allows you to record your presentation with voice and video narration. You can read about how this works in our blog .

How can I record a presentation in PowerPoint with audio and video?

At first create your presentation. For the recording you will need a microphone (the one on your computer should do), your finished presentation and a video camera (if you also want to record a video). We have created a tutorial on our blog where you can read the further steps.

Related articles

About the author.

Pia Lehner-Mittermaier

Pia works in Marketing as a graphic designer and writer at SlideLizard. She uses her vivid imagination and creativity to produce good content.

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How To Do a Voiceover on PowerPoint?

• December 12, 2021
• Last updated: September 7, 2023

This Hints and Tips post provides a step-by-step guide on how to do a voiceover in PowerPoint.

Did you know that PowerPoint has a voiceover or narration feature? PowerPoint's Record feature allows you to record your PowerPoint presentation with voiceover audio (and the option of video).

PowerPoint’s audio narration tools can be recorded and exported as a movie. You have two options for PowerPoint voiceovers:

• Record voiceover slide by slide: Instead of recording audio in one continuous file, PowerPoint records voice slide per slide, allowing creators to simply re-record a section if you make a mistake or need to make an update later.
• Record voiceover for entire presentation: You can also record audio for your entire PowerPoint presentation.  This is also great for practicing and reviewing your presentation before a meeting.

PowerPoint recognizes alternate inputs and will give you the option to use either your device's built-in microphone or an additional microphone or headset.  The process is almost identical for both PC and PowerPoint for Mac users.

PowerPoint Voice Over Recording Options

There are quite a few options available in PowerPoint! You can:

• Record audio for single PowerPoint slide: Narrate specific slides one at a time. Great if you just need to add context to a slide, e.g. to share additional contextual information or seek review input from a colleague.
• Record audio for entire PowerPoint presentation: record your presentation in one go. Perfect if you're well prepared with your talking points!
• Record video and audio PowerPoint presentation, or just audio: for either the single slide or full presentation audio recording, you also have an option to record video. If you record video with Audio, on playback a small window appears in the bottom right of your PowerPoint presentation showing the video.

Getting Started: What do you need to do PowerPoint Voiceovers?

There are a couple of preparation activities to take care of before you start recording.

To record your PowerPoint voice-over, you need a microphone . Most laptops and desktops come with a built-in microphone - but a USB microphone can significantly improve the audio quality of your recording.

If you plan to record Video along with your narration, you also need a camera. Again, most computers have a built in camera, but you can also use a separate webcam. Either way, position your camera/ device before you start.

PowerPoint auto detects your microphones and cameras (both built-in and added USB devices) for recording. However if you have more than one microphone and/ or camera connected to your computer, ensure you select your preferred device(s) before starting. You do this from the Recording screen:

From the Insert tab from the PowerPoint ribbon, Click on Audio button. Next select the option Record Audio from the two options given., by clicking on the sound icon with the gear beside it (refer to the screenshot image below).

Presenter notes can assist you to create a successful narration. You don't want to seem like you're reading from your notecards, just as you wouldn't in a live presentation. If you use the speaker notes feature in PowerPoint, you can click the Notes icon in the Recording screen to display your speaker notes while you record.

How To Voice Over PowerPoint Single Slide at a Time?

The easiest way to voice over for a PowerPoint presentation is by narrating a single slide at a time. There are two ways to start your recording

Follow these steps to narrate your single slide with audio:

• Click the Insert tab from the PowerPoint ribbon.
• Click on Audio from multiple features available (Note that depending on your screen size and resolution, PowerPoint groups features on the Ribbon. If your Ribbon has grouped features, you would click the Media group, then Audio - as shown in the screenshot below).
• Select the option “Record Audio” from the two options given.

• Type in the title/name you would like to use for your voice-over narration.
• Click on the start icon (with a red dot on it) to start recording the voice-over for the PowerPoint presentation.

• When you are done, click on the Stop icon . Now the icon of recording sound will disappear, and instead, a speaker will be shown on the slide, indicating that this slide has a voice-over for it.
• To review your recording, simply click on the Speaker icon and click Play to hear your presentation narration.

When satisfied, click anywhere outside the playback speaker box to save your PowerPoint Voice over.

How To Voice Over PowerPoint Single Slide at a Time (with Video)

As an alternative to accessing via the Insert tab, you can click on the SlideShow tab on the PowerPoint ribbon.

How To Voice Over Entire PowerPoint Presentation?

