what is reading view in powerpoint presentation

Byte Bite Bit

What Is Reading View in PowerPoint: Enhance Your Presentation Experience

Reading View in PowerPoint is one of those features that can transform your presentation experience. Imagine being able to view your slides with all animations and transitions while keeping the PowerPoint window resizable. It’s perfect for multitasking or presenting in a small window alongside other applications. Reading View runs your PowerPoint Slide Show in a window instead of full screen. This flexibility means we can adjust the window size to fit our needs—big or small, and still retain a polished presentation look.

We’ve all had those moments where a full-screen presentation feels overwhelming, or we need to keep notes handy. Reading View offers a simplified control panel and allows for easy navigation between slides. Whether for reviewing your own work or presenting to an intimate audience, this feature ensures everything runs smoothly. PowerPoint offers many views, but this one strikes a balance between functionality and convenience.

For those of us frequently using PowerPoint, this feature is a game changer. No more struggling with exiting full-screen just to access other files or applications. Plus, our animations and transitions still hold their charm without compromising the size of our presentation window. It’s as if PowerPoint knew exactly what we needed and delivered it neatly packaged in Reading View.

• 1.1 Understanding Normal View
• 1.2 Using Slide Sorter View
• 1.3 Mastering Slide Show View
• 1.4 Working with Reading View
• 1.5 Navigating Outline View
• 1.6 Accessing Notes Page View
• 2.1 Keyboard Shortcuts Overview
• 2.2 Employing Navigation Techniques
• 2.3 Utilizing the View Tab and Ribbon
• 3.1 Incorporating Effective Transitions and Animations
• 3.2 Utilizing Speaker Notes and Presenter View
• 4.1 Creating Accessible PowerPoint Presentations
• 4.2 Leveraging PowerPoint for Different Screen Sizes

Exploring PowerPoint Views

When working with PowerPoint, choosing the right view can dramatically streamline our work and enhance the presentation experience. Each view serves a unique purpose, aiding in different tasks like design, organization, and delivery.

Understanding Normal View

Normal View is the workhorse of PowerPoint. We spend most of our time here when creating and editing slides. This view splits the screen into three sections: the slide pane, the thumbnail pane, and the notes pane.

Using Slide Sorter View

Slide Sorter View helps us visualize the entire presentation flow. It displays all slides as thumbnails, making it perfect for rearranging and organizing.

Key Benefits:

• Quickly reorder slides
• Easily identify problematic transitions
• Efficiently apply transitions and animations

Dragging and dropping slides is a breeze here. Additionally, we can view slide timings and transitions efficiently. It’s our go-to view for getting the big picture.

Mastering Slide Show View

Slide Show View is designed for delivering presentations. In this view, each slide is displayed full screen, one after another.

We can navigate through slides using a click or arrow keys.

Here’s why it matters:

• Ensures smooth transitions
• View animations as they will appear
• Focuses undivided attention

For polished presentations, this view lets us check everything in context.

Working with Reading View

Reading View is excellent for reviewing a slide show within the PowerPoint window without entering full-screen mode.

This view shows the presentation similar to Slide Show View but keeps us within the familiar PowerPoint interface. We can easily jump back to editing without exiting the view, making it ideal for last-minute reviews.

Navigating Outline View

Outline View is indispensable for organizing content. This view focuses on text rather than design, displaying a text-based outline of our slides on the left pane.

It’s perfect for restructuring our thoughts and ensuring our presentation has a logical flow. We often use it for drafting and refining our narrative.

Accessing Notes Page View

Notes Page View enables us to see our slides along with the corresponding notes. This is highly beneficial when preparing to deliver a presentation as we can see what slides will look like along with any cues or talking points.

• Print speaker notes
• Prepare talking points
• Review slide content with notes in context

Printing out the notes pages can be quite handy for rehearsals and actual presentations, especially if we prefer physical copies of our prompts.

Navigating Within PowerPoint

Navigating within PowerPoint is crucial for effectively managing and viewing presentations. Here’s how we can utilize keyboard shortcuts , navigation techniques , and the View tab and Ribbon to streamline this process.

Keyboard Shortcuts Overview

Keyboard shortcuts are a life-saver for efficient navigation in PowerPoint. They enable us to quickly move between slides and perform various actions without lifting our fingers off the keyboard.

Learning these shortcuts can significantly cut down the time it takes to manage and review a presentation. Our productivity skyrockets when we don’t have to reach for the mouse constantly.

Employing Navigation Techniques

Mastering various navigation techniques in PowerPoint ensures we can quickly and effortlessly access different parts of our presentation. Apart from keyboard shortcuts, the Status Bar offers quick access to different views like Slide Sorter and Slide Show .

If we’re in Reading View and wish to close it, simply clicking Esc is our best friend. For more control, Context Menus (right-click) often offer navigation options based on where we are in the presentation.

So whether we use keyboard shortcuts or the menu options, having multiple navigation techniques up our sleeve allows for a smoother experience.

