Logo

How to Make PowerPoint Notes Invisible During Presentations

Avatar

The Notes pane in Microsoft PowerPoint is a handy place to type talking points and other information so that you can reference them when giving a presentation. However, it doesn't look too professional when your viewers can read your notes as they watch your presentation. To remedy this situation, take advantage of the Presenter View feature in PowerPoint. This feature lets you view your presentation with your speaker’s notes on one monitor, while hiding your notes from your audience as the presentation plays on another monitor.

Step 1 Connect your computer to a second monitor. Step 2 Open the PowerPoint presentation you would like to edit. Step 3 Click “Use Presenter View” in the Monitors group on the Slide Show tab. PowerPoint displays the Display Settings pane of the Windows Control Panel. Step 4 Click the “Monitor” tab in the Display Settings pane. Step 5 Click the monitor icon that represents the monitor you want to use to view your presentation. This is the monitor where your presentation notes will be displayed. Step 6 Click the check box next to “This is my main monitor.” If the check box is already selected, proceed to the next step. Step 7 Click the monitor icon for the monitor on which you want your notes to be invisible. This will be the monitor where your audience watches your presentation. Step 8 Click “Extend my Windows Desktop onto this monitor.” Click “OK.” Your second monitor should now appear in the Show On list in the Monitors group on the Slide Show tab. Step 9 Click “Slide Show” in the Presentation Views group on the View tab to play your presentation.

How to Make PowerPoint Notes Invisible During Presentations

Businesswoman giving presentation at seminar, portrait

Microsoft PowerPoint is a useful tool for creating presentations you can use in your business meetings. In addition to its basic functionality, the software also allows you to add notes to each slide; this can help you remember additional talking points and keep you on track when giving your presentation. To avoid looking unprofessional, however, you want to make sure the notes are hidden from your audience while remaining visible to you. You can do this by using the Presenter View feature.

Advertisement

Connect your computer to the second monitor or projector screen on which you will be giving your presentation.

Video of the Day

Launch PowerPoint and open your presentation.

Click the "Slide Show" tab and select the "Use Presenter View" check box in the Monitors group. This opens the Display Settings configuration window from the Windows Control Panel.

Click the "Monitor" tab in the Display Settings configuration window.

Click the monitor icon corresponding to the monitor where you want your notes to display and select the check box labeled "This Is My Main Monitor." If the check box is already selected, proceed to the next step.

Click the second monitor icon. This icon corresponds to the monitor or screen on which your audience will be watching your presentation. Select the check box labeled "Extend My Windows Desktop onto This Monitor" and click "OK." This adds the monitor or screen to the Show On list found in the Monitors group on the Slide Show tab.

Click the "View" tab and click "Slide Show" in the Presentation Views group to begin your presentation.

  • Microsoft: What Is Presenter View?
  • Microsoft: View Your Speaker Notes Privately, While Delivering a Presentation on Multiple Monitors

How to Make PowerPoint Notes Invisible During Presentations

  • Small Business
  • Business Communications & Etiquette
  • Presentations
  • ')" data-event="social share" data-info="Pinterest" aria-label="Share on Pinterest">
  • ')" data-event="social share" data-info="Reddit" aria-label="Share on Reddit">
  • ')" data-event="social share" data-info="Flipboard" aria-label="Share on Flipboard">

How to Set Up Multiple Display Settings on the MacBook Pro

How to disable auto-detect on a dell monitor, how to use a pc as a second monitor to a mac.

  • How to Display a Ruler on PowerPoint 2007
  • How to Make the Screen Fit Within the Monitor When Using a Docking Station

The Notes pane in Microsoft PowerPoint is a handy place to type talking points and other information so that you can reference them when giving a presentation. However, it doesn't look too professional when your potential clients can read your notes as they watch your presentation. To remedy this situation, take advantage of the Presenter View feature in PowerPoint. This feature lets you view your presentation with your speaker’s notes on one monitor, while hiding your notes from your audience as the presentation plays on another monitor.

Connect your computer to a second monitor.

Open the PowerPoint presentation you would like to edit.

Click “Use Presenter View” in the Monitors group on the Slide Show tab. PowerPoint displays the Display Settings pane of the Windows Control Panel.

Click the “Monitor” tab in the Display Settings pane.

Click the monitor icon that represents the monitor you want to use to view your presentation. This is the monitor where your presentation notes will be displayed.

Click the check box next to “This is my main monitor.” If the check box is already selected, proceed to the next step.

Click the monitor icon for the monitor on which you want your notes to be invisible. This will be the monitor where your audience watches your presentation.

Click “Extend my Windows Desktop onto this monitor.” Click “OK.” Your second monitor should now appear in the Show On list in the Monitors group on the Slide Show tab.

Click “Slide Show” in the Presentation Views group on the View tab to play your presentation.

  • Microsoft Office: View Your Speaker Notes Privately, While Delivering a Presentation on Multiple Monitors
  • Microsoft Office: When and How to Use Views in PowerPoint 2010
  • Microsoft Office: Create and Print Notes Pages

Andrew Tennyson has been writing about culture, technology, health and a variety of other subjects since 2003. He has been published in The Gazette, DTR and ZCom. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in history and a Master of Fine Arts in writing.

Related Articles

How to mirror monitors on xp, how to use hdmi & audio input in an acer monitor, how to use trainer's notes during a powerpoint presentation, how to switch to an external monitor from a laptop on vista, how to set up dual monitors, how to enable two monitors in windows 7, how to set up multiplex monitors, how to connect a macbook to a primary desktop display, how to take notes in microsoft powerpoint, most popular.

  • 1 How to Mirror Monitors on XP
  • 2 How to Use HDMI & Audio Input in an Acer Monitor
  • 3 How to Use Trainer's Notes During a PowerPoint Presentation
  • 4 How to Switch to an External Monitor From a Laptop on Vista

Zebra BI logo

How to Hide Notes in PowerPoint

A powerpoint slide with a hidden note tucked away in a corner

PowerPoint is a versatile presentation tool that offers many features to help you deliver your message effectively. One of the useful features in PowerPoint is the ability to add notes to your slides. Notes are useful for adding extra information that you might want to reference during your presentation, but you may not want your audience to see them. In this article, we will discuss how to hide notes in PowerPoint, the benefits of doing so, and best practices for presentation with hidden notes.

Table of Contents

Why You Might Want to Hide Notes in PowerPoint

The main reason for hiding notes in PowerPoint is to keep your audience focused on your presentation. When presenting, all the attention should be on the speaker, and any distractions can hinder the effectiveness of the presentation. Hidden notes can be useful for speakers to have during their presentation, but they shouldn’t distract the audience from the flow of the presentation.

Another reason to hide notes in PowerPoint is to maintain a professional appearance. If your notes contain personal or confidential information, it’s best to keep them hidden from the audience. This can also help to avoid any potential embarrassment or awkwardness during the presentation.

Additionally, hiding notes can be helpful for speakers who tend to get nervous or forgetful during presentations. Having notes to refer to can provide a sense of security and help the speaker stay on track. However, it’s important to remember that the notes should only be used as a reference and not relied on too heavily, as this can also detract from the overall effectiveness of the presentation.

The Benefits of Hiding Notes in Your PowerPoint Presentation

One benefit of hiding notes in PowerPoint is that it makes it easier to navigate through your presentation. With hidden notes, the presenter can glance through their notes without worrying about the audience seeing them. It also makes it easier to control the pace of the presentation as the speaker doesn’t have to pause to read their notes continuously. Another advantage is the security of confidential information. Notes might contain sensitive information, which the presenter might not want to reveal to the audience.

Additionally, hiding notes can also help the presenter to stay focused and avoid distractions. When notes are visible on the screen, the presenter may be tempted to read them word for word, which can lead to a lack of eye contact with the audience. By hiding notes, the presenter can focus on delivering the presentation and engaging with the audience, rather than being distracted by their own notes. This can lead to a more confident and effective presentation overall.

Understanding the Different Types of Notes in PowerPoint

Before hiding your notes, it’s essential to understand the different types of notes available in PowerPoint. There are speaker notes, which can be added to individual slides and the Notes pane, which displays all the notes for all your slides. Speaker notes are private notes that only the presenter can see. The Notes pane, on the other hand, provides an overview of all the notes for the presentation.

In addition to speaker notes and the Notes pane, there is also the option to add comments to specific slides in PowerPoint. Comments are similar to speaker notes, but they are visible to anyone who has access to the presentation. This can be useful for collaboration or feedback purposes.

Another type of note that can be added to PowerPoint is the slide image description. This is a text description of the content on a slide, which can be read by screen readers for accessibility purposes. Adding slide image descriptions can make your presentation more inclusive and accessible to a wider audience.