You can also record PowerPoint voice-over for your entire presentation in one go. This is great for rehearsing a presentation or where you already feel confident and ready to deliver!

To record a voice over for an entire PowerPoint presentation:

• Open the PowerPoint slide from which you want to start recording the presentation.
• Click the Slideshow tab on the PowerPoint Ribbon
• Choose the Record feature button
• Select either “From Current Slide” if you want to start narrating from a specific slide in your presentation or “From the beginning” if you want to start recording a voice-over from the first slide.

• Video : PowerPoint includes an option to record video with your audio recording. Toggle the image of the person in the bottom right to turn video recording preview window on or off.
• Laser Pointer : you can turn on the laser pointer while recording to draw attention to specific words or diagrams on your slides
• Ink : draw on your PowerPoint slides with either a pen (fine line) or highlighter (chunky line) to add emphasis while recording your narration. Select from a range of color options.
• Eraser : use the eraser to erase ink marks from your slides
• Notes : click the down arrow at the top of screen beside the word Notes to display the speaker notes for each slide as you present.
• Click on the Red Record button at the top left corner of the screen to start recording.
• You can control whether you want to show your face in narration by clicking the profile icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

If you need to redo your audio recording, click on the Clear button, an X at the top right of the screen (refer to the screenshot below). When you click on the X you will see two options - to clear the recordings on the current slide or to clear recordings from all slides in your PowerPoint presentation.

• Click the Advance button (forward arrow) to move to the next slide when you are ready.
• When you have finished recording, click the Stop icon in the top left corner.
• Once you have returned to the standard PowerPoint editing screen, you can view the recording on any of the slides that you did a voice-over for. Simply click the sound icon which appears on the slide (or the presenter video preview, if you recorded with video). Refer to the screenshot below to see an example of the PowerPoint audio recording playback bar and presenter video preview (highlighted with a red box).

How to delete a PowerPoint Voice Over?

There are a few options for removing voiceover audio from your presentation.

To remove voiceover from a specific slide in a PowerPoint presentation:

• Find and click on the relevant slide
• Select the sound icon on the slide
• Press the Delete key

To remove voiceover from all slides in a PowerPoint presentation:

• Select the Slide Show tab from the Ribbon
• Click the Record feature button which will display a drop down menu
• Navigate down to Clear and then click Clear narrations on all slides to delete the voice-over from all PowerPoint slides in your presentation.

This how to guide for how to record voiceovers in PowerPoint was bought to you by the PPT Productivity team. PPT Productivity is a timesaving add-in for PowerPoint that makes it easier to create, refine and reuse great looking PowerPoint slides. Visit our main website to check out the features and  download your free 30 day trial .

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Sometimes sending over a PowerPoint slide deck with text and visuals isn't enough. Adding your voice can help you provide additional context and explanations. In this article, we’ll go through a step-by-step process of how to record a voiceover in PowerPoint.

So whether you're creating an e-learning course, a sales pitch, or a product demo, by the end of this guide, you'll be ready to deliver a high-quality and engaging PowerPoint presentation. Let's dive in.

How to Record an Audio-Only Voiceover in PowerPoint

One of the easiest ways to build an engaging PowerPoint presentation is to add an audio-only voiceover to your slide deck. Here’s how to go about it.

• Select the slide where you want to add the voiceover.

If you’re not satisfied with the audio, click the record button to re-record the audio.

How to Edit Audio Voiceover in PowerPoint

PowerPoint has a native audio editor for editing your voiceover. When you click the loudspeaker icon, two contextual tabs appear: Audio Format and Playback .

Use the settings under Audio Format to change the appearance of the loudspeaker icon.

Additionally, use the Playback settings to make changes to your audio. Here’s a summary of the key features in this section.

• Select the Play button to listen to the audio. Click on it again to pause the audio.
• Click any point in the audio bar and select Add Bookmark to mark it for easy reference. Select the bookmark and click Remove Bookmark to delete it.
• Select Trim Audio to remove unwanted sections of your audio.
• Set a duration to Fade In or Fade Out your audio.
• Adjust the Volume of the audio to Low, Medium, High, or Mute.
• In Click Sequence: The audio will start to play after a user clicks on the slide.
• Automatically: The audio starts playing on its own after landing on the slide.
• When Clicked On: The audio will only start playing after clicking on the Play button of the loudspeaker icon.
• Select Save Media as to export your audio recording as an M4A file.

How to Record a Voiceover With Slideshow in PowerPoint

To synchronize your audio with actions on the slide, like highlighting key areas or sketching, follow these steps.

