how to unlock a locked powerpoint presentation

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How to Unlock a Read Only PowerPoint Presentation (in 4 Steps)

Last Updated: December 29, 2021

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA . Darlene Antonelli is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in 2012 and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities. This article has been viewed 20,786 times. Learn more...

If you see text in a banner that warns you the file is read-only, the original author marked it as final and discourages editing. This wikiHow will teach you how to unlock a read-only PowerPoint manually. Otherwise, you can click Edit Anyway within the banner.

• A menu will drop down from the lock icon.

• The "Read-Only" text is gone from the title and the yellow banner will disappear, which means you can edit the PowerPoint. [1] X Research source
• To return the file to read-only, repeat the process to select "Mark as Final."

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1. Open the PowerPoint project. 2. Click the File tab. 3. Click Protect Presentation. 4. Click Mark as Final . Did this summary help you? Yes No

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2 Methods to Unlock Read-Only PowerPoint (PPT) Files

How to unlock a read-only PowerPoint presentation file? This post provides 2 ways with step-by-step guide to help you easily unlock read-only PowerPoint files, so that you can edit or modify PowerPoint with no hassle. If you happen to lose some files in Windows 10 computer or other storage devices like USB drive, SD card, you can turn to MiniTool flag data recovery software to easily recover lost or accidentally deleted files.

If you find a PowerPoint presentation file is read-only, then you can’t open, access or edit it. There are three cases when you meet a PowerPoint file is read-only, namely, the PPT file is password-protected, it is PPSX format, or the PowerPoint file is marked as Final version.

Then here comes to the issue: How to unlock read-only PowerPoint file, so that you can open it to access the PPT file content or edit the file? You check the 2 methods below to unlock read-only PPT file.

Learn how to download Google Slides app for Android, iOS, or PC. Also learn how to use Google Slides to create and edit presentations on computer and mobile.

Method 1. Unlock Read-Only PowerPoint That Is Marked as Final

If you open a PowerPoint file and there is a yellow bar at the top of the file, indicating that the author has marked this presentation as final to discourage editing, then the PowerPoint file is read-only.

You have two solutions to remove this restriction to unlock read-only PowerPoint.

You can click the Edit Anyway button on the yellow banner to unlock the read-only PPT file. After you click this button, the yellow bar will disappear and the PowerPoint is not read-only anymore, you can edit it with ease.

Alternatively, you can also follow the step-by-step guide below to unlock the read-only presentation.

Step 1. You can open the read-only PowerPoint presentation file. Click File tab at the upper-left, and click Info option to open Info menu.

Step 2. Now you should see the Protect Presentation option is marked yellow and shows that this PowerPoint file is marked as final. Click Protect Presentation to open the submenu.

Step 3. Click Mark as Final option in the submenu to unlock the read-only PowerPoint. Now you can see the yellow Marked as Final message is gone. You can then edit/modify the PPT file.

Tip: If you want to make the PowerPoint file read-only, you can mark the PowerPoint file as final. Just open the PowerPoint file and click File -> Info -> Protect Presentation -> Mark as Final.

Method 2. How to Remove PowerPoint Password to Unlock It

If you set a password to lock a PowerPoint to protect it, and forget the password, then you need some third-party software to unlock read-only PowerPoint. You can search online for “how to remove PowerPoint password”, and if you are lucky, you can find some free and easy-to-use tools which can unlock the password for you.

Guide on Google Sheets app free download for Android and iOS devices. A workaround way for Google Sheets download for Windows 10/11 PC is also provided.

If You’d Like to Recover Lost PowerPoint Files from PC

If you encounter a system crash, malware/virus infection, black/blue screen error (like Bad Pool Caller ), etc. some of files in your computer may get lost. Luckily, with the best free data recovery software , you can easily restore the lost data from storage devices.

MiniTool Power Data Recovery , a 100% clean data recovery software, can help you easily recover lost/deleted files incl. PowerPoint presentation files from PC hard drive, external hard drive, SSD, USB drive ( pen drive data recovery ), SD card, etc. in 3 simple steps. Check below how to recover lost PowerPoint files on PC.

Step 1. Download , install and launch MiniTool Power Data Recovery on Windows 10/8/7. Click This PC in the left column. Then choose the partition which contains your lost PowerPoint files.

Step 2. Click Scan button to start scanning data on the chosen hard drive partition.

Step 3. After the scan process is finished, you can check the scan result to find the lost PowerPoint files you need. Check them and click Save button to store them to a new location.

To quickly find needed lost PowerPoint file, you can click Find to search the target file by name. You can also click Filter icon to sift the scan result to only show PowerPoint files, for instance, searching PowerPoint file by file extension like .ppt, .pptx, etc.

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Microsoft PowerPoint is one of the popular presentation software used to create slide-based presentations for business, education, and other purposes.

Microsoft PowerPoint allows protecting a file from being opened by unauthorized users. The only person who knows the password can view or modify your file. This protection cannot fully secure the file from brute-force password attacks, so remember to set complex passwords created by password generators. Microsoft PowerPoint supports several levels of protection. You can set the password required to view the document (open the file). You can also set a permission password to restrict specific actions such as editing a presentation, commenting, or tracking changes.

This free online application based on the GroupDocs API removes the password protection of Microsoft PowerPoint files. You have to specify the password to unlock the file. We value your privacy, so the file and the password are visible to you only. You can download the unprotected file to open it. The application works on any device, including smartphones.

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• Remove password from a wide range of file and document formats including DOCX, PPTX, XLSX, PPT, ZIP, ODP, XLS, DOC, and many more with just a few clicks.
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How to unlock PowerPoint files online

Questions & answers.

• What is a document protection? Document protection is a security feature that restricts access to files containing sensitive information by requiring a password or other authentication methods. It adds an extra layer of security when sharing confidential files with colleagues, friends, or clients.
• How do I open a protected file? To open a protected file, you will need to use the password that was used to lock the file. If you don't know the password, you can try contacting the file owner or the administrator who set up the password to obtain it. Once you have the password, you can unlock the file and access its contents.
• How do I remove document protection? To remove document protection, you can use the Unlock app. Upload the file and type the password to save an unprotected file.
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How to Unlock Password Protected PowerPoint Presentation

Microsoft provides several options to protect PowerPoint presentation, such as "Mark as File" and "Encrypt with Password". The options can make presentation read-only and even lock PowerPoint document.

When you face the problems about presentation locked or read-only, how to unlock password protected PowerPoint presentation ? Follow introductions below please.

