how to make a powerpoint presentation on ipad

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A Beginner’s Guide to PowerPoint on the iPad

This is the third in our series of articles about Microsoft Office for the iPad, and the results so far have been decidedly mixed. We found Word to be surprisingly powerful and a good alternative to the desktop version for all but the most hardcore word processors out there. Excel was more of a let down with lots more functionality missing, including many elements that would be notable to even light spreadsheet users. We’re happy to report that PowerPoint is much closer to Word than Excel, and even more than either of those apps, you could use PowerPoint perfectly well on your iPad and never touch the desktop version. In fact, some of the design decisions Microsoft have made might even make you put together better presentations than if you had the complete desktop app at your disposal.

Our Must-Have, Most Used Productivity Apps

We spend an inordinate amount of time sorting through hundreds of apps to find the very best. We put together a short list of our must-have, most-used apps for increasing productivity.

PowerPoint for iOS is free from the App Store and allows you to view PowerPoint files from anywhere. If you want to edit or create presentations from the iPad though, you’re going to need to subscribe to Office 365 , which runs $6.99/month or $70/year for individuals on up to 5 devices. An Office 365 subscription comes with the full Microsoft Office suite of apps as well was 1TB of OneDrive storage, so there is quite a bit of value there.

Whether this is a fair price is a matter we can only leave to you, but the software package on offer, and especially the 1TB of cloud storage that works across iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux, makes this a pretty compelling subscription in our eyes.

Of note, Microsoft only requires iPads over 10.1” to pay up to get editing functionality. If you have a 9.7” iPad, iPad Mini, or even an iPhone, then you can use the full version of PowerPoint (and all other Office apps) without an Office 365 subscription. Apparently productivity starts at 10.1” in Microsoft’s world — not that we’re complaining.

Out of the Box Experience

If you start with PowerPoint on the iPad and want to begin building presentations from scratch, the iPad version gives you everything you need to start creating right away.

There are 25 built-in templates you can start with. While not all of them are great, ones like Parcel, Celestial, Ion, and Mesh are all really nice templates that you can use to create professional-looking presentations. Some of them are more fun and offer a more distinct look, but for many people, simplicity is king and the options here are more than capable of making you look good at your next speaking gig.

As you would expect, each of these 25 templates have an assortment of slide types so you can move between titles, lists, and giant images with a consistent experience for your audience.

And if you were worried about getting your content into these slides, fear not because PowerPoint for iPad has tons of tools around adding animations to elements on your slides, transitions between slides, drawing on and marking up content, and adding things like tables, images, icons, and videos into your slides.

Basically, if you work entirely from the iPad, you’ll have more than enough control over everything to put together a presentation that you can be proud of.

Adding Some Flair

PowerPoint has quite a few tools for customizing the feel of your presentations, and while I’d contend that adding too many effects and transitions to a slide deck can be detrimental, these can of course be used well and the fact that so much is here should allow most people to create exactly what they want.

There are 35 ways you can have items on a slide appear or disappear and 17 different ways you can emphasize specific elements on a slide. And if you like transitions, there are a sweeping 49 options for how you move from one slide to another. Should you use all of these? God no. Does this level of flexibility enable a bunch of cool one-off effects? Oh yes!

And then there are a bunch of different drawing tools you can use to add a little panache. Similar to most markup apps you know and love , there are several drawing tools like pencils, markers, and highlighters, as well as a cool cosmic pen that is just fun. You can make this animate into the slide so you can have custom-looking animations that call out something specific on your slides.

Another thing I really like is a feature called Design Ideas. This is found under the Design tab and you can use it on any slide in your presentation. PowerPoint will look at the content of the slide and give you a few suggestions for alternative styling. For example, I had a basic bulleted list and it suggested this nicer layout for a short list:

One of the things I love about how this is set up in the PowerPoint UI is that none of these effects are visible from the main tabs you’ll use when creating your slides. This breaks up the workflow between content and style. You’ll likely find yourself putting together all your content together across however many slides you need and then going back through it all to add whatever animations and transitions you think you need. Again, since the content of a slide deck is far more important than the flair on top of it, this behavioral encouragement is spot on.

Collaboration

As with Microsoft’s other Office apps, the collaboration features from the desktop and web versions are here and they work great. You can work in real time with anyone else whom you’ve shared the document. You can see their edits in real time and they’ll see yours, no matter the platform they are on.

Comments are supported as well, and you or others can leave comments on certain points of the presentation, and there is even version control so you can go back to potentially dozens of versions of the presentation and restore them (or save them as a new copy).

Giving Your Presentation

The presentation itself is the whole reason for making a slide deck — that experience is rock solid — but might be limited compared to what you have on the desktop.

First off, you can present a presentation you created on the iPad on any device that runs PowerPoint, but if you want to present from an iPad, the easiest way to do so is to plug into the screen you are going to be using via a DisplayPort/HDMI/DVI cable that uses Lightning or USB-C (depending on your iPad). After you’re connected to an external display, you’ll see your slides in all their glory on the external display and the presenter view will appear on the iPad itself.

If you happen to be somewhere that has an AirPlay compatible screen (most likely through an Apple TV), then you can also mirror your screen to the AirPlay device and you’ll get the same effect where the slides show on the AirPlay receiver and the presenter view shows on the iPad.

Whether using wired or wireless connections for the presentation, you can always tap and hold on your iPad screen to bring up a virtual laser pointer to point out whatever you want to highlight on a particular slide. It’s actually pretty slick and more useful than I expected it to be.

PowerPoint as a Good iOS Citizen

Unlike some other companies who take forever to support iOS’s latest and greatest features, Microsoft has done a pretty decent job of keeping up with the times. Using PowerPoint in late 2019 feels like using an app built to use most of iOS’s (and iPadOS’s) latest features.

Pretty much all the main contenders are here: drag and drop works well and lets you drag in your own media straight from things like Files, Photos, or even Safari and drop them into your slides with ease. The UI for this is rather limited, and you don’t quite know what will happen when you drop something like a photo onto a slide, but you can of course resize and reorient objects once they’re on the slide.

PowerPoint also supports split screen, which is very useful for this sort of app as it allows you to have your research on one side of the iPad and your presentation on the other. I constantly find myself bouncing back and forth when putting together a PowerPoint presentation, and this would be a near deal-breaker for me personally.

The one major iPadOS feature this doesn’t currently support is multi-window. iPadOS 13 enabled apps to have multiple documents open at once and PowerPoint does not support this at all. This is a less egregious omission since most people tend to work on one presentation at a time, but sometimes you might want to reference another presentation that you’ve created or are comparing your slides to ones someone else made.

Overall, PowerPoint strikes a good balance of being unmistakably Microsoft without feeling like a Windows app on the iPad.

Apple Keynote and Google Slides

While PowerPoint is the undisputed standard for presentations, the options from Apple and Google are also compelling and have the distinct advantage of each being completely free. Without getting too much into the weeds here, the short overviews of each of these competitors are:

Apple Keynote lets you more easily create great-looking slides with modern, elegant templates. The app also feels more finely tuned to iPadOS’s UI is a very smooth experience from start to finish. Collaboration is a big issue though if you are not working with others on iPads or Macs. And even if you are, the collaborative editing capabilities are far less robust than what Microsoft has in PowerPoint.

Google Slides is a very minimal presentation tool, but it gets the job done. If your needs are very basic and you value a cloud-based solution with great real-time collaborate editing, then Slides can serve your needs very well. But if you want to have a little more style in your deck, then you’re going to be left wanting here. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s certainly not the best in class.

In short, if you value compatibility and collaboration, PowerPoint is the clear winner. If you value great design in your slides and a delightful iPadOS experience, Keynote is king. And if you just want what is on the web and included in your Google account, then Slides will be okay for you, but you’re probably not going to fall in love with it.

Ultimately, many of us don’t have a choice in the apps we use to give presentations. These usually happen at work and the company has some standard in place for creating presentations, so the choice has been made for you already. If you have any say at all in what presentation software to use, then we think PowerPoint is a great way to make them on the iPad.

With a rich set of tools to make everything from basic to wild and flashy presentations possible, it’s bolstered by a robust set of collaboration features as well as the simple fact that it’s the de-facto standard across most of the business world. You’ll probably have little-to-no friction in making this work for you and your business.

If you are working solo or there really isn’t any need to use one app or another, then Keynote is a very compelling alternative, and is the feather in iWork’s cap. it’s an excellent app that makes is dead simple to create professional-looking presentations with very little effort. Oh yeah, and it’s completely free! Not everyone will love this, but it’s definitely something to consider using if you’re not totally sold on PowerPoint.

Can You Create a PowerPoint on an iPad? Here’s How!

Creating a PowerPoint on an iPad is simple! All you need is to download the PowerPoint app from the App Store, sign in with your Microsoft account, and you can start creating your presentation right away. It’s an efficient way to work on your slides whether you’re on the go or don’t have access to a computer.

After you complete your PowerPoint, you can easily present it directly from your iPad, share it with others, or transfer it to your computer for further editing.

Introduction

In the world of presentations, PowerPoint has been a long-standing favorite. Its user-friendly interface and robust features make it the go-to choice for professionals, educators, and students alike. But what if you don’t have access to a computer? Can you still whip up a compelling presentation? Absolutely! Thanks to the technological advancements of tablets like the iPad, creating a PowerPoint presentation is not only possible but also incredibly convenient.

The iPad, with its portability and intuitive touch screen, offers a unique way to create and edit presentations. This is particularly relevant for those who are always on the move or simply prefer the tactile interaction that tablets provide. In this article, we’ll explore how to create a PowerPoint presentation on an iPad, why it’s a useful skill, and who stands to benefit from this knowledge. Whether you’re a student preparing for a class project, a business professional crafting a pitch, or a teacher planning your next lesson, mastering PowerPoint on the iPad will elevate your presentation game.

Step by Step Tutorial: Creating a PowerPoint on an iPad

Before we dive into the steps, let’s clarify what we’ll achieve. By following these instructions, you’ll be able to create a fully-functional PowerPoint presentation on your iPad, complete with text, images, and various slide designs.

Step 1: Download the PowerPoint App

First things first, download the PowerPoint app from the App Store.

Once you’ve downloaded and installed the PowerPoint app, you’re ready to get started. The app is free, but for full functionality, you might need an Office 365 subscription.

Step 2: Sign in to Your Microsoft Account

Open the app and sign in with your Microsoft account.

Signing in allows you to access your saved presentations and utilize the full range of PowerPoint’s features. If you don’t have an account, you can create one easily within the app.

Step 3: Create a New Presentation

Select ‘New Presentation’ to start creating your slides.

Here, you’ll choose from a variety of templates or start with a blank slide. Templates can give you a head start with pre-designed layouts and color schemes.

Step 4: Add Content to Your Slides

Tap on the slide to add text, insert images, or create shapes.

Using the toolbar at the top, you can customize your fonts, add bullet points, and more. Playing around with these features will help you create a more visually engaging presentation.

Step 5: Save and Share Your Presentation

Once you’re satisfied, save your presentation and share it as needed.

You can save your presentation to the iPad, to OneDrive, or to another cloud service. Sharing options include email, a link, or exporting it in a format like PDF.

Additional Information

Creating a PowerPoint on an iPad is a breeze once you get the hang of it. But there are a couple of tips that can make your experience even smoother. For instance, pairing your iPad with a keyboard can speed up your typing and make editing text less fiddly. Also, practicing with different gestures can help you discover shortcuts for a more efficient workflow.

