why can't i share my powerpoint presentation

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‎2022-01-03 11:23 PM

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‎2022-01-06 09:57 AM

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Share a presentation

Share your PowerPoint presentation by saving it to the cloud and sending it to others.

Select Share .

Select where to save your presentation to the cloud.

Choose a permission level.

Select Apply .

Enter names and a message.

Select Send .

Share your PowerPoint presentation with others

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How to share your Microsoft PowerPoint presentation on a Mac, PC, or web browser

• It's easy to share a PowerPoint presentation on your Mac or PC app.
• You can also share a presentation if you use the online version of PowerPoint.
• Sharing a presentation can help you collaborate with friends or coworkers.
• Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories .

When creating Microsoft PowerPoint presentations for work or school, it's often necessary to collaborate with others on your projects.

Thankfully, it's easy to share a PowerPoint presentation no matter what version you use. The process looks fairly similar on both Mac and PC programs, as well as on the online version that can be accessed from any web browser. The online option is helpful if you don't have the Microsoft Office program downloaded to your desktop.

For all of these options, you can add a collaborator (which operates similarly to sharing Google Slides ) or opt to send your file as a presentation or PDF via email. There are also alternative methods, such as sending via social media.

Here's how to share a presentation.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Apple macbook pro (from $1,299.00 at apple), acer chromebook 15 (from $179.99 at walmart), microsoft office (from $149.99 at best buy), samsung chromebook (from $269.00 at amazon), how to share a powerpoint presentation on a pc.

Sharing a presentation on the PC version of PowerPoint should look similar on most computer types. The following steps and accompanying photos detail the process on a Samsung Chromebook.

1. Open the PowerPoint presentation you wish to share on your PC.

2. Click the "Share" symbol in the upper right hand corner of the screen. This should give you the option to share either the full document or just the current slide.

• If you prefer to add a collaborator instead (similar to Google Slides functions), you will need to click the orange button to save a copy of the file to your OneDrive. 

3. Choose how you'd like to share the document or slide as an attachment. You can choose to send an email via Outlook or as a message via Zoom, for example.

Additionally, when you first launch the program, you can also find a "Share" tab on the left hand side. This will provide you with the same options for sharing a file.

How to share a PowerPoint Presentation on a Mac

1. Open the PowerPoint presentation on your Mac desktop or laptop.

2. Click the "File" tab in the top left corner. 

3. Select "Share" from the dropdown menu. This will grant you the option to either send or copy a link to share, send the file as a presentation or PDF, or manage access to a shared file. Select whichever option you'd like and follow the directions to add contact information.

• If you wish to manage access and add collaborators, you will have to make sure the file has been uploaded to your OneDrive before proceeding. (If it hasn't, PowerPoint should prompt you to do so at this time.)

4. Sending the file as an email is the most common choice. Selecting this option will automatically open a new draft with the file attached. (Be sure to select "Send PDF" if you'd prefer it to send as a PDF file instead of as a presentation.) Add an address, subject, and body text before sending.

You can also share a presentation by clicking the "Share" button in the upper right hand corner. (This is similar to how it appears on a PC.)

This option is extremely helpful as it provides all of your possible options in a single pop-up. Enter a name or email address (along with an optional message) to send the document. 

You can change the permissions settings at the top before clicking "Send," "Copy Link," or "Mail" to share your work. Click "More Apps" to browse additional options, such as sending via social media or text message. Lastly, you can select "Send a Copy" to send as a traditional attachment.

How to share a PowerPoint presentation on a web browser

You can access PowerPoint online on either a Mac or PC, as long as you have your login information for Microsoft Office. Regardless of what browser you prefer to use, the steps to share a presentation are exactly the same.

1. Log in to your Microsoft Office account on your preferred web browser and open the presentation you wish to share.

2. Click the "Share" button in the upper right hand corner of the screen.

3. This will open a pop-up in the center of the page. Enter a name or email address (along with an optional message) to send the document. You can change the permissions settings at the top before sending the link by clicking the "Send" or "Copy Link" option. (Those who have followed these steps on a Mac will recognize that it looks similar.)

Additionally, when you open the main menu, you can click the "Share" tab on the left hand side. This will allow you to invite others to edit the presentation or embed the presentation for a blog or website. 

If you are looking to embed online, this will open a different pop-up that will generate a code for you. Select the dimensions desired and then paste the text as needed. Click the "Close" or "X" buttons to minimize the window.

Related coverage from  Tech Reference :

How to embed a youtube video into your microsoft powerpoint presentations using a mac or pc, how to convert a powerpoint to google slides in two different ways, how to convert google slides to a powerpoint presentation in 4 easy steps , how to copy or duplicate a powerpoint slide and put it anywhere in your slideshow, how to download and access microsoft powerpoint on your mac computer.