Utilizing the View Tab and Ribbon

The View tab on the Ribbon holds the keys to multiple viewing options, making navigation intuitive. Upon clicking the View tab , we see several view modes such as Normal, Slide Sorter, and Reading View .

Pro tip: If we need a quick peek at the slide sequence, Slide Sorter View gives a thumbnail overview.

Switching between these views can be done by clicking the “View” tab, and selecting our desired view mode from the Ribbon. This flexibility ensures that whether we are editing, reviewing, or presenting, we have the right tools at our fingertips.

By leveraging the View tab and Ribbon, we gain a powerful method of adapting our workspace to meet any presentation need.

Enhancing Presentations

To create compelling and effective presentations, we need to pay close attention to both the visual and functional elements. By utilizing transitions, animations, and effective tools like speaker notes and Presenter View, we can significantly enhance our presentations.

Incorporating Effective Transitions and Animations

Animations and transitions play a crucial role in maintaining audience engagement. Simple yet polished transitions can guide the audience’s focus and make the presentation flow smoothly. It’s easy to overdo animations, so using them sparingly and consistently is essential.

Here are a few tips:

Types of Transitions:

• Fade : Smooth and professional.
• Push : Adds a bit of movement.
• Wipe : Clean and dynamic.

Types of Animations:

• Entrance : Introduce new elements.
• Emphasis : Highlight key points.
• Exit : Remove elements to minimize clutter.

Balancing simplicity with visual interest keeps the audience focused on the content, not just on fancy effects.

Utilizing Speaker Notes and Presenter View

Utilizing speaker notes and Presenter View can transform our presentation delivery. Speaker notes are ideal for jotting down key points, reminders, or additional details that enhance the spoken portion of our presentation.

Using Presenter View, we can manage our presentations more efficiently:

Features of Presenter View:

• Speaker Notes : View notes without the audience seeing them.
• Timer : Track your presentation time to stay on schedule.
• Thumbnails : Easily navigate through slides.

These features ensure that we are well-prepared and can present our content confidently, keeping our audience engaged and informed.

Maximizing Accessibility and Usability

To ensure our PowerPoint presentations are effective for all, we need to make them accessible and usable. This involves creating inclusive designs and optimizing the presentation for various screen sizes.

Creating Accessible PowerPoint Presentations

We must make our PowerPoint presentations accessible for people with disabilities. Accessibility Checker is a feature that helps us identify and resolve potential issues. Using built-in slide designs ensures a correct reading order and improves usability for screen readers.

It’s essential to arrange elements in the Selection Pane following a reverse order to guide screen readers accurately. Adding alt text for all images and groups of objects enables visually impaired users to grasp the content better.

Another critical aspect is choosing contrasting colors to enhance readability. Colors should be carefully selected to avoid any confusion for those with color vision deficiencies. By adhering to these practices, we can create PowerPoint presentations that are inclusive and engaging for everyone.

Leveraging PowerPoint for Different Screen Sizes

Presentations should be designed to look good on different screen sizes. Adjusting the aspect ratio avoids black bars and ensures full utilization of the screen. For example, using a 16:9 aspect ratio is often suitable for modern widescreens.

Full screen mode provides an immersive experience, ideal for large displays. We should test our slides on various devices to check compatibility. Utilizing scalable vector graphics (SVG) instead of raster images ensures clarity on all screen resolutions.

Another tip is to use responsive design principles. Text and elements should adjust gracefully to different display sizes, providing an optimal viewing experience whether on a monitor, laptop, or mobile device. By following these guidelines, our PowerPoint presentations will be effective across a range of screens.

Related posts:

• How to Do Hanging Indent on PowerPoint: Step-by-Step Formatting Guide
• How to Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint: Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Add a Video to PowerPoint: Step-by-Step Tutorial
• How to Add Speaker Notes in PowerPoint for Effective Presentations
• How to Add Music to PowerPoint: A Step-by-Step Guide for Seamless Presentations
• How to Curve Text in PowerPoint: Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Record a PowerPoint Presentation: Step-by-Step Guide for Professionals
• How to Crop a Picture into a Circle in PowerPoint: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Copy a Slide from One PowerPoint to Another: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Save PowerPoint as Video: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
• How to Make a Picture a Circle in PowerPoint: Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Print Notes in PowerPoint: A Step-by-Step Guide

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Unsupported browser

This site was designed for modern browsers and tested with Internet Explorer version 10 and later.

It may not look or work correctly on your browser.

• Presentations

How to Work With Views in Microsoft PowerPoint

• Bahasa Indonesia

The many views of PowerPoint will help you prepare for your big presentation. 

You're probably accustomed to views like Normal view. But in this tutorial, you'll learn more ways of working with your presentation such as Slide Sorter view, shown here:

Master PowerPoint Views

Here are the most popular views in PowerPoint:

• Normal View . The default PowerPoint workspace, which includes thumbnails for each slide and a larger view of a single slide in the center.
• Outline View . Shows your presentation in an outline style, which is great for reviewing content.
• Slide Sorter View . Perfect for reviewing the order of your slides and re-sequencing them.
• Reading View . An in-window preview of how your presentation will appear, including transitions and animations.

