how to record audio for a powerpoint presentation

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How to Add, Record or Edit Audio or Music in PowerPoint

Do you want to set the right mood and keep your audience engaged and entertained during your next presentation? In this new Slidesgo School tutorial, you’ll learn how to add audio or music to your presentations . You’ll also find out how to edit them to your liking .

Adding Audio from your Computer

Recording audio from powerpoint, editing audio, adding online audio, adding music from youtube, playing several clips in succession during your presentation.

• Before we begin, please note the following: in PowerPoint 2010 or older, you should use .wav or .wma files in Windows, and .wav files in Mac. If you’re using a newer version, we recommend that you work with AAC .m4a files.
• Open your PowerPoint presentation and select the slide where you want to add audio.
• On the Insert tab, in the Media group, click the Audio drop-down arrow. You’ll see two options: the first one allows you to add audio from your PC, whereas the second one allows you to record audio (you’ll need to have a microphone set up in your computer).
• Select Audio from My PC. A new window will open, where you have to locate the audio file you want to add to your presentation.
• Once located, click the drop-down arrow next to Insert. You’ll see two options:
• If you choose Insert , the audio will be directly inserted into your presentation, increasing the size of the document.
• If you choose Link to File , a link to the file will be created, reducing the size of the document. However, there could be issues if you use the presentation in a different computer, forcing you to link the audio file to the presentation again.
• Select the option that best suits your needs.
• If you want to export any audio included in your PowerPoint presentation, right-click its icon → Save Media As (you can only do this with audio inserted from your PC).
• Please note that if you want to play a different audio in each slide, you’ll need to add the audio files one by one. You’ll also need to uncheck “Play Across Slides”. You can refer to the “ Editing Audio ” section in this tutorial if you want more information.
• On the Insert tab, in the Media group, click the Audio drop-down arrow. Select Record Audio. A new window will open.
• Enter the name of the audio file you’re about to record.
• Press Record to start recording. To stop, press the Stop button. To play what you’ve recorded, press Play.
• If you’re happy with what you’ve recorded, click OK. If that’s not the case, click Cancel.
• Select the audio whose format you want to adjust. A new set of tabs, called Audio Tools, will appear on the toolbar.
• In the Bookmarks group, you’ll find an option to add bookmarks, which will be visible in the timeline. These can be helpful if you want to quickly find the main points in your audio during the presentation.
• In the Editing group, there are options to add a fade in and a fade out. You’ll also find the Trim Audio option. If you click it, a new window will open, where you can set the start point and the end point of the audio clip.
• In the Audio Options group, you’ll find the following options to adjust the behavior of the audio clip:
• Volume: It allows you to set the volume of the clip.
• Start: Click the drop-down arrow to choose how you want the audio to start. If you’re using Office 2010, you’ll also find an option here to play the audio clip during the entire presentation.
• Loop until Stopped: Once the audio clip finishes, it starts again indefinitely until you stop it.
• Play Across Slides: If you enable this, the audio clip will be played during the entire presentation. If “Loop until Stopped” is enabled too, it won’t stop playing until you reach the end of the presentation.
• Hide During Show: Check this option if you want to hide the icon.
• Rewind after Playing: Check this option if you want the timer of the audio clip to go back to the beginning when it reaches the end.
• If you’re using newer versions of PowerPoint, you’ll find a group called Audio Styles. Choose “No Style” if you don’t want additional effects. Choose “Play in Background” if you want the audio clip to be played in the background during your presentation.
• You can change the icon of the audio clip. To do so, on the Format tab, in the Adjust group, click Change Picture.
• Insert an icon or a picture. We’ll use it to link the online audio. Please refer to the How to Add and Modify Icons tutorial to learn how to insert icons.
• Add the link to the online audio resource. If you don’t know how to do it, please refer to the How to Insert a Hyperlink in PowerPoint tutorial.
• Once added, click the icon of this audio. A new window will open, where you must click the Play button. Some audio platforms, such as Soundcloud, allow you to generate an autoplay sharing link. With that, you just need to click the icon to play the audio automatically.
• If you want to pause the playback, you’ll need to exit the presentation mode and do it manually.
• Insert the video containing the audio or music you want. If you don’t know how, please refer to the How to Add a Video in PowerPoint tutorial.
• Decrease the size of the video and place it outside the visible part of the slide.
• We need to set it to automatically play in presentation mode. To do this, on the Playback tab, in the Video Options group, click the Start drop-down arrow and select “Automatically”. If you need more information, please refer to the How to Add a Video in PowerPoint tutorial.
• Please note that the audio will stop when changing slides.

To create a playlist that plays across all slides during your presentation, you need to use an audio editing software, such as Audacity or Adobe Audition, and edit the clips so that they come one after another. When you’re done, export it as a single audio file, which you can now use in your presentation.

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

I’ve scrolled through a lot of slideshows and, let’s face it, they’re not always the easiest to follow or understand what’s going on. I’m sure you have felt this too.

Have you ever thought, it would be great if the slides came with audio so that the presenter could explain and talk through each slide?

In this article, we’re going to show you how to record audio in PowerPoint as a narration or voice-over so your audience can feel as if you are presenting live and in person.

All you have to do is record yourself talking through each slide and PowerPoint will take care of the rest!

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

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

• In PowerPoint, choose a slide.
• From Slide Show menu > click lower part Record Slide Show button
• Select a slide to Record from Current Slide, or Record from Beginning from the sub-menu
• NOTE: PowerPoint versions 2013-2016 only: A “Slide Show Settings” dialog box will appear for animation timings etc. You can leave both checked.
• PowerPoint will then open into full-screen Recording Mode
• NOTE: Microsoft Office PowerPoint versions 2013-2016 and Microsoft for Mac 365 will start recording immediately.
• In Recording Mode > click the Record button in the top left to start recording countdown.
• You are now ready to talk through your presentation and record your voice.
• To Stop or Pause recording > click Pause button or Stop / End Show (x) button.
• Jump to the full step-by-step tutorial below

Why use narrations or voice-overs in PowerPoint Presentation?

Adding a narration or voice-over into a presentation will enable your slideshow to be played and move forward in time or sync with your voice.

Recording audio for your slideshow is a widely used feature and has many benefits. For example:

• It’s useful in situations when a speaker is not available and when people want to view presentations on their own and at their leisure.
• It is also an effective way for speakers to rehearse and time specific slides or the entire presentations before they happen.
• And you may have watched many instructional videos or online courses with a recorded voice over, just because it makes the content easier to understand, is more engaging and lively than just written words alone.

After you finish the audio recording you can share or export your presentation by converting or exporting your PowerPoint (.ppt) file into a video (.mp4 or .mov file) which will have both your audio and visuals contained in one file.

Before recording your narration or voice-over – tips.

Make sure your microphone works..

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

First, plug in your headset or microphone to your computer if you are not using the inbuilt mic. Or if you are using a Bluetooth headset, make sure it’s paired/connected properly.

To make sure everything is working OK, access the audio device settings on your computer as shown in the video above. While you are in the device settings menu, select your microphone and set it as default.

You can test the playback quality by using the free software tools on your machine:

• Windows 10 – Use Voice Recorder (previously called Sound Recorder)
• Mac – Use Voice Memos
• Chromebook – New in 2021 from OS 88. Use Screen Capture to test your audio recording by pressing the Ctrl, Shift, and Overview keys to bring up the capture bar. ( You may need to enable by entering chrome://flags  in the URL address bar and search for “capture” in the search bar or by entering chrome://flags/#screen-capture in the URL address bar.)

Note – In PowerPoint 2016, you cannot change which microphone device you want to record in screen recording mode (so do it first!), however in 2019/Office 365 it is possible to do so, by using the settings link in the full-screen recording mode.

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

Versions Covered: PowerPoint 2013, 2016, 2019, 2020, Office 365, PowerPoint for PC / Windows, PowerPoint for macOS and Chromebook.

• Start by opening the PowerPoint presentation in which you want to record your audio.

• Stop Recording. To end the slideshow recording, click the Stop (square button) at the top left. Or keyboard shortcut – Press Alt+S. You’re done recording your captivating and engaging PowerPoint slideshow with a voice-over / narration!
• Exit full screen recording window. Click the (x) button int the corner. To save your slide timings, click “yes” if prompted. When you return to your slide view, a small icon of a microphone appears on the bottom right corner of each slide. Click this icon to hear your voice over for any particular slide.

Advanced PowerPoint Audio Recording Options.