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How to Email a PowerPoint Slideshow: A Step-by-Step Guide

Emailing a PowerPoint slideshow is as simple as attaching a file to an email. But to do it correctly, you need to save your presentation in the right format, choose the right file size, and ensure that your recipient can view it. After completing these steps, your PowerPoint slideshow will be successfully sent and accessible to your intended audience.

After you complete the action, your recipient should receive an email with your PowerPoint slideshow attached. They will be able to download and view the presentation on their own device, provided they have the necessary software or app to open PowerPoint files.

Introduction

In our digital age, sharing information has never been easier. Whether you’re a student presenting a project, a professional sharing a business proposal, or someone just looking to spread ideas, PowerPoint slideshows are a go-to method. But what good is a stunning presentation if you can’t get it in front of your audience? Emailing your PowerPoint slideshow is a quick and efficient way to do just that. This simple action is relevant to almost everyone in the digital workspace. It saves time, resources, and allows for instant sharing of information.

Emailing a PowerPoint slideshow seems straightforward, right? Well, it is, but there are a few tips and tricks that can ensure your presentation arrives just as impressively as it leaves your outbox. It’s crucial to know the ropes to avoid any hiccups, such as large file sizes causing your email to bounce back, or the recipient not being able to open the file. Let’s dive into the know-how of emailing a PowerPoint slideshow, ensuring your hard work gets seen and appreciated.

Step by Step Tutorial: Emailing a PowerPoint Slideshow

Before jumping into the steps, understand that following them will help you send a PowerPoint slideshow via email. This process is handy for sharing presentations with colleagues, friends, or anyone who needs to view your slides.

Step 1: Save Your PowerPoint Slideshow

Save your PowerPoint presentation in a format that’s suitable for email.

When saving your PowerPoint presentation, choose a format that maintains the quality of your slides while keeping the file size manageable. The standard .ppt or .pptx formats work well, but if you’re concerned about compatibility, a PDF format is a universal option.

Step 2: Compress Your Presentation

Compress your PowerPoint file if it’s too large to email.

Large files can be troublesome to send via email. If your presentation is too large, consider compressing it to reduce the size. PowerPoint has built-in tools that can help you compress images and media within your slides to make the file smaller.

Step 3: Open Your Email Client

Open your preferred email client to compose a new message.

Whether you use Gmail, Outlook, or any other email service, start by opening your email client and clicking the option to compose a new email. This will be the vehicle to deliver your PowerPoint slideshow to your recipient.

Step 4: Attach Your PowerPoint Slideshow

Attach your saved PowerPoint presentation to your email.

Look for the ‘attach file’ icon (usually represented by a paperclip) in your email client. Click on it and navigate to the location where your PowerPoint presentation is saved. Select the file and attach it to your email.

Step 5: Compose Your Email

Write a brief message to accompany your PowerPoint slideshow.

Don’t just send an email with an attachment and no context. Write a short message explaining what the presentation is and why you’re sending it. This will provide your recipient with the necessary information and entice them to open your slideshow.

Additional Information

When it’s time to share your PowerPoint slideshow, there are a few additional things to consider. First, think about the accessibility of your presentation. Will your recipient need any special software to view it? It’s always a good idea to ask ahead of time or provide options, such as saving your slideshow as a PDF, which can be opened on almost any device.

Another tip is to use file-sharing services for particularly large presentations. Platforms like Google Drive, Dropbox, or WeTransfer allow you to upload your PowerPoint slideshow to the cloud, and then send a link via email. This way, you avoid the file size limits of email services and ensure your recipient can download the presentation at their leisure.

Also, be mindful of the security of your content. If your PowerPoint slideshow contains sensitive information, consider password-protecting it before sending. You can also use encrypted email services for added security.

Remember, the goal is to make sure your PowerPoint slideshow is received and can be viewed with ease. The last thing you want is for your hard work to go unseen due to a technical hiccup.

• Save your presentation in a suitable format.
• Compress your presentation if it’s too large.
• Open your email client and compose a new message.
• Attach your PowerPoint slideshow to the email.
• Write a message to accompany your presentation and hit send.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i email a powerpoint slideshow from my phone.

Yes, you can email a PowerPoint slideshow from your phone using your mobile email client. Just ensure that your presentation is saved on your phone or accessible through a cloud service.

How can I make my PowerPoint file smaller to email?

You can compress images within PowerPoint or use a file compression tool. Also, saving your presentation in PDF format can sometimes reduce the file size.

What’s the maximum file size I can email?

This depends on your email provider. For example, Gmail has a limit of 25MB for attachments. If your presentation is larger, you’ll need to use a file-sharing service.