• Navigate to the Record tab.

• The Slide view displays only the slide (as shown in the image below).
• The Presenter view lets you see your notes and the next slide in a panel on the right.

• The Laser pointer lets you highlight specific areas of the slide.
• The Pen and Highlighter tools (available in 12 colors) let you annotate the slide.

• Click the pause button to take a break while recording. Click it again when you’re ready to continue.

Take a pause before you switch to the next slide or your recording might get cut off.

In addition to the audio-only and slideshow-based voiceovers we’ve discussed, you can also record a voiceover with a screen recording .

How to Delete a Voiceover in PowerPoint

To delete your PowerPoint voiceover, follow these simple steps.

• Click Clear Recording .

How to Save Your Presentation With Voiceover in PowerPoint

Whether you recorded an audio-only voiceover or one with a slideshow, you need to choose the best way to save it for an optimal viewing experience. Let's explore three methods to achieve this.

Save as a PowerPoint File

This method is best if you’re working with collaborators who need to edit the PowerPoint file.

• Press Ctrl + Shift + S on your keyboard to open the Save As dialog box.

Save as a PowerPoint Show File

A PowerPoint show file automatically opens in slideshow mode. To save your presentation as a PowerPoint Show file, follow the same process as the previous one but change the Save As type to PowerPoint Show.

Alternatively, you can follow these steps:

• In the Save As dialog box, select a location for your file, enter a suitable File name , and click Save .

Save as Video

This method saves your PowerPoint presentation as an MP4 file, making it perfect for demos and tutorials.

• Navigate to the File tab.

• Adjust the file quality and ensure Use Recorded Timings and Narrations is selected.
• Set a duration for Seconds spent on each slide . This will be used for slides without a voiceover.

• In the dialog box that pops up, choose a file location, enter a suitable File name , and click Export .

Engage Your Audience With Voiceovers in PowerPoint

Adding a voiceover to your PowerPoint presentation can significantly enhance its delivery and overall impact. With this article as a guide, you’re fully equipped to record your first voiceover in PowerPoint. The more voiceovers you create, the easier it gets. To make your voiceovers even more personable, the Cameo feature lets you record customized camera feeds.

• Productivity
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Presentations

How to Record Audio in PowerPoint for Narration or Voice-Over | Step-by-Step

Related topic : If you are only looking to insert or add an audio that does not advance or move a slideshow in time and in synch your voice, this article: Adding Music to PowerPoint Slideshow explains how.

How to record audio as a voice-over or narration in PowerPoint – Quick Guide

Why use narrations or voice-overs in powerpoint presentation, before recording your narration or voice-over – tips., make sure your microphone works..

An important step to take before recording your audio is to ensure your microphone is set up correctly and your voice can be played back clearly. The video below runs through how to set up an external mic for your Windows or Mac .

How to Record Audio in PowerPoint Step-by-Step Instructions.

Advanced powerpoint audio recording options., add annotations to your recorded powerpoint slide show..

To use the Annotation Tool in PowerPoint: Scroll to the bottom of the full screen recording view (as shown in the image below). Then, select any of the tools available (the laser pointer, highlighter or pen) and annotate your slide, by drawing with them using any mouse or other pointing device.

Using the Timings Function to Adjust Recording Speed.

To Change the Timings of Your Recording: Navigate to the Slide Show tab in the top ribbon > (Next to the Record Slide Show icon, we used before) > click the Rehearse Timings icon. The presentation will now once again go to full-screen mode, and you can use your arrow keys to change the slides and set new timings.

Clearing or Deleting your narration and / or timings

To Delete a Narration or Timings: Navigate to the Slide Show tab in the top ribbon OR the Recording Tab. Select the down arrow on the “ Record Slide Show ” button > from the menu choose “ Clear ” > Select the appropriate timings and/or narration option.

Save and Distribute the Presentation with Audio as a Movie / Video file.

To Export your Presentation as a video: In PowerPoint navigate to File Menu > Export > Select your preferred options. (E.g.) File Format: MP4 . Quality Width 1,920 Height 1,080

Recording Audio Tips and Tricks

Macos 2019 – powerpoint audio recording tip, microsoft 365, 2016, 2019 for windows pc – recording tab in powerpoint, related posts, how to add music to powerpoint slideshow and find free music, [solved] how to upload powerpoint to google drive, 10s method: how to add bullet points in powerpoint.

