How to Automatically Flip Slides in PowerPoint (Set Up a Self-Playing Presentation)

This article will show you how to automatically advance slides in PowerPoint . You can set up self-running PowerPoint slideshows to play automatically at trade shows, conventions, events, or as web-based presentations.

Before setting up a self-running presentation , you will need to apply your preferred animations to the text and objects, as well as the slide transitions to be included in the presentation (unless otherwise specified in the Set Up Presentation dialog box).

When you create automatic slideshows, you also have the option to include specific slide timings, narration, or ink annotations and voiceovers.

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Automatically switch slides in PowerPoint

When you set up a self-running presentation, you can choose 3 options in the Configure Presentation dialog box depending on your audience:

To set up a PowerPoint presentation to run automatically, allowing viewers to control when the slides advance:

• Step 1: click on the tab Slide presentation in the options group and then click Set up slideshow. A dialog box appears.
• Step 2: en program type, Select Presented by a speaker (full screen). This is the default setting for slideshows.
• Step 3: click Accept.

So that those watching the slideshow have NO control over when the slides advance :

• Step 1: go to the tab Slide presentation in the options group and then click Set up slideshow. A dialog box appears.
• Step 2: en Show type, Select Examined by an individual (window).
• Step 3: click Accept.

To configure a PowerPoint presentation to automatically advance slides without giving viewers control over when the slides progress, the presentation will repeat until viewers press Escape (ESC).

• Step 1: click on the tab Slide presentation in the options group and then click Set up slideshow. A dialog box appears.
• Step 2: en Show type, Select Examined (full screen).
• Step 3: click Accept.

Manually setting slide times

When you're going to advance slides automatically in PowerPoint, you can choose to rehearse the slide timings or manually set them using the Transitions tab in the list . To set the slide timings manually:

• Step 1: click on the tab View in the list of options and then click Slide Sorter.
• Step 2: Select the slide for which you want to set There.
• Step 3: click on the tab Transitions in the list.
• Step 4: in the group Time, Advanced Slide, select the check box After and then enter the number of seconds that indicates how long the slide should appear on the screen. If you want the next slide to appear when you click or automatically after entering the number of seconds, enable the check boxes By clicking with the mouse y After.
• Step 5: Repeat the procedure for each slide for which you want to set the time.

Rehearse and record slide timings

If you choose Browsed by an individual (window) or Browsed in a box (full screen) in the Set Up Presentation dialog box , you can rehearse and record timings for animations, transitions, and advanced slides. To rehearse timings, you will use the Rehearsal toolbar shown below:

The toolbar comes with the following buttons. They are located from left to right:

1. Next (advance to the next slide)
2. Pause
3. Slide time
4. Repeat
5. Total presentation time

Press the buttons on the toolbar to perform the following actions:

• Balance Next to advance to the next slide.
• To temporarily stop time recording, tap the option Pause.
• If you want to restart the time recording after pausing, also press the option Pause.
• If you want to set an exact time period for a slide to appear, put the time period in the box labeled Slide time.
• If you want to restart recording the time of the current slide, press the option Repeat.

To test times:

Follow the steps below:

• Step 1: click on the tab Slide presentation on the ribbon and then click the option Rehearse times. The toolbar appears Test and the timer starts immediately. The presentation appears in full screen recording mode.
• Step 2: Click on the desired buttons. Press Next to advance to the next slide or press the right arrow on your keyboard. To temporarily stop time tracking, press Pause. To restart recording time after pausing, click Pause. To set an exact length of time for a slide to appear, type the time period in the box. Slide time. To restart recording the current slide time, click Repeat.
• Step 3: Continue clicking the appropriate buttons until you are satisfied with the timings. The total presentation time appears at the top right of the Rehearsal toolbar.
• Step 4: After you set the time for the last slide, a dialog box displays the total time for the presentation and another dialog box appears.
• Step 5: To keep the recorded slide timings, click Yes. To discard recorded slide timings, click No. The presentation appears. If you view the presentation in the Slide Sorter, the slide time is displayed below each slide.