Need Help? Download Our eBook on Making Great Presentations (Free)

We also have a useful compliment to this tutorial. Quickly grab it before you read on. Download our FREE eBook:  The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations . It'll help you write, design, and deliver the perfect presentation. 

How to Work With PowerPoint Views (Quick Video Tutorial)

PowerPoint is a great tool for creating presentations. Views allow you to make edits, reorders slides, edit notes, and work efficiently in PowerPoint. Learn how to use PowerPoint Views in this short video: 

Working With Microsoft PowerPoint Views

In the rest of this tutorial, I cover more details about the major views in PowerPoint for mastering your presentation files and how to get the most out of them. I also touch on more views you can use in PowerPoint as well.

The Bravo PowerPoint Template has over 50 unique slides. It has picture placeholders that make adding images to the slide easy. Plus, this template comes with icons and device mockups.

How to Change Views in PowerPoint

To change views, find the  View  button on PowerPoint's ribbon and click on it. Then, find the section on the left labeled  Presentation Views.  This tutorial will walk you through each of these views and how you can use them.

Now that you know how to switch views, let's find out more about the different PowerPoint views and why you should work through them while building a presentation.

 How to Use PowerPoint Normal View

Normal View is typically the default view for working in Microsoft PowerPoint. This is a general purpose, do-it-all view that you're likely accustomed to. You can think of it as the primary editing view in PowerPoint.

On the left side of PowerPoint's Normal View are thumbnails for each of the slides. You can click to switch between slides, and even drag and drop to reorder them right inside of the sidebar.

I use Normal View in PowerPoint as a starting point for my presentations. It's a general view for creating your presentations from. The stage area is used for building and styling your slides, and you can easily move to a different slides from the sidebar.

After I've spent time putting together my content, it might be time to rethink the sequence of the material. That's where Slide Sorter View comes into play.

Normal View is the default view in PowerPoint, but if you're working in another view you can switch back to Normal View in PowerPoint. Click on View in the PowerPoint ribbon. Then Click the Normal icon.

 Using PowerPoint Outline View

The Outline View in PowerPoint shows your presentation in a traditional, easy-to-read outline. This view puts your main points in the sidebar.

When you switch to Outline View , the sidebar changes its focus to the  content  of your slides. The sidebar doesn't show all the text from the slides, just the major points from your presentation. You can even double click in the sidebar on the outline text to update the slide itself.

I like to use Outline View to review the major points that my presentation should make. As I'm working in Outline View , I'm asking myself a few key questions, like: 

• Are my main ideas clear? 
• Do I focus on them, and not the details? 

Outline View is perfect for this purpose, as it leaves only your key points showing in the sidebar.

Slide Sorter View in PowerPoint

You've nailed down the content in Normal View , and now it's time to think about the order that you'll present your slides. 

Slide Sorter View is a helpful way to re-order the slides in your PowerPoint presentation. Click on Slide Sorter to enter into this view.

When you switch to Slide Sorter View , all your slides will be represented as thumbnails on the stage. You can even change the size of the slides by pulling the zoom slider and view your slides large enough to read their contents.

The great thing is that you can drag and drop these thumbnails to reorder your presentation. I'm often surprised by how much my presentations benefit from simple reordering of the slides.

There's a presentation principle called BLUF, or "bottom line up front." Basically, lead off with the most important point in your entire presentation. Your audience may not have the patience or attention span to follow multiple slides to a conclusion

When you switch to Slide Sorter View , it's a great time to apply the BLUF principle. Make sure that the bottom line (most important facts) are at the very beginning of the presentation. If you've buried the heart of the presentation deep in the slides, drag and drop the key slides closer to the front.

5.  PowerPoint Notes Page View

Speaker notes are one of my favorite PowerPoint tools. Instead of writing your notes down on notecards, you can add them to each slide. You can add speaker notes from either Normal View , or more easily in Notes Page View .

Best of all, these notes won't be viewable to your audience when presenting. You can either print note pages, or they'll be visible in Presentation View (more on that in a moment.)

When you're working in PowerPoint Notes Page View , you'll see the notes you've added to a slide underneath it. You can also double click in the box and add notes on the fly. This preview is what you'll see when you print your notes pages.

If you'd like to find out more about the power of speaker notes, check out this 60 second tutorial on how to use them to your advantage:

6.  When to Use Reading View

You've nailed the sequence, content, and speaker notes for your presentation. Now, it's time to review what your audience will see with PowerPoint Reading View .

Once you enter Reading View , your PowerPoint presentation will cover the entire window. You can use the arrow keys on your keyboard to switch slides. As you progress through the presentation, PowerPoint will play any transitions or animations that you've added to your slides.