• Add animation Video
• Add transitions between slides Video
• Add, format, and record video Video
• Add and record audio Video

Add and record audio

Add and record audio, such as music, narration, or sound bites, to your PowerPoint presentation and select the playback options.

Add audio from your PC

Select Insert > Media >  Audio .

Select Audio on My PC .

In the Insert Audio dialog box, select the audio file you want to add.

Select Insert .

Record audio

Select Insert > Media > Audio .

Select Record Audio .

Type in a name for your audio file, select Record , and then speak.

Important:  Your device must have a microphone enabled in order to record audio.

To review your recording, select Stop and then select Play .

Select Record to re-record your clip, or select OK if you’re satisfied.

To move your clip, select and drag the audio icon to where you want it on the slide.

Note:  If you’re using more than one audio file per slide, it’s advisable to put the audio icon in the same spot on a slide to find it easily.

Select Play .

Change playback options

Select the audio icon and then select the Playback tab. Then select which options you'd like to use:

To trim the audio, select Trim and then use the red and green sliders to trim the audio file accordingly.

To fade in or fade out audio, change the number in the Fade Duration boxes.

To adjust volume, select Volume and select the setting you prefer.

To choose how the audio file starts, select the dropdown arrow and select an option:

In Click Sequence – Plays the audio file automatically with a click.

Automatically – Plays automatically once you advance to the slide that the audio file is on.

When Clicked On – Plays audio only when the icon is clicked on.

To choose how the audio plays in your presentation, select an option:

Play Across Slides – Plays one audio file across all slides.

Loop until Stopped – Plays an audio file on loop until it’s stopped manually by clicking the Play/Pause button.

To have the audio play continuously across all slides in the background, select Play in Background .

Delete audio

To delete audio, select the audio icon on the slide and press Delete.

Add audio to your PowerPoint presentation

Play music for the duration of your slide show

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Create Your Course

How to add voiceover to powerpoint (2022 update), share this article.

Are you looking to add audio, narration or voice-overs to your Powerpoint or Keynote slide presentations? This is a great way to make your presentations more engaging . We’ll show you how to do it within PowerPoint, and how to do it within Thinkific!

Related: Complete guide on How To Add Voice Over On Google Slides Or PowerPoint

How to do voice over PowerPoint

Microsoft Powerpoint has a feature that many average users don’t know about, which allows you to add voice-over narration to your slides.

For this option, all you’ll need is Microsoft PowerPoint, and a computer with microphone.

Step 1 – In the top menu, go to Slideshow >> Record Slideshow

You have the option to record from the beginning of the presentation, or from the current slide that you’re on.

Step 2- Start recording

Once you select which recording you’d like to do, you’ll be in full-screen mode with options to record, stop, and replay.

Once you click record, there will be a countdown timer from 3.

Anything you type in the notes section of the PowerPoint can be viewed by clicking on the notes button at the top.

The recording will stop automatically once you make it to the final slide. You can also pause, stop, or replay a recording any time by pressing the pause button in the top left of your screen.

You can also record video of yourself in the corner by selecting the video option in the bottom right corner.

Step 3 – Testing your narration

Once you’re finished, a speaker icon will appear at the bottom right corner of all the slides with recorded narration.

To play the narration, just hover over the speaker icon to play, skip to time, or adjust the volume.

Voila! You have now added a voiceover to your PowerPoint.

If you’re interested in creating voiceovers for an online course, next we’ll show you how to do it in Thinkific.

Why not monetize your presentations with an Online Course? Download this  Guide To Earning $100,000 In Online Course Sales :

Using Thinkific for voice-over presentations

Voice overs can now be done directly within Thinkific, and you can deliver it as part of your online course!

Often, simple is key. We’ve heard from many of you that you’d love to create your course by simply adding audio to your Powerpoint and Keynote slide presentations, without having to fight with technology in the process. So, we built it for you.

• Save your slide presentation out of Powerpoint or Keynote as a PDF file
• Add a new presentation lesson type to your course, importing the PDF you just created
• Record audio narration slide by slide, directly within the system

And you’re done! With voice over PowerPoint, students will be able to flip through your presentation slide by slide, and your audio will play automatically. This makes it super simple to convert existing presentations for your courses.

Since launching this, we’ve seen people creating online courses faster than ever. You’re able to go from PowerPoint to a complete online course without any extra tools or software. If you’ve already got a presentation ready to deliver, you can use Thinkific’s presentation tool to easily create an online course.

Sign up for a free account now to try it out today!  Or if you’re already signed up, give our presentation tool a try and see how easy it is to create online courses.