Can I password-protect my PowerPoint slideshow before emailing it?

Yes, PowerPoint allows you to add a password to your presentation. This can be done in the ‘File’ menu under ‘Info’ and then ‘Protect Presentation.’

What if my recipient doesn’t have PowerPoint?

If your recipient doesn’t have PowerPoint, consider saving your presentation as a PDF. Alternatively, they can view it using free software like PowerPoint Viewer or Google Slides.

Emailing a PowerPoint slideshow is a crucial skill in the modern world of digital communication. It’s a simple yet effective way to share your ideas, projects, or proposals with anyone, anywhere. While there are some hurdles like file size limits and software compatibility, a little preparation and foresight can overcome these challenges.

Remember to save your presentation in an accessible format, keep the file size manageable, and always double-check with your recipient for any specific requirements they might have. With these tips and tricks up your sleeve, you’re ready to share your PowerPoint masterpiece with confidence and ease. So go ahead, hit that send button, and let your slideshow make the impact it deserves!

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.

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Participants can't hear video that I show within a power-point presentation (screen shared)

Hello, In my meetings I’m using a shared screen and Power-Point presentations.

In my last meeting, I put a 2 minutes video within the power-point presentation.

All participants could see the short video, but could not hear it. Only me, as a host could hear the video. I used earphone set.

This is the link to the recording of that meeting: https://zoom.us/recording/play/7UJ-6QwV-TAJ0n7CTlHepfOz_uaua0mVsFOn6tBy67HVj_9Zex9RkredFjlYyi_E?autoplay=true

The short video start at 51:28

Does usage of earphone by the host cause this problem ?

Hi Idan, there is a “share audio” option in the sharing UI. Make sure you select that and re-test it please.

Hi, I can’t find it in the features. Can you please help me.

Thank you, Cohav

Hi @cohavc91 ,

Thanks for the reply. You could follow the instruction here to locate the feature: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362643-Sharing-Computer-Sound-During-Screen-Sharing

I’m having the same problem. I have a PowerPoint presentation with a built-in video which has audio. The video with audio plays fine on all my laptops. When I share screen to share the PowerPoint on Zoom I click on ‘share audio’ in the bottom left so the tick appears. I then share the screen and click on the three dots (More) along the Zoom taskbar and tick ‘share computer sound’. This allows me to play a separate pre-recorded video with sound to the meeting participants. However, it will not play the sound in the PowerPoint video, even though the PowerPoint audio plays through any laptop that I try it on ie it’s only through Zoom that the video doesn’t have audio.

Is there a third setting somewhere that I need to activate, in order to play the PowerPoint sound?

I have the same issue. Only I as the presenter can hear the audio in the slideshow…any fix ?

Hi @gillwilson2 , @aly ,

Thanks for the post and pardon the late response. Are you facing this issue with Zoom client or Zoom SDK? If this issue happens with Zoom client, since this is out of the scope of what this forum is for(This forum is for Marketplace Apps) and we have no insight to the questions in Zoom clien, please try to contact Zoom client support at https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/requests/new and one of the Zoom experts will be happy to assist you. If this issue happens with Zoom Windows SDK, could you provide the SDK version, and the steps to reproduce this issue with our demo app?

aly , can you share lease the software you used for making the slideshow?

I can share with you one that I used when I was preparing for my mom’s birthday. I wanted to make a surprise for her so I called all our relatives grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunts and their childre and organized a surprise party. In the end I showed the slideshow I made from all the photos I had of my mother and all my family. (maybe you didn’t want to read this story, so sorry for taking your time :D). Here is the software I used https://www.fastreel.com/slideshow-maker.html .

Hey @petr.ivn ,

Thanks for sharing that!

Thanks! Michael

Hi, I face the same problem. The solution suggested by Zoom Team does not work!!! The audio sounds from the Powerpoint presentation do not work in the Zoom presentation. My workaround was to just use Google Slides. You can simply import Powerpoint slides into Google which automatically convert. BUT you need to copy over any video clips from your slides and store them in google drive. You may need to do slight modification in google slides as it does not have the full feature of Powerpoint. I realize the video performance in this manner is much better during the presentation.

Hey @chongpoh ,

Thanks for using the dev forum!

I am sorry you are facing issue with the audio during a powerpoint presentation. Are you using the Zoom Windows SDK or the Zoom Windows application?

Same issue! I didn’t resolve it yet…

Hey @janeed ,

Are you using the Zoom Windows SDK or the Zoom Windows application?

Hmm, that sounds strange. I had problems like that. The easier way to complete it was a simple restart of the zoom or even of the PC. Restarting an old computer could take some time if you get what I say. Recently I got promoted to another company that didn’t want to work on zoom because their old experience wasn’t that pleasant. After a while, they somehow hired brightvisionevents.co.uk for further work in groups. It was a time ago, and I still can’t forget working for that company.