• Part 1: Unlock PPT presentation protected with modify password
• Part 2: Unlock PPT presentation protected with open password

Part 1: Unlock PowerPoint Presentation Protected with Modify Password

Microsoft PowerPoint's Mark as Final feature could make your business presentations read-only and prevent accidental changes.

1. Open the read-only PowerPoint presentation with Microsoft PowerPoint.

2. Click File Info from the left pane.

3. Click Protect Presentation and select "Mark as Final" option.

If the presentation was read-only, it will now be editable, and if it was not protected before, the Mark as Final option is enabled and your presentation is read-only now.

4. Press Control + S to save the presentation without password protection.

Now PowerPoint presentation has been unlocked.

Part 2: Unlock PowerPoint Presentation Protected with Open Password

If you have no password to unlock password protected PowerPoint presentation , I think the easiest and most effective way is to use powerpoint password recovery software, such as PowerPoint Password Genius or Office Password Genius Professional for PowerPoint presentation.

Tips: If you want to try faster unlocking PPTX presentation, Office Password Genius Professional or Office Password Genius Advanced will be better.

Now please see the animation about how it helps to unlock PowerPoint document locked with password .

How to unlock PowerPoint document are shown in above animation. About more detailed information, please follow introductions below.

Step 1: Download and setup iSunshare PowerPoint Password Genius on computer.

Step 2: Click Open button to add password protected PowerPoint presentation into Encrypted File box.

Step 3: Choose an appropriate password recovery type from Type of recovery , Brute-force/Mask/Dictionary/Smart.

Step 4: Set different options for selected password recovery to recover PowerPoint presentation password fast.

Refer to: Brute-force/Mask/Dictionary Password Recovery Settings

Step 5: Start to find password protected PowerPoint presentation open password.

Step 6: Copy recovered password in new window and unlock PowerPoint presentation with it.

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How to Unlock Read Only PowerPoint Presentations

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Microsoft PowerPoint's "Mark as Final" feature makes your business presentation read-only to prevent accidental changes. It is typically enabled prior to distribution so your workers, clients or business partners are assured a final, unaltered version of your PowerPoint presentation. Marking the presentation as final also reminds you of its completed status. If you later decide to make changes, removing the Mark as Final setting will permit you to edit the presentation.

Open the read-only PowerPoint presentation and click the "File" tab.

Click "Info" from the left pane.

Click "Protect Presentation" and select "Mark as Final." This acts as a toggle selection. If the presentation was read-only, it will now be editable, and if it was not protected, the Mark as Final option is now enabled.

Press "Ctrl-S" to save the presentation with the Mark as Final feature disabled.

• Microsoft Office: Remove Mark As Final From a Presentation
• The Mark as Final feature is not a security measure. Anyone with access to the file can disable this option.

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3 Approaches to Unlock PowerPoint (100% Working)

Yet it is not uncommon to set the password on PowerPoint presentation and then be unable to unlock the file when you need to. You may have forgotten the password you used or simply not know how to remove the password. In this article we offer you the best solutions to unlock PowerPoint regardless of whether you know the password or not.

Part 1. Unlock PowerPoint with"Password to Modify"

Part 2. Unlock PowerPoint Password with"Password to Open"

Part 1. Unlock PowerPoint with "Password to Modify"

If the presentation cannot be edited without a password, meaning that you can read the presentation but cannot modify the content, the following solutions can help whether you know the password or not.

1.1 Without a Password

Using Passper for PowerPoint

You'll be forgiven for thinking that the process is far more complicated or even impossible if you don't know the password. But when you have Passper PowerPoint Password Remover , you can unlock any restricted PowerPoint presentation in a single click. This program is the best password recovery tool for PowerPoint files. Some of its features include the following:

It can recover forgotten or lost PowerPoint passwords without affecting the data on the file.

It has a very high password recovery rate of 100% because it utilizes 4 different types of attack modes to help you find your password.

It can also be used to easily remove restrictions on any PowerPoint file, allowing you to easily edit, copy or print the file

It is very easy to use , recovering a password in just a few simple steps and lifting restrictions in a single click.

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To use Passper for PowerPoint to remove restrictions on your PowerPoint file, follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Install Passper for PowerPoint on your computer and then launch the program. On the main window, click on " Remove Restrictions ".

Step 2: Import the restricted PowerPoint file into the program and then click " Remove " to lift all restrictions and render your document editable.

By Renaming the File Extension

You may also be able to remove restrictions by changing the presentation's file extension. However, it is very complicated for most users and it is not 100% workable . Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Rename the Presentation and then change the file extension of the copy from PPSX to ZIP.

Step 2: Now open the ZIP file and locate the file named presentation.xml.

Step 3: Extract this file and then open it using a text editor like Notepad. Find the tag beginning with <p:modifyVerifier cryptProviderType="rsaAES" ……> and delete it.

Step 4: Now save the file and put it back in the ZIP folder to replace the old file.

Step 5: Rename the ZIP file to PPSX and when you open the file in PowerPoint, you should be able to edit the file without a password.

With a Password

If you know the passwords, here's how to remove the editing restriction from the presentation:

Step 1: Open the PowerPoint Presentation and then click on " File > Info ".

Step 2: Click on " Protect Presentation " and then select " Mark as Final ".

Step 3: Click on " Save " to save the presentation without password protection.

Step 4: Now open the document again and click on " Edit Anyway " at the top to lift the restrictions and make changes to the content.

Part 2. Unlock PowerPoint Password with "Password to Open"

If on the other hand the file is locked and you can't open it without a password, there are very few options for you. Fortunately for you, Passper for PowerPoint is designed to help you recover the password and use it to unlock the document. Here's how:

Step 1: Open Passper for PowerPoint on your computer and then select " Recover Passwords " from the main window.

Step 2: Add the protected PowerPoint document into the program. You can browse your computer for the selected file from within Passper.

Step 3: Once the file has been added into the program, select the attack mode you would like to use. The attack mode you choose will depend on the complexity of the password and how much information you have about it.

Step 4: Click on " Recover " and the tool will use your particular settings to begin searching for the password. Once the password has been found, you can use it to unlock the presentation.

While a password can be a great way to protect your document from unnecessary editing, forgetting or losing the password can keep you locked out of your own file. Passper for PowerPoint can always help easily unlock PowerPoint password within the shortest time.

Related Articles:

• How to Remove Password from PowerPoint (100% Working)
• [Updated] 4 Methods to Unlock Read-Only PowerPoint
• Top 5 Methods to Make PowerPoint Read Only
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• How to Open Password Protected PPT File without Password in 2024

By Ronnie Barnes to PowerPoint

Posted on Mar 17, 2023 ( Updated: Mar 17, 2023)

Ronnie Barnes, a blogger with more than 5-year experience in writing tips about password recovery for Windows and office files.