The Step-by-Step Process for Hiding Notes in PowerPoint

To hide notes in PowerPoint, follow these steps. Firstly, open your PowerPoint presentation and navigate to the slide where you want to hide the notes. Then, click on the ‘Notes’ button at the bottom of the PowerPoint window to open the notes pane. After that, simply delete the notes that you want to hide. Remember, this will permanently remove the notes, so make sure to save a copy of them elsewhere if you need them later. Your notes are now hidden.

It’s important to note that while hiding notes can be useful for presenting, it’s not recommended for sharing the presentation with others. If you need to share the presentation with someone else, make sure to unhide the notes or provide a separate document with the notes included. Additionally, if you plan on presenting on a different computer or device, make sure to check that the hidden notes are still hidden and in the correct location before presenting.

Tips and Tricks for Hiding Notes in Your PowerPoint Presentation

To ensure that your notes remain hidden, you can use a custom slide master for your presentation. This will ensure that all of your notes are hidden, so you don’t have to worry about hiding individual notes for each slide. Also, consider using a smaller font size to minimize the chances of your notes being accidentally discovered.

Another tip for hiding notes in your PowerPoint presentation is to use the “B” key during your presentation. This will temporarily black out the screen, allowing you to access your notes without the audience seeing them. Just make sure to press the “B” key again to resume your presentation.

How to Reveal Hidden Notes During Your Presentation

While presenting, you may need to refer to your hidden notes. To reveal the hidden notes, select Notes Page under the View tab. This will display all your notes for the current slide and allow you to use them as reference without distracting the audience. Another method is to use presenter view, which shows the presenter’s notes on one screen and the current slide on the other screen, but this method requires two displays.

It is important to note that revealing your hidden notes during a presentation should be done sparingly and only when necessary. Over-reliance on notes can make the presentation seem less engaging and may cause the audience to lose interest. Therefore, it is recommended to practice your presentation beforehand and try to memorize key points.

If you do need to use your notes during the presentation, make sure to keep them concise and easy to read. Use bullet points and avoid long paragraphs. This will help you quickly find the information you need and keep the audience’s attention focused on you and your message.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hiding Notes in PowerPoint

One of the most common mistakes when hiding notes in PowerPoint is forgetting to move the text box with the hidden text out of the visible area. This can be embarrassing if the hidden text is accidentally seen. Another mistake is using a font color that is still visible on the slide background. If using a light-colored background, it’s essential to choose a darker font color to ensure that the text is not visible.

Another mistake to avoid when hiding notes in PowerPoint is not checking the presentation on different devices or screens. The font size and color may appear differently on different screens, and the hidden text may become visible. It’s important to test the presentation on multiple devices and screens to ensure that the hidden notes remain hidden. Additionally, it’s crucial to remember to delete any hidden notes before sharing the presentation with others to avoid any accidental disclosure of confidential information.

Troubleshooting Tips for When You Can’t Hide Your Notes in PowerPoint

If you can’t seem to hide your notes, ensure that you have clicked on the correct item. If you’re working on the notes page, you may select the placeholder text rather than your notes, making it impossible to hide them. Another issue could be that you’ve saved the notes as part of the slide background, making it impossible to hide them independently.

One other possible reason why you can’t hide your notes in PowerPoint is that you may have accidentally locked the notes pane. To check if this is the case, go to the View tab and click on the Notes pane button. If it’s grayed out, then it’s locked and you won’t be able to hide your notes until you unlock it.

Additionally, if you’re using an older version of PowerPoint, you may encounter compatibility issues when trying to hide your notes. In this case, you can try saving your presentation in a newer file format or updating your software to the latest version to see if it resolves the issue.

Best Practices for Presenting with Hidden Notes in PowerPoint

When presenting with your hidden notes, it’s essential to maintain eye contact with the audience and not constantly refer to your notes. Emphasize your main points and use your notes to supplement your presentation rather than being the focus. Lastly, practice your presentation beforehand to ensure that you are comfortable with the slide transitions and can smoothly reveal your hidden notes.

Adding Extra Security by Hiding Confidential Information in Your Presentation

If you have sensitive information in your presentation, you can hide it by using a password protected presentation. To do this, select File, then Save As, and choose Options. Choose Security Options and enter the password that you want to use to protect your presentation.

Collaborating on Presentations with Hidden Notes

Collaborating on presentations with hidden notes can be challenging, and it’s essential to ensure that all collaborators are aware of the notes’ presence. Consider sharing the notes in a separate document or discussing them with collaborators to ensure that they are comfortable with the information being kept hidden.

How to Unhide and Edit Hidden Text During and After the Presentation

If you need to edit or reveal your notes after the presentation, follow the steps to unhide your text. Then, make your necessary adjustments, and save the presentation. You can also edit the handwritten notes using the Ink Editing feature in PowerPoint, which allows you to select and edit the content written in ink.

In conclusion, hiding notes in PowerPoint is a useful feature that can enhance your presentation’s effectiveness. Ensure that you understand the different types of notes available and follow the step-by-step process outlined to hide them effectively. Be mindful of potential mistakes and follow best practices to ensure a successful presentation with hidden notes.

By humans, for humans - Best rated articles:

Excel report templates: build better reports faster, top 9 power bi dashboard examples, excel waterfall charts: how to create one that doesn't suck, beyond ai - discover our handpicked bi resources.

Explore Zebra BI's expert-selected resources combining technology and insight for practical, in-depth BI strategies.

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

We’ve been experimenting with AI-generated content, and sometimes it gets carried away. Give us a feedback and help us learn and improve! 🤍

Note: This is an experimental AI-generated article. Your help is welcome. Share your feedback with us and help us improve.

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

  • PC & Mobile
  • Google Meet

How To Turn Off Presenter View in PowerPoint

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

Lee Stanton Lee Stanton is a versatile writer with a concentration on the software landscape, covering both mobile and desktop applications as well as online technologies. Read more February 3, 2022

Presenter view is a great tool to use when making presentations. It allows you to present slides professionally to the audience while keeping your talking points to yourself. However, there may be instances when you would prefer not to use the Presenter View feature. Maybe you are presenting on Zoom and need to share your screen with your audience. Perhaps you just find it simpler to teach your class without it.

Whatever your situation might be, this step-by-step guide will walk you through how to turn off Presenter View.

This article will look at how to turn off Presenter View in PowerPoint from various devices and platforms, including Teams and Zoom.

Turn Off Presenter View in PowerPoint for Windows

When working in PowerPoint on two different monitors (yours and the one for the audience), you will, in most instances, want to disable Presenter View from the audience screen. This will prevent them from seeing your talking points.

To do this, follow the steps outlined below:

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

Presenter View will now only be visible on your screen.

You can also turn off Presenter View for both screens by following the steps below:

Presenter View has now been disabled on both monitors.

Turn Off Presenter View in PowerPoint for Mac

Things will work a little differently if you use a Mac, but don’t worry. We will guide you on how to turn off Presenter View PowerPoint on your Mac device.

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

  • This will disable Presenter View and revert you to the mirrored slide display.

Turn Off Presenter View PowerPoint Zoom

Presenter View usually works best when using two different monitors; one for the presenter and another for the audience. That way, the talking points can only be viewed by one party. With more and more meetings taking place on Zoom, the dual-monitor approach can get tricky because the presenter shares their screen with the group. Let’s find out how to turn off Presenter View in Zoom.

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

Presenter View has now been turned off, and you can stop sharing your presentation and exit the slideshow. The screen sharing will stop, and Zoom will pop back up.

It’s important to remember to stop sharing your presentation before exiting PowerPoint. If you don’t, whatever was displayed on the presenter’s screen will be shown to the Zoom participants.

Turn Off Presenter View in PowerPoint Teams

Microsoft updated Teams and made Presenter View the default mode when sharing presentations. The feature is quite useful as it allows participants to move back and forth within slides without disrupting the presenter. They, however, did not provide a way to turn off Presenter View on this platform. If you are looking to disable the feature, there is a keyboard workaround that you can utilize for that purpose.

To turn off Presenter View PowerPoint in Teams:

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

Turn Off Presenter View in Google Meet

If you are holding your presentation on Google Meet, you have the option to share your entire screen, a window, or a tab. For Presenter View, you can opt to share one window with the audience while keeping a second window with your notes private.

To turn off Presenter View, all you need to do is close the window or tab that contains your speaker note. Do this by navigating to the bottom right corner of the page and clicking on “You are presenting,” then tap “Stop Presenting.” You will now have turned off Presenter View in Google Meet.

Turn Off Full Screen Presenter View in PowerPoint

Perhaps instead of turning off Presenter View, you would prefer to exit full-screen mode instead. This would allow you to have your speaker notes handy while still having access to your toolbar and other applications.