Hey @weasd ,

This forum is for SDK developer questions only.

Hey Staff! Don’t you want to help your customers???

HERE IS THE PROBLEM!

Audio in a PPT played in ZOOM is broadcast through the presenter’s computer’s speaker. From there the computer’s microphone picks it up and sends it to your audience. The transmission of the audio through the air to the microphone kills the volume by 90%!

Why don’t ZOOM programmers tell us this???

ZOOM always transmits the audio it picks up through its default microphone or the microphone you plug in to your audience, If there is a software switch that electrically connects the audio-out to the audio-in, there’s no way to get around this. If you manage to find a way to make the connection, than you CANNOT also speak “live” to your audience.

[email protected]

Hey @Gessler ,

Thanks for the reply…

I used to write complex systems and evolutionary applicatons in C++. However, I don’t know the inside outs of Zoom. I only use it as a participant in conferences, so I guess I’m using the application in Windows and not a systems developer kit.

It appears that a participant can share his one screen image and only one audio stream. Maybe there’s a software method to feed the audio stream embedded in PPT directly into the audio stream destined for the sharing audience? Or maybe I could do it with hardware plug-ins if I knew the schematics of the PC’s interior (i.e. how the internal PC mike and speakers are connected to the external sockets for and ad-on mike and headphone). And maybe there’s a way to build a mixer? The problem is that the audio from the PPT is transduced to an air-gap and transduced back into a digital signal. It’s the air gap that causes the problem. Anyway, that’s the only explanation that makes sense. Do you have a better one? I’ll keep experimenting…

I get what you’re saying. Unfortunately, we can only provide support for Zoom SDK Developers on this forum. However, you should check out Zoom Help Center .

Related Topics

PowerPoint Video Not Playing? Here’s How to Fix it Fast!

By: Author Shrot Katewa

It is annoying when you want to play a video during your presentation speech but PowerPoint just refuses to play the video! The video may either fail to work or display just the audio/video. There are actually several reasons why this could happen!

So, in this article, we will take a closer look at the various issues related to playing video in PowerPoint, and I will also provide you with a few quick solutions to each of the issues.

So, without further adieu, let’s get started!

1. Video Not Playing in Presentation Mode 

Although Microsoft PowerPoint is one of the powerful presentation tools out there, it is not perfect. There may be more than a few reasons why video is not playing in the presentation mode of your PowerPoint.

The most common problem that users face is that the format of the media file is either not supported by PowerPoint, or the media file might have missing fragments, or the file may have a syncing issue, or the media file may just be corrupted.

In the following subsection, I will explain the possible solutions to a corrupted media file in your PowerPoint presentation.

1a. PowerPoint Video Cannot Play Media Error 

There are two possible solutions to a corrupted file. You can either optimize the media compatibility or clear the temporary data on your Windows operating system. Both of the solutions are described below.

Optimizing media compatibility

Follow the simple steps given below to optimize the compatibility of the video file with your PowerPoint presentation. 

Step-1: Go to “Info”

The first step of the process is to go to the “Info” section located in the “ File ” tab, which is the first tab in the ribbon of your PowerPoint window.

Step-2: Click on ‘Check Compatibility’

The next step is to click on the “ Check for issues ” button and select the “ Check compatibility ” option from the drop-down menu.

Step-3: Click on the “Ok” button

After you have selected the “ Check compatibility ” option, Microsoft PowerPoint will automatically detect the media files, report to you the issue with your video file, and try to fix it.

To finish optimizing the media file, click on the “ Ok ” button and the issue should be resolved.

Clearing the temporary files

Microsoft PowerPoint may fail to play your video files if there are too many temporary files on your Windows operating system. To clear these temporary files, follow the easy steps described below.

Step-1: Launch the “Run Prompt”

To being, go to the “ Start ” menu of your computer and launch the “ Run Prompt ”

Step-2: Type in the “%temp%” command

After you have launched the “ Run Prompt ”, type “%temp%” in the search box and hit the “ Ok ” button.

Step-3: Delete all the files

Once you have clicked on the “ Ok ” button, a new folder will open on your screen. This folder contains all the temporary files that are present on your computer.

Select all the files and delete them. Skip the files that are still in use and the video should be good to go.

2. YouTube Video Not Playing in PowerPoint 

There are several reasons why a YouTube video may not play in your PowerPoint presentation. Some of the reasons why this may happen and possible solutions to them are given below.

1. The link used to embed the YouTube video was a shared link and not an embedded link. If you have entered the link that is used to share the video, then the video will not play in your PowerPoint presentation. To fix this issue, insert the embedded link of the YouTube video instead of the shared link.