Remember, while the iPad version of PowerPoint is robust, it might not have every single feature that the desktop version has. But for most users, the convenience and mobility it offers can outweigh those minor limitations. And guess what? If you’re presenting directly from your iPad, you can also use your device as a remote control, swiping through slides with a mere touch or click. This can be a game-changer for a seamless presentation experience.

• Download the PowerPoint app from the App Store.
• Sign in with your Microsoft account.
• Create a new presentation.
• Add content to your slides.
• Save and share your presentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i edit a powerpoint on an ipad.

Yes, you can edit PowerPoint presentations on an iPad using the PowerPoint app.

Do I need a Microsoft subscription to use PowerPoint on an iPad?

You can use the PowerPoint app for free, but for full functionality, a subscription might be necessary.

Can I print my PowerPoint from an iPad?

Absolutely, as long as you have a compatible printer.

Will my PowerPoint look the same on an iPad as on a computer?

Mostly yes, although there may be some minor differences due to the app’s features.

Can I use Presenter View on an iPad?

Yes, Presenter View is available on the PowerPoint iPad app.

A PowerPoint presentation can make or break your pitch, project, or lesson. And being able to create one on an iPad not only adds convenience to your process but also ensures you’re never caught off guard without your slides at hand. With just a few taps and swipes, you can craft a professional and engaging presentation from wherever you are.

So next time you’re away from your computer but need to prep for that big meeting or class, remember that your iPad is more than up to the task. Happy presenting!

Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.

After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.

His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.

Read his full bio here.

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Can I do a PowerPoint presentation using an iPad?

By: Author Shrot Katewa

I love my iPad, and If you are like me, you would want to carry it wherever you go. It is compact, light and allows me to get things done that can’t be done using my phone due to its small size! In fact, it is so convenient that it makes me wonder if I could replace my laptop with an iPad even for my client meetings? 

But, can I create a PowerPoint presentation using an iPad? Yes, you can create a PowerPoint presentation using an iPad. In fact, iPad has a bunch of different apps that allow you to run PowerPoint presentations on it. iPad’s built-in Keynote presentation software also allows you to view the PPT files. You can also install Microsoft PowerPoint to run, edit and create a PowerPoint presentations from scratch on iPad just as you run it on a laptop!

Running a PowerPoint presentation on your iPad is actually a lot easier than you think. There are, however, a few things you should be aware of. Let’s get into the details of the workings of a PowerPoint presentation on an iPad.

How to put a PowerPoint presentation on an iPad?

Sometimes, you may already have a PPT file that was shared by your colleague or a client. However, many a times, it is you who has to create a PowerPoint presentation that dazzles your audience! Creating a presentation that holds our audiences’ attention is hard. We wrote a post that covers the steps that you should be taking while creating a PowerPoint presentation. We’ve broken it down to a step-by-step process that is designed to help you with creating a presentation. (Link – www.owlscape.in/what-are-the-steps-to-create-a-powerpoint-presentation )

If you have already created a presentation using a laptop or any other computer, you’ll first need to transfer it to your iPad. There are multiple ways you could do this. I would like to share my top 3 favourite method as they are free, doesn’t take too much time, and are easy to carry out as it doesn’t require any technical expertise.

1. Transfer the PPT file to your iPad using your email

This is probably the easiest of all the three options. In all likelihood, you may already have received a PPT file from your colleagues through an email. In this case, all you need to do is simply open your email account on your iPad, click on the email that contains the PowerPoint file, and download it.

2. Transfer the PPT file to your iPad using a cloud storage service

Another quick and easy option is using a cloud storage services. There are plenty of cloud storage services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and even iCloud. Most of these services offer at least a few GBs of free data storage. Simply upload your PPT file from your computer. Then, login to your cloud storage service on your iPad and download the PPT file on your iPad.

3. Transfer the PPT file to your iPad using WhatsApp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHShrP6cR88

Video on how to login to WhatsApp on your iPad

Another great way to download the file directly to your iPad is by using WhatsApp. While WhatsApp is a great way to stay in touch with you friends, it is also great to share files. You can ask your colleague to send the file to you over WhatsApp. All you need to do is simply log in to your WhatsApp account on your iPad, open your colleague’s chat message, and download the file.

What is the best app for PowerPoint presentation on iPad?

In our experience, Microsoft PowerPoint is by far one of the best apps to work with PPT presentations on iPad. You can easily download and use, and if you have an Office365 subscription, it allows you access to additional functionalities which come in handy especially if you plan to edit files on-the-go on your iPad. PowerPoint presentation has been the brainchild of Microsoft, and it has been the leader by a long stretch when it comes to the presentation software.

With Microsoft PowerPoint, not only do you resolve the compatibility issues of the PPT files with software, you also get an interface you are familiar with. You can be absolutely sure that PPT file will look exactly as it is intended to when using Microsoft PowerPoint on iPad.

You can download the Microsoft PowerPoint app for your iPad from the App Store.

Is Microsoft PowerPoint app FREE for iPad?

Microsoft PowerPoint app is FREE to download and use on an iPad. Microsoft realise that the future of technology is more towards smartphones and tablets. Thus, they have a strong focus on providing access to user files on-the-go. Although you can edit PowerPoint presentations on-the-go, if you wish to get advanced functionalities, you may want to get an Office365 subscription. Having said that, most of your basic editing needs are covered in the base version of the app.

Are there any other apps for PowerPoint presentation on iPad?

Absolutely! There are several other applications that you can use to open and edit a PowerPoint presentation on iPad. All the other applications have their pros and cons. We have listed down the top 3 alternatives to Microsoft PowerPoint on iPad. They are in no order to preference.

Keynote is the native software that offers an office suite on Mac and iOS devices including iPad. It has been built from the ground up for iPad and iPhone devices. Needless to say, it is one of the most powerful software when working with presentations.

While Keynote allows you to view, open and edit a PowerPoint file, the overall functionalities are different. We’ve also seen that the look and feel of the PPT file does change when using it on Keynote. However, the changes are not major and if you are only planning to view the major contents of the PPT file on your iPad, Keynote is effective.

2. Google Slides

The best part about Google Slides is that it allows real-time collaboration on projects with its online office suite. This is great especially when your team is not based in the same location as you are.

Google Slides is also compatible with PPT files. It allows you or open, view and edit PowerPoint files on your iPad. Google Slides is FREE . All you need is a Google account to start using it.

3. WPS Office

Image credit – Mr. Phone

WPS stands for Writer (W), Presentation (P), Spreadsheets (S). It is our favourite alternative to Microsoft Office suite. It has been designed with Microsoft Office users in mind. Thus, the look and feel of WPS Office has striking similarities to that of MIcrosoft Office. For all the Microsoft Office users, WPS Office makes you surprisingly feel just at home.

If you are looking to a cheaper/free alternative to Microsoft Office suite that looks and feels just like MS Office, in our experience WPS Office by far the best option for you. It was designed with Microsoft Office users in mind. It was originally launched for Windows, however, WPS Office suite 2019 version has been expanded to both Linux and Mac users as well.

WPS Office is now also available for Mac and iOS users. You can download WPS Office directly from the App Store or visit the download section on their website . WPS Office is FREE to use although simply signing up for an account with them gives you access to premium feature for 1 year.

What equipment will I need to do a PowerPoint presentation using an iPad?

What makes the iPad really powerful is that it allows you to connect to a projector and project the presentation on a bigger screen. This comes in really handy as this negates the need to carry any laptop. Alternatively, if you consider laptop to be your first choice, instead of carrying an additional spare laptop, you can keep an iPad device as a backup just in case your laptop fails to work. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0Z6VGNlxbc

Video on how you can connect your iPad to a projector

There are multiple ways to connect your iPad to a Projector. Two of the most common ways are – 

• HDMI connection
• VGA connection 

For both the connections, you will need to buy an additional connector cable that allows you to connect the two devices.

Our personal preference is to use the VGA connector. Main reason for this is the fact that a VGA connector allows the sound to be played from the iPad itself as opposed to a HDMI connector. In an HDMI connection for an iPad, the sound is played through your projector. Another reason for preference of a VGA connector over an HDMI connector is that it is more widely available as a default connection option to the projector in most corporate offices. However, connector preference comes down to a personal choice.

So, is it worth it???

We started this article wondering whether we could do a PowerPoint presentation using an iPad, and whether we could carry an iPad to our meetings instead of a laptop. With the availability of Microsoft PowerPoint application for iPad and several other alternatives to open a PPT file on iPad, as well as the possibility to connect the iPad to a projector, we can safely conclude that an iPad can be used as a replacement to a laptop while meeting clients!

Psst… please share!

If you enjoyed reading the article, please leave us a comment below and share this with you network. This acts as a great motivation for us to keep creating useful content for your folks!

Can You Make a Powerpoint on iPad? Here’s How To Do It

Are you familiar with Microsoft PowerPoint on your laptop or desktop computer, but don’t know how to use it on your iPad? You’re not alone.

With the popularity of tablets and iPads, many people are looking to make the switch and take advantage of the portability of their device.

In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to create a presentation on your iPad.

We’ll cover topics such as what Microsoft PowerPoint for iPad is, how to add text, images, charts, and other elements, and how to navigate between slides.

With this knowledge, you’ll be able to create a presentation on your iPad with ease.

So let’s get started!

Table of Contents

Short Answer

Yes, you can make a PowerPoint on an iPad.

You can use the Microsoft PowerPoint app for iOS, which is available on the App Store.

You can also create and edit presentations online with PowerPoint for the web.

If you have an Office 365 subscription, you can also use the desktop version of PowerPoint on an iPad with the Office app.

What is Microsoft PowerPoint for iPad?

Microsoft PowerPoint for iPad is an app designed by Microsoft to allow users to create and present their PowerPoint presentations on an Apple iPad.

It is a powerful and easy-to-use tool that allows users to create professional-looking presentations with the help of the iPads touchscreen and Apple Pencil.

The app also offers a wide range of features that make it easy to create engaging and visually appealing presentations.

With the Microsoft PowerPoint for iPad app, users can easily create a new presentation, add text, images, charts, and other elements to their slides.

The app also allows users to use the iPads touchscreen to navigate between slides and add shapes, arrows, and other elements to their presentation.

Additionally, the app allows users to use the Apple Pencil to draw directly on the slides.

The app also offers other features such as the ability to share presentations with others, or present them on a larger screen with AirPlay.

Additionally, the iPads portability and HD display make it the perfect device for creating and sharing presentations with ease.

With its powerful features and easy-to-use interface, Microsoft PowerPoint for iPad is the perfect tool for creating professional-looking presentations on the go.

How to Create a Presentation on iPad

Creating a presentation on an iPad is an easy and convenient way to share information with others.

With the help of Microsoft PowerPoint for iPad apps, you can create a presentation, add text, images, charts, and more to create a professional-looking presentation.

With the iPad’s portability and HD display, you can create and share presentations with ease.

The first step in creating a presentation on an iPad is to download the Microsoft PowerPoint app.

Once you have downloaded the app, you can open it and begin creating your presentation.

You can add text, images, charts, and more to create a professional-looking presentation.

Additionally, you can use the Apple Pencil to draw directly on the slides, as well as use the iPads touchscreen to navigate between slides and add shapes, arrows, and other elements to your presentation.

Once you have added all of the necessary elements to your presentation, you can preview it on your iPad before sharing it with others.

You can also use the iPads AirDrop feature to quickly and easily share your presentation with others.

Additionally, you can use the PowerPoint app to collaborate with others on the presentation remotely.

Finally, you can export your presentation to a variety of formats, such as PDF, PowerPoint, and more.