How to unlock PowerPoint from editing

Regain control: Learn how to unlock PowerPoint files for editing with these simple steps.

Step 1: Open the Locked PowerPoint File

Step 2: Navigate to File Properties

Step 3: Check for File Protection

Step 4: Unblock the File

Step 5: Save Changes

Conclusion:

Frequently asked questions:, can i unlock a powerpoint file if i don't have the password, what should i do if the "enable editing" option is grayed out in powerpoint, is it possible to re-lock a powerpoint file after making edits, will unlocking a powerpoint file affect its formatting or content.

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Founder at MagicSlides

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Have you ever accidentally moved an item in your slide and then had to spend time putting it where it was? In Microsoft PowerPoint, you can lock an object in position. This prevents those mistaken moves and wasted time.

As of this writing in January 2022, The Lock object feature is only available in PowerPoint for Windows .

You have two easy ways to lock an object on your PowerPoint slide . The first is handy if you only have a small number of items on your slide while the second works best for multiple items.

Related: How to Change Slide Size in Powerpoint

To quickly lock an object, right-click it and choose "Lock" from the shortcut menu.

If you have many items, it can be beneficial to use the Selection Pane. This lets you view, lock, and unlock items from a list.

Open this sidebar by going to the Home tab and Drawing section of the ribbon. Click the Arrange drop-down arrow and pick "Selection Pane" at the bottom of the list.

When the pane opens, you'll see all of your slide items listed. To lock one, simply click the Padlock icon to the right of it. You can lock multiple items which is convenient if you want to make sure nothing moves while you work on one specific object.

And, you'll notice each item has the lock option, from images and videos to icons and title boxes.

Related: How to Add a Video to a Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation

Depending on the type of item you lock, you may see a more distinctive border around it once it's locked. As an example, you can see below that the title text box has a prominent border when you lock and select it.

You cannot move a locked object, but you can still make changes to it using the ribbon, shortcut menu, or format sidebar. Below you can see our title is locked, but we can still change the font color.

You can unlock an item on your slide just as easily as you can lock one. Either right-click the object and select "Unlock" or click the Padlock in the Selection Pane to unlock it.

Keep your slide objects and items save from accidental moves with the Lock feature in PowerPoint. For more, learn how to make a PowerPoint presentation read-only to prevent other types of changes.

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Restrict changes to PowerPoint presentations

If you don't want content reviewers to accidentally change your PowerPoint presentation, you can use formatting and editing restrictions.

Note:  To further restrict reviewers from making changes to your document or spreadsheet, you can make the file read-only or you can password protect it. 

Restrict permission to content in files

Select File > Info .

After you assign permission levels, select OK . The Message Bar appears, indicating that the presentation is rights-managed. If you must make any access permission changes to the presentation, select Change Permission . If a presentation with restricted permission is forwarded to an unauthorized person, a message appears with the author's e-mail or website address so the individual can request permission. If the author doesn't include an email address, unauthorized users get an error message.

Set an expiration date for a file

Select Protect Presentation , point to Restrict Access , and then select Restricted Access .

In the Permission  dialog box, select Restrict permission to this presentation , and then select More Options .

Select OK twice.

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Can I unlock a locked shape in PowerPoint? Yes!

• September 11, 2020

How to unlock shapes that have been locked in PowerPoint ? Shapes that have been locked in your PowerPoint presentation can be unlocked by using PPT Productivity Power Tools.

• Simply select the PowerPoint slide(s) containing the locked shape(s) you need to unlock, then click ‘Unlock shapes’ (Found beneath the Lock Shape icon on the PPT Productivity Ribbon).
• The file will again close momentarily and reopen. Previously locked shapes on your selected slide(s) will now be unlocked and can be moved and edited like any other shape or object.
• Note: you need PPT Productivity Power Tools software installed to be able to unlock shapes which have been locked by this feature. If you lock shapes using PPT Productivity add-in, the shapes will be locked for all users of the presentation (even if they do not have PPT Productivity installed).

Interested to learn more about shape locking in PowerPoint? Read more about how to lock a shape or object in PowerPoint .

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How to Lock an Image, Shape or Other Object in PowerPoint

Lock Objects in PowerPoint to Prevent Moving and Resizing

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated August 25, 2023

Applies to: Microsoft ® PowerPoint ® 365 (Windows)

You can now lock an image, shape or other object in PowerPoint. Objects can be locked in Normal View or Slide Master View. Only PowerPoint 365 users can lock objects to prevent moving and resizing. This is helpful if you want to select and move other objects on the slide or prevent others from moving or resizing an object. You can lock items using the context menu or the Selection Pane.

Recommended article: PowerPoint vs Google Slides (Full Feature Comparison + Benefits)

Do you want to learn more about PowerPoint? Check out our virtual classroom or in-person PowerPoint courses >

In this article, we'll review how to:

Lock an image, shape or other object using a drop-down menu

Unlock an image, shape or other object using a drop-down menu, lock an image, shape or other object using the selection pane, unlock an image, shape or other object using the selection pane, lock an image, shape or other object using third-party tools.

Although you cannot move (change position) or resize a locked object, you can still make editing changes to some objects such as changing the font color of text, changing the fill color of a shape or adjusting brightness, color and contrast of an image. Some objects, like SmartArt, cannot be edited once they are locked.

You can also lock video and audio files, SmartArt, tables and charts.

Background images (created using Format Background) cannot be moved by dragging so they don't need to be locked.

When you lock an image, shape or other object, a different type of border appears when you select it if it's locked. In the following example, note the border around the locked image:

To lock an image, shape or other object by right-clicking:

• In Normal View, select the object on the slide that you want to lock. If you want to select a text placeholder or text box, click its edge. You can also select an object on the Slide Master or on a slide layout in Slide Master View.
• Right-click the object and select Lock from the drop-down menu.

To lock an image, shape or other object using a keyboard shortcut:

• Press the Context button on your keyboard or press Shift + F10 to display the drop-down menu. Some users may also need to press Fn at the same time as Shift + F10.
• Press the down arrow key to select Lock.
• Press Enter.