To do this, you would need to display Presenter View in a window instead of on the full screen. Here’s how to go about doing that:

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

Now PowerPoint will open in a window instead of full screen, and you will be better able to manage your Presenter View mode.

Additional FAQs

What do you do if presenter view is showing up on the wrong monitor.

Sometimes things might get mixed up, and your presentation notes appear on your audience screen. You can quickly fix this by:

1. Click on “Display Settings” on your PowerPoint screen.

2. At the top of the “Presenter Tools” page, select “Swap Presenter View and Slide Show.”

Turn Off Presenter View PowerPoint

PowerPoint’s Presenter View is an amazing feature that allows you to present without losing the option to refer to your notes. However, there may be instances where you would rather have the feature off. As we have seen, disabling Presenter View can be an easy process to navigate once you know where to look.

How often do you use Presenter View when delivering virtual presentations? Let us know in the comments section below.

Related Posts

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

Disclaimer: Some pages on this site may include an affiliate link. This does not effect our editorial in any way.

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

Lee Stanton May 31, 2023

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

Lee Stanton March 21, 2023

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

Lee Stanton March 7, 2023

Send To Someone

Missing device.

Please enable JavaScript to submit this form.

How to Show or Hide the Speaker Notes in Powerpoint 2013

Even if you have spent an extraordinary amount of time crafting the perfect presentation about a topic that you know inside and out, it can be difficult to give a presentation. Public speaking can be overwhelming, and large presentations often contain a high number of slides, making it difficult to memorize everything you want to say.

Fortunately Powerpoint 2013 lets you add speaker notes to your slides , which can serve as a helpful way to make sure you hit all of your speaking points. Our guide below will show you how to show or hide the speaker notes below your slides, depending on whether you need to edit them, or if you would prefer they not be visible when you are editing your slides.

How to View or Hide Speaker Notes Below Slides in Powerpoint 2013

The steps in this article will show you how to control the display of the speaker notes that appear below your slides when you are in the editing view in Powerpoint 2013. This will allow you to toggle them off if you want to make your slides bigger, or you can display them if you want to view or edit the notes.

Need to share your presentation with someone that doesn’t use Powerpoint ? Our article on how to save Powerpoint with PDF as notes can show you one option.

Step 1: Open your presentation in Powerpoint 2013.

Step 2: Click the View tab at the top of the window.

how to show speaker notes in powerpoint 2013

Step 3: Click the Notes button in the Show section of the ribbon. The speaker notes are displayed below the slide, at the bottom of the window , when they are enabled. Additionally you can see the speaker notes at the side of the screen when you are in presenter view .

how to hide speaker notes in powerpoint 2013

While the steps above will help you to control the display of your speaker notes, you might be interested in controlling whether or not they print as well. Find out how to print your slides with speaker notes if you want to be able to follow along while you present, or if you want to give your audience a copy of the presentation that includes your speaker notes.

Matthew Burleigh Solve Your Tech

Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.

After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.

His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.

Read his full bio here.

Share this:

Featured guides and deals

You may opt out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

Related posts:

  • How to Save Powerpoint as PDF with Notes
  • How to Show Speaker Notes in Google Slides
  • Can I Convert My Powerpoint to Google Slides?
  • How to Get Speaker Notes on Google Slides iPad: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Make a Powerpoint Slide Vertical in Powerpoint 2013
  • How to Drag Slides From One PowerPoint to Another: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Set Time for Slides in Powerpoint
  • How to Check Word Count on Powerpoint 2010
  • How to Unhide a Slide in Powerpoint 2013
  • How to See Notes on PowerPoint on the Laptop: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How Do I Print Just the Notes in Powerpoint 2010?
  • How to See Speaker Notes on iPad Google Slides: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Loop a Slideshow on Powerpoint 2013
  • How to Make PowerPoint Notes Invisible While Presenting
  • How to Change the Font on All Slides in Google Slides
  • How to Delete Multiple Slides in Google Slides
  • How to Insert Slides from Another Presentation in Powerpoint 2010
  • How to Change Hyperlink Color in Powerpoint 2010 (An Easy 5 Step Guide)
  • Roku 2 (4210R) vs Roku 3 (4230R)
  • How to Convert a PowerPoint to Word and Edit with Ease

How to Show or Hide the Speaker Notes in Powerpoint 2013: A Guide

To show or hide speaker notes in PowerPoint 2013, you simply need to go to the ‘View’ tab on the ribbon, then click on ‘Notes’ to toggle them on or off. This will either display or hide the notes pane at the bottom of the PowerPoint window.

When you complete this action, the speaker notes will either become visible at the bottom of your PowerPoint slides, allowing you to reference them during your presentation, or they will be hidden, giving you a cleaner slide view.

Introduction

PowerPoint 2013 is a powerful tool for creating engaging presentations, and one of its many features is the ability to add speaker notes. These notes can be an invaluable aid when presenting, as they provide a space to jot down reminders, additional information, and cues that you might need while presenting. They’re like a trusty sidekick, whispering in your ear just when you need them. But what if those notes are a little too chatty, or you want to clean up your view? That’s where the ability to show or hide your speaker notes comes in handy.

This feature is relevant to anyone who uses PowerPoint to present, whether you’re a student, a business professional, or an educator. Knowing how to manage your speaker notes can make the difference between a smooth, well-delivered presentation and one that’s a bit more…let’s say, improvisational. Plus, let’s not forget the peace of mind that comes with decluttering your workspace!

Step by Step Tutorial to Show or Hide Speaker Notes in PowerPoint 2013

The following steps will guide you through the process of toggling your speaker notes on or off in PowerPoint 2013.

Step 1: Open your PowerPoint presentation

Open the PowerPoint presentation in which you want to show or hide the speaker notes.

Once you have your presentation open, you’re ready to control the visibility of your notes.

Step 2: Click on the ‘View’ tab

On the ribbon at the top of PowerPoint, click on the ‘View’ tab to see the various view options.

The ‘View’ tab is where you’ll find all the tools you need to adjust how your slides are displayed.

Step 3: Click on ‘Notes’

Within the ‘View’ tab, you’ll find the ‘Notes’ button. Click on this button to toggle the speaker notes on or off.

Clicking the ‘Notes’ button will immediately show or hide the notes pane. It’s like flipping a switch to reveal your hidden thoughts—or conceal them from prying eyes.

BenefitExplanation
Enhances Presentation FlowHaving your notes visible can help guide you through your presentation, ensuring you cover all key points.
Clean Slide ViewHiding speaker notes can declutter your workspace, allowing for better focus on slide content.
FlexibilityThe ability to toggle the visibility of speaker notes gives presenters control over how they use PowerPoint.

Speaker notes are a great way to keep your presentation on track. They serve as a roadmap, ensuring you hit all the important landmarks along your journey.

A clear workspace is like a clear mind—it helps you focus on the task at hand, which, in this case, is delivering an awesome presentation.

Flexibility is the name of the game. Whether you want your trusty sidekick’s advice or prefer to go it alone, you’re in the driver’s seat.

DrawbackExplanation
Risk of OverrelianceRelying too much on speaker notes can make presentations feel scripted and reduce eye contact with the audience.
Potential DistractionVisible notes can be a distraction if they contain too much information or are poorly organized.
Technical DifficultiesTechnical issues could arise, such as notes not displaying correctly or at all, which could disrupt the presentation flow.

Just like training wheels on a bike, speaker notes are great for support, but eventually, you want to ride without them.

Too much of a good thing can be bad, and that includes speaker notes. Keep them tidy, folks!

Technology can be fickle, so make sure you have a backup plan, like a printed copy of your notes, just in case your digital ones decide to take the day off.

Additional Information

When working with speaker notes in PowerPoint 2013, there are a few extra tidbits that can enhance your experience. For instance, did you know that you can resize the notes pane? Just hover over the top border of the pane until your cursor changes to a double arrow, then click and drag to adjust the size. This can be particularly useful if you have extensive notes and need more space to view them.

Another helpful tip is to use the ‘Notes Page’ view if you want to see how your notes will appear when printed. To access this view, click on the ‘View’ tab, then select ‘Notes Page.’ Here, you’ll get a full-page view of each slide alongside its corresponding notes.

Remember, while speaker notes can be a fantastic aid, they should complement your presentation, not carry it. You’re the star of the show, after all. Strike a balance between well-prepared notes and the ability to engage with your audience directly. And always ensure your notes are clear, concise, and easily readable at a glance.

  • Open your PowerPoint presentation.
  • Click on the ‘View’ tab.
  • Click on ‘Notes’ to show or hide the speaker notes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i print my speaker notes in powerpoint 2013.

Yes, you can print your speaker notes. Simply go to ‘File,’ then ‘Print,’ and under ‘Settings,’ choose ‘Print Layout,’ then ‘Notes Pages.’

Is there a shortcut to toggle speaker notes?