This allows you to share your presentation with a variety of audiences, from colleagues to clients.

With the iPads portability and HD display, you can create and share presentations with ease.

In conclusion, creating a presentation on an iPad is easy and convenient.

With the help of Microsoft PowerPoint for iPad apps, you can create a professional-looking presentation with ease.

Additionally, you can use the iPads AirDrop feature to quickly and easily share your presentation with others, as well as export it to a variety of formats.

Adding Text, Images, and Charts to the Presentation

Adding text, images, and charts to your PowerPoint presentation on an iPad is a great way to make it look professional and engaging.

With the Microsoft PowerPoint for iPad apps, you can easily add text to your slides by simply tapping on the slide and typing in the text you want to include.

You can also use the iPads built-in dictation feature to quickly add text to your slides, or you can use the iPads on-screen keyboard to type out your text.

In addition to text, you can also add images and charts to your presentation.

You can upload images from your iPads photo library or from an online source, such as Google Images, to add to your presentation.

Similarly, you can also add charts to your presentation by using the chart feature in the PowerPoint app.

This feature allows you to quickly create bar, line, and pie charts from data you enter, as well as customize the chart to fit your presentation.

Finally, if you have an Apple Pencil, you can use it to draw directly on the slides.

This allows you to add arrows, shapes, and other elements to your presentation that would be difficult to add with the mouse or touchscreen.

With the Apple Pencil, you can quickly add any elements you need to make your presentation look professional and engaging.

Using the Apple Pencil to Draw on the Slides

Using the Apple Pencil to draw on PowerPoint slides is a great way to add a personal touch and creative flair to presentations.

With the Apple Pencil, users can draw directly onto slides with precision and detail, as well as directly write text and add shapes.

The Apple Pencil is also pressure-sensitive, meaning that it can be used to draw lightly or heavily depending on the desired effect.

It is also possible to use the Apple Pencil to erase, adjust, and move objects on the slides, allowing for easy editing of the presentation.

Additionally, the Apple Pencil can be used to easily add diagrams and other graphical elements, such as arrows and circles, to the slides.

With the Apple Pencil, slides can be quickly and easily designed to look professional and eye-catching.

Navigating Between Slides on the iPad

Navigating between slides on an iPad is made easy with its multitouch display and intuitive interface.

With a few taps, you can quickly move between slides in your presentation.

To navigate between slides, simply tap the left and right arrows in the bottom left corner of the PowerPoint for iPad app.

This will move you through the presentation slides sequentially, making it easy to review and edit your slides.

Additionally, you can select a specific slide from the Slide Navigator, which can be accessed by tapping the three dots icon in the bottom left corner of the PowerPoint app.

This will open up a list of all your slides, allowing you to quickly jump to a specific slide with just a tap.

Additionally, you can use the Apple Pencil to draw directly on the slides, as well as use the iPads touchscreen to quickly move between slides.

With the iPad’s portability and HD display, you can create and share presentations with ease, making it a great tool for creating professional presentations.

Adding Shapes, Arrows, and Other Elements

Adding shapes, arrows, and other elements to a PowerPoint presentation on an iPad is very easy to do.

With the iPads touchscreen, you can quickly and easily add a variety of shapes, arrows, lines, and other elements to your presentation.

You can use the Apple pencil to draw directly on the slides, allowing you to add intricate details to the presentation quickly and easily.

Additionally, you can use the iPads built-in shape tools to add rectangles, circles, and other shapes to the presentation.

Sharing the Presentation on iPad

Sharing a presentation on iPad is a breeze.

With the help of Microsoft PowerPoint for iPad apps, you can easily share your presentation with others from anywhere in the world.

You can share presentations in a variety of formats, including PDF, PowerPoint, and HTML.

Additionally, you can share your presentation as a read-only or a full-editable version, which allows others to make changes to the presentation if necessary.

The PowerPoint for iPad app allows you to easily send your presentation in an email, post it on social media, or even share it with a link.

If you have an Office 365 subscription, you can save your presentation to OneDrive and access it from any device with an internet connection.

You can also share your presentation with others directly from the iPad, with the ability to add notes and comments while the presentation is being shared.

The iPad also has a variety of other features that can help you share your presentation.

You can use AirPlay to mirror the contents of your iPad onto a larger display, such as a television or projector.

This feature allows you to present your presentation to a large group of people without having to carry a laptop with you.

Additionally, you can use an HDMI or VGA adapter to connect your iPad directly to a projector or monitor.

Finally, you can also share your presentation with others using a variety of cloud-based services, such as Dropbox, Google Drive, and iCloud.

With these cloud services, you can easily store and share your presentation without having to worry about copying it onto a USB drive or sending it through email.

These services also make it easy to collaborate on a presentation, as multiple users can access the same presentation and make changes and additions to it.

By leveraging the power of the iPad and the features of the Microsoft PowerPoint for iPad apps, you can easily create and share a presentation with ease.

Whether you’re giving a presentation to a large group of people or collaborating on a project with colleagues, the iPad provides an easy and efficient way to create and share presentations.

Final Thoughts

Making a PowerPoint presentation on an iPad is now easier than ever with Microsoft PowerPoint for iPad.

With its portability and HD display, you can create professional-looking presentations on the go and share them with ease.

Now that you know how to make a PowerPoint on iPad, why not give it a try? You’ll be surprised at what your creative mind can come up with.

James Wilson

James Wilson has extensive knowledge in the information technology industry.His second love, besides dealing with computers, is smart home technology. He is continually updating information to better comprehend this problem and has a deep understanding of the apartment’s support system.

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PowerPoint for iPad: A Visual Guide

• PowerPoint Tutorials
• Miscellaneous
• October 29, 2017

In this first ever visual guide for the iPad version of Microsoft PowerPoint (iPad PPT), we show you step-by-step how to use the app, as well as all of the nitty gritty details behind it that you likely don’t know.

We highlight those “little hiccups” that will drive you up the wall (it’s still not the same experience as your desktop version), and we’ve done our best to show you the workarounds, if and when they exist.

Make sure to note the orange boxes we’ve sprinkled through the guide with pro tips and tricks based on years of experience building PowerPoint presentations…ignore them at your own peril

We will do our best to keep this guide up to date with each new Microsoft update. If you see something that we’ve missed, PLEASE let us know and we’ll do our best to update this guide ASAP.

Don’t have the PowerPoint app on your iPad yet?  Download it by clicking here .

Things that go well with your iPad

Here are some useful resources for working with PowerPoint for the iPad:

Microsoft apps for the iPad

If you want to edit or display your Microsoft documents in their native environments on your iPad or iPhone, you’ll need to download the Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, Excel, OneNote, and OneDrive apps on your iPad and iPhone through the iTunes store.  Find them here .

Microsoft Office 365

Get automatic upgrades and unlimited storage by signing up for the Microsoft 365 subscription model. Check out the latest of version of Microsoft Office here .

Lightning to VGA adapter

If you’re giving presentations with your iPad, don’t assume the meeting room will have the right adapters for you. So make sure you always bring one with you. I like apple’s adapters as they’re sleek and are 100% compatible with your device.

Bluetooth speaker

Again, if you’re giving a presentation in a meeting room and need to play music/video, be aware that your ipad’s speakers will probably not be strong enough to fill the whole room. This super compact wireless speaker hooks up incredibly easily to your ipad or iphone with no software or app necessary, and provides really high quality sound for the price.

iPhone/iPad stand

Although the iphone and ipad are designed to be light and portable, carrying them around throughout a presentation, especially if you’re moving around a room, can be a bit cumbersome. Keep your device upright and in front of you with this no-frills stand. It will fit just about any device.

Disclosure:  please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase.  Please understand that we have experience with all of these companies, and we recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions we make if you decide to buy something.  Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals.

FINALLY…PowerPoint on our tablet! Down with the laptop and the desktop! Not so fast…

Although it is EXCITING to finally have PowerPoint on the iPad….there are MANY more versions to come before it can replace the desktop PowerPoint environment.

Until then, PowerPoint on your iPad is best thought of as an “extension” of the desktop experience, not as a replacement.

Yes, with each new PowerPoint for iPad update, you do get some new features, but the vast majority of REAL work that you do in PowerPoint (in our humble opinion) should still be done on your desktop.

Why? Because it’s just plain faster!

Yes, we are biased…we live, die and breath shortcuts on our keyboard AND we use LOTS of tips and tricks that haven’t come onto the iPad (yet)….so it’s okay to disagree with us.

With all that said, this is a GREAT step forward and we are PSYCHED for all the future updates and the new Office 2015.

We hope this guides helps make PowerPoint on your iPad a little bit, if not A LOT, easier for you to figure out.

This guide is organized according to the different Views in the app, and then according to each element within those Views. You can access all of these pieces using the tables of contents bar on the left.

If you want a fast way to find a command, simply hit Ctrl + F on your keyboard to search this page.

Account Settings

In this section, we look at the different things you can do in the Account Settings, such as signing out, signing in, and how to add multiple OneDrive accounts. To do any of these, you’ll have to go into the File View. In the top left hand corner, you have your Account Settings icon (with or without your account picture).

Signing out

Pro Tip:  Instead of signing out of your account, you can add multiple OneDrive services to the same account so that you can access your business and personal files.

If you accidentally get signed out, here’s a step-by-step guide for how to sign back into your account. To sign into your account, follow these 4 steps (click to open gallery & instructions):

Microsoft Account: Sign in with the account you use for OneDrive, Xbox, LIVE,  Outlook.com  or other Microsoft services.

Organizational Account: Sign in with the account provided by your work, school or university.

Adding a service

Pro Tip:  Your Office 365 account starts with a OneDrive service attached to it (whether or not you have anything in it). If you have multiple OneDrive accounts, you can add them to your account (home or office accounts), allowing you to access those files directly on your iPad.

Note:  Only Microsoft OneDrive, SharePoint, and Dropbox are currently supported on Office for iPad.

In this section, you will learn how to create a new file/presentation, from scratch, as well as some key tips to keep in mind. To create a new presentation, follow these 2 steps (click to open gallery & instructions):

Recent files

• If you have an internet connection, the most recent version of the file will be downloaded from your OneDrive and will open on your iPad.
• If you do not have an internet connection BUT have previously opened the document on your iPad before, the document will open, but it will not reflect any recent changes made to the version on your OneDrive (if you’ve made any changes from your desktop).
• If you do not have an internet connection and have never opened the document before on your iPad. You will receive a ‘No Internet Connection’ dialog box (below).

• Email as Link: Creates a “View Only” link or a “View and Edit” link of your file and launches the Mail App.
• Email as Attachment: Attaches the presentation to an email, the recipient can open and edit the document natively.
• Copy Link: Creates a “View Only” link or a “View and Edit” link of your file that you can paste into other documents or emails.

Move to Cloud: Allows you to move a presentation stored locally on your iPad onto your OneDrive. This option is only available when working with a file that is stored locally on your iPad.

Remove from Recent:  Removes a file from this Recent menu here on your iPad AND on your desktop. This is not the same as deleting a file, it merely removes it from the Recent files list. To delete a file, you’ll have to go into Properties in the Open menu.

Discard Changes:  Still not really clear what this does. If you figure it out, let us know.

Properties: Shows you additional properties about your file including filename, location, type, size, author, created, last modified, modified by and company.

Note: You can only create links for files stored on your OneDrive. If you have a locally stored file that you want to share a link to, you first need to move it to your OneDrive before you can create and share a link.

Note:  You cannot edit any of these properties from your iPad, you must do so from your desktop version of PowerPoint. However, there are work arounds that will allow you to change the file name from your iPad. To see how that works, check out the section on renaming and duplicating your files.