The context menu appears as follows when you right-click an unlocked object (or use the keyboard shortcut method above):

To unlock an image, shape or other object using a drop-down menu:

• In Normal View, select the object on the slide that you want to unlock. If you want to select a text placeholder or text box, click its edge. You can also select an object on the Slide Master or on a slide layout in Slide Master View.
• Right-click the object and select Unlock from the drop-down menu. Alternatively, press the Context button or press Shift + F10 to display the drop-down menu, use your arrow keys to select Unlock and press Enter.

The context menu appears as follows when you right-click a locked object:

The Selection Pane is a fantastic tool in PowerPoint for selecting and manipulating objects.

To lock an image, shape or other object using the Selection Pane:

• If the Selection Pane is not displayed, click the Home tab in the Ribbon and click Select in the Editing group. You can also display the Selection Pane using the Format tab in the Ribbon if a Picture or Shape is selected.
• From the drop-down menu, click Selection Pane. The Selection Pane appears on the right side of the screen. You can also display the Selection Pane by pressing Alt + F10 (some users may need to press Fn + Alt + F10).
• In Normal View, display the slide with the object(s) you want to lock. Alternatively, display the Slide Master or slide layout with the object(s) you want to lock.
• Click the Lock icon that appears to the right of the object you want to lock until is appears as a closed lock.
• Repeat for other objects.

The Selection Pane appears as follows with locked and unlocked objects:

To unlock an image, shape or other object using the Selection Pane:

• If the Selection Pane is not displayed, click the Home tab in the Ribbon and click Select in the Editing group.
• In Normal View, display the slide with the object(s) you want to unlock. Alternatively, display the Slide Master or slide layout with the object(s) you want to unlock.
• Click the Lock icon that appears to the right of the object you want to unlock until is appears as an open lock.

The Selection Pane appears as follows with unlocked objects:

If you have an older version of PowerPoint, there are some third-party add-ins you can get to lock objects. Since they are add-ins, you would need to install them.

To get add-ins:

• Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
• In the Add-Ins group, select Get Add-ins. A Microsoft Store dialog box appears.
• In the Store dialog box, enter PowerPoint in the Search box and press Enter. PowerPoint add-ins will appear on the right.
• Click the add-in you want and then click Add.
• Select the option to agree to the terms.

Installed add-ins will be listed under My Add-Ins on the Insert tab in the Ribbon. When using an add-in, you may be prompted to set up an account with the add-in developer.

Some add-ins are premium and you will need to pay an additional charge.

You can also search for PowerPoint add-ins online.

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More resources

How to Print a PowerPoint Presentation with Notes

How to Remove the Background of an Image in PowerPoint

How to Make a Picture Transparent in PowerPoint (3 Ways)

How to Add Animation in PowerPoint (Animate Text, Images and Other Objects)

How to Use the Selection Pane in PowerPoint to Select, Reorder, Rename and Hide Objects 

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PowerPoint vs Google Slides (Full Feature Comparison + Benefits)

When comparing PowerPoint vs Google Slides (and trying to decide which is the better choice for your needs), you will need to consider versions when you compare the two applications. In this article, we'll compare the desktop or downloadable version of PowerPoint vs Google Slides, an online program that works in a browser. The key difference then if you are comparing PowerPoint vs Google Slides is that PowerPoint must be downloaded and runs on your desktop and Google Slides runs online. The desktop version of PowerPoint is a robust, full-featured program with many advanced features. You can buy PowerPoint as a stand-alone version or as part of a Microsoft 365 subscription. If you are a 365 subscriber, new features roll out on a regular basis.

Microsoft, the Microsoft logo, Microsoft Office and related Microsoft applications and logos are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in Canada, US and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of the registered owners.

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How Do I Unlock PowerPoint Graphics?

If you're unable to move or edit the graphics in a PowerPoint 2013 slide, the cause is nearly always one of two things. First, the graphics may have been added to the presentation's Master slide, meaning you have to go to the Master slide to edit them. The second possibility is that the graphics have been embedded into the slide's background. If this is the case, you can hide or edit the graphics by opening the slide's background properties.

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Accessing Master Slide Graphics

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Select the PowerPoint slide you want to edit. Click the "View" tab and select the "Slide Master" icon in the Ribbon. PowerPoint takes you directly to the master that has been applied to the slide you selected. Click on the graphic to select it. If you can't select the graphic in the master, it's embedded into the master's background. If the graphic doesn't appear in the master, it's in your slide's background.

To remove the graphic from the master so you can edit it on your own slide, click the graphic and press"Ctrl-X" to cut it. You also have the option to edit the graphics in the master slide, such as moving or resizing them here. Any changes made to the master are applied to all slides using that master in your presentation.

Click the "View" menu again. Select the "Normal" icon on the left end of the Ribbon to go back to your own slide.

Press "Ctrl-V" to paste the graphic in your slide. You can now edit the graphic as needed.

Accessing Background Graphics

Right-click a graphic you can't edit in a slide. This may be in a slide you are working on, or in the master slide. Select the "Format Background" option in the drop-down menu. The Format Background menu appears on the right side of the window.

Click the "Hide Background Graphics" option. Once the graphic is hidden, you can close the Format menu and continue working on your slide, or replace the background.

Select a solid, gradient or pattern fill to create a new background using the options in the Format Background menu.

To use an image as the background, click the "Picture or Texture Fill" option. Click the "File" button to add an image from you computer. Click the "Clipboard" button to add an image you have copied to your computer's clipboard. To search for an image online, click the "Online" button. Once inserted, you can change the image's transparency or nudge it away from any edge of the slide using the provided options.

• Office: What Is a Slide Master?
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60 Effective PowerPoint Presentation Tips & Tricks (Giant List)

Here's a PowerPoint presentation tips and tricks guide that takes you through how to make a good PowerPoint presentation.

The best PowerPoint presentations shouldn’t be remembered. Instead, they should fall into the background to support you and the message you’re trying to get across.

Unlike good PowerPoint presentations , bad PowerPoint presentations are a distraction. You may remember them, but not in a good way.

You’ve seen them before. They might have millions of lines of text. Or a disjointed flow to the slides. Even worse, some slides feature ugly photos and poor design that detract from the message you’re trying to get across. That can even hurt your credibility as a professional or speaker.

This article will take you from finding your initial topic to learning how to make a great PowerPoint presentation. Our guide covers everything in between so that you learn how to present a PowerPoint like a pro.

These Microsoft PowerPoint presentation tips and guidelines are organized into sections. So cut straight to the advice you need and come back when you’re ready for the next steps.

Guide to Making Great Presentations (Free eBook Download)

Also, download our Free eBook: The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations . It’s the deepest resource for learning effective presentation skills for a PPT.