Add annotations to your recorded powerpoint slide show..

Adding annotations to your PowerPoint presentation is an optional step and can help your presentation stand out. But, what are annotations, and how should you use them when recording your voice-over?

If you want to draw a user’s attention to a specific area or to add some interactivity; using annotations is the way to do it. It is basically a virtual marker you can use to highlight elements in your presentation slides e.g by circling a word or picture, underlining a phrase, writing additional notes on-screen, or pointing to specific items. 

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

Note, this will not make a permanent change to your slides, it’s only visible in the recorded playback!

Using the Timings Function to Adjust Recording Speed.

As you record your narration, you will be able to see a clock in the bottom left corner showing how much time you spend on each slide, against the total amount of time recorded so far.

While this is very helpful for rehearsing your presentation, it’s quite common to have issues with timings with your recorded slideshow. For example when you have switched to the next slide too quickly.

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

Clearing or Deleting your narration and / or timings

If you are not happy with your voice-over on a slide or wish to start the recording from the beginning, PowerPoint gives you some easy options to do so.

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

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

Now that you are finished recording your PowerPoint presentation, your voice audio will be attached to the same file and it’s time to distribute it by exporting your PowerPoint (PPT file) into a video (.mp4 or .wmv) .

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

Recording Audio Tips and Tricks

Macos 2019 – powerpoint audio recording tip.

To give PowerPoint access to record your screen in macOS you need to set up the right security and privacy permissions:

• Open System Preferences
• Select Security & Privacy
• Select Privacy tab.
• In the left panel scroll to Screen Recording > click “ +” icon .
• In the “Applications” window select PowerPoint

Microsoft 365, 2016, 2019 for Windows PC – Recording tab in PowerPoint

Microsoft 365 subscribers with the Click-to-Run version of Microsoft 365 for Windows PC can use the Recording tab .

The Recording tab shows the recorded video , screenshots, and screen recording options in a single menu for easy access. To turn on the Recording tab of the ribbon in PowerPoint 365 Windows PC

• Select the  File  menu > click  Options .
• In the PowerPoint Options  dialog box > click   Customize Ribbon
• In the right-panel > select the  Recording  check box.
• Click  OK .

If you click the button on the bottom of the “Record Slide Show” button, you can start from the beginning of the slideshow or from where you are.

Knowing the basics of recording audio in PowerPoint is a powerful tool for anyone who wants to make a downloadable slideshow, create an internet streamed webinar, upload a video for YouTube, Vimeo, or any other digital platform such as your website or other digital platforms.

You may also like: How to Turn a PowerPoint Into a Video

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3 Simple Ways to Record Audio on PowerPoint Presentations

Sara Wanasek

Enhance your PowerPoint presentations by incorporating music and adding your own narration or unique sound bites. This not only keeps your audience engaged but also complements your written content. Learning how to add and record audio in PowerPoint is a valuable skill, enabling you to create compelling presentations for professional, educational, and personal purposes.

Recording audio in PowerPoint offers significant advantages, especially when delivering remote or asynchronous presentations. You can:

• Record yourself giving the presentation and share the recording for viewers to access at their convenience, or
• Include audio clips to emphasize transitions, key points, or significant moments within your presentation.

Continue reading to discover how to record audio live in PowerPoint on Windows devices, add pre-recorded audio, and find useful tips for editing!

Step-by-step guide: How to Record Audio on PowerPoint

In PowerPoint, you have the capability to record two types of audio:

• Recording for exporting as a video: This method is ideal for narrating your presentation, making it perfect for sharing with others to watch at their own pace.
• Recording short audio clips: This method allows you to incorporate audio into your live presentation.

Let’s walk you through both methods of recording audio directly within PowerPoint:

Option 1: Record Narration for All Slides

Step 1: Open Your PowerPoint Presentation

Launch PowerPoint and open a new or existing PowerPoint file. If your are starting from scratch, make sure to complete the slides with design and interactive elements (make sure your presentation is engaging !) before adding your audio. 

Step 2: Choose the Starting Position

• Go to the ‘SlideShow’ tab and click on the arrow next to ‘Record Slide Show.’
• Choose between ‘From Current Slide’ or ‘From Beginning’ based on your requirements.
• This will open the recorder window, where you can make necessary adjustments to the settings.

Step 3: Adjust Settings

You can select the microphone, view your notes, and toggle your camera on or off.

Step 4: Begin Recording

When you are ready, click the ‘Play’ button to begin recording. You will see a 3-second countdown, then the recording will start and you can begin speaking. 

Use the side arrows for smooth navigation through your presentation while recording. Pause or stop the recording at any point. To review the recorded audio, click ‘ Replay .’ To delete any recordings, click the ‘x’ next to the speaker icon.

At the bottom left, you’ll find two timers: one for the entire presentation and one for the specific slide, helping you keep track of the recording length.

Step 5: Stop Recording

When done, click the ‘X’ in the top right-hand corner. Your audio recordings will be saved to each slide, indicated by the speaker icon at the bottom right corner of your slide. 

Step 6: Share Recording

To share your recording, export the PowerPoint file as a video , selecting ‘Use Recorded Timings and Narrations.’ Then, easily share it via email or add it to a Learning Management System for convenient viewing.

Option 2: Record Audio for Specific Slides

Step 1: Navigate to the Desired Slide

Select the specific slide where you want to record audio. This could be for narration, background music, or sound effects, depending on your presentation’s needs.

Step 2: Insert Audio

To add audio, click the ‘Insert’ tab on your PowerPoint ribbon. Then in the Media section, select ‘Audio’ then ‘Record Audio’. 

Step 3: Name Audio Sound

Name the sound uniquely for easy future retrieval.

• Click the red ‘Recording’ button to start.
• Use the green ‘Play’ button to review the audio.
• If it’s satisfactory, click ‘OK.’
• The speaker icon will be added to your slide, and you can reposition it as needed.

Step 5: Set Audio Playback Options

After adding audio to your slide, you can specify how and when you want it to play. Click on the Audio icon and select the ‘Playback’ tab in the PowerPoint ribbon. 

In PowerPoint, utilize editing tools to refine your audio. Trim, adjust volume, and apply fade-in or fade-out effects for a professional touch. You can also set the start and stop points for the audio and save it for future use.

Step 6: Test Your Audio

Before your important presentation, test the audio to ensure it works smoothly. Play through your presentation to confirm that everything sounds and plays correctly.

Option 3: Adding Pre-Recorded Audio to PowerPoint

Already have the audio you want to use? No problem! Adding audio to your PowerPoint can be done in 4 simple steps:

Step 1: Navigate to the Slide

Select the slide where you want to addyour pre-recorded audio.

Click the ‘Insert’ tab and choose ‘Audio’ from the Media Section. Select ‘Audio on My PC’ and search for your pre-recorded audio to be uploaded. 

Step 3: Configure Playback Options

Customize your playback settings to suit your needs, such as when the audio should start and how it should play.

Step 4: Test it out

Ensure that the audio plays well and syncs up with your slide transitions and animations for a seamless presentation.

Expert Tips for the Best Recording

Use these tips to get the best recording in PowerPoint: 

• Choose the Right Microphone: Opt for a high-quality microphone for clear and professional audio. For frequent recordings, consider an external microphone.
• Minimize Ambient Noise: Record in a quiet space to reduce background noise. Close doors and windows, and use noise-canceling software if necessary.
• Prepare Your Narration: Outline your narration to ensure a structured delivery, preventing pauses or monotony. Avoid reading line by line.
• Practice Your Delivery: Practice your narration multiple times for improved flow and clarity. Utilize PowerPoint’s Speaker Coach for help with pace, tone, and filler words.
• Edit Minor Mistakes: Don’t worry about small errors during recording; you can edit them out later using PowerPoint’s editing tools.
• Enhance Accessibility: When recording the entire presentation, add closed captions or subtitles to make it accessible to a broader audience, including those with hearing impairments.

Bonus: Recording Interactive PowerPoint Presentations

Want to take your PowerPoint recordings to the next level? Include interactive elements in your PowerPoint recordings to engage your audience more effectively with ClassPoint.

ClassPoint is an interactive teaching tool that integrates directly into PowerPoint, Coffering live presentation engagement features such as interactive questions , gamification , and presentation tools !

When recording your presentation, use third-party recording software like Zoom, Teams, Loom, or Screencast-O-Matic, and incorporate ClassPoint features alongside your audio narration, like so:

1. Live Annotations

Use Pens , Highlighters , Shapes , and even Text Boxes to add notes and highlight the important information on your slides while recording.