Reading View should be your final step while preparing for your presentation in PowerPoint. I always go through each slide in my deck to make sure it appears exactly the way I expect.

To leave Reading View , press the Escape key on your keyboard. There's one more view worth checking out.

7. Presentation View in PowerPoint

Presentation View is what you'll use when sharing your PowerPoint slide deck with an audience. In practice, Presentation View is very similar to what you'll see in Reading View . Use Presentation View when you're ready to share.

One option worth checking out is Use Presenter View , which you can toggle on from the  Slide Show tab. Presenter View is great for dual display options, such as when you're using an external monitor. Your screen will show a preview of the slide, as well as the speaker notes and next slide.

Make Great Presentations (Free eBook Download)

We've got the perfect complement to this tutorial, which will walk you through the complete presentation process. Learn how to write your presentation, design it like a pro, and prepare it to present powerfully. 

Download our eBook: The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations . It's available for free with a subscription to the Tuts+ Business Newsletter. 

Recap and Keep Learning

Think of the various PowerPoint views in this tutorial as different ways to view your presentation. Here's a possible workflow:

• Build your PowerPoint presentation in Normal View .
• Re-sequence the slides in Slide Sorter .
• Review content in Outline View .
• Preview the presentation in Reading View .

PowerPoint sometimes gets a bad rap as an ineffective tool, but when used correctly, it's great for building visual aids for your presentation. If you want to learn more about PowerPoint, check out the resources below:

• Envato Elements has over 350 templates for PowerPoint available for a flat rate with unlimited download.
• The PowerPoint in 60 Seconds series has a great selection of easy-to-learn skills for PowerPoint.
• If you want to learn more about how to build great-looking slides, check out  How to Get Started With Using SmartArt .

More PowerPoint Templates

As you experiment with PowerPoint views, you may be looking for other PowerPoint templates to work with. Here are some curated lists of templates:

The Top Source for PowerPoint Templates (With Unlimited Use)

Envato Elements is a top source for premium PowerPoint templates . It has more than just PowerPoint templates. It has many digital assets. They include images, audio, font, and more.

A subscription is a good value if you make PowerPoint presentations often. To become a subscriber, you need to pay a low monthly fee and have unlimited access to any digital asset you want.

Using a premium template saves you time because it's already mostly made. All you need to do is add your information and images. But if you’re a creative person and are worried that with a premium template, you won’t get to be creative, then don’t be. A good template is fully customizable. You can change the colors, font, or anything else you need.

Use a Premium PowerPoint Template in Your Next Project Today!

Now that you know more about the different views in PowerPoint. Knowing how to use the different views can help you fully use PowerPoint. If you use PowerPoint, try signing up for Envato Elements.

Editorial Note : This tutorial was originally published in March of 2017. It's been updated for accuracy with help from Sarah Joy.

• All-Access Subscriptions
• Business Licensing
• Lightroom Classic
• Photoshop Elements
• Crystal Reports
• Interview Skills
• Resume Skills
• Excel for Lawyers
• Outlook for Lawyers
• QuickBooks for Lawyers
• Word for Lawyers
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Outlook on the Web
• Microsoft Project
• Microsoft Teams
• QuickBooks Online
• QuickBooks Pro
• Video Course Options
• SUBSCRIPTIONS
• Photoshop Elements 2024
• Photoshop Elements 2023
• Photoshop Elements 2022
• Photoshop Elements 2021
• Photoshop Elements 2020
• Photoshop Elements 2019
• Photoshop Elements 2018
• Photoshop Elements 15
• Google Classroom for Teachers
• Google Docs
• Google Drive
• Google Forms
• Google Sheets
• Google Slides
• Mac OS Keyboard Shortcuts
• Excel Formulas and Functions
• Excel Keyboard Shortcuts
• Excel Tables PivotTables and Charts
• Access for Microsoft 365
• Excel for Microsoft 365
• Microsoft Office 365
• Outlook for Microsoft 365
• PowerPoint for Microsoft 365
• Publisher for Microsoft 365
• Word for Microsoft 365
• Access 2021
• Microsoft Office 2021
• Outlook 2021
• PowerPoint 2021
• Publisher 2021
• Access 2019
• Microsoft Office 2019
• Outlook 2019
• PowerPoint 2019
• Publisher 2019
• Access 2016
• Microsoft Office 2016
• OneNote 2016
• Outlook 2016
• PowerPoint 2016
• Publisher 2016
• Microsoft Office 2013
• OneNote 2013
• Outlook 2013
• PowerPoint 2013
• Microsoft Office for iPad
• Word Keyboard Shortcuts
• QuickBooks Pro 2024
• QuickBooks Pro 2023
• QuickBooks Pro 2022
• QuickBooks Pro 2021
• QuickBooks Pro 2020
• QuickBooks Pro 2019
• QuickBooks Pro 2018
• QuickBooks Pro 2017
• QuickBooks Pro 2016
• QuickBooks Pro 2015
• QuickBooks Pro 2014
• Sage 50 Accounting
• Windows 11 and 10 Keyboard Shortcuts
• Chrome OS for Chromebooks
• Word and Excel (Mac) 2022
• Word and Excel (PC/Windows) 2021-2016 and 365
• QuickBooks Desktop (PC/Windows) 2024
• QuickBooks Desktop (PC/Windows) 2023
• QuickBooks Desktop (PC/Windows) 2022-2015
• Windows 11 and 10
• Our History
• Customer Service
• Testimonials
• Lost Password
• Register a Product
• Manage My Account
• Member Login

Try the PowerPoint Course for Free!