While there is no direct shortcut, you can quickly access the ‘View’ tab by pressing Alt + W on your keyboard, then pressing ‘P’ to toggle the notes pane.

Can I edit my speaker notes while presenting?

Yes, you can edit your speaker notes during the presentation by accessing the notes pane and making changes as needed.

Are speaker notes visible to the audience during a presentation?

No, speaker notes are not visible to the audience. They are only visible to the presenter in Presenter View or on your computer screen.

How can I make my speaker notes private during a presentation?

To keep your speaker notes private, use the Presenter View, which shows the notes only on your screen, not on the projection that the audience sees.

Showing or hiding speaker notes in PowerPoint 2013 is a simple task that can have a significant impact on your presentation experience. Whether you need reminders and cues or prefer a minimalist approach, PowerPoint gives you the flexibility to customize your presentation workspace.

Remember, while speaker notes are a helpful tool, your connection with the audience is paramount. So, prepare thoroughly, practice often, and let your speaker notes be the gentle nudge rather than the crutch that carries your performance. Happy presenting!

Matt Jacobs Support Your Tech

Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.

His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related Posts

  • How to Show Speaker Notes in Google Slides: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Hide the Speaker Notes in Google Slides: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Print with Speaker’s Notes in Powerpoint 2013: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Hide a Slide in Powerpoint 2010: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Save Powerpoint as PDF with Notes: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How Do I Print Just the Notes in Powerpoint 2010: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Rotate a Powerpoint Slide Presentation
  • How to Hide Background Graphics in Powerpoint 2013: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to End Powerpoint on Last Slide in Powerpoint 2010: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Delete a Slide in Powerpoint 2010: Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Download a Google Slides Presentation as a Powerpoint File
  • Can You Save a Powerpoint as a Video in Powerpoint 2013? Find Out Here!
  • How to Put Embedded Youtube Video in Powerpoint 2010: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Make a Powerpoint Slide Vertical in Powerpoint 2013: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Embed a YouTube Video in Powerpoint 2013: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Loop a Slideshow on Powerpoint 2013: Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Remove Animation from Powerpoint 2010: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Change Slide Size in Powerpoint 2016
  • How to Add a New Slide in Google Slides: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Check Word Count on Powerpoint 2010: A Step-by-Step Guide

Get Our Free Newsletter

How-to guides and tech deals

You may opt out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

Free All-in-One Office Suite with PDF Editor

Edit Word, Excel, and PPT for FREE.

Read, edit, and convert PDFs with the powerful PDF toolkit.

Microsoft-like interface, easy to use.

Windows • MacOS • Linux • iOS • Android

banner

  • Articles of PPT

How to Share PowerPoint Without Showing Notes (Step-By-Step)

PowerPoint is a powerful productivity tool used for creating business proposals, project management, and academic content. However, when sharing presentations, the need for privacy arises, especially for personal notes. This guide offers practical steps on how to share PowerPoint without showing notes, ensuring both sharing and privacy are well-balanced.

How to Share PowerPoint Without Showing Notes

If you want to share your PowerPoint presentation on Zoom without showing your notes to the audience, you have several options to do so. In this article, you will learn how to hide, remove, or make your notes invisible during your presentation.

Hiding all notes with a single click

One of the easiest ways to share your PowerPoint presentation without showing your notes is to hide them with a single click. This method will make your notes disappear from the screen, but they will still be saved in your PowerPoint file. You can use this method if you don’t need to see your notes during your presentation, or if you want to quickly hide them before sharing your screen.

In this section, we will learn how to hide all notes in PowerPoint:

Step 1: Open the Presentation that needs its notes hidden in PowerPoint.

Step 2: Locate the Notes button on the Status bar at the bottom of the page.

Step 3: A single click suffices to hide notes across all slides seamlessly.

Make PowerPoint notes invisible during the Presentation

Another way to share your PowerPoint presentation without showing your notes is to make them invisible during your presentation. This method will allow you to see your notes and slides on your own screen, while the Zoom meeting participants only see your slides. To use this method, you need to have an additional monitor or a virtual desktop app like Spaces.

You will also need to adjust the display settings of your monitors and the slide show options of your PowerPoint. This method is useful if you want to have more control over your presentation and see your notes without switching windows.

Step 1: Attach your computer to an additional monitor.

Step 2: Open the desired PowerPoint presentation for editing.

Step 3: On the Slide Show tab, select "Show Presenter View" in the Monitors section.

Step 4: This will open the Display Settings panel in the Windows Control Panel.

Step 5: In the Display Settings panel, navigate to the "Monitor" tab.

Step 6: Pick the icon representing the monitor where you intend to view your presentation notes.

Step 7: Check the box marked "This is my primary monitor". If it's already selected, proceed to the next step.

Step 8: Opt for the monitor icon corresponding to the screen where your presentation notes should remain concealed (the one visible to your audience).

Step 9: Choose "Extend my Windows Desktop onto this monitor" and press "OK". Your second monitor should now be listed in the Show On options on the Slide Show tab.

Step 10: Lastly, navigate to the View tab and click "Slide Show" in the Presentation Views group to initiate your presentation.

Delete Notes entirely from all Slides in a Presentation

Do you want to delete notes from your PowerPoint presentation completely? This can be useful if you want to reduce the file size, protect your privacy, or avoid any errors or inconsistencies in your notes. There are different ways to delete notes from PowerPoint, but one of the simplest methods is to use the Document Inspector.

The Document Inspector allows you to check your presentation for any hidden or personal information, such as notes, comments, or metadata. By using the Document Inspector, you can remove notes from all the slides in your presentation at once. Let’s learn how to remove notes from PowerPoint before sharing the file with others:

Step 1: Launch PowerPoint and access the "File" tab in the screen's upper left corner.

Step 2: Navigate to the left sidebar and click "Info", then select "Check for Issues".

Step 3: In the Check for Issues drop-down menu, choose “Inspect Document”, this will open a Document Inspector window.

Step 4: Inside the Document Inspector window, choose "Inspect".

Step 5: If any notes are detected, they'll be highlighted during inspection. Click "Remove All" to remove any notes present in the Presentation.

Step 6: Upon removal, click on “Close” to close the window. Your presentation is now devoid of notes, ready to be shared seamlessly.

You have learned how to share your PowerPoint presentation on Zoom without showing your notes using three different methods. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on your situation and preferences.

Use Word, Excel, and PPT for FREE, No Ads.

Boost your professional productivity by 10x with WPS's abundant free PPT templates.

Microsoft-like interface. Easy to learn. 100% Compatibility.

Free Alternative Choice——WPS Office

WPS Office represents a versatile tool for productivity, providing users with the opportunity to experience the best of both worlds. This entails enjoying the convenience and luxury of an all-in-one office suite that seamlessly incorporates AI integration, all at no cost. It effortlessly adapts to Microsoft Office tools, guaranteeing a smooth and hassle-free experience for users.

The availability of a mobile application further enhances the utility of its advanced features, allowing users to maximize their productivity even while on the move. The software's commitment to exceptional customer service, available around the clock, adds to its allure. Notably, its user-friendly design contributes significantly to the tool's overall accessibility and ease of use.

How to download WPS Office?

Step 1: Start by opening your web browser and visiting the WPS Office website. Once you're there, click on the "Download" icon situated in the middle of the page.

Step 2: Once you've finished downloading the file, simply give it a double-click. This will kick off the installation process automatically.

Step 3: Now that the installation is complete, you're all set to begin using WPS Office.

1. Can I share a PowerPoint presentation without sharing the speaker notes?

Yes, you can share a PowerPoint presentation while keeping your speaker notes private, ensuring flawless presentation while maintaining the confidentiality of private speaker notes. You can achieve this by clicking on the Presenter View in the Slide Show tab. It's a function that allows you to see your slides, notes, and a timer on your screen while your audience only sees the slides on a monitor or screen.

2. What should I do if the shared PowerPoint presentation looks different on other devices?

There are a few reasons why a shared PowerPoint presentation might look different on other devices. Here are some things to check:

Font compatibility

Screen Resolution

Display Settings

Software Compatibility

Elevating Your Presentation Privacy with Ease

In this article, you discovered a valuable technique for how to share PowerPoint without showing Notes while upholding your privacy. This involves a clever way of keeping your personal notes private, without the need for direct sharing. To implement this solution, the WPS Office software stands out as the perfect tool, offering a user-friendly platform to seamlessly put these concepts into practice. Don't hesitate to download WPS Office now and start applying this effective approach.

  • 1. How to Share PowerPoint On Teams without Showing Notes
  • 2. How to Share PowerPoint on Zoom Without Showing Notes (In Easy Methods)
  • 3. How to Share a PowerPoint Presentation on Zoom: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • 4. How to Share PowerPoint on Teams: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • 5. Zoom: Sharing PowerPoint without Showing Notes On Mac
  • 6. How to Fix Export to PowerPoint Not Showing Up in Word ( Easy & Quick)

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

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

Stack Exchange Network

Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow , the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers.