This eBook covers the complete presentation process. It takes the PowerPoint tips and tricks you learn in this article further. Learn how to write your presentation, design it like a pro, and prepare it to present powerfully. It’s another great source for presentation design tips.

Master PowerPoint (Free Course): 15 Essential Tips

This article is full of helpful tips so you can build a powerful presentation. You can also find more PowerPoint tips in this video lesson:

To learn even more about how to make a PowerPoint look good, review the huge list of tips below.

What Makes a PowerPoint Presentation Effective?

Knowing how to use PowerPoint and work within it quickly is helpful. But more important is making a good presentation that hits all your goals. A great PowerPoint presentation is:

• Prepared to Win . Research, plan, and prepare your presentation professionally. It helps you deliver an effective message to your target audience.
• Designed Correctly . Your visual points should stand out without overwhelming your audience. A good PowerPoint visual shouldn’t complicate your message.
• Practiced to Perfection . Rehearse your timing and delivery so that your points land as practiced with a live audience.
• Delivered With Poise . Present with a relaxed inner calm and confident outward projection. Give your audience warmth, excitement, and energy.
• Free From Mistakes . Avoid typos, cheesy clip art, and mistakes like reading directly from your slides.

Consider this your all-inclusive guide to how to make a good presentation. We’ll look at preparing your presentation and explore how to design it in PowerPoint. Plus, we’ll cover how to practice and nail your delivery successfully come presentation time.

We’ll also address what not to do in these tips for PowerPoint presentations—so you can sidestep any big mistakes. Now let’s dig into these tips for effective PowerPoint presentations.

Killer Presentation Preparation Tips to Get Started Right

Before even opening PowerPoint, start by addressing these things. These Microsoft PowerPoint tips and tricks will ensure that you’re prepared for your presentation:

1. Know Your Stuff

Your presentation isn’t about your slides alone. It’s about the message you want to get across. Before filling in stats, facts and figures, think about the narrative that’ll be discussed, why, and in what order.

2. Write It Out

Start in a Word or Google doc, and storyboard or script the entire presentation. This will give you an idea of how the information presented will flow and how viewers will see it in sequence. Learn the complete writing process .

3. Highlight What’s Most Important

A presentation covers the most crucial pieces only. Whatever you’ve been working on that led to this—a paper, a work project, a new product design—doesn’t need to be shared in its entirety. Pick key points and put the rest in an “Appendix” to refer to during the Q&A session at the end.

4. Know Your Audience

How you talk to a room full of medical professionals should be different from the way you address a room full of young entrepreneurs. Everything, in fact, is different: your topic selection, the language you use, the examples you give to illustrate points. The little bits of humor you include should be tailored specifically with your target audience in mind.

Understand your audience’s needs to create a successful PowerPoint presentation. Customize your content to meet their specific requirements.

5. Rehearse! (Yes, Already)

It’s never too early to get used to the rhythm of your presentation and take note of points you want to emphasize. While saying it out loud, you’ll start to develop a “feel” for the material. You’ll notice that some things work well, while others don’t and might need to be worked around.

6. Rewrite After You Rehearse

As you’re rehearsing your presentation, you’re bound to stumble over sections that don’t quite flow naturally. Instead of reworking your delivery, it might be time to consider the content and rewrite the areas that served as stumbling blocks.

“Editing is hard. ‘It’s good enough,’ is a phrase wannabes use. Leaders take editing seriously.” – Anthony Trendl

The most important part of creating a great presentation is the writing stage. The second most important stage is rewriting.

7. Share With a Friend

If the stakes are high for your presentation, it’s never too early to get feedback from those that you trust. Here’s an article that helps you collaborate as a team on a PowerPoint presentation. Get PowerPoint design tips from those that you trust when you collaborate.

Simple Tips to Design Your PowerPoint Presentation Better

Second only to you (the information you bring and how you present it) is your PowerPoint slides. If not designed well, a PowerPoint can be disengaging or distracting (regardless of the content quality). Here are some presentation design tips to make sure this doesn’t happen to you:

8. Keep Your Slides Simple

This is one of the most important PowerPoint presentation tips to follow when designing your slides. Keep in mind that less is more (effective.) A cluttered slide is distracting. It causes confusion for an audience: Which part of the slide should I focus on? Should I read the slide or pay attention to the presenter?

A simple, visually appealing slide will engage your audience, keeping them on track with your main points. Here’s an example of a simple slide that serves its purpose perfectly:

Minimalist slide templates like Nook can help you resist the urge to clutter your slides.

9. Limit Words on Your Slides

Piggybacking on the last point, less is more effective. If possible, avoid bullets altogether. Otherwise cut them to just a few simple words. The audience should be listening, not reading.

10. Use High-Quality Photos and Graphics

One of the most important tips for quality PowerPoint presentations is to use high-quality photos and graphics.

Earlier in this tutorial, you saw Envato Elements, an all-you-can-download service with PPT tips inside of templates. Those pre-built designs are a beginner’s best friend. They’re even better when paired with Elements’ unlimited library of stock photos .

People are more likely to take you seriously if your presentation is visually appealing. Users view attractive design as more usable. Similarly, they’ll view a more attractive PowerPoint as more effective.

11. Use Accurate and Relevant Charts and Graphs

Charts and graphs can also be distracting if they’re not used right. Make sure your information design is simple and clean so that the audience doesn’t spend the entire time trying to decipher what your X axis says. Learn more about PPT data presentation .

12. Use High-Quality, Fresh Templates

Have you seen the old PowerPoint template that looks like worn paper and uses ink splashes? Yeah, so has your audience. Templates can be distracting if they’re too basic or if the design feels dated. You need one with great design options.

Costs are always a concern. But when you use Envato Elements, you’ve got everything you need to create a great PowerPoint presentation . That’s thanks to the incredible all-you-can-download subscription package.

The best PowerPoint tips and tricks can hardly compare to the value of using a template while building your presentation.

On Envato Elements, there are thousands of PowerPoint design templates that are ready to use. Instead of designing a presentation from scratch, start with a template! Just add your specifics to the placeholders.

Templates like Galaxi are impressively designed and waiting for your slide specifics.

The best PowerPoint design tips save you time. And there’s no tip more powerful than this one: use a pre-built template . It helps you master how to present a PowerPoint without spending all your time in the app.

13. Choose Appropriate Fonts

Fonts are an important part of engaging your audience. Fonts and typography choices have a subconscious effect on viewers. They can characterize your company’s presentation and brand either positively or negatively. Make sure that you’re choosing fonts that are professional and modern.