2. Added Whiteboard Slides

Add variety to your presentation by annotating on a blank whiteboard slide of your choosing.

3. Laser Pen

ClassPoint’s laser can be used as a pen with disappearing ink and a spotlight when you press the ‘S’ key on your keyboard, allowing you to guide your audience’s attention more effectively.

4. Draggable Objects

Enhance audience understanding by moving objects on your slide as you explain , emphasize key concepts, and create visual associations.

5. Embedded Browser

If you need to search the web to emphasize a key point or show a video, simply open a browser within your presentation without interrupting your seamless presentation and recording.

6. Timer or Stopwatch

If you want your audience to reflect on a question or complete an activity independently, use the timer or stopwatch to create a brief pause before resuming your recording.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re narrating a presentation for asynchronous viewing or incorporating audio into a live session, you’re now equipped with the knowledge of how to record audio on PowerPoint in the best way. 

With added audio, you can engage your audience in a way that ensures your message resonates, no matter where or when they access your content.

Begin experimenting with these techniques, and see how recording audio on PowerPoint and leveraging ClassPoint can transform your PowerPoint presentations, both live and virtually.

Recommended Readings

3 Ways to Watch & Insert Videos in PowerPoint

How to Add Notes to PowerPoint Presentations: A Comprehensive Guide

About Sara Wanasek

Try classpoint for free.

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How-To Geek

How to record voiceover narration in powerpoint.

If you're not able to physically present your slideshow, record a voiceover narration to make sure no points are missed.

Quick Links

Preparation, record a voiceover for your presentation.

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

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

Set Up Your Mic

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

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

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

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

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

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

Take Notes and Rehearse

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

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

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

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

Related: How to Record Your Screen with Microsoft PowerPoint

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to Add Audio to PowerPoint: The Quick Step-by-Step Guide

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In most cases, your PowerPoint presentation will serve as a visualization for your main points during your speech. This, however, doesn’t mean you can’t take a break and enrich your presentation with additional media to further immerse your audience . If you’ve landed on this article, you probably already have something in mind and wish to try to diversify your slides with some music, sounds, or narrations. With no further ado, welcome to the quick step-by-step guide on how to add audio to PowerPoint.

📝 Note: In order to record or hear the audio in PowerPoint, make sure you equip your device with headphones and a microphone.

How to Add Audio in PowerPoint from PC

Let’s say you already have some tune in mind that you wish to add to a particular slide. In terms of sounds, PowerPoint allows you to add multiple files to a single slide, so your options are limitless. For this guide, for example, we will create a slide for a presentation on Farm Animals directed at children. We will add a sound responding to each of the animals in the picture.

Go to the ribbon menu in your PowerPoint and choose Insert > Audio .

When you click Audio , PowerPoint will open a dialogue window. From there, navigate to the location where you store your audio files. Once you select the audio file you wish to add to your slide, click Open .

PowerPoint will insert your audio file in the form of a speaker icon with a player that allows you to play your file and adjust its volume. You can drag the icon and place it wherever you find it suitable, and you can also adjust its size .

If you select the speaker icon, the Audio Menu will appear in the main ribbon menu. Select the Audio menu and take a look at the options. 

This option allows you to adjust the volume of your audio.

This option reveals a drop-down menu to help you choose how the audio starts. Depending on the version, you can choose the following options. When Clicked On plays audio only when you click the speaker icon. Automatically plays your audio file immediately when you land on the slide where you’ve placed the audio file. In some versions, you will get a third option of In Click Sequence , which plays the file automatically with a click.

Audio Options

In order to choose how the audio plays during your presentation, this drop-down menu gives you the following options.

• Play Across Slides plays the audio files across all the slides.
• Loop Until Stopped allows you to play your audio file on loop until you manually choose to stop or pause it with the respective button in the mini player.
• Hide During Show hides your speaker icon. Use it only if you set your audio to play automatically.
• Rewind After Playing rewind your audio clip more than once while you are still on the same slide that originally contains your audio clip.

Play in Background

This option allows you to have your audio clip play continuously across all slides in the background.

Make sure you test your audio in Slide Show. Now let’s see how our Farm Animals and their sounds presentation works out. We chose to play each sound When Clicked On .

📝 Note: In order to delete an audio clip, select the speaker icon on the slide and press Delete .

How to Record Your Own Audio 

You also have the option to record your own audio directly in PowerPoint. In order to do so, go back to the Insert > Audio menu and choose Record Audio .

PowerPoint will open a Record window. Here you type the name of your audio file and click Record before you start speaking to your microphone.

In order to review your record, select Stop and then hit Play to listen.

You can also select Record to re-record your file. Hit OK when you’re satisfied with the clip.

Same as with audio files from your computer, PowerPoint will insert your clip as a speaker icon . Drag the icon where you want it on the slide. 

If you select the speaker icon, the Audio Menu will appear in the main ribbon menu. Select the Audio menu and take a look at the options. They are exactly the same for your recording clip as with audio files from your PC.

Final Words

We hope this step-by-step tutorial was useful to you. Now get wild and impress your audience with immersive audio in your presentation.

It seems that you are interested in the subject of Powerpoint. Why don’t you throw a glance at these related articles?

• The Best Free PowerPoint Templates to Download in 2022
• Convert Your PowerPoint Presentation into Google Slides
• 28 Free Technology PowerPoint Templates
• 100+ Free PowerPoint Graphics For Presentations [Free PPT]

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How to Add Audio Narration To a PowerPoint Presentation

PowerPoint is an app that enables you to create and deliver an engaging presentation to an audience. But what if the audience is not in the same room or you are sending it as a link or attachment?

This is why adding audio narration to PowerPoint slides timings is helpful and useful. You can record the narration from inside your presentation so that it plays while viewers watch. Adding voice-over narration to your Powerpoint presentation or video will turn it into evergreen stand-alone content.

This article will discuss how to add audio narration to a Powerpoint presentation for Windows 10.

Test Your Default Microphone

The first thing you will need is a working microphone. Most computers today come with a built-in microphone. If you plan to use your computer default microphone, you don’t have to take additional steps to add a microphone.

However, you do want to make sure it’s working and loud enough to hear. To set your default microphone, test it to make sure it’s working. To customize the properties, follow the steps below.

• Start by typing Settings in the search bar.
• Click on System > Sound .

• Look under Input for options to configure your microphone. Click the dropdown menu under Choose your input device to assign your default microphone.
• If you only have one microphone, there is nothing to select. To open additional microphone settings, click on Device properties > Additional device settings .

• Enable or disable speaker and access audio driver information under the General tab.
• The Listen tab enables you to allow or deny your mic to listen to the speakers.
• Adjust the microphone volume and balance settings under Levels .
• Change the default sample rate and bit depth under the Advanced tab.
• If enabled on your computer, Spatial sound can enhance the audio experience.

To test your microphone, go back to the Input section. If it’s not working, you can use the Troubleshoot button to try to resolve the issue.

Install a USB Microphone

• To enable your microphone , first, plug in the USB microphone to your computer. Then right-click on the volume icon on the taskbar. 
• Click on Sounds .

• Under the Recording tab, choose the microphone you want to set up and click Configure . 
• Under Configure your Speech Recognition experience , click on Set up microphone .

• When the setup wizard starts, choose the type of microphone you are installing and click Next.

• The next screen you see will provide tips for using your microphone and some text to read to test your settings. 
• Follow the instructions from the wizard and test the microphone to make sure it is working correctly.  

Set USB Microphone As Input Device To Use

If you want to use the external USB microphone you just set up to record your narration, you need to set it as the input device.

• Right-click on the volume icon on the right side of the taskbar and click on Open Sound settings.  

• From the Sound Settings window, scroll down to Input and tick the box under Choose your input device . 
• Select your USB microphone as the input device.

Rehearse & Take Notes

Now that your microphone is set up and tested, instead of jumping right in and starting to record, take the time to practice what you are going to say.

Take notes, write out a script, and rehearse the timings to save time, minimize errors, and ensure that your audio sounds fluid and natural.

Now you are ready to start recording.

Turn On the Recording Tab (Office 365)

• To turn on the Recording tab, navigate to File , click Options > Customize Ribbon > Recording > OK .

How To Record An Audio Narration For One Slide

The easiest way to add audio to your PowerPoint presentation is to record one slide at a time.