Sharing:  Below the file name, you can see if the document is being shared with anyone else.

Reloading Your Files:  If you don’t see a file that you have recently saved to the OneDrive, push and drag down with your finger to reload the file menu. Sometimes there is some lag time depending on the speed of your internet connection.

• To Pin a file:  Simply select a non-colored pin
• To Unpin a file:  Simply reselect the colored pin

Pro Tip:  Keep in mind that pinned documents’ names do not update in this recent list if you change their file name. If you try and open a pinned file that has been renamed, you will receive an error message. So if you pin files and rename them, you will need to do some pin-maintenance either on your iPad or desktop version of PowerPoint.

The ‘Open’ area of the File View is where you will find all of the documents on your OneDrive services, as well as those saved on your iPad. So in this section, we’ll cover how to go about opening your files, as well as some EXTREMELY handy Pro Tips about sharing your documents and editing their properties.

• Email as Link:  Creates a “View Only” link or a “View and Edit” link of your file and launches the Mail App.
• Email as Attachment:  Attaches the presentation to an email, the recipient can open and edit the document natively.
• Copy Link:  Creates a “View Only” link or a “View and Edit” link of your file that you can paste into other documents or emails.

Delete: This is the only place where you can delete files from your different OneDrive accounts or from your iPad.

Properties: Shows you additional properties about your file, including: filename, location, type, size, author, created, last modified, modified by and company.

The Normal View

Navigation buttons

1. Back Button

The undo and redo commands are the iPad keyboard of the CTRL + Z and CTRL + Y keyboard shortcuts on the desktop version of PowerPoint. Similar to the desktop version, you are given 15 commands in both directions, you can undo undo up to 15 actions, or redo 15 actions.

Note: ​ The Navigation Bar is fixed as is. You currently cannot add other commands to it like you can on a Windows based version of PowerPoint with the Quick Access Toolbar. We hope to see this updated in a later version!

4. Autosave

The AutoSave command controls whether or not changes to your presentation are automatically saved and synced with OneDrive. By default, PowerPoint for your iPad is set to AutoSave, which occurs:

• Periodically as you are working within your presentation
• Immediately when you hit the back button to return to the file menu view

Don’t make the same mistake I made – save your presentation!

This might sound obvious, but before closing PowerPoint on your iPad, hit the Back Button to return to the file menu view to ensure that the latest edits to your presentation are saved.

If you close the PowerPoint app by double-clicking the Apple button and swiping up (thus closing the app), you can lose the latest changes to your presentation…not fun!

So to ensure you save your latest changes, hit the button BEFORE closing the PowerPoint app.

​ If you choose this mode, to save your presentation, you need to either:

• Open the file menu and hit the green save button
• Hit the back button to return to file menu view to launch the Save dialog box

The Name command allows you to edit the name of a newly created AND unsaved PowerPoint presentation. As 90% of the presentations you work on your iPad will not be newly created or unsaved, this option will likely always be greyed out.

For example, if you create a new presentation on your iPad and have not saved it, the name command option is available. That said, as soon as you save the file with a name, this option becomes greyed out (forever).

How do you rename a file on your iPad?

To rename a presentation (or other office file) on your iPad, you either have to:

#1: Duplicate the presentation and save it with a new name. This will create a brand new document, so if you don’t want the older document, you will need to navigate to where it is saved on your iPad, or on your OneDrive and delete it. Painful, I know!

#2: Use the OneDrive app to rename your document (see our blog post on how to rename files in your OneDrive app).

6. Duplicate

The duplicate command creates a new copy of your current presentation and takes you to the File Menu View to rename your presentation (the same is true for the other Microsoft Office apps on your iPad). This is the Save As equivalent, or F12 keyboard shortcut on your desktop version of PowerPoint.

Note:  Duplicating a presentation will not overwrite the original presentation, it will only create a new presentation with the new name you give it.

How to move my Presentation from OneDrive to my iPad:

To move a file from OneDrive to your iPad, you need to open the file, duplicate it and then select your iPad as the storage device. There is currently not a “move to iPad” command like there is a “move to cloud” command.

Note: Files stored on your iPad open faster than their OneDrive equivalents as they do not need to download the latest version.

The restore command gives you a options for reverting back to an earlier version of your PowerPoint presentation.

You can either:

• Back to the original you started with:  Revert back to when it was last opened (PowerPoint will give you the specific time that it was opened). Doing so you get a warning indicating at what time the file was opened, so you get a sense of how far back you are going. Note: If this option is greyed out, it means there is currently nothing to revert back to.
• Back to an online saved version of your presentation:  Can revert back to an online saved version of your presentation. This option assumes that the file is saved on OneDrive and that you have an internet connection. Selecting this option launches safari and takes you to OneDrive. Log in with your Microsoft account and you will see all of the previous versions of your file by date on the left (assuming you have some) and allows you to revert back to that specific date.

9. Properties

Shows you the properties of your PowerPoint presentation including:

• Last modified
• Modified by

Note:  File Properties (other than Name) are only editable on the desktop version of PowerPoint. To modify a presentation’s name, you can duplicate the presentation and save it as a new name, or use the OneDrive app for PowerPoint to edit the presentation’s name on your OneDrive. To learn more about this, check out our  article on using the OneDrive App .

The Help and Support button launches basic help, support and tutorials for PowerPoint on your iPad. This menu is not extensive, but does offer solutions to simple questions you might have.

Note:  You do need an internet connection to launch this dialog box.

The Home tab

1. New slide

This opens the PowerPoint slide gallery and allows you to pick from the available layouts within your presentation.

The five slide layouts shown in the picture are the standard layouts we use at Nuts & Bolts Speed Training for 99% of all of our PowerPoint presentations, you might have more or less slides layouts depending on your setup.

The Price of iPad Portability

Limited to Inserting Slides Only: You are limited to inserting slides layouts on your iPad. The Slide Master View is currently unavailable for PowerPoint on your iPad.

Changing a Slide’s Layout: You are limited to inserting new slides on your iPad, you cannot push a layout onto an existing slide.

To move an existing slide onto an new layout, you either need to wait until you are on your desktop version of PowerPoint, or insert a new slide layout, and copy and paste the different objects onto the new slide layout….kind of sucks, but that’s the price of portability.

2. Font styles

Copying and Pasting Style: If you are simply trying to match the font style of an object, it is often faster to copy and paste the font style you are trying to match, rather than identifying the font style, and then changing the font elsewhere

Microsoft Account: Sign in with the account you use for OneDrive, Xbox, LIVE,  Outlook.com  or other Microsoft services.

3. Font size

The font size dropdown in PowerPoint for iPad gives you three different ways to change the font size of your text:

#1 Pre-set Sizes:  Select a preset size in the dropdown menu

#2 Clicker:  You can use the plus and minus signs to select a font size

#3 Manually:  You can double-tab the number between the plus sign and minus sign, and manually type in your desired font size

4. Bold / italics / underline

• Bold:  Creates bold text for highlighting information, often used in titles.
• Italics:  Creates italicized text for highlighting information, often used in subtitles and quotes.
• Underline : Creates an underline text for highlight information, often used in titles and subtitles.

Note:  There is no way to make a double underline in PowerPoint for your iPad. Pro Tip:  Don’t overdo it

If everything is important, nothing is important. Use text highlighting sparingly to better emphasize your points.

5. Formatting

• Strikethrough: Creates a strikethrough effect to emphasize that something should be removed
• Subscript  &  Superscript : Creates the -25% offset subscript and +30% offset superscript formatting. These are typically used in formulas, mathematical expressions and specifications for chemicals and isotopes

Includes the basic theme colors for your PowerPoint presentation, and their resulting gradients (which you cannot manually set).

Automatic:  The automatic color is determined by the “Windows Text” color set in Control Panel Display Appearance. Changing this color will affect text color in all Windows applications.

Editing Your Presentation’s Theme:  Currently you are not allowed to change or edit your PowerPoint presentation’s theme on your iPad. All theme editing or updating must be done on your desktop version of PowerPoint.

Setting Your Presentation’s Defaults on Your Desktop:  You can set the default formatting for your objects on your desktop version of PowerPoint and those defaults will carry over into PowerPoint for your iPad.

6b. More colors

#1 More Colors:  Selecting more colors gives you a dialog box with standard colors to choose from.

#2 Recent Colors:  If you use the Custom Color option to create your own colors within your presentation, this second row of recent colors populates.

#3 Custom Color:  Allows you to select your own color from a color grid (which is not very useful as you cannot get a precise color).

Advanced Color Formatting:  Currently there are no options to input RGB or HSL codes to create specific custom colors or apply transparencies in PowerPoint for your iPad. The eyedropper tool is also not available.

To copy a custom color style (font color, shape fill or shape outline) into your recent colors to reuse somewhere else, see our blog post on using custom colors in PowerPoint on your iPad. 7. Text styles

Includes standard WordArt styles you can apply to highlight your message.

Style Note:  WordArt is often distracting and hard to read and should be used sparingly if at all. See the example of Aqua, Accent 1, Reflection below the font styles gallery I created.

Note:  You do not have the Text Fill, Text Outline and Text Effect options that you have on your desktop version of PowerPoint. You are currently limited to these 20 styles.

Left / Center / Right / Justify:  Dictates the horizontal text alignment for text within a given PowerPoint object.

Top / Middle / Bottom:  Dictates vertical text alignment for text within a given PowerPoint object.

Horizontal / Rotate Clockwise / Rotate Counterclockwise / Stacked:  Dictates the rotation of your text within a given PowerPoint object. See next page for examples of each.

Columns:  Controls how many columns of text are within an object. This is often used for objects with lots of text to visually break up the text.

Note:  Notice that the alignment drop down stays open so that you can make multiple selections at the same time while working in your presentation…very handy!

Allows you to select bullet and numbers options for your lists in PowerPoint, but there are number of limitations that you should be aware of:

Limitation #1 : The Ruler –  As you cannot access the ruler in PowerPoint for your iPad, you are stuck with the default bullet and numbering tab spacing

Limitation #2: Custom Bullets –  You cannot create custom bullets like you can on your desktop version. That said, custom bullets and numbering created on the desktop version of PowerPoint does carry over into PowerPoint for your iPad, but you are not allowed to use it outside of the shape that it is currently set in.

Limitation #3: Numbers Start at 1 –  All numbers on the iPad start at 1. You cannot adjust the starting number.

10. List level increase / list level decrease

Decrease List Level:  SHIFT + TAB equivalent on the desktop version of PowerPoint. Moves a bullet or numbering backwards one indent level

Increase List Level:  TAB equivalent on the desktop version of PowerPoint. Moves a bullet or numbering forward one indent level.

11. Text box

Inserts a text box into the middle of your PowerPoint slide.

Note:  All inserted objects always start in the middle of your slide. There is currently no setting to manually place/draw your objects in after you have selected them.

12. Shapes gallery

Opens the shapes gallery and allows you to pick a shape to insert into the middle of your PowerPoint slide.

Shapes Always Default to the Center of Your Slide:  Whenever you insert an object, it always defaults to the center of your slide.

You will need to manually drag it around and position it. To make sure your shapes are the same size, either copy and paste an existing shape on your slide, or line it up next to your shape, and resize it using your SmartGuides.

The Insert tab

Inserting a table immediately gives you a default 3 by 3 table in the center of your PowerPoint slide and opens the Table Tab on the Ribbon. See Table Tab for Table Options.