2. The YouTube video that you embedded in your Presentation may not be available anymore. In order to avoid this issue, do not use videos that are in “ Private viewing only ” settings.

3. The embedded file may be in an unsupported format. Most versions of Microsoft PowerPoint supports “.wmv” files. Hence, videos that are in a different format may not play in your PowerPoint presentation. Make sure the video file is in the right format.   

3. Video Only Plays Audio in PowerPoint 

Sometimes, the video file only plays the audio of the video file in Microsoft PowerPoint.

This may happen either because the inserted video file is not supported by the PowerPoint software, or the file is too large. Another reason might be that the file is corrupted, or the Windows operating system is missing some necessary codecs.

Following are 3 possible solutions to these problems.

Solution 1 – Convert the video file

To convert the video file, follow the simple steps given below.

Step-1: Go to the “Info” section

The first step is to go to the “ Info ” section of the “ File ” tab which is located at the right-most corner of the ribbon of your PowerPoint presentation.

Step-2: Click on the “Media Size and Performance” option

The second step is to click on the “ Media Size and Performance ” option which is the first option in the “ Info ” section

Step-3: Click on the “HD (720)” button

After clicking on the “ Media size and performance ” option, a drop-down menu will appear. From that drop-down menu, click on the “ HD (720) ” option.

This will compress the size of the video and convert it to a supported format. 

Solution 2 – Clear temporary files

Like the previous issue, sometimes your computer may be working on too many temporary files, due to which the video file in your PowerPoint presentation may not be functioning properly.

Simply follow the steps described earlier in this article and delete all the temporary files operating in your Windows operating system.

Solution 3 – Install missing codecs

Right out of the box, Windows does not support every media codecs. It is possible that the video file in your PowerPoint presentation is only playing audio because some of the codecs in your Windows are missing.

To fix this issue, you can download a codec pack from the internet. Some of the best Codec packs are,

1. K-Lite Codec Pack

2. Media Player Codec Pack

3. X- Codec pack

4. Audio of the Video Doesn’t Work in PowerPoint  

If the audio of the video in your PowerPoint presentation is not working, try all the solutions mentioned in the above section. If it still doesn’t work, then maybe the PowerPoint software is muted in your computer.

To make sure the audio of your PowerPoint is not muted, turn on the video in your presentation and follow the simple steps described below.

Step-1: “Right-click” on the “speaker/headphone” button

At first, you have to “ Right-click ” on the “ Speaker/Headphone ” volume button in the taskbar of your computer. It is the right-most button on the taskbar and its icon looks like a handheld speakerphone (as showcased in the image below)

Step-2: Select the “Open Volume Mixer” option

After you have opened the “ Speaker/Headphone ” menu from your taskbar, click on the “ Open Volume Mixer ” option which is the second option in the menu.

Step-3: Click on the volume icon under the PowerPoint section

Once you have selected the “ Open Volume Mixer ” option, a pop-up window will appear on the bottom right corner of your screen.

Click on the small volume icon with a red cross over it, which will unmute the PowerPoint software on your computer.

5. Video Doesn’t Play Automatically 

To play a video file in your PowerPoint presentation automatically, you have to change the playback settings of the video file.

This might sound a little difficult but the whole process is described in 2 simple steps below.

Step-1: Go to the “Playback” tab

At first, turn on the video in your PowerPoint presentation. This will allow you to access the “ Playback ” tab which appears on the ribbon when a media file is played.

Step-2: Select the “Automatically” option

Now, select the “ Automatically ” option which is located in the “ Start ” drop-down menu of the “ Video Options ” section in the “ Playback ” tab.

The video should now play automatically when the slide is opened.

6. PowerPoint Export to Video Not Working 

To fix videos not exporting in your PowerPoint presentation, you may have to optimize the media file using the method mentioned earlier in this article.

You might also have to update your PowerPoint software if it is outdated or repair it if needed. To learn more on how to update Microsoft PowerPoint, you can read one of our articles on this topic by clicking here .

I will discuss the process of repairing PowerPoint below:

Step-1: Go to “Add or remove programs”

The first step is to go to the “ Start ” menu of your computer and launch the “ Add or remove programs ” tool.

Step-2: Click on the “Advanced Options” button

The second step is to find your Microsoft Office program and select the “ Advanced options ” button.

Step-3: Select the “Repair” option

After you click on the “ Advanced Options ” button, you will be taken to a new window. From that window, under “ Reset ” select the “ Repair ” option.

Once the scanning and repairing are complete a tick mark will appear beside the “ Repair ” option, which will indicate that the repairing is complete.