Q&A for work

Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search.

Is there a way to hide the notes pane in powerpoint 2007's normal view?

I want this away altogether - not dragged as wee as it can be, but gone.

enter image description here

  • microsoft-powerpoint
  • microsoft-powerpoint-2007

Pete's user avatar

  • When you drag it down completely it's barely visible (just a few pixels, at least in PPT 2010). Why do you want it gone? –  Karan Commented Oct 16, 2012 at 3:15
  • You're correct, it is barely present on screen when collapsed. I like to keep my interface as minimal as possible for a given task. It seems like something a user should have control over. –  Pete Commented Oct 16, 2012 at 14:05

2 Answers 2

Go to Options (from the File Menu) and choose "Advanced" on the left. In the "Display" section there is a configuration option called "Open all documents using this view". Change that to "Normal - outline and slide".

Note: After choosing OK, you may need to close your powerpoint document and then reopen it for the changes to take effect.

Avi Shmidman's user avatar

  • 1 I'm looking for a solution that removes it entirely from the interface, including the separator. If I understand correctly the solution you've provided does have it collapsed by default, and that is definitely and improvement. Thanks! –  Pete Commented Oct 16, 2012 at 14:08

Normal view, by definition, includes the notes pane. As you've seen you can minimize it but not remove it altogether. It's simply part of the view.

If you want just the slide (no thumbnails, outline or notes) you can still get at the old Slide view via a bit of VBA.

Press Alt+F11 to open the VBA editor Press Ctrl + G to open the immediate window if it's not already visible Paste this into the immediate window:

Activewindow.ViewType = ppViewSlide

Press return. Voila. Slide view.

Or, probably more useful, hold down Shift while you click the little Normal view icon in the status/task/whatever bar at the bottom of the screen. This should give you thumbnails or outline plus slide but no notes.

Steve Rindsberg's user avatar

  • Wait ... my bad. Shift + Click Normal view gives you Master view, not Slide view. [bangs head on desk]. Now it's REALLY time to hang it up and go to sleep. –  Steve Rindsberg Commented Oct 26, 2012 at 4:46

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for browse other questions tagged microsoft-powerpoint microsoft-powerpoint-2007 ..

  • The Overflow Blog
  • This developer tool is 40 years old: can it be improved?
  • Unpacking the 2024 Developer Survey results
  • Featured on Meta
  • We've made changes to our Terms of Service & Privacy Policy - July 2024
  • Introducing an accessibility dashboard and some upcoming changes to display...

Hot Network Questions

  • Vilna Gaon's commentary on מחצית השקל
  • Tritone substitution in Haydn string quartet?
  • What are those small note below other ones?
  • A spaceship travelling at speed of light
  • What's the meaning behind Deadpool's joke about Gambit looking like a "superhero version of Hawkeye"?
  • Width of figure caption within outlines
  • Is Heaven real?
  • What purpose did the lower-right "Enter" key serve on the original Mac 128k keyboard?
  • What is so special about JUICE's flyby with Earth and Moon?
  • Does hermeneutics categorize flaws in exegeses? (with reference to an exegesis of Colossians 3:16 and Ephesians 5:19)
  • What's "unregulated baggage"?
  • How different is Wittgenstein's Language game from Contextuality?
  • Do hiveminds need an economy?
  • How to get this fencing wire at a [somewhat] equal tension
  • Why do commercial airliners go around on hard touchdown?
  • Do academic researchers generally not worry about their work infringing on patents? Have there been cases where they wish they had?
  • Branching on whether a color is defined using xcolor or xcolor-material?
  • Is there a pre-defined compiler macro for legacy Microsoft C 5.10 to get the compiler's name and version number?
  • Running the plot of Final Fantasy X
  • Can it be proven from pure logic that at least one thing exists?
  • How to proceed if my manager is ghosting me?
  • Make a GCSE student's error work
  • How to avoid crashing while mountain biking
  • English equivalent to the famous Hindi proverb "the marriage sweetmeat: those who eat it regret, and those who don't eat it also regret"?

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

Art of Presentations

[SOLVED!!] Remove All Notes from PowerPoint! (Even on Mac!)

By: Author Shrot Katewa

[SOLVED!!] Remove All Notes from PowerPoint! (Even on Mac!)

PowerPoint Notes is a powerful tool that can ensure perfect communication throughout a team. With Notes, you can efficiently convey your messages, concerns, suggestions, and/or creative ideas with your colleagues and boss. There will come times when you need to remove those Notes. But, how exactly do you remove notes from PowerPoint?

To remove Notes from PowerPoint, click on “File” and then “Info”. Next, click on “Check for Issues” and then “Inspect Document”. Finally, select “Annotations”, “Comments” and “Notes” and then click “Remove all” to remove all comments from your PowerPoint presentation.

There is more than one way to remove Notes from PowerPoint, in this article we will take a run-through of all the different methods. I will also be highlighting some important things that you should remember. PowerPoint presentations can take long to produce so the more you know, the more time you can save.

For everything that you need to know, keep reading!

A Quick Note Before We Begin – if you want to make jaw-dropping presentations, I would recommend using one of these Presentation Designs . The best part is – it is only $16.5 a month, but you get to download and use as many presentation designs as you like! I personally use it from time-to-time, and it makes my task of making beautiful presentations really quick and easy!

Removing All Notes from PowerPoint on Windows

I can think of a multitude of reasons as to why you would use Notes, and likewise, why you would want to remove them. You will be using the document inspector to do this so once you have gone through the step by step, be sure to check out some important things you need to know about the inspector.

The process for removing notes from PowerPoint is different for Windows and Mac. This is how you remove your Notes from PowerPoint on Windows. Remember to follow each step correctly.

Step 1 – Open the Info option on the File Tab

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

In the first step, click on the “File” tab on the top left corner of your screen.

You will see a screen like the one showcased in the above image. Make sure you are on the “ Info ” option. Under the Info option, click on “ Check for Issues “. When you click on this button, you will be prompted with a few options in a dropdown. Click on “ Inspect Document “

Step 2 – Inspect Document for Notes

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

In order to inspect the presentation, you will be first prompted with a pop-up window with several different options.

Make sure you uncheck everything, and scroll down to the bottom of the window and check only “ Presentation Notes “.

Then, click “ Inspect “.

Step 3 – Remove all Notes from PowerPoint

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

Upon clicking inspect, PowerPoint will basically search for all notes on your presentation file and then prompt you with another pop-up window.

The last step is to click “Remove All” to delete all the notes from your presentation.

It is as easy as that!

Follow the above step by step guide and you should be good to go. Remember, this removes all your Notes.

If you want to remove only certain Notes, you will have to do it individually via your slides. That might take some time but it is unlikely that you would only need to remove “some” notes.

Remove All Notes from PowerPoint on Mac

Sadly, Microsoft PowerPoint doesn’t have a direct option to remove notes from all slides on Mac as the “Inspect Document” option is not provided.

Fortunately, there are ways to work-around this problem!

Firstly, If you do not have too many slides (more than 10-15 slides), I’d just advise you to delete the notes manually by going to each slide one by one and deleting the notes as that would be the fastest. However, if you are stuck with a presentation that has several slides, you can follow one of the following three methods –

Method 1 – Save your Presentation as a PDF

If you want to just get rid of the notes perhaps before you share it with you manager, this method can work great.

The only drawback of this method is that if your presentation has any animations, transitions, or audiovisuals, these won’t work when your PowerPoint presentation is saved as a PDF file.

Nevertheless, let’s look at how you could save your presentation as a PDF –

Step 1 – Click the File option

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

The first step is to click on “ File “. You’ll see a dropdown menu with several options.

Click on “ Save As “

Step 2 – Change File Format to PDF

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

When you choose the “Save As” option, a window will pop-up asking you to choose the location.

Make sure you choose the correct location, and name the file appropriately.

Then, on the “ File Format “, click on the dropdown (which will show PowerPoint by default), and select “ PDF “

Lastly, click “ Save “.

You’ll now have a PDF will that will show just the slides without the notes.

Method 2 – Use a Friend’s Windows PC

Well, if you really want to retain the flexibility to edit the file and retain the animations and transitions, then perhaps a good way to solve this problem would be to take some help from your friend or colleague.

If someone around the office has a Windows PC with a Microsoft Office installed on it, you could just ask them to remove all the notes using the process described above within minutes.

This is perhaps one of the easiest of the three methods .

However, if you don’t have access to a Windows PC and you definitely want to delete notes from PowerPoint, then perhaps method 3 well definitely be the most helpful.