3. Pictures

Selecting pictures opens the Photo Gallery. Currently, you are only allowed to insert pictures that are stored locally on your iPad (in your Camera Roll, Photo Streams, etc.).

If you have company pictures on your computer that you want to access on your iPad, you can share those pictures wireless through the iCloud service so that you can access them in PowerPoint on your iPad.

Check out  Apple’s step-by-step walk-through of the iCloud service .

Opens the shapes gallery and adds the Shape Tab on the Ribbon.

Default Your Shapes on Your Desktop:  To avoid clumsy formatting in PowerPoint for your iPad, I highly recommend setting default formatting on the desktop version of PowerPoint for your specific decks as it carries over onto your iPad.

To set the default formatting on your desktop version of PowerPoint, simply right-click the shape you want to default the formatting for, and in the right-click menu, select set as default shape (line or text box, depending on what you are defaulting).

5. Text boxes

Inserts a text box into the middle of your PowerPoint slide and opens the Shapes tab on the Ribbon.

Pro Tip:  Insert rectangles instead of text boxes to avoid the default “resize shape to fit text” setting. All text boxes start with this default setting and there is no way to un-select or change this formatting option in PowerPoint for your iPad.

The Transitions tab

1. Transition effect

Represents the 39 different types of transitions you can apply to your PowerPoint slides on your iPad.

32 of the 39 transition effects have effect options associated with them which changes the direction of the transition. These variations are often from left to right, or from top to bottom. For the style effects to be active, a transition with effects has to first be applied to a slide.

To change the effect options, simply select the alternative transition effect you would like for your slide.

Style Note:  As transitions are often distracting when giving a presentation, I highly recommend using them sparingly (if at all) within your presentations.

Previewing a Transition:  To preview your transition, hit the “from current” icon in the upper right hand corner of your screen to start the presentation form the current slide. Once in presentation mode, swipe right once to move to the previous slide, and then swipe left to preview the transition you just set for your slide.

Transitions without effects:

• The Flash, Curtains

3. Apply to all styles

The Review tab

1. Show comments

Allows you to turn comments on or off in your PowerPoint presentation. Comments appear either in the upper left hand corner of the slide, or on the specific objects they have been added to.

Note:  Comments can be only be viewed on the iPad, there is currently no support for editing, adding or removing comments from a presentation.

2. Previous

Cycles backwards to the previous com ​ ment within your presentation, starting from your current slide

The Picture tab

1. Picture styles

Represents the 28 different preset picture styles you can apply to your pictures in PowerPoint.

2. Picture shadows

Represents the 23 different preset picture shadows you can apply to your pictures in PowerPoint.

4. Re-order

All objects on a PowerPoint slide exist in a stacking or layering order based on when they were inserted onto the slide.

• Bring Forward:  Brings an object forward, one layer.
• Bring to Front:  Brings an object to the front layer of all the other objects on the slide
• Send Backward:  Sends an object backwards one layer.
• Send to Back:  Sends an object all the way to the back layer behind all the other objects on the slide.

Pro Tip 2:  The Bring to Front and Send to Back commands are the fastest and easiest commands to use, as you know exactly where your objects will go. Best practice is to use these first, and then readjust any other objects that you want behind or in front of your other objects.

Note:  More than one object has to be present on the slide for this command to be active.

The Shapes tab

1. Text Styles

The Text Styles gallery includes the 20 standard WordArt text styles that you can use to bring emphasis to or highlight the text within your presentation.

Are text styles worth using?  Typically not, but it really depends on what you are trying to accomplish.

For example, for corporate presentations, WordArt is distracting and hard to read and should be used sparingly, if at all. That said, if you are using PowerPoint as a medium for creating a poster or a graphic for a website, the WordArt text styles could be useful.

Missing Text Styles Options:  In PowerPoint for your iPad, the Text Fill, Text Outline and Text Effect formatting options are not available, you can currently only play with these options on your desktop version of PowerPoint.

2. Shape Styles

The Shapes Styles represent the 42 different default shape formatting styles you can apply to your shapes in PowerPoint. Now although these are tempting to use, keep in mind that anyone who has PowerPoint has access to these shape styles, so simply using these default formatting styles will result in a very default looking PowerPoint presentation.

Can I change the default shapes styles in the gallery?  Yes, the shape styles are dictated by your PowerPoint theme settings, so manipulating or building a corporate theme will change these default formatting styles.

3. Shape fill

Allows you to change the shape outline color in PowerPoint.

• Bring Forward:  Brings an object forward, one layer
• Bring to Front:  Brings an object to the front layer of all the other objects on the slide
• Send Backward:  Sends an object backwards one layer
• Send to Back:  Sends an object all the way to the back layer behind all the other objects on the slide

The Table tab

• Single tap a table:  Get the standard object edit menu.
• Double tap a cell within a table:  Get the table specific edit menu.
• Cut:  Cuts the text out of the selected cell.
• Copy:  Copies the text in the selected cell.
• Paste:  Pastes in your last copied text or object. Note that you cannot copy and paste formatting between tables.
• Clear:  Clears the contents of the cell.
• Delete:  Opens an additional menu allowing you to either delete the column or row you are currently in.
• Insert:  Allows you to insert a column to the left of the current cell, or a row above your current cell.
• AutoFit:  Collapses the column width to fit the text within it.

• Header Row:  Formats the first row in your table as a header row
• Total Row:  Formats the last row in your table as a total
• Banded Row:  Adds a rotating fill color to the horizontal rows of your table
• First Column:  Highlights the first column in a table
• Last Column:  Highlights the last column in a table
• Banded Columns:  Adds a rotating fill color to the vertical columns of your table

​ ​​​​ Note:  As you make table selections, the style gallery will populate with a live preview of those options for the different table styles.

2. Table styles

From a formatting perspective, I highly recommend starting with a pre-formatted table style that gets you closest to your end result, and then manually tweaking the table from there.

Lists the different default table styles you can apply to your tables in PowerPoint.

Note:  The Styles Options (discussed above) that you have selected, will be shown within the Table Styles Gallery making it easier to pick the default style that get you closest to your end goal.

Style Note:  Use the formatting / highlighting sparing to increase the effectiveness of your table.

Tapping the fill colors opens the theme colors drop down, which you can use to manually override any of the Table Styles you have already applied to your table.

Pro Tip:  To reverse the banding of your rows or columns, first, manually format the first row or column with a fill color, and then toggle on or off the header row option or the first column option.

Note:  You are not able to change the outline weights or colors of a table or cells within a table in PowerPoint on your iPad. All table border formatting will have to wait until you are on your desktop of PowerPoint.

Gives you options to insert rows above or below the current cell you have selected within your table, or columns to the left or right of the current cell you have selected.

How can I insert multiple rows or columns at the same time?  To insert multiple rows or columns within your table, first select multiple rows or columns within your table. With multiple rows or columns selected, when you click insert, the same number of rows or columns will be added to your table.

Deletes the row, column or table that you currently have selected.

How do I AutoFit multiple columns at the same time?  First select the individual columns (or the entire table) before selecting AutoFit.

7. Alignment

The Text Alignment command changes the horizontal text alignment (Left, Center, Right) or the vertical text alignment (Top, Middle, Bottom) of a cell within the selected cell in your table (similar to using the Text Alignment tool on your shapes or other PowerPoint objects).

The Reorder command allows you to change the layering of the objects on your PowerPoint Slide. All objects on your slide exist in a stacking or layering order (one on top of the other) based on when they were inserted on to the slide.

• Bring Forward:  Brings an object forward, one layer
• Bring to Front:  Brings an object to the front layer of all the other objects on the slide
• Send Backward:  Sends an object backward one layer
• Send to Back:  Sends an object all the way to the back layer behind all the other objects on the slide

Pro Tip:  When using the reorder command on a busy PowerPoint slide with lots of objects, the Bring to Front and Send to Back commands are the fastest and easiest to use, as you know exactly where your objects will end up.

Why is the reorder command grayed out?  More than one PowerPoint object has to be present on your slide for the Reorder command to be active.

The Notes pane

1. Opening the Notes pane To open the Notes Pane, tap in the lower right-hand corner of your screen where it says ‘Notes’.

How do I best use the Notes pane on your iPad?  I find the notes pane useful for quickly reviewing notes prior to your presentation, as the automatic full screen mode makes it easy to both review the notes for a particulate slide, and see the thumbnail of that particular slide, outlined in orange on the left side of the screen. The notes pane will also conveniently stay open on your iPad until you manually close it.

2. Closing the Notes pane

To close the Notes Pane in PowerPoint on your iPad, simply click the notes icon in in the upper right-hand corner of the slide, and you will return to the Normal View of your presentation.

Share & Slide Show View

These are the options for sharing your documents:

• Email as Link:  Creates a “View Only” link or a “View and Edit” link of your file and launches the Mail App.
• Email as Attachment:  Attaches the presentation to an email, the recipient can open and edit the document natively.
• Copy Link:  Creates a “View Only” link or a “View and Edit” link of your file that you can paste into other documents or emails.

The Slide Show icon starts your presentation in slide show mode starting form the current slide. Besides running your presentation, this is great for spot checking your content and for reviewing any transitions you have applied as there is no “live preview” for them on your iPad.

The Slide Show icon is the equivalent of hitting the F5 keyboard shortcut on your desktop version of PowerPoint.

Help us keep this article updated

We hope you’ve found this PowerPoint for iPad guide helpful.

If you’ve see something that we’ve missed, PLEASE let us know and we’ll do our best to update this guide ASAP.

Oh, and we hope you’ve paid special attention to the pro tips and tricks we’ve sprinkled through the guide to help you avoid major errors, or to help you troubleshoot issues.

What’s next?

Related articles.

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• Bar chart trick: Right aligning categories (PPT, Word, and Excel)
• PowerPoint settings: program level vs. presentation level
• What is a linked Excel chart in PowerPoint?
• Set Up Slide Show: Customize how your PPT presentations run

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• PowerPoint for iPad: 10 top tips

Want to host or create presentations on your iPad? We've got handy tricks to help you get going

Despite a phalanx of competitors emerging in recent years, PowerPoint remains the industry standard for delivering presentations, and the emergence of the iPad app cements its position in the boardroom.

However, the iPad app is a different beast from the desktop software, and has its own strengths and weaknesses. Our top 10 tips will show you how to get the most from PowerPoint on the iPad.

1. Create on the PC, refine on the iPad

If at all possible, avoid creating presentations on the iPad itself. The iPad app has only 20 presentation templates to choose from, compared to the thousands available to download from the PC and Mac version, and some of those 20 are mundane. Any template that you download on the PC/Mac is editable on the iPad, even if it's not one of those preloaded in the app.

If you do decide to create a presentation on the tablet, be wary of the same fonts issue that afflicts the Microsoft Word app. If you choose iOS fonts, they won't be displayed properly when you open the presentation on the PC, and you may experience problems with text running out of boxes or wrapping around images erratically.

2. Beam the presentation wirelessly

The iPad is better suited to delivering, rather than creating, presentations. You can beam your presentation wirelessly to a big display or projector using Apple's AirPlay technology, and use the iPad to flick through slides and more.

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To do this, you'll either need an Apple TV or Mac (2011 onwards) connected to your large display, or a PC running AirPlay compatible software such as AirServer (www.airserver.com). Both iPad and the receiving Apple TV/Mac/PC must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Once connected, you can mirror the iPad's display on the big screen, but when you open your presentation on the iPad you should put it into Presenter View, by clicking the Slide Show tab and selecting the relevant option. Now your iPad will display any presenter notes you've made and forthcoming slides, while the viewers of the big screen display will only see the presentation itself.

