How-To Geek
How to add titles to slides in microsoft powerpoint.
Include titles on your slides for those using screen readers or to use other PowerPoint features that need slide titles.
Quick Links
Find slides with missing titles in powerpoint, add slide titles using outline view, use a title slide layout, how to hide the title on a slide.
You may not think much about using slide titles for your presentations. But for accessibility and the use of other features, slide titles are important. Here, we'll show you how to add titles to slides in Microsoft PowerPoint.
For those using screen readers, slide titles are essential. And if you use features like custom slide shows or hyperlinks to slides in your presentation, slide titles are necessary elements. We'll show you how to quickly find slides that are missing titles and a few different ways to add titles to those slides.
Rather than reviewing each slide to visually spot the missing titles, you can use PowerPoint's built-in Accessibility Checker to find them fast.
Related: How to Add Alternative Text to an Object in PowerPoint
Open your presentation, go to the Review tab, and click "Check Accessibility" in the Accessibility section of the ribbon.
You'll see the Accessibility panel open on the right with Errors, Warnings, and Tips. Expand Errors and you'll see an item labeled Missing Slide Title with the number of slides in need of titles. If you don't see this error, then you don't have any missing titles.
Immediately Add Slide Titles
If you expand the Missing Slide Title label, you'll see the exact slide numbers that are missing titles.
You can then immediately add a title by doing one of the following:
- Click a slide number and it will display highlighted in the panel on the left side. Click next to the number and add a title.
- Click the drop-down arrow to the right of the slide and select "Add Slide Title."
- Select the slide, use the Slide Title drop-down arrow on the Accessibility tab, and choose "Add Slide Title."
Outline view is what you'll see on the left side of PowerPoint if you use the first method above to find missing slide titles. But you can also jump right to it to see which slides need titles if you like.
Go to the View tab and click "Outline View" in the Presentation Views section of the ribbon.
You'll then see this view appear on the left with each slide number. The title of a slide is the text that appears in bold. If you're missing a title, simply type it next to the small square for that slide.
One way to avoid missing slide titles is to use a layout that includes a title. While not always convenient for the type of slide you need, it's still an option.
To add a slide with a title, click the New Slide drop-down arrow on either the Home or Insert tab. You'll see those layouts with a title such as Title and Content or Title Only. Choose one of these and use the title text box included on the slide.
You can also change the layout of a current slide if it fits in with your presentation. Select the slide and go to the Home tab. Click the Layout drop-down arrow and choose a title slide like above. This changes the current layout to one with a title.
One disadvantage to adding titles to slides or using a title layout is that the title actually appears on the slide. Again, this may not be something you want, especially if the slide only contains a video or image.
Related: How to Add a Video to a Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation
A way around showing the title on the slide is to simply hide it, and there are two easy ways to do this.
Add a Hidden Title
Display the Accessibility tab by going to Review > Check Accessibility. In the Screen Reader section of the ribbon, click the Slide Title drop-down arrow and pick "Add Hidden Slide Title."
You'll see the text box for the title display directly above the slide. Simply add your title to it and leave the box where it is.
Move the Title Off the Slide
Another way to hide the title is to select the text box containing the title on your slide. When your cursor changes to a four-sided arrow, use it to drag the box off of the slide. You can move it above, below, or to one of the sides.
When you preview or practice your slideshow after using one of the above methods, you shouldn't see the title on the slide. However, the title is still technically there and available for screen readers and specific PowerPoint features.
Related: How to Practice Your Presentations with PowerPoint's Presenter Coach
Be respectful of those joining your presentation using a screen reader or prepare for other features that PowerPoint has to offer by including slide titles.
Home Blog PowerPoint Tutorials How to Add Title Slides in PowerPoint
How to Add Title Slides in PowerPoint
Before you can begin showcasing your work or open up a topic for discussion before your audience, you can start with the title slide! Since a title slide template is the first impression of your slide deck , it is essential that you pay special attention to it.
What is a Title Slide?
A title slide contains the slide title, introduces the topic, and often includes other relevant details, such as the name of the presenter and the organization they are representing. The title slide is an important part of the presentation and is often good for marketing your ideas beforehand using creatively crafted layouts.
Slide Vs. Title Slide Layout
A title slide contains the title in a presentation deck. The layout of such a slide can contain a title, subtitle, and other relevant information. The title slide also often includes particular branding, such as the company’s logo or/and tagline.