• Start by selecting the slide where you want to add the audio.
• Navigate to Insert > Audio > Record Audio .

• Choose a name for your voiceover and replace Recorded Sound with the name.  

• To start your recording, click the button with the red dot. Read from your script and click the stop button when finished. 
• The stop button is the middle square and will be highlighted in red while you are recording.

• To hear your recording, press the play button. If you like how it sounds and want to keep it, click OK .

• You can also hear the audio by clicking on the embedded audio icon on your slide. It will open a bar underneath where you can play your audio.

• You will now have a visible audio icon on your slide. To hide this icon for your final presentation, click on it. 
• Click Playback in the top bar navigation, and tick off Hide During Show .

Record An Audio Narration For An Entire Slideshow (Office 365)

• Click on Recording from the top navigation, and then Record Slide Show . 

• Choose either Record from Current Slide or Record from Beginning . The slideshow will open in the Recording window.

• There are buttons on the top left for recording, pausing, stopping, and playing. Click on the red, round button to start recording. There will be a three-second countdown for you to get ready.
• The slide you are recording will show up in the main pane of the window. To advance to the next slide, use the arrow on the right side of the window. To move to a previous slide, use the arrow on the left. Powerpoint with Office 365 will automatically record the time you spend talking on each slide. This includes any animations you have set up.
• Use the buttons on the bottom right-hand side of the screen to toggle your microphone, camera, and camera preview on or off. If you choose to re-record part or all your narration, Powerpoint will erase the old version to enable you to record again.
• When you finish recording, click on the square button at the top left-hand corner of the recording window.

• The timings for each slide will show up in the Slide Sorter view. To see your timings, click on View > Slide Sorter .

• See the timings under the slides from the Slide Sorter view in the image below.

Preview Your Slide Show

• To preview your slideshow with your narration, animations, and timings (set up before you started recording), click Slide Show from the top bar navigation. Make sure you are on the Home tab.
• Choose From Beginning or From Current Slide .

• To hear the audio for a single slide, go to Norma l view, click on the sound icon and click Play . Note that recorded animations won’t show up when previewing from a single slide.

Manually Set Slide Timings

• You can also manually set your slide timings to sync with your narrations. To do so, select the slide from Normal View and then click on Transitions . 
• From the Timing group , select the After check box under Advance Slide .

• Enter how long you want the slide to stay on the screen before moving onto the next. Do this for every slide you want to use manual timings.

Publish Your Presentation For Sharing

You can save your presentation as a Powerpoint Show (.ppsx) or a video to share it with others. When a viewer opens a slideshow file, it will immediately open in slideshow mode.

To save your presentation, go to File , Save As and select the format from the dropdown menu.

If your presentation is huge and you want to send it as an email attachment, you might need to compress the file. A better option is to upload it to Dropbox, OneDrive, or Google Drive, and send the link to the desired recipients.

David has a background in small business and lives in Australia. He is a WordPress and Ubuntu Developer who enjoys design, CSS and tech tool integration. Read David's Full Bio

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Blog > Record voice narration for PowerPoint

Record voice narration for PowerPoint

01.11.21   •  #presentation #powerpoint #voiceover #narration.

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

Here's what you need for recording:

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

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

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

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

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

Save Presentation as Video

• Go to File in the PowerPoint taskbar

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

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

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

Live interaction with polls & quizzes

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

Can I record a presentation in PowerPoint?

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

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

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

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About the author.

Pia Lehner-Mittermaier

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

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How to Record a PowerPoint Presentation: Step-by-Step Guide for Professionals

Recording a PowerPoint presentation can be a game-changer for anyone looking to deliver polished and professional content. Whether we are educators, business professionals, or students, knowing how to record and narrate our slides efficiently can bring our presentations to a whole new level. Forget about the days of live presentations where a slip of the tongue or technical glitch could throw us off. Now, we can rehearse, record, and perfect our slides before ever presenting them.

The process is surprisingly straightforward with PowerPoint’s built-in features. Start by navigating to the “Record” tab where we can select options to record our screen, audio, and even video through a webcam. This allows us to create an engaging presentation that looks and sounds like we are right there in the room with our audience. Just imagine the flexibility and professionalism it brings, especially when we can embed annotations and gestures using the ink feature!

What makes it even better is the ability to edit and save the recording in various formats, including MP4 video files, ensuring compatibility across different platforms. Think about how convenient it is to send your polished presentation to remote teams or even upload it to your favorite online platform. This means our hard work reaches the audience exactly as intended, with all our points perfectly emphasized and no missed cues.

• 1.1 Incorporating Visuals and Transitions
• 1.2 Enhancing Narration and Audio
• 2.1 Streamlining Presentations with Recording Tools
• 2.2 Exploring Advanced Editing and Playback
• 3.1 Mastering Presentation Techniques
• 4.1 Useful Tabs and Tools
• 4.2 Recording Narration
• 4.3 Editing and Saving
• 4.4 Subscriptions and Compatibility

Crafting a Powerful PowerPoint Presentation

Creating a compelling PowerPoint presentation involves carefully balancing appealing visuals and dynamic audio. We focus on incorporating visuals with transitions and enhancing narration with seamless audio integration.

Incorporating Visuals and Transitions

Effective visuals can transform a good presentation into a memorable one. High-resolution images, crisp icons, and thoughtfully designed layouts play a significant role in capturing and maintaining the audience’s attention. For PowerPoint, resolution options like Full HD or Ultra HD can make a big difference, especially on large screens.

Slide transitions should be chosen carefully. While flashy animations might be tempting, they can sometimes distract rather than enhance. Focus on subtle transitions like Fade or Push from the Slide Show tab to keep the flow smooth. Adding custom animations to specific elements can also help highlight key points without overwhelming the viewer.

Incorporating charts, graphs, and infographics can break up text-heavy slides, making information easier to digest. Using the Record Slide Show option allows us to time these transitions perfectly with our narration, ensuring a synchronized and professional outcome.

Enhancing Narration and Audio

Good narration adds personality and clarity to a presentation. Before recording, we need to check our microphone settings to ensure clear audio. PowerPoint’s Record tab lets us add voiceovers to individual slides, making it easy to pause and adjust as needed.

Adding background music or sound effects can enhance the auditory experience. However, it’s crucial to balance this audio so it doesn’t overpower the narration. Background music should be set at a lower volume, while sound effects should be used sparingly for emphasis.

Ensuring that the narration and audio timings align with the visual transitions creates a seamless experience. After recording, we can preview the presentation, make adjustments, and ensure the final version is polished. This involves exporting the PowerPoint file to formats like MP4 or Full HD video, ready to be shared.

Effectively Utilizing PowerPoint Features

Leveraging PowerPoint’s robust tools for recording and editing ensures your presentation is polished and engaging. Let’s dive into efficient methods for streamlining your presentations with the built-in recording tools and explore advanced editing techniques for playback.

Streamlining Presentations with Recording Tools

Recording your PowerPoint presentations transforms them into dynamic videos that can be easily shared. First, ensure that you enable the Recording tab in the Ribbon to access essential features. Using a webcam can personalize your narrative and create a direct connection with your audience.

For a seamless recording experience, we recommend utilizing the Teleprompter View . It displays your notes without cluttering the screen. Press Record Slide Show and wait for the countdown before starting.

During the session, make full use of ink gestures for real-time annotations on slides. Pause and resume recordings to maintain a natural flow. Once done, click Stop Recording . Replaying and editing recordings is straightforward. Utilize the edit view to trim parts, adjust timings, and even re-record sections if necessary. Save your recording in MP4 format for universal compatibility.

Exploring Advanced Editing and Playback

After creating your recording, fine-tune it with advanced editing options. PowerPoint allows precise control over the playback. We can adjust slide timings, overlay additional audio narrations, and incorporate screen recordings .

Reset to Cameo inserts your video into a specific position on the slide, making the setup professional. Clean up any unwanted areas with the eraser tool and clear specific parts without affecting the entire recording.

Exporting your presentation as a video is simple. Under the File menu, choose Create a Video . Select the desired quality and save it. Ensure the file size suits your needs, balancing quality and accessibility. With these tools, you maximize the impact of your presentations, delivering content that is both informative and engaging.

Maximizing Engagement during PowerPoint Delivery

Making our PowerPoint presentations engaging is vital. By refining our presentation techniques, we capture attention and make the material more memorable.

Mastering Presentation Techniques

Using a laser pointer can effectively highlight key points. It helps direct the audience’s focus precisely where we need it.