7. How to Change Video Source in PowerPoint?

Unfortunately, there is no direct way to change the path of the source of a video in your PowerPoint presentation.

You can use a macro to fix this problem but honestly, it is easiest to simply re-attach the video to your PowerPoint presentation.

To change the video source in your PowerPoint presentation, delete the initial video, move the video file to the same folder as the PowerPoint presentation and insert the video again and the source of the video will change accordingly.

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

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Top 7 Fixes for Animations Not Working in PowerPoint on Windows

Pankil is a Civil Engineer turned freelance writer. Since his arrival at Guiding Tech in 2021, he delves into the world of how-tos, and troubleshooting guides for Android, iOS, and Windows. Besides his new-found love for mechanical keyboards, he's a disciplined footfall fan and loves international travel with his wife.

The artful integration of animations can help you transform a mundane slideshow into a captivating visual treat. Microsoft PowerPoint offers a variety of animations that you can apply to text, images, and other objects to make your presentation dynamic . But what if these animations stop working in PowerPoint for Windows?

Whether animations are playing incorrectly or refuse to play at all, this guide can help. It includes a few useful tips to get PowerPoint animations working again on your Windows 10 or 11 PC.

1. Check Animation Order and Triggers

Before you try anything else, it’s a good idea to check the set animation effects and triggers in your PowerPoint presentation . Here’s how you can go about it.

Step 1: Open your PowerPoint presentation, switch to the Animations tab at the top, and select the Animation Pane option from the Advanced Animation group.

Step 2: From the Animation Pane settings, you’ll see a list of all animations on the right side. Make sure all the animations are listed in the desired order. If not, use the up and down arrows to reorder them.

Step 3: Right-click on animations to change their trigger. Then, click the Play button to check your animations.

Repeat the above steps to check the animation effects and triggers for all your slides. If the animations don’t play even after that, continue with the fixes below.

2. Check Slideshow Settings

Microsoft PowerPoint may not play any animations during slide shows if you have accidentally enabled the ‘Show without animations’ option. Here’s how to turn it off.

Step 1: Open your PowerPoint presentation, switch to the Slide Show tab, and click the Set Up Slide Show button.

Step 2: Under Show options, clear the ‘Show without animation’ checkbox. Then, click OK.

After that, press F5 to start the slideshow and check if your animations work.

3. Click the Record Button

Is PowerPoint not playing animations when you try to record your presentation ? That could happen if you scroll through your slides and haven’t clicked the Record button. Here’s what you need to do.

Step 1: Open your presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint. Switch to the Record tab and click the From Beginning or From Current Slide button.

Step 2: Click the Record button at the top. After that, PowerPoint will play and record your presentation with animations.

4. Toggle Off Hardware Acceleration

Such issues with animations can also occur if the hardware graphics acceleration feature malfunctions in PowerPoint. You can try turning this feature off momentarily to see if that fixes problems with PowerPoint animations.

Step 1: Open PowerPoint on your PC and click the File menu at the top-left corner.

Step 2: Select Options from the left sidebar.

Step 3: Select the Advanced tab. In the right pane, scroll down to the Display section and clear the checkbox that reads ‘Disable Slide Show hardware graphics acceleration.’ Then, click OK.

After completing the above steps, check if the issue is still there.

5. Open PowerPoint in Safe Mode

At times, third-party add-ins can conflict with Microsoft PowerPoint, causing the animation pane to not show up. If you suspect that to be the case, you can open PowerPoint in safe mode. For that, press the Windows + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run dialog box. Type powerpnt /safe in the Open field and press Enter.

After opening PowerPoint in safe mode, check if your animations work. If they do, it’s likely that one of your add-ins is causing the problem. To identify it, you will need to disable all add-ins and then re-enable them one by one.

Step 1: Open PowerPoint and click the File menu at the top-left corner.

Step 2: Select Options from the left pane.

Step 3: In the PowerPoint Options window, switch to the Add-ins tab. Click the drop-down menu next to Manage and select COM Add-ins. Then, click the Go button next to it.

Step 4: Uncheck all the boxes to disable your add-ins and click OK.

Restart Microsoft PowerPoint and enable your add-ins one at a time. You will need to check the animations after enabling each add-in. When you find the problematic add-in, consider removing it for good.

6. Repair Your Presentation

If animations are not working only on a specific PowerPoint presentation, you can try repairing it. To do so, use these steps:

Step 1: Open Microsoft PowerPoint and click the File menu at the top-left corner.

Step 2: Select Open from the left sidebar and click the Browse option.

Step 3: Browse and select your file. Click the downward arrow next to Open to select Open and Repair.

Wait for PowerPoint to repair your presentation and open it. After that, check if the issue still occurs.