Method 3 – Remove All Notes from Mac by Running a Macro (Advanced)

The only sure-shot way of removing all the notes in one go is by running a macro in PowerPoint.

Although this method is an advanced technique, however, if you follow the below steps, it will be a breeze. Thus, I will make sure to explain the steps in great detail so that you can easily follow along.

So, before we go into the process, I just want to highlight what all we shall be doing in order to solve this issue.

First, we shall be inserting a code (which I shall provide to you) in PowerPoint using the Visual Basic Editor. Then, we shall run the Macro. That’s it! Trust me, it is that simple!

So, let’s look at the detailed steps involved in deleting all notes from PowerPoint on Mac using Macro

Step 1 – Open Visual Basic Editor

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

The first step is to open the visual basic editor on PowerPoint as we shall be adding a few lines of codes to run a macro on PowerPoint.

An important thing to note here – if you are using PowerPoint 2013 or older software versions on Mac, then the visual basic editor will be under the “ Developer ” tab which would be just like any other tab such as Home tab , Insert tab, Design tab etc.

If you are unable to locate the “Developer” tab, then perhaps you will have to enable to make it visible. To do so, simply click on “PowerPoint” next to the apple icon in the top left corner of your screen, then click “Preferences”.

Next, choose “Ribbons & Toolbar”, scroll down on the left part of the window that pops-up, locate and click on “Developer”, and move it under “Customise the Ribbon” section of the window.

If you are using Office 365 or PowerPoint 2016 and above, the Developer ribbon is not available but all the options of this tab are available by default including the visual basic editor for PowerPoint.

To open the visual basic editor, click on “ Tools “. A dropdown menu will open up, click on “ Macro “, and then on “ Visual Basic Editor “.

Step 2 – Add the Code

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

A new window will pop-up. Don’t be intimidated with this window! There are a few basic and simple steps that we need to follow.

First, add a new “ Module ” by clicking on the button for adding a new module (as indicated in the image above). Then, a new blank window with white screen will pop open on the right.

Copy and paste the following code in this window –

Sub Zap() Dim osld As Slide For Each osld In ActivePresentation.Slides With osld.NotesPage.Shapes(2) If .HasTextFrame Then .TextFrame.DeleteText End If End With Next osld End Sub

Once you’re done pasting the code, close the module window by clicking on the red dot on the top left corner of your screen.

Finally, close the visual basic editor window as well.

This was the hard part, and if you have managed to follow along so far, then the rest is going to be a cakewalk!

Step 3 – Run the Macro

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

The last step is to run the Macro that we have newly created.

To run the macro, simply click on “ Tools “. Then, click on “ Macro “, and in the next menu, choose “ Macros “.

For PowerPoint 2013 or older on Mac, you will find the option to run the Macro under the developer tab.

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

A new window will pop-up. Choose “ Zap “, and lastly click “ Run “.

Voila! You will notice that all the notes have been deleted from your PowerPoint File on Mac!

How to Hide Notes in PowerPoint?

Hiding your PowerPoint notes can be handy if you want to keep the notes in your presentation file, but just don’t want to show it to other colleagues during a meeting.

You might also want to hide notes to prevent people from seeing how and why you did certain things in your presentation.

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

Hiding notes is pretty simple. All you need to do is just click on “Notes” at the bottom of your PowerPoint Window (as indicated in the image above) and you will be able to toggle between enabling and disabling the notes section.

How to Recover Deleted Notes in PowerPoint?

Ok, so you or one of your colleagues have made a mistake and have done something that they shouldn’t have while using the inspector. Don’t worry, we have a little trick up our sleeves. First, we need to know where AutoSave files go.

Where are the AutoSave files saved?

Microsoft has implemented a recovery system that allows you to go back and look for previous versions of your work. These are autosaved files. Not many people know about this or how to use it.

To recover Notes, the best way is to recover previous versions of your presentation by accessing the AutoSave files. These files are usually saved in this location: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles

Method 1 -By using AutoRecovery

This method is the easiest and can be done from within the PowerPoint software itself. It is mainly used if you forget to save your presentation. You must be using PowerPoint 2010 or above in order to use this feature.

Whenever you start a new presentation you should always set AutoRecovery to on and have it save at least every 5 minutes.

  • Go to the “File” tab which can be found on the top left. A Drop-down menu will appear.
  • Go to a tab called “Recent”. This will present another menu.
  • Look for an option called “Recover unsaved presentations”.
  • Find the version of your project that you wish to recover, select it.
  • Open the file.
  • Save the presentation in order to make it the default version of your presentation.

Method 2 – Recover your PowerPoint Presentation Manually

If your version of Office does not have the recovery option, You will need to look for the files manually.

  • Go to “File Explorer” through windows explorer.
  • Go to this location C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles
  • Find the version you are looking for. PowerPoint Temp files are named as such “pptxxx.tmp” the xxx is the number of the save.
  • Open the file and save the presentation.

Using the Inspector Tool in PowerPoint

The inspector is a powerful PowerPoint document management tool. Some presentations are just a few short slides while others can be hundreds of slides. When our presentation gets too big, managing it can become a little bit daunting and time consuming. This is how you use the PowerPoint Document Inspector:

“File” >> “Info” >> “Check for issues” >> “Inspect Document ”.

You will now have a small pop-up window where you can easily manage your presentation without having to individually comb through each slide in your presentation. The inspector makes PowerPoint just that little bit more powerful and easy to use.

The thing with using the inspector is you need to make sure that you do not make mistakes because most things done using the inspector can not be undone.

Thus, it is recommended that you save a copy of your presentation every time you are about to open the inspector. This will eliminate a lot of stress.

If you do, however, end up making a mistake with the inspector tool, you can recover your lost data using the AutoRecovery method described above. That said, I wouldn’t want to rely completely on AutoRecovery as I don’t have complete control on what all has been saved and what information does PowerPoint recover.

What all can you do with the Document Inspector Tool?

In the PowerPoint inspector, you can search your presentation for a certain type of content and it will find all of those. You can then remove that content from your presentation. The type of content that can be found is as follows.

  • Personal information such as author name and details.
  • Embedded Documents
  • Content add-ins
  • Comments, Notes, and annotations.
  • Macros, Forms, and ActiveX Controls.

Final Thoughts

I feel like there needs to be easier ways of recovering lost or deleted files. As Microsoft keeps updating its Office products, I am sure that over time they will make it easier. They are constantly working on making their products more efficient and more accessible.

Until then, we need to use the methods mentioned above in this article. They shouldn’t be difficult especially if you follow the steps correctly. The goal of this article was to make your life easier and hopefully, we did.

  • How to Login
  • Use Teams on the web
  • Join a meeting in Teams
  • Join without a Teams account
  • Join on a second device
  • Join as a view-only attendee
  • Join a breakout room
  • Join from Google
  • Schedule a meeting in Teams
  • Schedule from Outlook
  • Schedule from Google
  • Instant meeting
  • Add a dial-in number
  • See all your meetings
  • Invite people
  • Meeting roles
  • Add co-organizers
  • Hide attendee names
  • Tips for large Teams meeting
  • Lock a meeting
  • End a meeting
  • Manage your calendar
  • Meeting controls
  • Prepare in a green room
  • Present content
  • Share slides

Share sound

  • Apply video filters
  • Mute and unmute
  • Spotlight a video
  • Multitasking
  • Raise your hand
  • Live reactions
  • Take meeting notes
  • Customize your view
  • Laser pointer
  • Cast from a desktop
  • Use a green screen
  • Join as an avatar
  • Customize your avatar
  • Use emotes, gestures, and more
  • Get started with immersive spaces
  • Use in-meeting controls
  • Spatial audio
  • Overview of Microsoft Teams Premium
  • Intelligent productivity
  • Advanced meeting protection
  • Engaging event experiences
  • Change your background
  • Meeting themes
  • Audio settings
  • Manage attendee audio and video
  • Reduce background noise
  • Voice isolation in Teams
  • Mute notifications
  • Use breakout rooms
  • Live transcription
  • Language interpretation
  • Live captions
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Presenter modes
  • Call and meeting quality
  • Meeting attendance reports
  • Using the lobby
  • Meeting options
  • Record a meeting
  • Meeting recap
  • Play and share a meeting recording
  • Delete a recording
  • Edit or delete a transcript
  • Customize access to recordings or transcripts
  • Switch to town halls
  • Get started
  • Schedule a live event
  • Invite attendees
  • organizer checklist
  • For tier 1 events
  • Produce a live event
  • Produce a live event with Teams Encoder
  • Best practices
  • Moderate a Q&A
  • Allow anonymous presenters
  • Attendee engagement report
  • Recording and reports
  • Attend a live event in Teams
  • Participate in a Q&A
  • Use live captions
  • Schedule a webinar
  • Customize a webinar
  • Publicize a webinar
  • Manage webinar registration
  • Manage what attendees see
  • Change webinar details
  • Manage webinar emails
  • Cancel a webinar
  • Manage webinar recordings
  • Webinar attendance report
  • Get started with town hall
  • Attend a town hall
  • Schedule a town hall
  • Customize a town hall
  • Host a town hall
  • Use RTMP-In
  • Town hall insights
  • Manage town hall recordings
  • Cancel a town hall
  • Can't join a meeting
  • Camera isn't working
  • Microphone isn't working
  • My speaker isn’t working
  • Breakout rooms issues
  • Immersive spaces issues
  • Meetings keep dropping

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

Present content in Microsoft Teams meetings

When working remotely in Microsoft Teams, you can present content by sharing your screen, your entire desktop, a PowerPoint file, and more.