Powerpoint reading view – instructions, powerpoint reading view: video lesson.

            This video lesson, titled “ Reading View ,” shows you how to use PowerPoint Reading view. This video is from our complete PowerPoint tutorial , titled “ Mastering PowerPoint Made Easy v.2019 and 365 .”

PowerPoint Reading View: Overview

            PowerPoint Reading view lets you view the presentation’s content as if using Slide Show view, but within the frame of the application window versus full screen. The options you have for advancing through this view are almost identical to the options you have when viewing the presentation in Slide Show View.

            To enter PowerPoint Reading view, click the “Reading View” button in the Presentation View buttons towards the right end of the Status Bar. Alternatively, to enter Reading view in PowerPoint, click the “View” tab of the Ribbon. Then click the “Reading View” button in the “Presentation Views” button group.

            To move to the next slide in PowerPoint Reading view, click directly onscreen, just as when using Slide Show view. Reading view in PowerPoint also provides navigation buttons in the lower-right corner of the Status Bar that you can click to move back and forth through the slides, and access more advanced navigation features.

            To move to the previous or next slides, click the “Previous” or “Next” buttons in the lower-right corner of the Status Bar in Reading view. To view a pop-up menu of other presentation commands, click the “Menu” button in the lower-right corner of the Status Bar in Reading view. Then select the desired choice from the pop-up menu of presentation commands that appears. To exit Reading view in PowerPoint, press the “Esc” key on your keyboard.

A picture of a user selecting commands in a PowerPoint presentation in PowerPoint Reading view.

Instructions on using reading view in powerpoint:.

• To enter Reading view in PowerPoint , click the “Reading View” button in the Presentation View buttons towards the right end of the Status Bar.
• Alternatively , click the “Reading View” button in the “Presentation Views” button group on the “View” tab of the Ribbon.
• To move to the next slide in Reading view , click directly onscreen.
• To move to the previous or next slides , click the “Previous” and “Next” buttons in the lower-right corner of the Status Bar in Reading view.
• If you want to view a pop-up menu of other presentation commands , click the “Menu” button in the lower-right corner of the Status Bar in Reading view.
• Then select the desired choice from the pop-up menu of presentation commands that appears.
• To exit Reading view in PowerPoint , press the “Esc” key on your keyboard.

About Joseph Brownell

Nov 10, 2020

Reading View available in PowerPoint for Mac

• Add our blog to your RSS feed reader" href="/rss/blog.xml" data-bi-name="RSS Subscription" data-bi-id="rss_feed" data-bi-bhvr="120" data-bi-socchn="RSSSubscription" title="Microsoft 365 Insider Blog RSS" target="blank" class="d-inline-block">

Hi, Office Insiders, I’m Ana Parra, a Program Manager on the PowerPoint team. I’m happy to share that Reading View is now available in PowerPoint for Mac. This feature allows you to present your slideshow in a windowed experience.

Reading View

For many of us, sharing our presentations digitally is a daily occurrence. But most screen sharing settings make it hard to see comments or launch other applications while we’re presenting. With this feature, you can now multitask and access other apps while you’re presenting.

How it works

Tips and tricks

Keyboard shortcuts available when in Reading View:

• ESC resumes to Normal view.
• Right arrow and Down arrow keys navigate to the next slide.
• Left arrow and Up arrow navigate to the previous slide.
• When focus is on the last slide, pressing the Right arrow key exits Reading View.

Availability  

The feature is rolling out to Insiders running Version 16.43 (Build 20110804) or later.

We typically release features over some time to ensure that things are working smoothly. This is true for Insiders as well. We highlight features that you may not have because they’re slowly releasing to larger numbers of Insiders. Sometimes we remove elements to further improve them based on your feedback. Though this is rare, we also reserve the option to pull a feature entirely out of the product, even if you, as Insiders, have had the opportunity to try them.

Send us your feedback by clicking the  Feedback  button near the top-right corner in PowerPoint.

Learn what  other information you should include in your feedback  to ensure  it’s actionable and reaches the right people. We’re excited to hear from you! 

Sign up for the Office Insider newsletter and get the latest information about Insider features in your inbox once a month!

Sorry, JavaScript must be enabled to use this app.

The PowerPoint Blog

Slideshow vs. reader views.

In yesterday’s post I captured my sample online slideshow in PowerPoint’s new “Reader View” – which is somewhere between the traditional edit view and a full slide show. My reason was simple, it made it clear the presentation was running on the web.