If you hold your finger down on the main window showing the current slide, you'll activate the virtual laser pointer, allowing you to highlight key points on the slide. The pen tools in the top right of the screen let you draw on or use a highlighter pen on your slides.

3. Learn the gestures

You'll need to be familiar with a few gesture controls to get the most out of PowerPoint for iPad, some of which aren't obvious.

For example, if you're in full-screen slideshow view activated by pressing the Play button in the top right-hand corner you can use a closed pinch gesture to return to the editing view, which is quicker than tapping at the top of the screen and selecting End Slide Show.

If you want to move a slide to a new position in the deck, simply tap on its thumbnail in the edit view and drag it to the desired position.

4. Importing old-format presentations

PowerPoint for iPad can work with presentations created in either the latest Office formats (.pptx files) or the older PowerPoint 97-2003 formats (.ppt and .pps). However, any files opened in the older formats will need to be converted to .pptx before you can edit them. PowerPoint for iPad will give you the option to convert the old-style presentations when you first open them.

5. Transferring Keynote presentations

Given that PowerPoint for iPad only launched earlier this year, it's likely that you might have some presentations stored in Apple's own presentation app, Keynote. The good news is you can import these into PowerPoint without much hassle.

Open the presentation in Keynote, then click the icon showing a page with an up arrow and select Open in Another App. Choose the PowerPoint format from the pop-up that appears, and after Keynote has crunched through the slides select the Choose App button and Open in PowerPoint. Once it's opened in PowerPoint, you'll need to save a copy if you want to edit the slides.

The bad news is that some of Keynote's slide transitions, animations and fonts won't be carried across perfectly into PowerPoint, so make sure to review and edit your slideshow (if necessary) before presenting to an audience.

You can also go the other way, and import slideshows created in the PowerPoint app to Keynote. The easiest way to do this is to open the presentation in PowerPoint, click the little person and + sign icon in the top-right corner and email a copy of the presentation to yourself.

Open the Mail app, download the attachment, then hold down on the attachment's icon and select Open in PowerPoint. You'll once again find that many transitions, animations and fonts don't survive the move, however.

Current page: PowerPoint for iPad: 10 top tips

Barry Collins is an experienced IT journalist who specialises in Windows, Mac, broadband and more. He's a former editor of PC Pro magazine, and has contributed to many national newspapers, magazines and websites in a career that has spanned over 20 years. You may have seen Barry as a tech pundit on television and radio, including BBC Newsnight, the Chris Evans Show and ITN News at Ten.

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Blog / Presentation Delivery / PowerPoint on iPad

PowerPoint on iPad: create presentations anytime, anywhere.

Multi-tasking at its finest: update, amend or even create a PowerPoint presentation on the go with PowerPoint’s mobile app for iPad. 

The “digital revolution” has transformed the way we live our lives. We expect global connectivity at our fingertips, no matter where we are or what time it is. The use and development of mobile technology continues to grow in response to this demand. With new technology comes flexibility and the power to respond rapidly to any situation, not only in our personal lives, but in the workplace as well. 

Flexible and mobile working isn’t just a differentiator for companies now, it’s a necessity. Modern businesses are feeling the pull from both clients and employees to embrace this new world of work, and stay relevant, regardless of the industry. While this doesn’t only include mobile technology, it is a significant element of this change.

Professionals who find themselves continuously on the go, travelling from place to place and covering all corners of the globe, can’t be weighed down by inflexible technology. Apple’s iPad was created for just this reason. To give people all the connectivity and functionality of a desktop, on the move. And the PowerPoint for iPad app has opened up a world of mobile possibilities for those people who rely on presentations to share their big ideas.  

Can you really create a PowerPoint presentation on iPad?

Yes. But that doesn’t mean you should. Let’s make this clear: the PowerPoint for iPad app is a distilled version of the desktop app. Apple has streamlined the functions down to those deemed most important. As well as this, controlling placement, size and direction of elements to the exact pixel is just going to be a lot harder with a touchscreen than with a mouse. You may not have complete control, or the full suite of tools and options, but you can create a PowerPoint presentation that most clients will think looks pretty good. Especially, if you follow our design tips .

We understand that the world of work can be unpredictable. Sometimes, you get a call from that dream client and you just have to drop everything and head for the nearest airport. We also understand that, regardless of how much time you have to prepare for a presentation,  24% of you  still don’t start building until there’s less than a week left. You guys eat danger for breakfast.

If this sounds like you, PowerPoint for iPad may save your butt. You can jump on that plane, hand luggage only, get your iPad out and start building. By the time you land, you’ll have a persuasive presentation that will fool your potential client into thinking you’ve been prepping for months. And, in a way, you have by being an avid  Buffalo 7 blog  reader, naturally. 

What if I’m in the 76%?

Firstly, congratulations: you’re our kind of person. Secondly, PowerPoint for iPad is still an effective tool to have in your arsenal. 

Clients can be fickle creatures, constantly updating and changing their demands. And they don’t care for your travel schedule, they expect you to be adaptable to their needs. Even if you’ve created the perfect presentation, weeks in advance, what if they throw you a curveball at the last minute? If all you’ve come armed with is a USB, you’re in trouble.

However, if you’ve got your trusty iPad, with the PowerPoint app installed, and your presentation uploaded to  iCloud , you can update the PowerPoint to reflect their change of heart. 

PowerPoint for iPad is great for delivery

There are numerous unknowns to navigate when it comes to relying on someone else’s tech to deliver your presentation. Perhaps it won’t be powerful enough to run your animations smoothly, even though you’ve  reduced the file size right down . Or they  won’t have the font installed , and your beautiful slides end up looking like a headache-inducing letter orgy. Or their screen configuration might leave your brand yellow looking like a sickly green. No matter how detailed you go with the tech spec questions in advance, there’s always a chance something will go wrong. 

By taking your own iPad to present your slides, you remove all these issues. Ok, this won’t work if you’re presenting to a massive room, but in a small group, iPad presentations can be more effective than a traditional stand and deliver method.

PowerPoint has an option under the  Slide Show  tab, titled  Set Up Slide Show . Under  Show type:  select  Browsed at kiosk (full screen) . This ‘kiosk mode’ allows users to interact with your presentation, similar to a website. 

If you set your presentation up with kiosk mode in mind, you can create a fully-interactive experience for your meeting. This means that you can pass control over to the client, and they can navigate around the slides however they want. Not only will this prove you know your stuff, being able to adapt your script to match the slide they move to, but it will also open up a conversation rather than a monologue.

To use kiosk mode, you need to make sure all your slides have hyperlinked navigation and all your animations are automated, as there’s no ‘click’ function.

If you’ve got the budget, and the space in your suitcase, you could even set the same presentation up on multiple iPads and let everyone in the room have a go. 

Use your iPad as the controller for your presentation

If you are delivering your presentation to a large crowd, you can still control your slides from your iPad. The old-school way to do this is by physically connecting your iPad to the big screen using VGA or HDMI. Alternatively, if the presentation screen is set up with AirPlay, you can project your slides wirelessly.

If you’re using your iPad as a means to control your slides, it’s best practice to set  Auto-lock  to  Never , so it doesn’t go to sleep mid-presentation.

Sold. What do I need to know?

There are so many iPads on the market, and they all have the capability to utilise the PowerPoint for iPad app. However, if you want a decent screen size and good power, you’re going to be looking at iPad Pro for the best results, and ease of use. 

The PowerPoint for iPad app is free to install and, if you just want to view presentations, that’s all you’ll need. However, if you want the option to create and edit your presentations on your iPad, you’ll need an Office 365 subscription .

How do I get my PowerPoint presentation on my iPad?

If you don’t have iCloud, there are other ways you can get your mitts on the presentation you so-lovingly crafted on your PC or Mac.

You can use your OneDrive account:

• Upload your chosen presentation to your OneDrive account from your computer.
• On the iPad, sign in to your Microsoft account in PowerPoint.
• Select  Open , then  OneDrive  and drag down the pane to refresh.
• Select your file and it will download onto the iPad. How long this takes is dependent on file size and wi-fi connection.

Or you can use iTunes:

• Plug the iPad into the computer and open iTunes.
• Select the iPad in the top navigation and then go to  Apps  in the drop-down menu.
• Scroll down to the bottom, where you will find a list of apps that you can add files to.
• Select  PowerPoint  on the left.
• You can add files through the iTunes buttons, or drag and drop a file into the space from your computer.
• Once it has completed copying the file, eject the iPad and you will be able to open the file through the PowerPoint app.

Great, now I know this is an option, I’ll just go back to sleep until it’s time for my flight.

We can’t fight human nature. If you want to use PowerPoint for iPad to create all your presentations moving forward, you do you. We’re only here to advise. How you choose to use this fountain of knowledge is your call. 

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Detailed Guide on Running PowerPoint Presentation on iPad/iPhone

If you are working in an office, sooner or later you may have to create a presentation to show to your boss or work colleagues. However, the case that you lose your USB stick or USB drive cannot be detected by your laptop will lead you to an unwanted scenario. To avoid this, you can back up or save your PowerPoint presentations on iPad or iPhone as the chance of misplacing them is a lot less likely. What’s more, you may directly play the presentation on your iPad and present it on a bigger screen with great ease. Aside from that, controlling your presentation on iPad is much easier than browsing it on your laptop. Below are the steps you can follow to do presentation on your iPad.

How to Play PowerPoint Presentation on iPad/iPhone

After creating your presentation, you may use the tools below to save and play PowerPoint on your iPad or iPhone. Here we take iPad as an example to show you the detailed steps.

Step 1: Use AirMore App and Import the Files to Your iPad

AirMore is an online-based application which enables you to take full management of your Android and Apple devices on your PC. It allows you to transfer your files between mobile and the computer. This app is 100% free of charge and it is the first app you need for iPad PowerPoint presentation. Here’s how to move your presentation to your iPad with it.

• Download the application on your iPad by clicking the button below.
• Visit AirMore website and simply click the blue button found on the lower part of the first page.
• Next, set iPad and computer connected to the same network. Link your iPad with PC by simply clicking the “Radar” tab so that the web will detect your iPad. Click on the iPad’s avatar and tap “Accept” on your device to confirm the connection. You may also scan the QR code using the iPad’s camera as another way of connecting.
• Once connected, go to “Documents” tab and then click “Import” button on the upper part of the interface to browse your PPT files and then click “OK” to save PowerPoint presentations on iPad.

The PowerPoint is now saved on your device and ready to be used anytime you want. However, the next issue you have is how you may share it with others since it is saved on your iPad. This leads you to the next helpful tool.

Step 2: Use ApowerMirror to Show Your Presentation

After you go to the classroom or office with your iPad, you can display your iPad’s screen on the computer using ApowerMirror. This is a mirroring app which allows you to mirror the screen of your device on a bigger screen such as a laptop’s or PC’s screen. Through this app, you’ll be able to show the presentation to everybody while running PowerPoint presentation on iPad. Here is what you need to do.

• Download ApowerMirror on the computer and launch it. Download
• Scroll up the Control Center on your iPad and then tap “AirPlay Mirroring”.
• Choose the computer you want to connect to.

The presentation is now being mirrored on the computer’s screen. Note that aside from mirroring, you may also take a screenshot and record the screen of your iPad using this app. And you can utilize the “Whiteboard” function to draw on your displayed phone screen.

Step 3: Get a Projector

Lastly, you need a projector and connect the computer to it. You may now start using iPad for PowerPoint presentations.