Start presenting content

Share screen button

Note:  If you're using Teams on the web, you'll be able to share your screen only if you're using Google Chrome or the latest version of Microsoft Edge. Screen sharing isn't available for Linux users.

Desktop

Show your entire screen, including notifications and other desktop activity.

You need to seamlessly share multiple windows.

Window

Show just one window, and no notifications or other desktop activity.

You only need to show one thing and want to keep the rest of your screen to yourself.

PowerPoint Live

Present a PowerPoint file others can interact with.

You need to share a presentation and want others to be able to move through it at their own pace. For info on PowerPoint sharing, see .

Whiteboard

Collaborate with others in real time.

You want to sketch with others and have your notes attached to the meeting.

When you're done sharing, select Stop sharing in your meeting controls. 

To turn off screensharing if your screen locks:

Microsoft Teams more options icon

Turn the  Turn off my camera and mic when my screen locks toggle on.

Restart Teams to activate this setting.

Presenter controls

While you're sharing content, use the controls in the presenter toolbar to keep your presentation engaging and running smoothly. The presenter toolbar is only visible to the person presenting.

To bring the presenter toolbar onscreen:

Image showing screen sharing indicator.

The toolbar will stay in place for a few seconds until you're done adjusting the controls. Then, it'll disappear from view.

Teams Pin Chat icon

Move the presenter toolbar 

To keep the presenter toolbar from blocking important content on your screen, move it to any area on the screen you're sharing.

To move the presenter toolbar:

Drag handle glyph

Drag it anywhere on your screen.

Release the drag handle when you've placed it in the right area.

Tip:  You can also move the toolbar by clicking and holding any area on the toolbar that isn't interactive (e.g., in between presenter controls) and dragging it.

Control your camera and mic

Video call button

Give and take control of shared content

Give control.

If you want another meeting participant to change a file, help you present, or demonstrate something, you can give control to that person. While someone has control, they can make selections, edits, and other modifications to the shared screen.

You'll both be in control of the sharing, and you can take back control anytime.

Caution:  When you’re sharing an app, only give control to people you trust . People you give control can send commands that could affect your system or other apps. We've taken steps to prevent this but haven't tested every possible system customization.

Start sharing your screen.

Take control button

Select the person you want to give control to. Teams will notify them that you’re sharing control.

Select Take back  to take back control.

Take control 

To take control while another person is sharing:

Select Request control . The person sharing can approve or deny your request.

Make selections, edits, and other modifications to the shared screen while you have control.

Select Release control to stop sharing control.

Sharing computer sound lets you stream audio from your computer to meeting participants through Teams. You can use it to play a video or audio clip as part of a presentation.

Audio sharing on button

To learn more, see  Share sound from your computer in a Teams meeting or live event .

All sound from your computer, including notifications, will be audible in the meeting.

Optimize for video

Prevent choppiness or lag when you're sharing high-motion content by optimizing video.

To optimize video, select Optimize  in your presenter toolbar. 

Presenter toolbar with Optimize option highlighted.

Change your layout

When you're sharing content, you can choose from several different layouts to help make your presentation more engaging. 

To change your layout while you're sharing your screen:

Turn your camera on.

Presenter toolbar with Layout option highlighted.

Select the layout you want to use:

Content only : Participants will see the content you're sharing in the main Teams window. They'll still be able to see your video feed next to the content.

Standout : This produces an effect on your background that blocks it and helps you stand out in your video feed.

Side-by-side : This view will place you and another participant side-by-side in the meeting window. This helps draw focus to you and other participants who are speaking during the meeting.

Reporter : This layout isolates you from your video feed and places you in front of the content you're sharing, just like a reporter in front of a scene.

Annotate content

Annotate pen button

To learn more, see Use annotation while sharing your screen in Microsoft Teams .

View participants

After you start presenting, a minimized view of the meeting window will appear next to your shared content. 

People or Show Participants button

Stop sharing

Select Stop sharing in the presenter toolbar to stop sharing your screen and return to the main Teams meeting window.

Share content on a Mac

If you're using a Mac, you'll need to grant permission to Teams to record your computer's screen before you can share. 

You'll be prompted to grant permission the first time you try to share your screen. Select Open System Preferences from the prompt. If you miss the prompt, you can do this anytime by going to Apple Menu > System Settings > Privacy & Security .

Under Screen & System Audio Recording , make sure the toggle next to  Microsoft Teams is turned on.

Go back to your meeting and try sharing your screen again.

Note:  If you're using Teams on the web, make sure you've also granted screen recording permission to your browser.

Zoom in to shared content

To get a better look at shared content, click and drag it to see different areas. To zoom into or out of content someone's sharing during a meeting or call, use the buttons at the lower left of your meeting window: [+] to zoom in and [-] to zoom out. You can also try the following:

Pinch in or out on your trackpad.

Use Teams keyboard shortcuts .

Hold the Ctrl  key and scroll with your mouse.

Note:  Mac trackpads don't support zoom in meetings. If you're on a Mac, use one of the other options. If you're using Linux, giving and taking control of shared content isn't available at this time.

Open shared content in new window

Expand your view by opening shared content in a separate window during your Teams meetings.

To open shared content:

Join your meeting from Teams for desktop .

Help Pop out button

To minimize content, select X  to close the window.

Share content

To share content from your mobile device:

More options button

Choose...

If you want to...

Present a PowerPoint file others can interact with. Choose the PowerPoint you want to share; when you select one, sharing will start automatically.

Take a photo to share or choose one from your gallery. Choose the photo you want to share and select when you're ready to share.

Share live video from your camera. Tap when you're ready to share.

Show your entire screen, including notifications and other activity. You'll be prompted to tap when you're ready to share.

Turn on the toggle to share audio from the content on your screen.

. Whiteboard content will share automatically.

Tap Stop presenting  or Stop sharing when you're done. 

Tip:  To go forward and back in a PowerPoint presentation, swipe in the direction you'd like to go, or tap the forward and back buttons on the bottom of your screen.

Note:  If your role changes from presenter to attendee during a meeting and you're presenting, screensharing will stop.

Zoom in to shared content 

Want to get a better look at shared content?

Pinch in or out to zoom, and tap and drag to see different areas.

Note:  Zoom isn't currently supported when you're sharing photos and videos.

Minimize shared content

You may want to minimize the content someone is sharing in order to better see the people in the meeting on your mobile device. Here's how:

More actions button next to participant's name

Tap  Minimize content from the menu

This will give you a better look at more of the people in the meeting. You'll still see the shared content on the lower portion of your screen.

Mobile meeting screen with content minimized

Use your phone as a companion device in a meeting

Join a meeting on more than one device for more collaboration and content-sharing options.

If you're already in a meeting on your laptop, for example, you can add your phone as a companion device to present files, share live video, and much more. Any device with the Teams mobile app can be added as a companion device—just make sure the devices you're using are signed in to the same Teams account.

There's a lot you can do when you add a companion device to your meeting experience:

Use mobile video to show things that are out of view for remote participants.

Take a photo to share with everyone or pick one from your camera roll.

Use your phone to control a presentation.

Share your mobile screen.

If you can see it on your phone, you can share it in the meeting!

Tip:  For more details, see Join a Teams meeting on a second device .

Add a companion device to a meeting

Open Teams on your mobile phone when you're already in a meeting on another device.

You'll see a message near the top of your screen informing you that you're currently in a meeting on another device, and asking if you want to join it on this one, too. Tap  Join .

A banner in Teams saying that Weekly Design Sync - Tuesday is nearby with the option to join from your mobile device.

You'll then see two options: Add this device , and Transfer to this device . Tap  Add this device .

add this device to meeting

If you join this way, we'll mute your companion device's mic and speaker to avoid causing an echo effect.

When you're ready to share something from the companion device, tap Start presenting at the bottom of the screen. On your other device, you'll be able to see what you're sharing, just like everyone else in the meeting.

When you're finished, tap  Stop presenting , or simply hang up. Your other device will still be connected to the meeting.

Facebook

Need more help?