There are 3 view options with the PPT Web App.

View Options in PowerPoint – A Complete Beginner’s Guide!

By: Author Shrot Katewa

There are many different types of presentations view available in PowerPoint including Normal View, Outline View, Presenter View, and Slide Show View to name a few. All these views serve different purposes and it is important to know how to use them appropriately to get the most out of PowerPoint!

In this article, we will talk about what each type of view does in PowerPoint and how to access them so that you can choose the best for your needs! So, let’s get started!

[ A Quick Note Before We Begin – for this article, I will be using one of the presentation templates from Envato Elements . With Envato Elements, you get access to thousands of presentation designs with unlimited downloads so you never run out of options again. Plus, you get free previews so you know exactly what you’re getting before buying! It is also very affordable. Check out their pricing here ]

1. What are the Different Type of View Options Available in PowerPoint?  

Microsoft PowerPoint is equipped with a variety of Slide View options that can be used for different purposes.

These are the different view options available in PowerPoint –

• Normal View
• Slide Sorter View
• Notes Page View
• Reading View
• Outline View
• Slide Show View
• Presenter View
• Slide Master View

2. How to Access the Different View Modes in PowerPoint?

To access the different view modes in PowerPoint, you have to click on the ‘View’ tab in the ribbon. The 2-step process is described below.

Step-1: Click on the ‘View’ tab

At first, select the ‘View’ tab, which is the second to last tab in the ribbon section of your PowerPoint Window.

Step-2: Select your preferred ‘View Mode’

Once you have access to the ‘View’ tab, you can select your preferred view mode such as the Outline View , Slide Sorter view, Slide Master view, etc. from the Presentation View section or the Master View section. (as shown in the image in step 1)

3. What is the Purpose of Various View Modes in PowerPoint?

Each view mode in PowerPoint has its own purpose. Let’s go through the purposes of the different slide view options one by one below –

1. Normal View

The ‘Normal View’ option is the first option in the ‘Presentation Views’ section of the ‘View’ tab. It is the most commonly used viewing option and is also the default slide view for PowerPoint.

The slides appear on the left of the PowerPoint window in the ‘Slide Navigation’ bar. Thumbnails of the slide are represented as boxes in the ‘Slide Navigation’ bar with its consecutive serial number to the left of it.

The main function of normal view mode in PowerPoint is to navigate through slides in a vertical grid while allowing you to add, design, or edit the slides while getting a preview of the slides on the left.

2. Slide Sorter View

The ‘Slide Sorter’ option gives you an overview of all the slides in your PowerPoint presentation.

The slides are represented as thumbnails as a grid of boxes arranged side by side. The serial number of the slide is given on the bottom left corner of the slide thumbnail.

This option serves the purpose of viewing the slides together in one window making it easier to rearrange and organize them in a quick fashion.

3. Notes Page View

The ‘Notes Page View’ option gives you the view of each slide and its speaker notes in one page.

In this view, the slides appear at the top and the speaker notes are given on the bottom of the two sections. The serial number of the slide is not shown in this view. You can also edit speaker notes from here.

The main purpose of the notes page view in PowerPoint is to preview what each page will look like before you print the slides with speaker notes.

4. Reading View:

The Reading View option allows you to view your PowerPoint presentation without going into Full Screen mode. All the transitions and animations can be seen in this view. The serial number of the slide is given at the bottom right corner of the window.

It is used to preview the slide and review the slides with full focus. This mode also makes other view options easily accessible, which is not the case in ‘Slide Show’ mode where the presentation is shown in the full screen, and the options are not visible on screen.

The reading mode is actually more useful for word documents, as it allows the reader to focus just on the text. In my opinion, it adds little value to a PowerPoint presentation.

5. Outline View:

The ‘Outline View’ shows you the entire outline of your PowerPoint presentation in the ‘Slide Navigation’ bar.

In this view, there is no thumbnail of the presentation. Instead, there is an outline of all the data present in that slide. The serial number of the slide is at the left followed by a small white box that represents a slide and then the outline of that slide.

You can also create an entire slide in the pane of this view by copy and pasting data from Microsoft Word. However, you will have to design the slide separately once the data has been added to each slide.

6. Slide Show View:

The Slide Show View is the view that your audiences are going to see. This view shows each slide of your PowerPoint presentation in full screen.

All the transitions, animation, and multimedia files in your PowerPoint presentation are played here. Consecutive slides can be accessed using the direction keys on your keyboard or by clicking once on the slide.

7. Presenter View:

This is the view that you as a presenter are going to see while the audience is seeing the ‘Slide Show’ view.

Although you can give a presentation even in the slide show view, but it is always recommend to deliver the presentation using the “Presenter View” mode in PowerPoint as it provides you with additional features and benefits!

This view mode in PowerPoint will split the screen in multiple windows. The window on the left represents the current slide that is being displayed (the one that is visible to your audience).