Incorporating a webcam can add a personal touch, making our delivery feel more human and relatable. This is especially useful when presenting to remote audiences.

Engage with visual aids, such as highlighters and cameos , to emphasize important content. Highlighting can be done digitally on slides, adding layers of interaction.

We shouldn’t overlook the power of audio icons for narrations. Narrating slides, coupled with recorded timings, ensures the message is delivered as intended.

When it comes to resetting parts of the presentation, tools like the retake and delete options give us flexibility. Also, we can use the pause and stop buttons to manage our pacing.

Utilize presenter view for a comprehensive view of notes and upcoming slides, maintaining seamless delivery. This helps us know what’s next without losing track.

Subscriptions benefits and training courses from providers offer in-depth tutorials and expert tips to sharpen our skills. These benefits help us stay updated with the latest features and best practices.

Finally, tapping into communities and forums can provide additional insights from fellow presenters. We learn from shared experiences, thus improving our techniques.

Optimizing PowerPoint for Different Formats and Audiences

When preparing a PowerPoint presentation , it’s crucial to tailor it to the intended audience and output format. Let’s explore some key tips.

First, let’s talk about resolution . If projecting onto large screens, we should choose Full HD 1080p or even Ultra HD for crystal-clear visuals. This ensures our images and text remain sharp.

We can control video quality by exporting the presentation as a video file. PowerPoint supports MP4 format , which balances quality and file size effectively. If our audience is using different devices, this format will be widely compatible.

Useful Tabs and Tools

PowerPoint offers several tabs for a seamless recording experience:

• Record tab : Allows us to record our slideshow, including narration and laser pointer gestures.
• Slide Show tab : Useful for setting up Presenter View and Teleprompter View, ensuring we stay on track during the presentation.

Recording Narration

Including narration can enhance our presentation. We can utilize a webcam and web camera for recording narration to add a personal touch.

To get started:

• Click on the Record Slide Show option.
• Ensure our microphone and camera are enabled.

Editing and Saving

We’re bound to make mistakes. Luckily, PowerPoint lets us delete and edit specific sections of our recordings. After perfecting it, we can export the presentation in different formats or save it directly to OneDrive for easy sharing.

Subscriptions and Compatibility

For those of us using Microsoft 365 , some features offer added benefits, such as better integration with other Office apps and cloud storage. However, PowerPoint 2016 users can still access essential recording tools, though with fewer bells and whistles.

By customizing our presentation and recording settings, we can ensure it resonates with any audience and looks professional across all formats. Let’s always aim for precision and clarity to leave a lasting impression!

Related posts:

• How to Do Hanging Indent on PowerPoint: Step-by-Step Formatting Guide
• How to Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint: Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Add a Video to PowerPoint: Step-by-Step Tutorial
• How to Make a Picture a Circle in PowerPoint: Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Print Notes in PowerPoint: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Add Narration to PowerPoint: Step-by-Step Guide for Effective Presentations
• How to Add Slide Numbers in PowerPoint: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Insert GIF into PowerPoint: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Add Hyperlink in PowerPoint: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Do a Voice Over on PowerPoint: Easy Steps for Professionals
• How to Add Notes to PowerPoint: Enhance Your Presentations with Ease
• How to Add Music to PowerPoint: Step-by-Step Guide for Seamless Presentations

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• Add, change, or remove transitions between slides Article
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Add or delete audio in your PowerPoint presentation

You can add audio, such as music, narration, or sound bites, to your PowerPoint presentation. To record and hear any audio, your computer must be equipped with a sound card, microphone, and speakers.

Add audio from your PC

Select  Insert  >  Audio .

Select  Audio on My PC .

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

Select Insert .

Record audio

Select Insert > Audio .

Select Record Audio .

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

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

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

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

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

If you’re using more than one audio file per slide, we recommend putting the audio icon in the same spot on a slide to find it easily.

Select Play .

Hide the Audio icon

Select the audio clip icon on the slide. 

On the ribbon, on the Playback tab, select the Hide During Show check box.

Use this option only if you set the audio clip to play automatically. Note that, in Normal view, the audio icon is always visible unless you drag it off the slide.

Change playback options

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

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

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

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

To choose how the audio file starts, select the dropdown arrow next to Start, then select an option:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Delete audio

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

To add music or other audio clip to your slide show, select the slide you want and click Insert > Audio . You can add audio to a single slide, play audio automatically when a slide appears, or add a song that plays as background music during your entire presentation.

You can add your own narration or commentary to an entire presentation by recording it on the Slide Show tab. See Record your slide show for more information.

Add audio to a single slide

In Normal view, select the slide you want and click Insert > Audio .

Click Audio Browser to insert audio from iTunes, or Audio from File to insert an audio clip from your computer.

Select the audio clip. On the Audio Format tab, select the audio options you want.

(Optional) If you want to change or modify the standard audio file icon, use the picture format buttons on the Audio Format tab to add a frame, border, or other formatting effect to the audio icon.

Preview the audio

On the slide, select the audio icon, and then click Play/Pause beneath the audio icon.

Play audio automatically when a slide appears

By default, during a slide show, audio plays when it is clicked. You can change it so that the audio plays automatically as soon as its slide appears.

In Normal view, select the slide you want and add an audio clip if you haven't already done so.

On the Audio Format tab, on the right, click Start > Automatically .

Add audio that plays during your entire presentation

In Normal view, select the first slide in your presentation and add an audio clip if you haven't already done so.

On the Audio Format tab, on the right, click Play across Slides .

Add audio that plays repeatedly

On the Audio Format tab, on the right, click Loop Until Stopped .

(Used alone, this option means the looping sound lasts while the slide it resides on is being shown. When Loop Until Stopped is used in tandem with Play Across Slides , the looping sound continues throughout the presentation.)

On the PowerPoint ribbon, on the Playback tab, select the Hide During Show check box.

Record your slide show

Supported audio formats in PowerPoint for the web: MP3, WAV, M4A, AAC, and OGA

Maximum size of the audio file: 16 MB

Add audio from your computer

On the Insert tab, near the right end, select Audio .

In the file explorer, browse to the audio file you want to use, then select Open .

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

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

Automatically : During a slide show, the audio plays automatically once you advance to the slide that the audio file is on.

When Clicked On : During a slide show, the audio plays only when the icon is clicked.

To choose how the audio plays in your presentation, select one or more options under Audio Options :

Hide During Show : If you've set the audio clip to play automatically, you can hide the audio icon during the show, because you won't need to click it at any time. 

Rewind after Playing : Use this option if you need to play an audio clip more than once while you are still presenting the same slide that contains that audio clip.

Play music or other sounds automatically when a slide appears 

Play music across multiple slides in your slide show

Record a slide show with narration and slide timings 

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How to record a PowerPoint presentation with audio for sharing

• October 12, 2023

Wondering how to make a video with PowerPoint? If you want to create a video presentation from your PowerPoint slides, you can use PowerPoint's in-built recording feature. The feature allows you to narrate your slides, add annotations, and insert webcam video. You can then export your recording as a video file that you can share with your audience.

This article explains how to record your PowerPoint slideshow and how to share the recorded presentation via Teams or Zoom. We'll also give you some tips on how to avoid common pitfalls and glitches that you might encounter.

Here's our step by step guide to record a PowerPoint slide show:

• Open your PowerPoint presentation and click on the Slide Show tab.

• From the PowerPoint Set Up group, click on Record Slide Show button. You can choose to record from the beginning, or from the current slide.

• A new window will open with your PowerPoint presentation in full screen mode. You will see a Recording toolbar at the top left corner of your PowerPoint screen if you are on a single monitor, or at the top of your main monitor if you are working on dual screens (as pictured in the screenshot below). You can use this toolbar to control your recording in PowerPoint, such as start, pause, stop, rewind, and forward. You can also use the pen, highlighter, and eraser tools to annotate your slides.

• To start recording your PowerPoint presentation, click on the Record button (the red circle). You will see a countdown from 3 to 1 before the recording begins.
• As you record, you can speak into your microphone to narrate your PowerPoint slides. You can also click on the Camera button (the camera icon) to turn on your webcam and insert a video of yourself in the corner of your slide.
• To move to the next or previous slide, you can use the arrow keys on your keyboard or click the Next or Previous buttons on the Recording toolbar.
• When you get to the end of your PowerPoint slideshow, you can export the video immediately by selecting export and following the prompts, or you can end your recording to review, before exporting to video format. To end your recording in PowerPoint, click the Stop button (the square icon) or press Esc on your keyboard.
• You will be taken back to the normal view of your PowerPoint presentation. You will see a speaker icon and a camera icon on each slide that has audio or video recording. You can click on these icons to preview, edit, or delete your PowerPoint recordings.