7. Run the Office Repair Tool

If nothing works, there may be an issue with some of the core files associated with Microsoft PowerPoint . In that case, your best option is to run the Office repair tool, which can automatically find and fix issues with Office apps like PowerPoint.

Step 1: Press the Windows + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run dialog box. Type appwiz.cpl in the box and press Enter.

Step 2: Select the Microsoft Office suite and click the Change button.

Step 3: Select the Online Repair option and click Repair.

Animate Brilliance

Adding animations to your PowerPoint presentations is an effective way to keep your audience engaged. Such issues with PowerPoint shouldn’t force you to settle for a boring presentation or seek an alternative. Going through the above tips should solve the underlying issue and restore normalcy.

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Last updated on 05 December, 2023

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

The article above may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. The content remains unbiased and authentic and will never affect our editorial integrity.

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How-To Geek

Why i prefer google slides to microsoft powerpoint.

Your presentations (and your sanity) will thank you.

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• Ease of Collaboration
• Offline Access
• Integration With Other Google Tools
• More Storage Space
• Compatibility With PowerPoint
• AI Features
• Provide Detailed Version History
• Customization Features and Template Options

PowerPoint and Google Slides are two popular options for presentations, but which one is best? As someone who has used both programs for a long time, I've found that Google Slides offers many advantages that make it my go-to choice.

Let's be clear: I'm comparing the web-based PowerPoint and Google Slides versions. It's unfair to compare Google Slides to the desktop version of PowerPoint, isn't it? Here are some reasons why Google Slides is my favorite presentation tool.

1. Ease of Collaboration

Ease of collaboration was the central reason I switched to Google Slides for my presentation needs. As a content creator, I always aim for a seamless collaboration experience while dealing with my clients and team members. Google Slides offered exactly that, and I was in love with it.

So, is Google Slides better than PowerPoint for collaboration? It certainly has advantages that make it an ideal choice for a lot of users.

With Google Slides, you can efficiently work with others and share your work , no matter what kind of computer or phone you use. If you have a Google account and the link to the presentation, you can join in and make changes simultaneously with other members.

In contrast, to collaborate in PowerPoint, you have to consider various external factors, such as the user's working device and storage locations. For example, you might not be able to easily collaborate with someone who has an older version of PowerPoint, or with someone using a PowerPoint mobile due to feature limitations. Some things that are restricted in the free web and mobile version compared to PowerPoint on desktop include limited commenting tags, editing options, and more.

Additionally, Google Slides also has built-in chat and commenting features. This feature allows all your team members to stay on the same page and communicate with each other to streamline editing. In PowerPoint, you're limited to comments only.

2. Offline Access

Another important reason for my switch to Google Slides is the offline access feature. With this feature, you can create, edit, and present presentations to others even without an internet connection. Any changes you apply offline are synced automatically once you're back online, so you can keep working even without an internet connection.

You can activate offline access by checking the offline mode option in your Google Drive settings.

Also, with Google Slides, you don't need software installed on your computer to access your presentations offline. However, Microsoft PowerPoint requires an internet connection to save changes to OneDrive storage. No internet, no autosave!

3. Integration With Other Google Tools

Switching to Google Slides is easy if you already use Google apps like Docs, Sheet, Meet, and Gmail. They all work well together. You can import charts and tables from Google Sheets into your presentations with just a few clicks. Any modifications to the original data in Google Sheets will automatically be reflected in your Google Slides presentation.

For example, on Google Slides, open the "Insert" tab and navigate to the "Chart" option. From there, click on the "From Sheets" option and import a chart from Google Sheets.

Furthermore, you can add Google Keep notes to your Slides and share your content in Google Meet with Smart Canvas without switching between tabs.

On the other hand, Microsoft PowerPoint integrates with other Microsoft tools, but it's not as seamless as Google Slides and has limited integration capabilities. For example, unlike Google Sheets, which updates data automatically in Slides, PowerPoint requires you to manual refresh to update Excel charts. This means you need to copy and paste the updated chart from Excel to PowerPoint.

4. More Storage Space

Google Slides offers more storage space through Google Drive. With a Google account, you get 15GB of storage shared across Google Photos, Drive, and Gmail. This is significantly more than what Microsoft offers with its free PowerPoint Web version, which only provides 5GB of OneDrive storage. If you create large presentations with many images or videos, Google's extra storage space can be a significant advantage.

Additionally, Google offers affordable plans to upgrade your storage if needed. For example, you can get 100GB of storage for a $20 annual fee, which is perfect for those who create and store a lot of presentations. However, it's important to note that pricing for additional storage might be different depending on your region.

For detailed information, it's best to check your plans manually by clicking the "Get More Storage" option in Drive.