That is how to make a presentation with your iPad employing AirMore and ApowerMirror app. You may now easily discuss everything with your audience without going back and forth on the computer. And accessing your presentation directly on iPad makes your work much easier.

Related posts:

• Detailed Guide on How to Control PowerPoint from iPhone
• 6 Best Presentation Apps
• How to Make a Video Presentation
• How to Recover PowerPoint Files from a PC

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Continuously Loop a PowerPoint Presentation on iPad using PowerPoint for iPad?

I'm trying to use Dropbox and PowerPoint for iPad to keep a presentation rolling on a continuous loop.  I can't find the option for looping the presentation in the app on the iPad.  I tried to set it the presentation on PowerPoint on my laptop to run in a continuous loop, hoping the app would pick up on that when I put it in Dropbox, no such luck. Any ideas?

Thanks a million.

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In order to have the presentation loop automatically, you will also need to add slide timings to your slides to advance them. The toggle to loop continuously means when you manually advance slides to the last slide, it will wrap around to the first rather than exit.

Please let us know if you have trouble getting this set up. Thanks!

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Technology Simplified.

How to Transfer PowerPoint Presentations to iPad or iPhone

By: Waseem Patwegar | Filed Under: iOS

To view PowerPoint presentations on iPad, you will have to transfer PowerPoint files in PPT format from PC to iPad. You will find below the steps to transfer PowerPoint Presentations to iPad or iPhone.

Transfer PowerPoint Presentations to iPad or iPhone

All that is required to transfer PowerPoint Presentations from PC to iPad or iPhone is to connect your iOS device to computer and make use of iTunes and Documents App or PowerPoint App to transfer PPT Files to iPhone.

iTunes needs to be installed on your computer and the Documents App or PowerPoint App needs to be installed on your iOS device.

As far as the computer is concerned, it can either be a Mac or PC as the procedure to transfer PPT files to iPhone is more or less the same on both Mac and Windows PC.

Transfer PowerPoint Files from PC to iPhone or iPad

Download and install the Documents App on your iPhone/iPad and follow the steps below to transfer PowerPoint Presentation files from PC to iPhone or iPad.

1. Connect iPhone to the USB Port of your computer.

2. Open iTunes on your computer and click on the Phone icon as it appears in the top menu bar in iTunes.

3. Next, click on the File Sharing option in side menu > select Documents or Keynote App and click on Add File button.

4. On the next screen, navigate to location of the PowerPoint file on your computer > select the PPT File that you want to transfer to iPhone and click on Open .

5. Next, make sure that Presentation File  is selected and click on Done .

Once you click on Done, the selected PowerPoint File in PPT Format will be transferred to your iOS device (iPhone or iPad).

How to View PowerPoint Presentations on iPad or iPhone

Once the PowerPoint File is transferred to your iOS device, you can follow the steps below to open and View the PowerPoint Presentations on your iPad or iPhone.

1. Open the Documents App on your iPhone.

2. Once the App is open, tap on iTunes Files .

3. On the next screen, tap on your Presentation File .

Once the PPT file opens in Documents App, you will be able to view your PowerPoint Presentation on iPad or iPhone, just like you do on your PC.

• How to Transfer PDF Files to iPhone From Computer
• How to Transfer WhatsApp Photos From iPhone to Mac or PC

How to AirPlay PowerPoint Presentation from iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Microsoft PowerPoint is the best application to present the project presentation. Unfortunately, the PowerPoint application is not compatible with the AirPlay feature. You can share your presentation only by screen mirroring the content from your iPhone/iPad/Mac to Apple TV or other AirPlay-compatible Smart TVs . If you’re new to AirPlay, we are here to help you. This article explains the various methods of AirPlay PowerPoint, from iPhone/iPad/Mac to Apple TV or other AirPlay-compatible TVs.

Note : Those finding WiFi connectivity issues can rely on the Digital AV adapter to screen mirror PowerPoint.

Table of Contents

How to AirPlay PowerPoint Using iPhone and iPad

Note : The PowerPoint app is only compatible with the iPhone or iPad running under iOS/iPadOS 16 or later .

Before jumping into the steps, turn on AirPlay on Apple TV . If you’re an Android TV user, you must turn on the AirPlay on Android TV . On the other hand, connect your iPhone and Apple TV or AirPlay 2 compatible smart TV to the same WiFi network.

1. Install the PowerPoint app from the App Store on your device.

2. Next, open the PowerPoint app and sign in with the login credentials.

3. Once the home screen appears, click on the presentation tile you want to stream.

4. When it starts playing, click the Screen Mirroring icon from the Control Center of your device.

5. It will search for nearby devices. Select your AirPlay 2-enabled Smart TV or Apple TV from the available devices.

6. If prompted, enter the AirPlay Code displayed on the TV screen.

Once you have finished streaming, disable AirPlay on your iPhone to stop sharing the screen with your Apple TV/Smart TV.

How to AirPlay PowerPoint Using Mac

1. Connect your AirPlay 2 compatible smart TV or Apple TV and Mac to the same WiFi network.

2. Open the Microsoft PowerPoint app and log into your account.

3. Once you see the library, select a presentation show you want to stream.

4. While playing, click the Control Center icon and select the Screen Mirroring option.

5. Select your TV name from the list of devices.

6. Now, it will play the selected video on your TV screen.

You can stop AirPlay on your Mac when you finish streaming PowerPoint on your TV.

How to AirPlay PowerPoint Without WiFi

This method requires an HDMI cable , a Lightning Digital AV Adapter for iPhone, and a USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter for MacBook.

1. Connect the Digital AV Adapter to the power source using the USB-C power cable.

2. Now, connect the Digital AV Adapter to the charging port on your Mac and iPhone.

3. Connect the HDMI cable from the adapter to the TV.

4 Now, change the input on your TV to view your iPhone/Mac’s screen.

5. Finally, play the PowerPoint content to stream it on your smart TV.

If it shows a black screen on PowerPoint, it may have corrupted cache files within the app. In this case, you should uninstall and reinstall the app to clear the cache.

Hello fellows! This is Oliver Sinclair. I write and share about technologies that fascinate me. We are a household of Apple users, and one of the features we love to use is AirPlay. Once you understand the knack of it, there isn’t something better and more comfortable than AirPlay. You needn’t download or sign in to so many different devices. Just AirPlay it and save your time and device storage. My articles will focus on the tricks and techniques you can use and how to AirPlay different apps, shows, sports, and so on from all your Apple devices, including your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Let's AirPlay!

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There are a few ways to get Microsoft Office for free: You can use Office for free in your browser, you can sign up for a one-month free trial, or you may get access through your educational institution if you’re a student or teacher.

Microsoft Office normally starts at $70 per year, but there are quite a few ways to get it for free. We'll show you all the ways you can get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Office applications without paying a cent.

Whether you're using a Windows PC, Mac, or Chromebook, you can use Microsoft Office for free in a web browser. The web-based versions of Office are simplified and won't work offline, but they still offer a powerful editing experience. You can open and create Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents right in your browser.

To access these free web apps, just head to Office.com and sign in with a free Microsoft account. Click an application icon—like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint—to open the web version of that application.

You can also drag and drop a file from your computer onto the Office.com page. It will be uploaded to your Microsoft account's free OneDrive storage, and you can open it in the associated application.

Office's web applications have some limitations. These applications aren't quite as full featured as the classic Office desktop applications for Windows and Mac, and you can't access them offline. But they do offer surprisingly powerful Office applications, and they're completely free.

If you just need Microsoft Office for a short period of time, you can sign up for a one-month free trial. To find this offer, head to Microsoft's Try Microsoft 365 for free website, and sign up for the trial.

You will have to provide a credit card to sign up for the trial, and it will automatically renew after the month. However, you can cancel your subscription at any time—even right after signing up—to ensure you won't get billed. You can continue using Office for the rest of your free month after canceling.

After joining the trial, you can download full versions of these Microsoft Office applications for Windows PCs and Macs. You'll also get access to the full versions of the apps on other platforms, including larger iPads.

This trial will give you full access to a Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) Home plan. You'll get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and 1TB of storage in OneDrive. You can share it with up to five other people. They'll each get access to the apps via their Microsoft account, and will have their own 1TB of storage for a combined 6TB of storage.

Microsoft also offers free 30-day evaluations of Microsoft 365 for Business , which is intended for businesses. You might be able to take advantage of both offers for two months of free Microsoft Office access.

Many educational institutions pay for Office 365 plans, allowing students and teachers to download the software for free.

To find out if your school participates, head to the Office 365 Education website, and enter your school email address. You'll be offered a free download if it's available to you through your school's plan.

Even if a university or college doesn't participate, it may offer Microsoft Office at a reduced cost to students and teachers through its bookstore. Check with your educational institution—or at least look on its website—for more details.

Microsoft's Office apps are free on smartphones, too. On an iPhone or Android phone, you can download the Office mobile apps to open, create, and edit documents for free.

On an iPad or Android tablet, these apps will only let you create and edit documents if you have a "device with a screen size smaller than 10.1 inches." On a larger tablet, you can install these apps to view documents, but you'll need a paid subscription to create and edit them.

In practice, this means Word, Excel, and PowerPoint offer a full experience for free on the iPad Mini and older 9.7-inch iPads. You'll need a paid subscription to get document-editing capabilities an iPad Pro or newer 10.2-inch iPads.

Microsoft 365 Home subscriptions are meant to be shared among multiple people. The $70 per year version offers Office for a single person, while the $100 per year subscription offers Office for up to six people. You'll get the full experience, with Office for Windows PCs, Macs, iPads, and other devices.

Anyone who pays for Microsoft 365 Home (formerly known as Office 365 Home) can share it with up to five other Microsoft accounts. It's very convenient: Sharing is managed through an Office "Sharing" page on Microsoft's account website. The main owner of the account can add five other Microsoft accounts, and each of those accounts will receive an invitation link.

After joining the group, each person can sign in with their own Microsoft account to download the Office apps—just as if they were paying for their own subscriptions. Each account will have a separate 1TB of OneDrive storage.

Microsoft says the subscription is meant for sharing among your "household." So, if you have a family member or even a roommate with this service, that person can add you to their subscription for free.

The Home plan is definitely the best deal if you're going to pay for Microsoft Office. If you can split a $100 per year subscription among six people, that's under $17 every year per person.

By the way, Microsoft partners with some employers to offer a discount on Office subscriptions for their employees. Check Microsoft's Home Use Program website to see if you qualify for a discount.

If you're looking for something else, consider choosing a different office application. There are completely free office suites that sport good compatibility with Microsoft Office documents, spreadsheets, and presentation files. Here are some of the best:

• LibreOffice is a free and open-source office application for Windows, Mac, Linux, and other operating systems. It's similar to the desktop versions of Microsoft Office , and it can even work with and create Office documents in common file types like DOCX documents, XLSX spreadsheets, and PPTX presentations. LibreOffice was based on OpenOffice. While OpenOffice is still around, LibreOffice has more developers and is now the more popular project. You can even make LibreOffice look like Microsoft Office .
• Apple iWork is a free collection of office applications for Mac, iPhone, and iPad users. This is Apple's competitor to Microsoft Office, and it used to be paid software before Apple made it free. Windows PC users can access a web-based version of iWork through the iCloud website, too.
• Google Docs is a capable collection of web-based office software. It stores your files in Google Drive , Google's online file storage service. Unlike Microsoft's Office web apps, you can even access Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides offline in Google Chrome.

There are many other alternatives, but these are some of the best.

If you just don't want to pay a monthly fee, you can still purchase a boxed copy of Microsoft Office. However, Office Home & Student 2021 costs $150, and you can only install it on one device.