Slide layout refers to not only the cover or title slide and other types. The layouts used in a presentation can differ according to the needs of the presentation. For example, other than the title slide, a presentation might have a picture layout, chart layout, dashboard layout, etc. The title slide will be the introductory slide of the presentation containing the presentation title .
How to Add Titles to Slides in Microsoft PowerPoint
If you’re making a presentation from scratch rather than using a PowerPoint template , you will notice that a title slide is added by default when you start a new PowerPoint presentation. You can also add it via Home -> New Slide .
When making a title slide, you can also seek help from PowerPoint Designer, which provides suggestions based on the content of your slide, such as the text and layout of the slide you are using. To view suggestions regarding adding a slide title, click Designer from the Home tab and click on a design from the right sidebar to change your PowerPoint design.
How to Create an Effective Title Slide?
Merely adding a slide title isn’t enough to create a title slide that can help get the message across to the audience at the very start of the presentation. Below are some examples of title slides in PowerPoint that can help you design effective title slides. You might also be interested in our article about how to start a presentation .
Title Slide that Provides Basic Information
The most common method for making a title slide is to use text that can easily explain the presentation context. If you are making a presentation for an interactive discussion, this can be mentioned in the title slide. Similarly, a slide deck to guide discussion for a one-on-one meeting can mention the context of the meeting.
Title Slide that Visually Represents the Topic
A title slide can visually represent the topic. For example, the title slide shown below clearly elaborates on the topic under discussion, i.e., the digital divide. Such a title slide can help effectively deliver a message visually, even before the presenter elaborates on the topic.
Title Slide that Invokes Curiosity
Sometimes, making an ambiguous title slide is best to cause curiosity. This technique is often used to keep the audience interested and guess the presentation’s context. The technique can also be useful when aiming to persuade an audience during a presentation.
Related: See our article about the Zeigarnik Effect for presentations.
Zooming Title Slide
Zooming slides have been the hallmark of presentation platforms like Prezi. Some PowerPoint templates also come with a similar effect for title slides that can effectively add extensive information within the title slide to elaborate various details using a zooming UI. In such a case, the screen zooms to the area you click in slideshow mode to help you elaborate on the information before moving on to the next bit of detail.
Quiz Title Slide
If you run a quiz competition using PowerPoint or need to start your presentation with a burning question, using a quick title slide might be a good idea! Using quiz PowerPoint templates like the one below you can create a multiple-choice question as your title slide using quiz PowerPoint templates like the one below.
Final Words
A title slide is more important than many people might think. While many presenters skip through it in a rush, a title slide can be a good starting point to set the tone for the discussion ahead. Spending time making a title slide that can convey a message to the audience or cause curiosity can help make the presentation all the more interesting—enabling the presenter to positively influence the audience’s mood at the very start of the presentation.
Like this article? Please share
Design, Presentation Tips Filed under PowerPoint Tutorials
Related Articles
Filed under Google Slides Tutorials • March 22nd, 2024
How to Share a Google Slides Presentation
Optimize your presentation delivery as we explore how to share a Google Slides presentation. A must-read for traveling presenters.
Filed under Design • January 11th, 2024
How to Use Figma for Presentations
The powerful UI/UX prototyping software can also help us to craft high-end presentation slides. Learn how to use Figma as a presentation software here!
Filed under Education , Presentation Ideas • January 1st, 2024
How to Create Presentations with AI using ChatGPT
We tested ChatGPT for helping us create better presentations. Join us in this article to know a first-hand experience on AI content generators and their potential role for presenters.
Leave a Reply
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
You can then immediately add a title by doing one of the following: Click a slide number and it will display highlighted in the panel on the left side. Click next to the number and add a title. Click the drop-down arrow to the right of the slide and select "Add Slide Title." Select the slide, use the Slide Title drop-down arrow on the ...
Over on the left, you’ll see a text placeholder. Here, you can quickly keyboard in a quote to share with your audience. Optionally, up at the top, you can add a title. Using this layout as your title slide makes for a fun and inspiring opener. Use slide #9 to share a quote on your PowerPoint cover slide.
You can also add it via Home -> New Slide. When making a title slide, you can also seek help from PowerPoint Designer, which provides suggestions based on the content of your slide, such as the text and layout of the slide you are using. To view suggestions regarding adding a slide title, click Designer from the Home tab and click on a design ...