Free Download

As a bonus, we’ve put together a free resource with the 5 Best Presentation Practices used by our most successful course creators.

Note: This guide was created in April 2015 and was updated in August 2021 with updated steps on how to do voice-over PowerPoint.

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How to Do a Voiceover on PowerPoint Presentation (Step-By-Step)

In the evolving world of presentations, adding a voiceover to PowerPoint slides has transformed static visuals into dynamic learning experiences, apt for diverse scenarios from e-learning to corporate pitches. Yet, many struggle to understand “how to do a voiceover on PowerPoint”.

So, how does one infuse life into slides with voiceovers? This article is dedicated to illuminating the process, providing a clear and comprehensive guide on how to do a voiceover on PowerPoint effectively. Read it thoroughly as we explain this process for you in this article.

Part 1: What is the Voiceover PowerPoint Presentation?

A voiceover PowerPoint presentation is a dynamic blending of voice and visuals at its core, enriching the traditionally static slides with narration. This feature can transform a basic presentation into a more interactive experience, enabling the conveyance of information seamlessly, regardless of whether the presenter is physically present or not.

But why is this so revolutionary? In our digital age, the nature of presentations has evolved. Often, circumstances like distance, emergencies, or the sheer convenience of nonparallel learning require us to lean on technologies that ensure the message is still effectively delivered. This is where the voiceover feature in PowerPoint steps in.

Why Opt for Voiceovers in PowerPoint?

Precision through Pre-recording: With the luxury to narrate, practice, and re-record, you gain mastery over your content, ensuring a refined final presentation.

Visual Versatility: Incorporating visuals like images, charts, or graphs and coupling them with voiceovers guarantees that the intended message is clear, without overwhelming the slide with text.

Sharing & Consistency: Given the ubiquity of PowerPoint, sharing your narrated presentation ensures that your message remains consistent across various viewings.

Enhanced Engagement: Using voiceovers enables a heightened focus on content, facilitating a genuine connection with your audience.

Uncomplicated Setup: Whether you are looking at how to do a voiceover on PowerPoint on Mac or iPad, the process is largely uniform. Beyond the software, all you need is a quiet space, a functioning microphone, and a well-prepared script. The investment in preparation ensures an impactful delivery.

So, knowing the fact how to do a voiceover on PowerPoint on the phone or PC voiceover is not merely about adding sound. They are about enhancing understanding, ensuring consistency, and offering versatility in how information is shared. It is an evolution in presentation design, waiting to be harnessed to its full potential.

Part 2: How to Do a Voiceover on PowerPoint

Narrating your PowerPoint slides can add depth to your presentation, making it more engaging and informative for your audience. Whether you are working on a single slide or an entire presentation, adding a voiceover is a straightforward process. Let's look at a step-by-step tutorial to guide you through.

1. Voiceover for a Single Slide:

Step 1: Preparation is key. Before anything else, ensure you have a functioning microphone connected to your computer. It is advisable to test the microphone's sound levels to ensure clarity. Additionally, preparing a script will allow for smoother narration. Practicing a couple of times will further enhance your presentation.

Step 2: Open your PowerPoint presentation and navigate to the slide you wish to add narration to.

Step 3: Go to the 'Insert' tab and click on 'Audio', then select 'Record Audio'.

Step 4: A 'Record Sound' dialogue box will appear. Here, input a name for your narration.

Step 5: Click the 'Record' button (represented by a red dot) to start the recording process. Read from your script or speak naturally, depending on your preparation.

Step 6: Once done, click 'Stop'. An audio icon will appear on your slide. You can preview the audio by clicking on the sound indicator and pressing 'Play'.

Step 7: Adjust the audio icon's placement on the slide so that it does not obstruct any other slide elements.

2. Voiceover for the Entire Presentation:

Step 1: Begin by setting your presentation in the 'Normal' view.

Step 2: Select the first slide from where you want the narration to commence.

Step 3: Click on 'Slide Show' and then 'Record Slide Show'. Choose 'Record from Current Slide'. In newer versions like PowerPoint 2019, a recording window will appear. For earlier versions, a dialog box will offer more recording options.

Step 4: Opt for 'Slide and animation timings' and 'Narrations, ink, and laser pointer'. These options enable PowerPoint to automatically track slide changes, narrations, and any annotations you make during the recording.

Step 5: Click on 'Record'. In PowerPoint 2016, you would click 'Start Recording'.

Step 6: You have the liberty to pause the recording if needed or restart with the 'Clear Recordings' option.