14. Choose Color Well

Like font choice, colors cause specific subconscious reactions from viewers. Choosing an outdated color combination for your presentation will render it ineffective.

Below is an example of the Popsicle PowerPoint template , which has a modern presentation color choice:

The Popsicle PowerPoint template highlights how harmonized color palettes can create beautiful slides.

15. Clean + Simple Formatting Makes All the Difference!

We’ve got a full tutorial on how to make a good presentation slide . Give it a read through and review the accompanying video. Just remember, less is more. The focus is you and your message , not your slides.

16. Make Sure All Objects Are Aligned

A simple way to create a well-designed presentation is to make sure all items on a slide are intentionally aligned. To do this, hold down Shift and select all the objects you want to include. Then choose Arrange in the options bar and apply Alignment Type .

17. Limit Punctuation

This isn’t the place for exclamation points. Emphasize your points (while speaking). Don’t enlist punctuation to do this for you. (Leave these at home!!!)

18. Avoid Over-Formatting Your Points

This PowerPoint presentation tip is simple. There’s no need to have every word of every bullet point capitalized, or to have all your bullet points in title case. If possible, drop bullets altogether. Again, the simpler, the better!

Limit your text formatting, including reducing the use of bullets, underline, and other effects. Compare the before example on the left to the revised version on the right.

19. Combine Information With Graphics in PowerPoint

One of the most powerful presentation skills for PPT is using infographics. With the right type of visuals, slides come to life and reduce the text in favor of graphics.

Infographics help combine information with graphics. It’s easier to explain complex ideas when you use visual formats that are intuitive.

Practice Presentation Tips: Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse!

Delivery is probably more important than the actual content. Here’s how to become more aware of your own unique ticks, and how to present like a polished pro:

20. I’ll Say It Again, Rehearse!

Just do it. Again and again. Experiment with pauses, gestures, and body language. Practice around one hour for every minute of your speech.

21. Practice With a Timer

Consistency is key to an effective PowerPoint presentation. The timing should be similar (ideally the same) each time you rehearse. This one will especially pay off when it’s time to present in front of your audience.

22. Slow It Down

Many of the best speakers today intentionally speak slowly. You’ll have the chance to emphasize, appear more thoughtful, and make your information easier to digest.

23. Pause More Often

Like the prior tip, pausing more often allows your main points to be emphasized and gives time for information to sink in. You need to let key points breathe a little before rushing into the next section.

24. Record Yourself

Use your phone’s voice recorder. Assess and critique yourself. Consider:

• Are your pauses too short or too long?
• Are you speaking slowly enough? Too slow?
• When you’re nervous, does your voice get high like the mice in Cinderella?

It’s always weird to hear your own voice recorded; don’t stress it. Use this as a time to adjust.

25. Choose Three Focal Points in the Room

If you stare at the same spot (or even creepier, the same person) the entire time, your presentation will be ineffective (and awkward.) People will be distracted by you, wondering what you’re staring at.

Try this: pick three points in the room (typically: left, center, right). Take time to direct your delivery toward each physical focal point in the room. Also, focus on the center when making your primary points.

26. Vary Your Sentence Length

This makes you sound more interesting, and it’s easier for your audience to follow. Think short and punchy. Or go long and complex for dramatic effect.

27. Modulate!

Don’t speak in monotone for your whole presentation. Be conscious of raising and lowering your voice tone. Otherwise, people will tune you out, and you’ll come across like the teacher in Charlie Brown.

28. Practice in Front of a Mirror

What you look like is as important as how you sound. Pretend you’re having a normal conversation, and allow your hands to move with your speech to emphasize your points. Just don’t get carried away! (I’m thinking Brene Brown or President Obama , not your Aunt Jamie after a few gin and tonics.)

29. Use “Present Mode” When Rehearsing

When you finally are ready to hit the Present button in PowerPoint, make sure you use the Present Mode option. This allows you (and only you) to view extra notes about each slide—just in case you forget something!

30. Practice With New Audiences

If possible, try doing a few real live test runs as a webinar or even at a local Toastmasters organization to get some feedback from a live audience.

31. Engage the Audience by Asking Questions

There’s no reason that a presentation should be one-sided. Why not invert the format and ask your audience a question?

To learn how to create a slide that kicks off a Q&A, use this article . These PowerPoint design tips help you create an engaging and exciting discussion.

Helpful Tips to Step Up and Deliver Come Presentation Time

When the actual day arrives, there are only a few last PowerPoint presentation tips and guidelines to keep in mind:

32. Take a Deep Breath

Deep breathing is proven to relieve stress. It’s simple, and it’ll help you remain calm and in the moment, even up to the last minute before starting.

33. Lighten Up Your Mood

Tell yourself a joke or watch a funny video clip. Do this before the presentation, of course. Research concludes that happy people are more productive. More productive is more focused and able to perform better.

34. Remind Yourself to Take It Slow

When we’re stressed or nervous (or both), we tend to speak faster. Consciously, take yet another deep breath and remind yourself to take it slow!

35. Read the Room

Every presentation room has a temperature. It’s your job as a speaker to gauge it and tailor your presentation to it.

Here’s a great example. Layoffs are coming at a company, and you’re asked to speak to an audience. Even if the audience isn’t personally affected by the actions, you’ve got to consider the morale of the workforce.

Skilled speakers have a knack for reading the energy of the room and adjusting their presentation on the fly.

The last thing that group will want to hear is how strong the economy is and why the company is the best place to work. That doesn’t mean that you’ve got to align to their uncertainty, but don’t go too far against the grain while presenting.

Robert Kennedy III is a master of bringing energy and aligning a speech to the audience. Here’s his advice for adjusting:

“It can be hard to wake up a “dead” crowd but go for it. Most of all, don’t take their energy personally. Focus on serving them with every bit of your fiber then leave empty.”

36. Fake It ‘Til You Make It!

Go forward with confidence. If you act confident, you’ll start to feel more confident. Move slowly with grace, speak clearly, smile, wear something nice. You’ll appear confident to all attendees (no matter how you feel internally).

PowerPoint Presentation Tips and Tricks to Help Avoid Mistakes (What Not to Do)

Most importantly, focus on what you can do to make your presentation better. There are a few important things not to do that we’ve got to address. Here are a handful of PowerPoint presentation tips and tricks to help you avoid missteps.

37. Stop With the Sound Effects

Sound effects are distracting and outdated. In most cases, avoid them. Add audio or music to your presentation to inject interest or highlight an important point, but it’s something to take extra care with. If you insert audio, then make sure your use really connects with your audience and has a fresh approach. Otherwise, it’s best to leave it out.