• To export your PowerPoint recording as a video file, click the File tab and select Export.
• In the Export window, choose Create a Video from the menu on the left.

• In the Create a Video panel, you can adjust the video quality, resolution, and file size. You can also choose whether to use recorded timings and narrations or not.
• Click on Create Video and choose a location and a file name for your video.
• Wait for PowerPoint to create your video. You can see the progress bar at the bottom of your screen.
• Once your PowerPoint video is ready, you can play it with any media player or upload it to any online platform.

Troubleshooting issues that may arise when recording a PowerPoint presentation

If you want to record a PowerPoint presentation with narration, annotations, or video, you may encounter some issues depending on your device, software, and settings. Here are some common problems and how to fix them:

• If your microphone is not working, make sure it is plugged in, turned on, and selected as the default recording device in your system settings (for example sometimes your monitor or webcam can also have a microphone, and the wrong device has been selected). You can test your microphone in PowerPoint by going to Slide Show > Record Slide Show > Settings > Microphone.
• If your video camera is not working, make sure it is plugged in, turned on, and selected as the default camera in your system settings. You can also test your camera in the PowerPoint app by going to Slide Show > Record Slide Show > Settings > Camera.
• If your annotations are not showing up in your PowerPoint recording, make sure you have enabled the pen and laser pointer tools in the PowerPoint app. You can do this by going to Slide Show > Record Slide Show > Settings > Pen and Laser Pointer Tools.
• If your PowerPoint recording is not saving or playing back correctly, make sure you have enough disk space and memory on your device. You can also try saving your PowerPoint presentation as a video file by going to File > Export > Create a Video.

Can I share my recorded PowerPoint presentation via Zoom or Microsoft Teams?

If you have recorded a PowerPoint presentation, you can share it with your audience via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Here's how to share your recorded PowerPoint presentation in both platforms.

How to share recorded PowerPoint Presentations via Zoom To share your recorded PowerPoint presentation on Zoom, you need to have the Zoom app installed on your computer and the PowerPoint file saved on your device or on OneDrive. Here are the steps to follow:

• Start or join a Zoom meeting and click Share Screen in the meeting controls.
• Select your primary monitor then click Share. If you are not sure which monitor is your primary, select the one that PowerPoint opens in.
• Switch back to PowerPoint and click the Slide Show tab. Begin playing the recorded PowerPoint presentation by selecting the Play from Start or Play from Current Slide options.

• If you have recorded narration or video for your PowerPoint presentation, make sure to check the Play Narrations and Use Timings option in the Set Up group on the Slide Show tab.
• Your participants will see your PowerPoint presentation in slide show view with your narration and video playing along.
• To stop sharing your recorded PowerPoint presentation, click Stop Share on the Zoom toolbar.

How to share recorded PowerPoint Presentations via Microsoft Teams To share your recorded PowerPoint presentation on Teams, you need to have the Microsoft Teams app installed on your computer and the PowerPoint file saved either on OneDrive or your local computer. Here are the steps to follow:

• Start or join a Teams meeting and click Share content in the meeting controls.
• In the share content menu ensure 'include computer sound' is turn on

• Select Browse OneDrive or Browse my computer at the bottom of the 'share content' menu.

• Navigate to the folder where you have saved your PowerPoint presentation file and select it.

• To stop sharing, click Stop presenting on the Teams toolbar.

Troubleshooting issues when sharing recorded PowerPoint presentations via Teams or Zoom

If you want to share a recorded PowerPoint presentation with your audience via Zoom or Teams, you may encounter some issues that can affect the quality or the delivery of your presentation. Here are some common problems and how to solve them:

• If your recorded PowerPoint presentation has audio or video embedded, make sure you check the option to share computer sound when you start sharing your screen. Otherwise, your audience will not hear the sound from your presentation.
• If your recorded PowerPoint presentation has animations or transitions, make sure you play it in slideshow mode and not in editing mode. Otherwise, your audience will see the editing tools and the slides will not advance automatically.
• If your PowerPoint presentation has hyperlinks or action buttons, make sure you click on them during the presentation and not before. Otherwise, your audience will not see the linked content or the action result.
• If your PowerPoint presentation is too large or has high-resolution images or videos, make sure you compress it before sharing it. Otherwise, your presentation may lag or freeze during the presentation due to bandwidth limitations.

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Home Blog PowerPoint Tutorials How to Record a Presentation in PowerPoint

How to Record a Presentation in PowerPoint

Recording PowerPoint presentations can have several benefits. They can serve as recordings of a session that can be uploaded online, shared with participants who might not be able to attend a presentation session, or used as tutorials for passing on instructions.

How to Record a PowerPoint Presentation

PowerPoint provides multiple options for initiating recording for a presentation. You can also choose to record audio and yourself presenting the slides using your camera. When recording your presentations, you can choose PowerPoint templates or something minimalist made by you to record the session. Just be mindful of the graphics to ensure the video does not appear overpowering to the viewer.

How do I Record a PowerPoint Presentation as a Video?

You can start recording your presentation using the following method.

• Record Tab: To record a PowerPoint presentation, go to the Record tab and select whether you wish to record from the beginning, from the current slide, a specific area on the screen, or record audio.
• Slide Show Tab: you can also initiate recording a PPT via Slide Show -> Record to initiate recording from the current slide or the beginning of your presentation.

Record Button: If you’re using the latest version of PowerPoint, you can start Recording your presentation from the current slide via the Record button in the top right corner.

Record from the Current Slide or Beginning of the Presentation

Starting your recording from the beginning of the current slide will open your presentation in recording mode. Hit Record to start the recording.

Screen Recording in PowerPoint

If you initiate screen recording in PowerPoint, you can start recording a screencast by selecting the area you wish to record. This is similar to recording a PowerPoint presentation as a video, with the added advantage of recording other parts of your desktop. This method can also be used for recording a screencast, even if you’re not using a PowerPoint presentation in your video recording.

To start the recording, click Record or use the Windows+SHIFT+R hotkey. To stop the screen recording, click Pause to temporarily halt the recording to resume later or Stop or the Windows+SHIFT+Q hotkey to end the recording session.

The recorded video will be instantly added to your slide once you click Stop .

Record Audio

Another option in the Record tab in PowerPoint is to record audio narrations for your PowerPoint presentation. Simply click Record to start, Pause to temporarily halt, and Stop to stop the recording process.

Once the recording stops, the audio will be added to your PowerPoint presentation.

How can I Annotate Slides in PowerPoint During a Recording?

Once you enter recording mode, you can start annotating your slides using the Pen or Highlighter tool. Other tools in the menu include a Laser pointer and Eraser.

How can I Record a PowerPoint Presentation with Audio?

To enable audio for your Powerpoint recording, unmute the mic from the audio icon on top, CTRL+M hotkey, or click the three dots ( More options for recording menu), followed by the Microphone to select the audio device for recording. You can only record audio if an audio device is connected to your computer. This is a fairly simple process, unlike other presentation platforms. For example, in an earlier article, we showed you how to do a voiceover on Google Slides , which entails a slightly more elaborate process.

How to Record Yourself Presenting a PowerPoint?

Enable the camera during a recording session.

Like turning on audio, you can toggle the camera on or off using the icon on top. The camera input device can also be selected via the Camera option or CTRL+K hotkey, which can be revealed via the three dots from the top menu.

Insert Video Recording in a Slide using Cameo

PowerPoint’s Cameo feature enables recording a video to insert in a slide. You can use the feature to quickly insert a video message in your slides that can be played during a presentation session. This option might also be relevant if you intend to convert PowerPoint to video . If you are looking how to video record yourself presenting a PowerPoint, then follow the steps below.

Once Cameo is turned on, you can also choose to stylize the camera shape, style, border, and add effects. Cameo is quite a unique feature in PowerPoint that currently does not have alternatives in rival presentation apps. For example, you cannot use a similar feature if you wish to convert Google Slides to video .

How to Save Recording for a PowerPoint Presentation?

After you have completed your recording, click Export to save the presentation recording.

You can customize your recording settings via Customize Export or continue the process via Export Video .

Using the Customize Export option, you can choose between a desired output quality for your video, including Ultra HD (4K), Full HD (1080p), HD (720p), and Standard (480p).