5. Compatibility With PowerPoint

I know what you're thinking—what if I need to work with someone who only uses Microsoft PowerPoint? Fear not; Google Slides has got you covered. You can import and export PowerPoint presentations into Google Slides, making switching between the two platforms easy.

This feature has been a lifesaver for me when I work with my clients or colleagues who use PowerPoint. I can easily collaborate with them and edit their files without any hassle. After making changes, I can save the Google Slides file again as a PowerPoint file.

You can add your PowerPoint file to Google Slides by either uploading it on Drive or directly opening it from the File > Open option.

6. AI Features

You can also use Google AI tools like Gemini to improve your presentations. For example, the Gemini AI feature in Google Slides allows users to generate images and slides based on their prompts. You can access Gemini from the Slides side panel and input your prompts, such as "Create a slide about," and it will generate slides accordingly.

This feature lets you quickly add relevant and visually appealing presentation content without leaving the Google Slides platform. Using Gemini AI, you can also generate background images in various styles, such as Vector art, Photography, Watercolor, and others.

In contrast, Microsoft AI feature tools like Copilot are not available on the PowerPoint web version. To use Copilot and other AI features in PowerPoint requires a paid subscription to either Microsoft 365 or Copilot Pro.

7. Provide Detailed Version History

Both Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint allow you to view and restore previously edited versions of your presentation. However, Google Slides stands out with its detailed version history feature. This feature groups certain versions of your presentation together if you make multiple changes over a short period. This makes it easy to find and select the version you need. These group versions are displayed under the Version History panel.

Another notable feature of Google Slides is the ability to name the modified versions. This is quite useful when working on large documents with multiple collaborators, as it can take time to find the version you want, among many others. To rename a version, open the "Version History" panel, click the three-dot icon, and then select "Name This Version" from the dropdown menu.

Once you've named important versions of your presentation, you can filter them by selecting the "Named Versions" option from the drop menu. This will highlight only the renamed versions, along with the current version of the document, making it easy to locate the version you need.

8. Customization Features and Template Options

The web version of Microsoft PowerPoint has limited features compared to the PowerPoint desktop app, which can sometimes be helpful while designing presentations. For example, you can't insert charts or equations in the web version. Additionally, you can't add hyperlinks to pictures or shapes. On the other hand, you can add equations, charts, and hyperlinks to images in Google Slides.

While both platforms offer a good selection of templates, I prefer Google Slides because its templates are user-friendly and easy to customize. It also provides more flexibility when working with themes compared to the web version of PowerPoint.

Google Slides isn't a flawless tool, but for me and many other presentation creators, it not only gets the job done but also has some advantages over PowerPoint. Whether you're a student, team, or regular user, you can use it to make clear and effective presentations.

Error: Can't read file, or Presentation cannot be opened

If you've arrived at this article because you got an error message that PowerPoint can't read a file or that the presentation cannot be opened, it's likely that Microsoft 365 has blocked the file for security reasons. You can unblock the file so it can be opened:

Open Windows File Explorer (Open Start in Windows and type File Explorer .)

Locate the problematic file on your computer.

Right-click the file and select Properties .

In the Properties dialog box, look for an Unblock button near the bottom right. If it exists, click Unblock , then click Apply , and then click OK to dismiss the dialog box.

Now, attempt to open the presentation again. Right-click the file in File Explorer and select Open .

Still having trouble?

If you're having a problem with PowerPoint that's not resolved here, please contact us for technical support.

For a discussion about why Microsoft 365 blocks files, read Block or unblock external content in Microsoft 365 documents .

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Why does my powerpoint presentation change when I submit it on blackboard? I saved it and submitted through one drive. The design elements turned to simple text boxes.

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• Microsoft Agent |

Dear respected,

Good day! Welcome to Microsoft Community.

We went through your post carefully and your screenshots show the scenario very clearly. As we noticed your thread is post in iPhone/iPad category, may I double confirm if the original presentation(from Screenshot 1) is created and edited in the PowerPoint app on your iPad device? And if the screenshot 2 is attached from a desktop version of PowerPoint? Kindly correct me if I made any misunderstanding.

If so, could you please check the uploaded version s igning in OneDrive Online via browser(on iPad or PC) and see what the texts look like in PowerPoint Online platform.

Appreciate your understanding that sometimes the initial reply may not resolve the situation very soon. However, we can work together to narrow down and resolve the situation. Please kindly post back and provide the more information, then we can focus on your specific scenario and provide specific suggestions.

1. If create a same design element in a new presentation will reproduce a same behavior?

2. If the design elements has changed to simple text box when checking in OneDrive online?

We'll be here for you to wait for your updates. I appreciate your time and effort on checking these above and thank you for your patience and cooperation. I hope that you are keeping safe and well!

Mia | Microsoft Community Moderator

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