38. Don’t Use Flashy Slide Transitions

Again, this is distracting and outdated. Use transitions and subtle animations in your PowerPoint presentation. But you need to take care and do it right .

39. Beware of Clip Art

This PowerPoint presentation tip shouldn’t even have to be said. But please, please don’t use clip art. Use professional graphics instead.

40. Don’t Be Afraid to Be Afraid

The fear of public speaking is a real one. Many beginners think that if they’re feeling nervous that a presentation won’t go well or succeed. That might lead them to cancel the presentation.

Here’s a tip from expert Sandra Zimmer, who leads The Self-Expression Center on conquering your fears before you take the stage:

“Get out of your head and into your body. I do this through a grounding exercise that really works to calm nerves and bring you present in the moment.”

If you think that public speaking fears aren’t normal, you might never give your award-winning presentation. So don’t be afraid to be afraid, and acknowledge it’s part of the process!

41. Don’t Read Directly During Your PowerPoint Presentation

If you spend your entire presentation looking at the screen or your note cards, you’re sure to lose your audience’s attention. They’ll disengage from what you’re saying, and your presentation will fall flat.

Reading from your paper or screen also makes it look like you’re not prepared. Many people do it, but no one should. As a general rule, only present something you know well and have, at least mostly, memorized the main points of.

42. Don’t Miss Out on PowerPoint Customizations

Many new PowerPoint users often make significant mistakes when using Envato Elements designs.

The best way to see how to make a good presentation PPT is to start with designs from others. That means using a template, but that doesn’t mean you can’t customize them!

Don’t forget that PowerPoint templates are infinitely customizable. Think of them as guides with built-in presentation design tips.

To see more presentation tips that show you what not to do, make sure to check out our guide .

Work in PowerPoint More Effectively (Tips & Tricks to Level Up Your PPT Skills)

These PowerPoint tips will help you get the most out of the application to level up your next presentation. Let’s dive in.

43. Use the Visual Guides

When you’re designing your next PowerPoint presentation, it helps to create a sense of visual rhythm. Slides that have objects aligned and centered are more likely to resonate with an audience.

44. Use a Few Animations (Tastefully)

Animations in effective PowerPoint presentations are a slippery slope. We’ve all sat through presentations where there were so many objects in motion that it was easy to lose focus on the key ideas in the presentation.

But that’s why animations get an unfairly bad reputation. Use animations to create motion and hold an audience’s attention. Use them sparingly and on key elements on your slide, and you’ll capture that attention properly.

45. Stage Key Content With Animations

You just learned that animations should avoid being distracting. But there’s an important principle to using animations properly. It’s called staging content.

Staging content means that the content appears step by step. There’s nothing worse than overwhelming an audience with all your content at once. But when you stage content, bring it on step by step.

Take it from presentation pro Suzannah Baum :

“If you’re sharing a slide with lots of different points on it, using the animation to reveal those points one at a time is a way to keep the presenter’s content flowing smoothly.”

For more animation presentation tips and tricks, follow our guide .

46. Add a Video to Your PowerPoint

When you’re sharing a big idea in your presentation, it helps to share your perspective from a few different angles. Adding a video to supplement your content can do just that. Luckily, it’s easy to add and embed a YouTube video in your next PowerPoint presentation.

47. Add Charts & Graphs

Charts and graphs can help you tell stories with data. It’s easy for an audience to zone out when you throw a big data table or set of statistics at them.

instead, convert those to charts and graphs. Try out our tutorial to learn how to edit those graphs.

48. Build Your Own Infographics With SmartArt

Earlier in this tutorial, we gave you one of my favorite PowerPoint design tips: use infographic templates.

Here’s another. One of my favorite PowerPoint features is SmartArt, which allows you to build infographics right inside the app.

You don’t have to use another graphic design app like Photoshop or Illustrator to add visuals. Instead, try out SmartArt to help you build graphics that are easy to update.

49. Use Presenter View

Remember that when you use the PowerPoint, you’ re the presentation. The slides are just there to reinforce what you’ve got to say and support your speaking points.

That’s why I always recommend using Presenter view. More often than not, you’re going to have several displays. Presenter view shows your content on your screen, while your presentation is displayed on another screen.

50. Track Your PowerPoint Changes

One of my favorite PowerPoint design tips is to collaborate. Those who know you best will suggest compelling changes that are sure to help you succeed.

As you start collaborating on your presentation, it helps to keep track of proposed and included PowerPoint changes. Use this article to track changes made by others.

10 More Advanced PowerPoint Tips & Tricks

Really need to wow an audience with a good PowerPoint presentation? Give these tips a try to make an unforgettable impression:

51. Engage With an Interactive Quiz

A good PowerPoint presentation gets your audience involved. One of the best PowerPoint tricks is to do that with a quiz. By engaging audiences, a quiz makes your slides memorable.

By adding trivia, you’ll see how to present a PowerPoint in a way that people will love. Channel your inner game-show host today. MIDTEST is a  good PowerPoint presentation  with quiz slides.

52. Illustrate With Custom Image Masks

One of the top PowerPoint tips is to illustrate your slides. But you can go beyond simple, rectangular images on each slide.

The Burte template is full of  PowerPoint tricks , including custom image masks. Image masks shape photos into unique works of art. And thanks to premium templates, you can style photos just like this. Masks overlay your photos onto geometric shapes, instantly elevating your style.

53. Print Handouts With Extra Notes

Wonder how to give a good presentation PPT that audiences will remember? Give them a piece of it to take home.

PowerPoint makes it easy to print handouts with room for notes on the page. This way, audiences can keep copies of your slides, along with their own notes. This is the perfect way to ensure everyone engages with and retains your content.

54. Make Bulk Edits With Master Slides

When you think about how to present a PowerPoint, consider your branding. That means keeping your logo front and center in the eyes of an audience. But if you’re working with a lengthy slide deck, this could seem daunting.

That’s where master slides come in. They’re common in premium layouts, and they’re a leading example of presentation skills for PPT. Master slides let you make bulk edits fast.

55. Shrink File Sizes for Sharing

Many of the top presentation tips involve making your slides more accessible. Often, that involves sharing them with audiences online.

You’ll often find that email clients and cloud services limit the size of files that you share. This can be a problem with large PPT slide decks. But there are a few quick steps you can take to reduce PPT file size. Cut graphics, scale down photos, and more.

56. Map Processes With Flowcharts

As you consider how to do a good PowerPoint presentation, think of ease of understanding. After all, you’re trying to explain something to your audience.