Microsoft is slated to release a standalone version of Office 2024 , but it has not been released yet. Be sure to keep an eye out for it.

You won't get a free upgrade to the next major version of Office, either. If you're going to pay for Office, the subscription is probably the best deal —especially if you can split a paid plan with other people.

Convert Pages, Numbers, or Keynote files to Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, and more

You can also convert Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files to Pages, Numbers, or Keynote files.

Convert Pages, Numbers and Keynote files

Convert Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files to Pages, Numbers, or Keynote

Check file format compatibility

Convert pages, numbers, and keynote files.

To open a Pages, Numbers, or Keynote file in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, convert the file in the appropriate iWork app first. You can convert files on iPhone, iPad, Mac, or online at iCloud.com. When you convert a file, you create a copy in the new format. The original file remains intact.

Convert a Pages, Numbers, or Keynote file on iPhone, iPad, or Mac

Choose a format for your document:

To convert a Pages document to Word, choose Word.

To convert a Numbers spreadsheet to Excel, choose Excel.

To convert a Keynote presentation to PowerPoint, choose PowerPoint.

You can also convert to PDF and a variety of other file formats depending on the iWork app you're using.

To save the converted file on your device or to iCloud Drive:

On iPhone or iPad, tap Save to Files, then choose a location.

On Mac, click Save, then choose a location.

To share the converted file:

On iPhone or iPad, choose how you want to send your file, like with Mail or Messages, then send the file.

On Mac, click Send a Copy, choose how you want to send your file, then send the file.

Convert a Pages, Numbers, or Keynote file online at iCloud.com

Pages, Numbers, and Keynote for iCloud lets you open, edit, and share your files from a supported browser on a Mac or PC.

Sign in to iCloud.com with your Apple ID. If you don't have an Apple device, learn how to create an Apple ID .

Double-click Pages, Numbers, or Keynote.

Choose a format for the document. The converted file downloads to your browser’s default download location.

Convert Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files to Pages, Numbers, or Keynote files

You can convert files on iPhone, iPad, Mac, or online at iCloud.com. The original file remains intact after you convert it.

Convert a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file to a Pages, Numbers, or Keynote file on iPhone or iPad

Open the iWork app that you want to convert the file to. For example, if you want to convert a Word document to a Pages document, open the Pages app.

Locate the file you want to convert in the document, spreadsheet, or presentation manager, then tap the file. If you don’t see the document manager, tap the Back button, then tap the file that you want to open.

If a file is dimmed, it’s not in a compatible format and you can’t open it. You can try to open the file in another iWork app.

Convert a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file to a Pages, Numbers, or Keynote file on Mac

You can convert a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file to a Pages, Numbers, or Keynote file from the Finder or from the appropriate app:

From the Finder, Control-click the file, choose Open With, then choose Pages, Numbers, or Keynote.

From the Pages, Numbers, or Keynote app, choose File > Open, select the file, then click Open. If a file is dimmed, it’s not a compatible format.

When the file opens, you might get a message that fonts are missing or that the file will look different in other ways. You might see also see warnings when you open documents created in older versions of the app.

Convert a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file in Pages, Numbers, or Keynote for iCloud

Choose the iWork app that you want to open.

Double-click the file.

Pages, Numbers, and Keynote are compatible with a wide variety of file types.

Pages file format compatibility

You can convert Pages documents to these types of files:

Microsoft Word: Office Open XML (DOCX) 1

EPUB (on iPhone, iPad, and Mac)

Rich Text Format (RTF/RTFD) (on iPhone, iPad, and Mac)

Plain Text files (TXT) (on iPhone, iPad, and Mac)

Pages ’09 (on Mac only) 2

Image (JPEG, PNG, or TIFF)

You can open these types of files in Pages on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and online at iCloud.com:

All Pages versions

Microsoft Word: Office Open XML (DOCX)

Rich Text Format (RTF/RTFD)

Plain Text files (TXT)

Numbers file format compatibility

You can convert Numbers spreadsheets to these types of files:

Microsoft Excel Office Open XML (XLSX) 1

Comma Separated Values (CSV)

Tab Separated Values (TSV) (on iPhone, iPad, and Mac)

Numbers ’09 (Mac only)

You can open these types of files with Numbers on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and online at iCloud.com:

All Numbers versions

Microsoft Excel Office Open XML (XLSX)

Tab-delimited or fixed-width text files

Keynote file format compatibility

You can convert Keynote presentations to these types of files:

Microsoft PowerPoint Office Open XML (PPTX) 1

Image (JPEG, PNG, or TIFF) (on iPhone, iPad, and Mac)

Animated GIF (on iPhone, iPad, and Mac)

Movie (MOV) (on iPhone, iPad, and Mac), in Apple ProRes or HEVC format

Movie (M4V) (on Mac only), in H.264 format

Keynote ’09 (on Mac only)

HTML (on Mac only)

You can open these types of files in Keynote on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and online at iCloud.com:

All Keynote versions

Microsoft PowerPoint: Office Open XML (PPTX)

1. If you need to export to Microsoft Office legacy file formats like DOC, XLS, or PPT, you can export to the current XML format instead, then open the file in the equivalent Office app to export to the older format.

2. If you convert a Pages document into a Pages ’09-compatible document, learn more about changes that happen when you export to iWork ’09 .

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5 Free Alternatives To Microsoft PowerPoint

M icrosoft PowerPoint has always been the default choice for creating professional meeting briefs or fun little project demonstrations in schools. Its inclusion as a free service for students or working professionals makes it a no-brainer to use. However, for the general public, it can get quite expensive to pay for a subscription just to be able to create simple presentation slides. Although you can subscribe to Microsoft's Office Suite and get more bang for your buck, the pricing still doesn't hit the affordable range for most. 

Fortunately, completion has been growing, and a sea of strong contenders offer similar services to PowerPoint. After considering feature sets, here are five of the best free alternatives to Microsoft PowerPoint. At the end of the article, you can find a detailed explanation of why we've chosen the services, alongside useful comparisons that may help you make your decision easier.

Read more: The 20 Best Mac Apps That Will Improve Your Apple Experience

When it comes to productivity apps, Zoho makes some of the better ones in the market. Zoho Sheet, for example, is one of the best Microsoft Excel alternatives out there  —  owing to its extensive product catalog, there is a great way to view and edit presentations. The aptly named Zoho Show lets you design and demonstrate professional-looking slides, all without having to download the program.

Zoho takes a minimal approach to most of its services, and its PowerPoint application is no different. You'll find that most menus are contextually aware of what tasks you're currently performing, which helps keep unnecessary tools out of the way and bring the important ones in focus. There is also a huge library of customizable templates you can choose from, making it easier to kickstart your presentation work. 

Zoho Show is completely free to use for individuals and offers unlimited cloud storage. No features are locked behind a paywall, and rest assured, you can fully rely on this online presentation-making tool for all your needs, be it for school or work. 

Canva is a service that can easily climb up to becoming everyone's favorite once they start using it. While most applaud it for its graphic designing prowess, there are many other things Canva can do that you probably aren't aware of . Among them is the ability to craft beautiful slides for your presentations and projects. 

By creating a free account, you can access thousands of templates on Canva. You can filter these by use case—maybe you need one for a professional business briefing or a casual one explaining why your pet dog is the best canine. There is a whole section of ready-to-use templates dedicated to mobile-friendly viewing as well, which is something you don't usually find to be as accessible with other tools. 

Like most presentation apps, Canva lets you collaborate with your team members and work across devices seamlessly. The Canva app for mobile also lets you control your slides remotely during your presentation. Some menus also feature AI-featured tools to add one-click enhancements to your slides -- unfortunately, these are locked behind premium subscription tiers. However, for the cent percent of the population, Canva can be used without spending a dime to meet a plethora of creative needs. 

Apple takes great pride in developing in-house solutions to meet every user requirement. While most of its products dominate the competition in popularity, the same cannot be said for Keynote , the company's version of Microsoft PowerPoint. The program was first released in 2003 with macOS Big Sur and has largely remained one of those icons you glance over and forget about. 

However, recent versions of Keynote have made it a compelling alternative to PowerPoint. Not only is it pre-installed on every Apple device, including your iPhone, but it also works best with the iPad touchscreen. Keynote has a largely clean and professional approach to the built-in templates, but nothing is stopping you from going creative. Animations are one of Keynote's strongest suits, allowing you to create near cinematic-looking presentations with just a few clicks. 

While you can still use Apple Keynote through iCloud on Windows devices, this alternative is clearly meant for people surrounded by the walled garden of Apple technology. It makes use of features like AirDrop, Live Photos, and VoiceOver  — all of which are technologies available across Apple devices. Using Apple Keynote is completely free, and the app has easy exporting tools that make working with Microsoft PowerPoint less of a hassle.

WPS Presentation

WPS Office makes some of the best solutions for creating and editing documents on smartphones , but their service offerings extend to Windows, macOS, and even Linux. WPS Presentation is perhaps the closest you'll get to Microsoft PowerPoint in terms of the user interface and how most tools are bundled in familiar locations.

This PowerPoint app offers real-time collaboration where you can invite your team members and work on the same document remotely. Like most collaboration tools, users can leave comments to suggest changes or add information for other people on the team.

WPS Presentation is not the only free product; you can utilize every app in the WPS Office suite. Unlike most competitors, you don't need to download or use a separate mini-app to make presentations. WPS Office has a document editor, PowerPoint creator, spreadsheet manager, and other tools all within its umbrella. Premium plans for this service exist, but they mostly cater to unlocking features for editing PDFs. 

Google Slides

As a netizen, you most likely already have a Google account. Not only is it required to make any meaningful use of your Android phone, but popular services that we take for granted, like Gmail and Drive, all fall under Google's umbrella. One such free service that the tech giant has at its disposal is Google Slides . While the barebones UI might seem lackluster at first, Slides has nearly the same level of functionality as Microsoft PowerPoint and can even be supercharged by add-ons. 

All of Google's workspace apps, such as Docs, Sheets, and Slides, provide an intuitive way to work in a team. You can add comments, use annotations, and share the presentation with limited access to others. You can use one of the many predesigned Google Slides templates for simple presentations , or browse for templates that cater to specific needs. Being part of a bigger service catalog has its obvious advantages, such as seamless integration with Google Meet, Gmail, and other products from Google that you already use. 

We recommend Google Slides to anyone who needs to create and edit PowerPoint presentations on the go and can't be bothered with working in a complicated environment. The service is also available as an app for Android and iOS, and you can export your presentations in a wide range of formats, including PPT, PDF, or PNG for individual slides. 

To Pay Or Not To Pay?

You'll notice that all the services we've mentioned on this list are free to use. In fact, you can use Office 365 apps online for free   — including PowerPoint, which makes purchasing a standalone subscription to the Microsoft PowerPoint app quite redundant. However, nearly every free alternative here short of Keynote also offers premium plans, but should you consider buying one?

For the vast majority of people who are looking for a robust software to create, edit, and share presentations with  —  these free options deliver exceptionally well in every aspect. Some apps like Google Slides and Apple Keynote let you work in smaller teams with the free tier as well. Apps like WPS Office and Canva tend to lock new and exciting features like AI tools behind a paywall, and while these are nice to have, you definitely can do without them. 

If you're looking for a presentation tool for a company with multiple people, you can scale up using any of the alternatives mentioned on this list. Both Google Workspace and Zoho offer reliable and enterprise-level plans you can upgrade to. For everyone else  — enjoy creating and demonstrating your PowerPoint presentations for free.

Read the original article on SlashGear .