The window in the top right section indicates the next slide in the queue. Whereas, the notes section displays the notes or key points made by each slide. Both, the notes section as well as the next slides window are only visible to the presenter and not to the audience!

The purpose of the “ Presenter View ” is to give the presenter all the aids to be prepared for the next slide and highlight the key points to be made on the current slide while delivering the presentation.

8. Slide Master View:

This view gives you a view of all the layouts used on the slides of your PowerPoint presentation.

The ‘ Slide Master View ’ option allows you to edit all the aspects of the layouts in your presentation such as fonts, background, color, and pretty much everything you can think of.

You can edit all the slide layouts of the presentation. Furthermore, you can also edit the header and footer of the presentation using the “ Slide Master View ” in PowerPoint.

4. How to Open the Presenter View in PowerPoint?  

There are 2 different ways you can enter into Presenter View in PowerPoint –

• Using Slide Show View
• Using the short cut key i.e. Alt+F5

If you are using the Office 365 version of PowerPoint , you can actually directly access the “Presenter View” in the View section. Simply click on “View”. Then, click on “Presenter View”

Let’s look at both the methods quickly –

Method 1 – Using the Slide Show View

Step-1: Click on the ‘Slide Show’ button at the bottom right corner of the screen

At first, you have to click on the ‘Slide Show’ button that looks like a projector screen which is located at the bottom right corner of your PowerPoint window. (as indicated in the image above)

Step-2: Right-click and choose “Show Presenter View”

Once you are in the ‘Slide Show’ mode, using your mouse right-click anywhere on the screen. From the menu that appears, choose the “ Show Presenter View ” option

Method 2 – Using the Keyboard Shortcut

Alternatively, you can press ‘ Alt + F5 ’ on your keyboard and that will immediately open the ‘Presenter View’ mode.

The keyboard shortcut to open the “Presenter View” in PowerPoint on Mac is “Option+Enter” key.

5. How to Change PowerPoint Back to Normal View? 

To change your PowerPoint back to ‘Normal View’ from ‘Slide Show’ mode, ‘Presenter View’ option or the ‘Reading View’ option, all you have to do is simply press the ‘ESC’ button on the keyboard of your computer. This will take you back to Normal View.

If you are using any other view apart from these 3 view modes in PowerPoint, you need to do the following –

If you are in a different viewing option, such as ‘Slide Sorter’ option, or the ‘Reading View’ option then you have to select the ‘Normal View’ option from the ‘View’ tab instead of the ‘Slide Sorter’ option or the different slide view option you are currently on.  

More PowerPoint Related Topics

• How to Crop a Picture in PowerPoint? [Complete Step-by-Step Tutorial!]
• How to Give a Presentation on Zoom? A Helpful Resource!
• What is a Presentation Clicker? [And How to Use it!]
• How to Convert a PowerPoint to PDF? [A Simple Guide!]
• PowerPoint vs Google Slides: Which is Better? [ULTIMATE Test!]
• How to Change Bullet Style in PowerPoint? A Complete Guide

Credit to Pressahotkey (via Freepik) for the featured image of this article

Shortcuts for easy navigating in the Reading view and Slide Show view

Reading view is useful when you would like to see your presentation like it will be shown in the Slide Show view, but the Reading view allows to see the presentation in the current sized window (not a full screen). The options you have for advancing through this view are almost identical to the options you have when viewing the presentation in Slide Show view .

To run the Reading view of your presentation, do one of the following:

• On the View tab, in the Presentation Views group, click the Reading View button:

• Click the Reading View button in the status bar:

You will see your presentation in the Reading view :

To navigate between slides (like in the Slide Show view ), you can use:

• Navigation bar:

• Go to the next slide – just click N
• Go to the previous slide – just click P

To close the Reading view , do one of the following:

• Just click Esc ,
• Select End Show in the Menu of the Reading view navigation bar:

See also this tip in French: Raccourcis facilitant la navigation dans les affichages Lecture et Diaporama .

Please, disable AdBlock and reload the page to continue

Today, 30% of our visitors use Ad-Block to block ads.We understand your pain with ads, but without ads, we won't be able to provide you with free content soon. If you need our content for work or study, please support our efforts and disable AdBlock for our site. As you will see, we have a lot of helpful information to share.

How to work with hidden slides

• PowerPoint Tutorials

Presentation Views in PowerPoint

by DataFlair Team

Expert-led Courses: Transform Your Career – Enroll Now

There are multiple ways a person can view the slides in a presentation. The main advantage of having multiple views is that every view has a special property, a special feature that makes the process of creating an effective and impressive PowerPoint presentation very simple. For every view the first step is common: Click on the ‘View’   tab in the top pane in your PPT window. Further, here is a comprehensive list of different views and the uses of each.

List of PowerPoint Presentation Views:

1. powerpoint normal view:.