The  Flowcharts in Infographics  template seamlessly illustrates ideas and processes. A flowchart maps out a process in a visual way. Instead of resorting to endless narration, try a quick illustration like this. It saves you time and effort, and your audience is sure to thank you.

57. Use Brand-Specific Colors

Using presentation skills for PPT helps form an association between your message and branding. There’s no better way to do that than with your brand colors.

PowerPoint makes it easy to change color themes, adding your brand colors and logo to each slide. This is one of the top PowerPoint tricks for marketing presentations.

58. Build Social Media Posts in PPT

A good PowerPoint presentation doesn’t have to be shared through a projector. Use the app and templates to build amazing illustrations to use anywhere.

A template like Soffee helps you learn how to present a PowerPoint easily with a pre-built design.

Try using PowerPoint to create social media posts. It helps you engage with your audience, with no need to design custom layouts from scratch.

59. Be Industry-Specific

One of the top presentation tips in 2024 is to be industry-specific. That means avoiding generic layouts and choosing something more customized.

This offers two key advantages. First, you save time by having layouts built for you. Second, you gain design inspiration for your specific topic. Themed templates are truly the best of both worlds.

The Medical and Health template is a good PowerPoint presentation with a set theme.

60. Design for Online (Virtual) Sharing

Last but not least in our list of PowerPoint tips comes virtual presenting. More and more often, slides will be shared with online audiences around the globe.

Why not design your slides for that very purpose? And then learn how to share flawlessly with a global team? It’s one of the top presentation tips for 2024. Embrace it today.

More Great PowerPoint Tutorial Resources

We’ve built a resource for Microsoft PowerPoint that you’re sure to want to try. It includes countless PowerPoint tips and tricks. It’s called How to Use PowerPoint (Ultimate Tutorial Guide) and has all the PowerPoint design tips you need.

Discover More Top PowerPoint Template Designs From Envato Elements for 2024

You’ve just seen our favorite powerful PowerPoint presentation tips and guidelines to help you improve your speaking. We’ve also mentioned Envato Elements, an incredible all-you-can-download source for top PowerPoint designs .

Here are five of the best PowerPoint templates that you can use to create your best presentation yet:

1. Galaxi PowerPoint Template

Blast off to success with the help of this PowerPoint template! Think of the pre-built slide designs as pro PowerPoint design tips. They’re built by professional graphic designers. All the popular and modern slide styles that are perfect for your next presentation. Use Galaxi’s five styles and 30 designs to create a great presentation.

2. Masmax PowerPoint Template

We selected templates for this article that match the PowerPoint tips and tricks provided. Masmax fits the bill perfectly across its 234 unique slide designs. These slide designs are sure to align with the latest in design expectations.

3. STYLE Multipurpose PowerPoint Template V50

Style is subjective, but we can all agree that this template is stunning! The light and airy slide designs are built with fashion-focused designs in mind. But that doesn’t mean that it’s not perfect for most presentations. When learning to present a PowerPoint, remember that templates can be customized to suit your purpose.

4. Peachme Creative PowerPoint Template

Peachme has image-focused slides with splashy designs. The slides are colorful and perfect for a modern presentation. Don’t worry about remembering all the PowerPoint design tips because they’re included in the pre-built slides. Use Peachme’s designs for your presentation today.

5. Buizi Office Building Rent PowerPoint Template

Buizi markets itself as a real estate focused template. It’s ideal for that purpose because of the minimal, image-focused slide designs. But that also makes it a perfect choice for presentations in many fields.

We’ve just scratched the surface of PowerPoint design tips with these five options. Here are many more, bundled inside of the best roundups on Envato Tuts+:

How to Build a Good PowerPoint Presentation Quickly (In 2024)

You’ve already seen effective presentation skills PPT techniques. But you may be wondering exactly how to do a good PowerPoint presentation. It only takes a few clicks. Let’s learn how in just five steps.

For this mini-tutorial, we’ll use the Enjoy PowerPoint Template from Envato Elements. You’ll see that it’s a beautiful template that helps you learn how to present a PowerPoint by giving you every object and layout you need.

Let’s get started:

1. Choose Your Slides

As you can see, a template like Enjoy has dozens of unique slides inside. The key to how to give a good presentation PPT is to choose only the slides that you need.

One of the best PowerPoint tricks is to start by selecting slides you wish to use from your template.

In PowerPoint, scroll through the sidebar on the left to view different slide layouts. Right-click and choose Delete to remove unwanted designs. Plus, you can click and drag slide thumbnails to reorder them in the deck.

2. Add Text

Consider how to do a good PowerPoint presentation without investing a ton of time. That’s where premium templates come in.

One of our top presentation tips when working with a PPT is to lean on the pre-built text boxes for your content.

To add custom text, simply click and select the contents of any text box on your slide. Then, type in your own words. Repeat as needed throughout your slide deck.

3. Customize Fonts

With text selected, it’s easy to customize fonts on each slide. Find the Font section on PowerPoint’s Home tab. From there, you’ve got a variety of dropdown options.

Another of our top tips for presentation tricks is to use a custom font setting in your template.

Click to change the font, font size, and more. You can also use the buttons on the left to add bolds, italics, and more.

Need more custom font styles? As an Envato Elements subscriber, you’ve got instant access to thousands of custom fonts . Use them in your presentation with ease.

4. Insert Images

Slides like this one contain an image placeholder. That’s another advantage found only with premium templates. These make adding images a breeze.

Add images to your PPTX template for more visually interesting slides.

To get started, find an image file stored on your computer. Then, drag and drop it over the placeholder. PowerPoint will import it, sized and scaled for a perfect fit.

5. Change Colors

One of the top effective presentation skills is changing shape colors. This helps you control the look and feel of each slide.

With a shape selected, find the Shape Format tab on PowerPoint’s ribbon. Then, click on the Shape Fill dropdown. You’ll see a color chooser menu appear. Click on any thumbnail to apply it to the shape or browse through the Gradient and Texture options.

Start Putting These PowerPoint Presentation Tips & Tricks Into Use Today!

Learning to write, design, and present a PowerPoint presentation is an invaluable skill, no matter where you use it. If you’re a good communicator of important messages, you’ll never go hungry.

Luckily, improving PowerPoint presentations isn’t as hard as it seems. Follow these tips for PowerPoint presentations to design and deliver with greater confidence.

Remember: Less is more (effective) . Use PowerPoint presentation templates for better design and more effective visual impact. And you can customize a PPT template quickly , with the right workflow.

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