Other options in the menu include the ability to choose and preview timings and narrations.

After you are satisfied with your recording settings, you can export your presentation to video.

The video recording of your PowerPoint presentation can be played using any standard video player. The video can also be embedded in PowerPoint slides, uploaded online, such as to a YouTube channel, or shared via cloud storage apps like Dropbox, Box, OneDrive, etc.

Final Words

Recording a PowerPoint presentation can provide a record of a session that might be required for further sharing. The best way to record a presentation is to ensure that your slides aren’t visually overpowering, your audio is clear and audible, and if using a camera, the cam input isn’t hazy, grainy, or too dark.

Once you are familiar with how to record a presentation on PowerPoint, it might take a bit of practice to make your video recording look professional and crisp. It’s best to practice your sessions before recording them until you can seamlessly record presentation decks.

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How to Video Record Yourself Presenting a PowerPoint?

Praburam Srinivasan

Growth Marketing Manager

June 7, 2024

PowerPoint presentations are an effective means to communicate with your remote team members, pitch investors or clients, and share learning material with employees or students. 

However, a PowerPoint presentation can be boring, even after you add animations or images. 

One way to make them more engaging and personalized is to add videos. You can also demonstrate processes and explain complex concepts better through video presentations.

So, it’s time to move from traditional static decks, project presentations, or sales pitches and create interactive video presentations with PowerPoint or other video recording software.

This blog will walk you through the steps to record yourself while giving a PowerPoint presentation. 

How to Record Your Presentation in PowerPoint?

How to insert a youtube video or other multimedia resources:, tips for effective use of advanced features:, preparing your slides and talking points:, importance of rehearsal, making the content engaging and effective, limitations of recording powerpoint presentations within powerpoint, recording presentations in clickup, record clips anywhere on clickup, benefits of recording in clickup.

Before you start the recording process, ensure your presentation is polished and ready to go. Resolve any errors, formatting issues, or misplaced elements.

Now, let’s see how to video record yourself in a PowerPoint presentation.

1. Open PowerPoint

Launch the PowerPoint app and open the presentation you want to record.

2. Navigate to the ‘Record’ tab

Click on the ‘Record’ tab in the ribbon at the top of the screen to record a PowerPoint presentation.

3. Select ‘Record’ dropdown

In the ‘Record’ tab, click on the dropdown arrow.

4. Choose recording options:

You will see the following two options:

• Start recording from the beginning: Choose this option to record a presentation from the beginning
• Start recording from the current slide: Select this option to record the slide that you’re currently on

Click on the option that suits you and go to the recording section.

5. Record your presentation

After selecting your preferred option, PowerPoint will direct you to the recording section. 

Go to the buttons on the lower-right corner of your screen to switch on the camera and microphone and add video narrations.

Once you are good to go, start recording. Select the ‘Record’ button to begin a three-second countdown, after which the screen recording will start.

Speak clearly and confidently as you navigate through your PowerPoint slides. You can also use the onscreen laser, colored pens, or highlighters in the tray below markup slides to explain ideas visually during the presentation.

Navigate through the next or previous slides by clicking on the arrows appearing on the side of the slide.

6. Pause or stop recording

If you need to take a break, pause the video recording by simply clicking on the ‘Pause’ button in the recording toolbar. To stop recording the presentation altogether, click on ‘Stop’.

7. Review your recording

After recording, review your video presentation to ensure everything looks and sounds as intended. You should also play your video recording back to check for any errors or issues using the ‘replay’ button.

8. Save your presentation

Once you’re satisfied with your presentation recording, save it to preserve your changes. Click on the ‘Export Video’ button to export the deck.

Using Slideshow timings and narrations

Let’s discuss Microsoft PowerPoint’s key features—the timings and narrations. 

• Slideshow timing:  Set specific times for each slide while rehearsing, and the slides will automatically advance at the set time, ensuring your presentation flows smoothly. When recording, Microsoft PowerPoint slides automatically save these times, making it easier to synchronize your narration with your slides. Slideshow timing is for personal timekeeping to ensure that you can explain each slide.
• Narrations: Adding narrations to your presentation can enhance engagement and understanding for your audience. You can record the presentation in your voice, providing context, explanations, and insights that complement your slides. Narrations are a more engaging way to provide information to your audience instead of blandly making them read all the PowerPoint slides.

Making Use of Advanced Features

With PowerPoint, you can easily integrate multimedia resources into your presentation to make your content more interesting and impactful. For example, you can embed a YouTube video in the presentation and play it live while recording.

Let’s see the advanced presentation recording features—writing, drawing, and annotating during the presentation

• Inking tools: Write or draw directly on your slides during a presentation by accessing inking tools in the ’Draw’ tab in the ribbon
• Pen and highlighter: Choose from different pen colors and thicknesses to emphasize critical points or underline important information
• Eraser: Correct mistakes or remove annotations quickly with the ‘Eraser’ tool
• Laser pointer: Use the laser pointer feature to draw attention to particular areas of your slide, guiding your audience’s focus and enhancing clarity
• Navigate to the slide: Select the slide where you want to insert the video or multimedia resource
• Insert tab: At the top of the screen, click the ‘Insert’ option in the ribbon.
• Video or audio: Depending on your multimedia resources, choose ‘Video’ or ‘Audio’ from the toolbar
• Select ‘Online Video’
• A dialog box will pop up, prompting you to enter the URL of the YouTube video you want to insert
• Paste the URL of the YouTube video and click ‘Insert’
• PowerPoint will embed the video into your slide
• If you have a video or audio file saved on your computer, choose ‘Video’ or ‘Audio’ and then select ‘Video on My PC’ or ‘Audio on My PC,’ respectively.
• Navigate to the file location, select the video or audio file, and click ‘Insert’
• After inserting, you can resize and reposition the multimedia resource on your slide.  In the ‘Playback’ tab, you can customize the playback options to play the video or audio during your presentation

To effectively use advanced features in your PowerPoint presentation, remember to:

• Practice: Familiarize yourself with the advanced features before the presentation to ensure smooth execution
• Use sparingly: Avoid overusing advanced features as they may distract from your message
• Test compatibility: Test multimedia resources to ensure they play seamlessly on the presentation computer before presenting

Tips for a Successful PowerPoint Presentation

Creating a successful PowerPoint presentation requires careful planning, preparation, and execution. Here are some tips to ensure your PowerPoint slides captivate your audience and effectively deliver your message:

• Keep it simple: Avoid cluttering slides by keeping minimal text. Use concise bullet points and visuals to convey the key ideas effectively
• Ensure consistency: Maintain a uniform presentation theme by using consistent fonts, colors, and slide layouts
• Focus on key points: Use slides as visual aids to highlight the main points and reinforce your message. The slides should complement your verbal presentation, not overshadow it.

Pro tip: Use the ClickUp Presentation Template to create effective PowerPoint presentations in less time. It helps you design the presentation outline to quickly arrange and format the slides. Moreover, the customized tasks, statuses, and views let you visualize the presentation and track the progress of each slide.

• Practice, practice, practice: Rehearse your presentation multiple times to become familiar with the content and flow. Keep notes handy for presentation and refer to them to maintain proper flow
• Time yourself: Time your rehearsal to ensure your presentation fits the allotted time frame. Adjust your pacing as needed to avoid rushing or dragging out certain sections
• Anticipate questions: Anticipate potential questions from your audience and add a short FAQ or summary towards the end for a quick recap of the essential details
• Tell a story: Structure your presentation like a narrative, with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Engage your audience by including examples and case studies in your presentation 
• Use visuals wisely: Incorporate relevant infographics such as charts, graphs, images, and videos to enhance understanding and retention. Break text-heavy slides into different sections to explain complex information 
• Inject energy: Maintain a lively and enthusiastic delivery throughout your presentation. Use formal hand gestures to keep your audience engaged and attentive
• Know your audience:  Consider your audience’s knowledge level and interests to tailor your content and delivery style

These tips will help you create and deliver an informative, well-structured, engaging, and impactful PowerPoint presentation. Remember to stay confident, adaptable, and responsive to your audience’s needs throughout the presentation.