Want more options.

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

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

Microsoft 365 subscription benefits

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

Microsoft 365 training

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

Microsoft security

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

Accessibility center

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

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

Ask the Microsoft Community

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

Microsoft Tech Community

how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

Windows Insiders

Microsoft 365 Insiders

Was this information helpful?

Thank you for your feedback.

IMAGES

  1. how to hide notes in power point 2016

    how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

  2. How to Hide Notes in PowerPoint While Presenting

    how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

  3. How to Hide Notes in PowerPoint While Presenting? [The Easiest Ways]

    how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

  4. How to Hide and Unhide Slides in PowerPoint (with Shortcuts)

    how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

  5. How to Hide Notes in PowerPoint

    how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

  6. Creating Hide Slides Preset in PowerPoint

    how to hide notes during powerpoint presentation

VIDEO

  1. How to Print PowerPoint with Notes

  2. How To Hide Notes In PowerPoint While Presenting Tutorial

  3. How to Write Notes on PowerPoint Slides

  4. PowerPoint Tips

  5. Hide Speaker Notes In Google Slides While Presenting Tutorial

  6. How to Hide and Delete Slides in Keynote in 60 Seconds

COMMENTS

  1. How to Make PowerPoint Notes Invisible While Presenting

    Step 2: Enable Presenter View. In PowerPoint, click on the 'Slide Show' tab and check the 'Use Presenter View' box. Enabling Presenter View is the key action that hides your notes from the audience. This option is usually found in the 'Monitors' group on the 'Slide Show' tab.

  2. 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.

  3. How to Make PowerPoint Notes Invisible During Presentations

    Step 1. Connect your computer to a second monitor. Step 2. Open the PowerPoint presentation you would like to edit. Step 3. Click "Use Presenter View" in the Monitors group on the Slide Show tab. PowerPoint displays the Display Settings pane of the Windows Control Panel. Step 4.

  4. How to Hide Notes in PowerPoint While Presenting

    Look for the 'Notes' section at the bottom of the screen. Check if notes are turned on from the 'Slide Show' tab. Make sure that the 'Notes' section is not minimized or hidden. Check if there are notes on other slides. By following these steps, you should be able to find your hidden notes in PowerPoint.

  5. How to Make PowerPoint Notes Invisible During Presentations

    Step 6. Click the second monitor icon. This icon corresponds to the monitor or screen on which your audience will be watching your presentation. Select the check box labeled "Extend My Windows Desktop onto This Monitor" and click "OK." This adds the monitor or screen to the Show On list found in the Monitors group on the Slide Show tab.

  6. How to Make PowerPoint Notes Invisible During Presentations

    9. Click "Slide Show" in the Presentation Views group on the View tab to play your presentation. The Notes pane in Microsoft PowerPoint is a handy place to type talking points and other ...

  7. How to Hide Notes in PowerPoint

    To hide notes in PowerPoint, follow these steps. Firstly, open your PowerPoint presentation and navigate to the slide where you want to hide the notes. Then, click on the 'Notes' button at the bottom of the PowerPoint window to open the notes pane. After that, simply delete the notes that you want to hide.

  8. Present on multiple monitors (and view speaker notes privately)

    Deliver your presentation on two monitors. On the Slide Show tab, in the Set Up group, click Set Up Slide Show. In the Set Up Show dialog box, choose the options that you want, and then click OK. If you choose Automatic, PowerPoint will display speaker notes on the laptop monitor, if available. Otherwise, PowerPoint will display speaker notes ...

  9. Edit your notes in Presenter view in PowerPoint

    To open Presenter view in PowerPoint, click the Slide Show tab and select the Use Presenter View check box. 2. Start your slide show. 3. Click the Notes pane in the lower right corner of the PowerPoint window, then start typing. NOTE: You can also press the F6 key to select the Notes pane in Presenter view. When a white outline appears around ...

  10. How To Turn Off Presenter View in PowerPoint

    In PowerPoint, click on the "Slide Show" tab. Locate the "Monitor" group. Uncheck "Use Presenter View.". In the "Monitors" group, click on "Monitor" to display the dropdown ...

  11. How to Show or Hide the Speaker Notes in Powerpoint 2013

    Step 1: Open your presentation in Powerpoint 2013. Step 2: Click the View tab at the top of the window. Step 3: Click the Notes button in the Show section of the ribbon. The speaker notes are displayed below the slide, at the bottom of the window, when they are enabled. Additionally you can see the speaker notes at the side of the screen when ...

  12. How to Show or Hide the Speaker Notes in Powerpoint 2013: A Guide

    Open your PowerPoint presentation. Click on the 'View' tab. Click on 'Notes' to show or hide the speaker notes. Frequently Asked Questions Can I print my speaker notes in PowerPoint 2013? Yes, you can print your speaker notes. Simply go to 'File,' then 'Print,' and under 'Settings,' choose 'Print Layout,' then 'Notes ...

  13. Add speaker notes to your slides

    Add notes while creating your presentation. The Notes pane is a box that appears below each slide. (It is outlined in magenta in the picture below.) An empty Notes pane will prompt you with text that says, Click to add notes. Type your speaker notes there. If you don't see the Notes pane or it is completely minimized, click Notes on the task ...

  14. How to Share PowerPoint Without Showing Notes (Step-By-Step)

    Step 1: Open the Presentation that needs its notes hidden in PowerPoint. Step 2: Locate the Notes button on the Status bar at the bottom of the page. Step 3: A single click suffices to hide notes across all slides seamlessly. Make PowerPoint notes invisible during the Presentation; Another way to share your PowerPoint presentation without ...

  15. Seeing your Speaking Notes in PowerPoint while presenting slides in

    Step 2: Set up the PowerPoint Slide Show in a window. Set up your PowerPoint file to display the Slide Show in the window it is in instead of in full screen mode. PowerPoint refers to this as the "Browsed by an individual" mode or Reading View. To use this mode, on the Slide Show ribbon, click on the Set Up Slide Show button.

  16. Is there a way to hide the notes pane in powerpoint 2007's ...

    Go to Options (from the File Menu) and choose "Advanced" on the left. In the "Display" section there is a configuration option called "Open all documents using this view". Change that to "Normal - outline and slide". Note: After choosing OK, you may need to close your powerpoint document and then reopen it for the changes to take effect.

  17. [SOLVED!!] Remove All Notes from PowerPoint! (Even on Mac!)

    To remove Notes from PowerPoint, click on "File" and then "Info". Next, click on "Check for Issues" and then "Inspect Document". Finally, select "Annotations", "Comments" and "Notes" and then click "Remove all" to remove all comments from your PowerPoint presentation. There is more than one way to remove Notes ...

  18. The taskbar is always shown when in Presentation Mode in PowerPoint

    Try following -. 1. Display the presentation in Slide show mode > Right click > Screen > Show task bar should be unchecked. 2. Open Powerpoint > Slide Show tab > Set Up Slide Show > Make sure that Presented by a speaker (full screen) is selected. Sincerely yours, Vijay A. Verma @ https://excelbianalytics.com. DaveM121.

  19. Hide Notes Pane when sharing Powerpoint slide in Teams

    Thank you for your feedback! We feel your pain and are addressing it with a quick mitigation via a keyboard shortcut for now: try clicking in the slide area, and press "Ctrl+Shift+X". The notes and thumbnail strip should be closed. Using the same keyboard shortcut key again can bring the presenter view back.

  20. Hide or show a slide

    Right-click the current slide and select See All Slides. The screen switches to a thumbnail list of all the slides in the presentation. Select the hidden slide you want to show. The selected slide is shown full-screen and the slide show resumes. If you are using presenter view, your audience won't see the steps you take to select the slide.

  21. Teaching with PowerPoint

    These notes help me remember important information that I want to make sure is covered during the presentation. ... Another feature I frequently use is the 'Hide Slide', this option enables me to have additional content in one only PowerPoint presentation that I can show or hide depending on the audience and how deep I want to dive in the ...

  22. Powerpoint: can you share a presentation but hide the notes so they

    Replies (1) . You can't lock the notes section. You can, however, save a copy of the presentation and then delete the notes, either manually from Note Pages view, or using VBA macros. If you only have to do this to one or two presentations and they're not huge, manually would be best. There's a VBA example here:

  23. Present a design

    Customize your presentation, manage the pages, and have it ready for presenting. In the toolbar, select Present . Select Present from first page , Present from current page , or select Presenter mode if you'd like to access your notes.

  24. Present content in Microsoft Teams meetings

    Present a PowerPoint file others can interact with. You need to share a presentation and want others to be able to move through it at their own pace. For info on PowerPoint sharing, see Share PowerPoint slides in a Teams meeting. Whiteboard. Collaborate with others in real time. You want to sketch with others and have your notes attached to the ...