• This is the view that your presentation opens up in as soon as you create a new presentation. 
• The advantage of this view is that in this view, editing the slides is very easy. Adding pictures, formatting data, adding tables and graphs, etc., are some other tasks that are available in this view. Basically, all operations are very accessible in this view.

2. PowerPoint Outline view:

• This view shows the outline of each slide in the left pane. 
• The outline of each slide contains the slide title along with the content in the slide. In this view, one can see the overview of the content in every slide in the presentation.

3. PowerPoint Slide sorter view

• To have a look at all slides in one window, the best view option is slide sorter.

• The advantage of this view is that the user can sort (as the name suggests) the slides and rearrange them as required. We can delete the slides with ease in this view.

4. PowerPoint Notes Page view:

• In this view, each slide is presented as a part of a page that also contains the slides notes at the bottom.
• The advantage of this view is that the user can see the slide content as well as the slide notes for each slide. 
• This view can also be imported as a document for the user’s reference.

5. PowerPoint Reading View:

• In the reading view, the user can see each slide as it would be presented to the audience.
• This view allows the user to preview their slideshow.

6. PowerPoint Slide Show View

• It automatically switches to full screen mode and you can no longer edit the presentation.

Another way to shift between views:

In the bottom right corner of your window, you will be able to see an array of small icons. These icons indicate each view. By clicking on any one of the icons, you can quickly switch to that particular mode of view. 

Some useful tips:

• You can press F6 key to swiftly change views in the clockwise direction and Shift + F6 to switch views in the anti-clockwise direction.
• The normal view is also referred to as tri-pane view as it includes three different panes. 
• To switch between outline and slides view, you can use the Ctrl + Shift + F6 shortcut. 
• Each view has its own advantages and purpose. 

The various presentation views are huge highlighting features in PowerPoint. This feature makes the process of creating a PowerPoint presentation easy and time saving. Everyone must take advantage of the multiple presentation views to create awesome presentations.

Did you know we work 24x7 to provide you best tutorials Please encourage us - write a review on Google

Tags: PowerPoint Outline view powerpoint presentation views PowerPoint Reading View PowerPoint Slide Show View PowerPoint Slide sorter view powerpoint views

DataFlair Team

DataFlair Team creates expert-level guides on programming, Java, Python, C++, DSA, AI, ML, data Science, Android, Flutter, MERN, Web Development, and technology. Our goal is to empower learners with easy-to-understand content. Explore our resources for career growth and practical learning.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• International
• Education Jobs
• Schools directory
• Resources Education Jobs Schools directory News Search

12 Children's Stories (Lesson Note & Powerpoint Presentation w/ 10 Reading Questions)

Subject: English

Age range: 3-5

Resource type: Lesson (complete)

Last updated

21 September 2024

• Share through email
• Share through twitter
• Share through linkedin
• Share through facebook
• Share through pinterest

12 Children’s Stories (Lesson Note & Powerpoint Presentation w/ 10 Reading Questions)

• Hermes and Apollo
• Clever Coyote
• How Raven Stole Crow’s Potlatch
• The True Story of Mulan
• The Invisible Warrior
• The Hero Twins
• Happy Together
• The Fox and the Crow
• The Fox and the Goat
• The Fox and the Sick Lion
• Child of Water & Little Blue Rock

Tes paid licence How can I reuse this?

Your rating is required to reflect your happiness.

It's good to leave some feedback.

Something went wrong, please try again later.

This resource hasn't been reviewed yet

To ensure quality for our reviews, only customers who have purchased this resource can review it

Report this resource to let us know if it violates our terms and conditions. Our customer service team will review your report and will be in touch.

Not quite what you were looking for? Search by keyword to find the right resource:

• Use Presenter View Video
• Add speaker notes​ Video
• Practice and time your presentation​ Video
• Record a presentation Video
• Print a presentation Video

Use Presenter View

PowerPoint Presenter View shows you the current slide, the next slide, and your speaker notes, to help you focus while presenting and connect with your audience. 

Select the Slide Show tab.

Select the Use Presenter View checkbox.

Select which monitor to display Presenter View on.

In Presenter View , you can:

See your current slide, next slide, and speaker notes.

Select the arrows next to the slide number to go between slides.

Select the pause button or reset button to pause or reset the slide timer in the upper left.

See the current time to help you pace your presentation.

Select the font icons to make the speaker notes larger or smaller.

Select the annotations pen icon to draw on the screen in real time, or select a laser pointer.

Select the thumbnail icon to see all the slides in your presentation and quickly jump to another slide.

Select the magnifying glass icon to zoom in on a particular part of a slide.

The screen icon let's you make the screen temporarily black to focus the attention on you.

Select END SLIDESHOW when you're done presenting.

Start the presentation and see your notes in Presenter view

Need more help?

Want more options.

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

Microsoft 365 subscription benefits

Microsoft 365 training

Microsoft security

Accessibility center

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

Ask the Microsoft Community

Microsoft Tech Community

Windows Insiders

Microsoft 365 Insiders

Was this information helpful?

Thank you for your feedback.