Step 7: Navigate through the slides using the 'Advance' button or the spacebar.

Step 8: Once completed, click 'Stop'. You will notice tools at the bottom left of the screen, including the Laser Pointer, Highlighter, and Eraser, which can be used to emphasize points during your narration.

How to Create a Voice-Over PowerPoint on Mac

For Mac users, the process of creating a voiceover PowerPoint presentation largely mirrors that of the Windows version. However, always refer to the specific PowerPoint version's official documentation or support for any variations. If you want to know how to do a voiceover on PowerPoint mac, the previous part is most relevant to you.

So, doing a voiceover on PowerPoint, whether on a single slide or the entire presentation, enhances the viewer's experience. Whether you are using PowerPoint on a Mac or a Windows PC, you now possess the knowledge to confidently narrate your presentations. The power of voice, combined with your slides, ensures your message is delivered with clarity and impact.

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Part 3: Editing Documents with WPS Office - A Free Alternative

In the age of digital documentation and presentations, having access to a powerful office tool is indispensable. Enter WPS Office, a modern and dynamic suite of office applications that caters to the contemporary needs of users around the world. But here is the clincher: it is absolutely free. Whether you are a student, entrepreneur, or a professional, WPS Office ensures that your work is not hindered by software costs.

WPS Presentation: Adding Audio to Your Slides

Much like its counterparts, WPS Presentation allows users to make their presentations more interactive and engaging by adding audio. Here is how you can do it:

1. Open Your Presentation: Launch WPS Presentation and open the specific slide where you want to add audio.

2. Navigate to the 'Insert' Tab: Located at the top of the interface, click on this tab to reveal a dropdown menu.

3. Select 'Audio': This option will allow you to add an audio file from your device.

4. Choose Your Audio File: Browse through your folders to select the desired audio file. Click on 'Open' to insert it into the slide.

5. Adjust Playback Settings: Right-click the audio icon on the slide. From the contextual menu, you can choose when and how the audio should play, whether it loops, or other playback settings.

Editing Word/Excel/PowerPoint Files in WPS Office:

The flexibility and user-friendliness of WPS Office are evident in how seamlessly it allows you to edit various file formats. Here are the general steps:

1. Open WPS Office: Launch the WPS Office application on your device.

2. Choose the Appropriate Module: Depending on the file type, select WPS Writer (for Word), WPS Spreadsheets (for Excel), or WPS Presentation (for PowerPoint).

3. Open Your File: Click on 'Open' or 'File' and navigate to the location of the document you wish to edit. Double-click to open.

4. Edit as Needed: The intuitive interface will provide you with all the necessary tools to edit your document. This includes text formatting, adding images or charts, adjusting layout, and more.

5. Save Your Changes: Once you are done editing, click on 'File' and choose 'Save' or 'Save As' to store your updated document.

1. What are some tips for promoting my voiceover presentations effectively?

To effectively promote your voiceover presentations, share them on platforms like LinkedIn, embed on your website, and utilize SEO for discoverability. Engage with industry influencers and host webinars to connect directly with your audience.

2. Can I edit my recorded presentation after finishing the recording process? 

Yes, you can edit your recorded voiceover in PowerPoint by adjusting timings, re-recording segments, or deleting parts. The "Narrating a PowerPoint" guide offers tutorials on these edits.

This article provided readers with a comprehensive guide on how to effectively add voiceovers to PowerPoint presentations, emphasizing the ease of use and functionality of the process. It outlined the significant advantages of using voiceovers, from easy editing to versatility in delivering presentations on both PC and Mac.

Moreover, the tutorial section offered step-by-step instructions tailored to different conditions, including recording for a single slide and entire presentations. The latter part of the article introduced WPS Office, a free and modernized office tool application suite.

This tool provides an alternative for editing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents. WPS Office's capabilities were underscored, with an emphasis on its free accessibility, making it a preferred choice for users seeking cost-effective yet powerful office tools.

• 1. How to Record a PowerPoint Presentation (Step-by-Step)
• 2. 3 Effective Ways to Add Timer to PowerPoint Presentation (Step-by-Step Guide)
• 3. How to do a voiceover on powerpoint mac
• 4. Best PowerPoint Download - Microsoft PowerPoint & WPS Office Presentation
• 5. How to Make Hanging Indent in PowerPoint Using WPS Presentation (Step-by-Step)
• 6. How to Compress a Powerpoint Presentation for Email (Step-by-Step)

15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.