Recording a PowerPoint presentation is convenient and straightforward. However, there are certain limitations you should be aware of:

• Limited editing capabilities: PowerPoint does not support advanced editing. So you will have to re-record the presentation if you need a lot of changes 
• Inability to incorporate advanced multimedia features: PowerPoint supports basic multimedia insertion, such as videos and audio files. However, it’s challenging to add advanced multimedia features while recording
• File size and compatibility issues: PowerPoint presentations have large file sizes, especially if they contain embedded multimedia elements. Sharing the presentation via email or other platforms is difficult because of file size limitations. You may also face compatibility issues while sharing recorded presentations with others with different PowerPoint versions or alternative presentation software
• Limited customization options: PowerPoint offers limited control over video resolution, audio quality, and playback settings. It restricts the ability to tailor the recording to specific audience preferences or technical requirements
• Limited interactivity: PowerPoint presentations offer limited interactive elements, which reduces the effectiveness of the presentation, especially for training or educational purposes

How to Video Record PowerPoint Presentations in ClickUp

Creating presentations on PowerPoint and then recording, editing, and sharing them takes a lot of time. 

Instead, you can use quick video and screen recording tools on platforms like ClickUp for effective communication. ClickUp is a versatile tool that enables seamless project management, collaboration, and documentation. With ClickUp Clips , you can instantly record and send a screen recording to give feedback, share ideas, or collaborate with your team. You can also convert Clips into tasks.

Go to ClickUp Brain to transcribe your Clips and find information from them.

Here’s how you can record presentations on ClickUp:

• Go to any task that you want to record
• Head to the comment for which you want to record the video and click on the video icon

• Choose your mic from the given options to record audio

• Select the presentation tab that you want to record and start presenting

• Once you are done recording, your clip is automatically added to the comment so you can send it to the team in one go.
• You can download the video file for future use

You can also record Clips anywhere on Clickup by following the below steps:

1. Click on the global action tool of video recording on your ClickUp page

2. Once you have recorded a video, you can easily access it in your Clips Hub

• Transparent communication: Streamline collaboration and share quick feedback with your team 
• Efficiency and productivity: Eliminate the need for external meeting minutes software, saving time and eliminating endless comment threads 
• AI-powered transcription: Send videos automatically transcribed using ClickUp Brain to provide clear context to the viewers and enable quick search

Level up Your Interactive Communication with ClickUp

Skip the traditional and boring ways of pitching your ideas and ensure interactive communication with modern tools like ClickUp. It also eliminates the need for multiple software to create, present, record, or take meeting minutes.  Sign Up for free on CickUp to get an all-in-one app for all your presentation needs.

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Audio tracks for PPT

I have a PowerPoint presentation of about 100 slides, each with a narration I've recorded. All slides are timed. There are about 10 sections, and I want each section to have a different music background to the narration. I'll talk about the first section and explain my issue.

I've aligned a music track end-to-end on Audacity. I've trimmed it to five minutes so it will finish near the end of the tenth slide. I've also faded the ending.

I've inserted the track in the first PPT slide. I've clicked PLAYBACK, PLAY IN BACKGROUND, PLAY ACROSS SLIDES, LOOP UNTIL STOPPED, ensured the the track is the correct duration by looking in TRIM AUDIO. I've not clicked FADE OUT because it was faded in Audacity.

I've gone into ANIMATIONS, ANIMATION PANE, clicked the drop-down menu on the appropriate music track, clicked EFFECT OPTIONS, PLAY FROM BEGINNING, STOP PLAYING AFTER 10 SLIDES,

I've done the same thing for other sections with their respective music tracks, and I have the same problem.

What I can't achieve is for the five minutes of music to fade out near the end of the tenth slide. It just keeps playing. I've added up the timings of all the ten slides. I've also done a stopwatch check of how long the ten slides take to play, and the music track time with the fade should fit within the timeframe for the ten slides and fade before the end of the tenth slide.

I seem to be missing something here. Any assistance will be much appreciated. Thank you.

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• Microsoft Agent |

Hello LesSavage,

Welcome to Microsoft Community.   

I realize that   You have inserted five minutes of music into your PPT and want it to stop   at the tenth slide. But it   never stops. You've made sure that   duration of music is correct.   Please feel free to correct me if my understanding is wrong.

I understand how you feel.   We've tried to replicate the issue here, but the music stops correctly here. You may need to provide more information to help us better understand what's really going on and provide additional help.

Based on your description, the steps you have followed seem to be exactly correct. If it's convenient, compare the steps in with those in this link: Play music across multiple slides in your slide show - Microsoft Support .

Where is this PowerPoint file stored? Local or OneDrive? Where it is stored may have an impact.

If it's set to stop playing on another page, like page 9, will it stop properly?

Try creating a new PowerPoint file. Try to see if the audio stops successfully in the new file. It may be a problem with a specific file.

Tell us the results and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Once the above questions are answered, we may recommend other troubleshooting steps.   

We look forward to hearing back from you.   

Best wishes, 

Lucia Wu - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist 

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Top 7 Fixes for Microsoft PowerPoint Not Playing Audio 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.

Integrating audio into a PowerPoint presentation can make it more dynamic and engaging. Whether it’s for narration, background music, or subtle sound effects, there are many good reasons to add audio to your PowerPoint presentations. But what if Microsoft PowerPoint stops playing audio on your Windows 10 or 11 computer?

Fixing this issue can be as simple as using a compatible file format or as tiresome as identifying the problematic add-in. This guide will walk you through all the possible solutions for fixing audio playback issues in Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows.

1. Check the Volume Level in PowerPoint and Windows

Your first step is double-checking the volume level in PowerPoint and on your Windows computer. If the volume is too low or muted, it may give the impression that sound is not working in PowerPoint.

Step 1: Open your PowerPoint presentation and select any audio or video file.

Step 2: Switch to the Playback tab, click on Volume, and select the Medium or High option.

Step 3: Right-click on the speaker icon on the taskbar and select Open volume mixer.

Step 4: Move the slider for PowerPoint to your right to increase the volume.

Return to PowerPoint and check if the audio plays fine.

2. Make Sure Audio File Is Compatible With PowerPoint

Although Microsoft PowerPoint supports a variety of popular audio file formats , such as AIFF, AU, MP3, WAV, WMA, and others, it doesn’t support all of them. If your audio file is in an unsupported format, PowerPoint may show the ‘Cannot Play Media’ error. In that case, you will need to convert the file into a supported format using an online audio converter tool.

3. Use Optimize Media Compatibility Option

Another thing you can do to fix the no sound issue in presentation mode is to optimize the media files in PowerPoint for compatibility. This is especially useful if you plan to share or use the presentation on another device.

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

Step 2: Switch to the Info tab and click the Optimize Compatibility button.

Step 3: Wait for PowerPoint to optimize all the audio and video files in your presentation and click Close.

4. Embed the Audio File Instead of Linking It

Are you experiencing audio playback issues with linked audio files in your presentation? While linking audio files can make your presentation file size smaller , it can occasionally cause problems as PowerPoint has to rely on the external file to play audio.

To avoid any issues, it’s best to embed your audio files in the presentation rather than link them. Here’s how:

Step 1: Open your PowerPoint presentation and switch to the Insert tab. Click on Media, select Audio, and select ‘Audio on my PC.’

Step 2: Select your audio file and select Insert. After this, check if it plays fine.

5. Clear Temporary Files

Sometimes, temporary files on your Windows computer can cause Office apps like PowerPoint to slow down and malfunction. Try clearing the temporary files from your PC to see if that solves the problem.

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

Step 2: In the File Explorer window, select all the files and folders and click the trash icon at the top.

6. Open PowerPoint in Safe Mode

The PowerPoint may not play audio automatically due to a faulty third-party add-in. To check for this possibility, you can open PowerPoint in safe mode. Press the Windows + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run dialog box. Type powerpnt /safe in the Open field and press Enter.

When PowerPoint opens in safe mode, check if it can play audio. It means one of your add-ins is causing the problem if it can. To identify the one causing the issue, you will need to disable all add-ins and re-enable them one at a time. Here’s how:

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 PowerPoint after this and enable your add-ins one at a time. You will need to check for audio issues after enabling each add-in. Once you find the problematic add-in, it’s best to remove it to avoid such issues in the future.

7. Run the Office Repair Tool

If nothing else works, consider running the Office repair tool. This tool can help you troubleshoot all issues with Office apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and others. Here’s how to run it.

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: In the Programs and Features window, select the Office suite and click the Change button at the top.

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

Unmute Your Presentations

Visual and auditory elements in your presentation may fail to capture anyone’s attention if PowerPoint does not play audio on your Windows computer. Applying the above tips should help you solve the problem and bring life to your PowerPoint presentations.

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Last updated on 14 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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Pankil Shah

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