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Recording a slideshow with timing

Instead of using the Rehearse Timings button, you can record timings (and narration or voiceover) while recording a show. The Record Slide Show button appears on the Slide Show tab on the ribbon. When you record a slide show, you can start from the beginning or from the current slide:

After choosing to record a slideshow, you'll have the option to include slide intervals and animations, as well as narration, ink, and laser pointer (2010 users will not have the option to record ink annotations):

If you select Slide timings and animations , PowerPoint automatically records the time spent on each slide, including animations and triggers. If you've already rehearsed the timings, they will be overridden.

If you use a pen, highlighter, eraser, or laser pointer, those will also be recorded. Pen, highlighter, and eraser recording is only available if you have PowerPoint 2013 (and run updates) or a later version of PowerPoint.

In earlier versions of PowerPoint, pen and highlighter strokes are saved as ink annotation shapes. To record a slide show and include animations and timing:

• Step 1: click on the tab Slide presentation in the list of options and then click the arrow next to Record slideshow. A drop-down menu appears.
• Step 2: Choose Start recording from the beginning o Start recording from current slide. A dialog box appears.
• Step 3: Select the option to include slide timings and animations.
• Step 4: click Start recording. The Rehearsal toolbar appears and the timer starts immediately. The presentation appears in full-screen recording mode.
• Step 5: If you want to record times, press the desired buttons. Press Next to advance to the next slide or press the right arrow on your keyboard. To temporarily stop time tracking, click Pause. To restart recording time after pausing, click Pause. To set an exact length of time for a slide to appear, type the time period in the box. Slide time. To restart recording the current slide time, tap Replay.
• Step 6: Continue clicking the appropriate buttons until you are satisfied with the times. The total presentation time appears at the top right of the toolbar. Test.
• Step 7: After you set the time for the last slide, a dialog box displays the total time for the presentation and another dialog box appears.
• Step 8: To keep the recorded slide timings, click Yes. To discard recorded slide timings, click No.
• Step 9: To end your recording at any time, right-click a slide and select End presentation on the menu.

The presentation appears. In Slide Sorter view , the slide time is displayed below each slide.

Recording narrations or voice-overs

When you decide to automatically run slides in PowerPoint, in addition to timing, you may want to add narration or voiceover. You can record narration before running a presentation, or you can record narration during a presentation and include audience comments.

When you add narration, PowerPoint automatically records the timings for your slides . Alternatively, you can set the slide timings first. Be sure to test your microphone first. If you don't want narration throughout your entire presentation, you can record separate sounds or comments on selected slides or objects.

To record narration, your computer requires a sound card, microphone, speakers, and a webcam (optional). You'll also need a microphone jack if your computer doesn't already have a microphone.

Before deciding to advance the slides automatically in PowerPoint , it's a good idea to first create a script in Microsoft Word to improve the flow and avoid filler words like "um." You can also practice before recording, although you can always re-record the narration. To record a slideshow with narration:

• Step 1: click on the tab Slide presentation in the list of options and then tap the arrow next to Record slideshow. A drop-down menu appears.
• Step 2: Choose Start recording from the beginning o Start recording from current slide. A dialog box appears.
• Step 3: in the dialog box identified as Record slideshow, select the option Narrations and laser pointer, and if necessary, clear or select the check box Slide and animation timings.
• Step 4: click Start recording. A testing toolbar appears.
• Step 5: speak into the microphone to record a narration.
• Step 6: To pause the narration, in the toolbar Test, Click on Pause. To resume narration, click Resume recording.
• Step 7: To end recording your slideshow at any time, right-click the slide and then select End presentation.

The timings and narrations of the recorded slideshow are saved. If you view the presentation in Slide Sorter view , the timings appear below each slide. A sound icon also appears in the lower-right corner of each slide that has narration.

If you re-record your narration (including audio, ink, and laser pointer), PowerPoint erases the previously recorded narration (including audio, ink, and laser pointer) when you start recording again on the same slide.

To use ink, an eraser, or a laser pointer while recording, right-click the slide, select Pointer Options , and choose the laser pointer, pen, highlighter, or eraser. This option is not available for 2010 users. If you want to display a laser pointer while recording, press Control , and your pointer will appear as a small red circle on your screen.

Preview of the narration

If you want to listen to the narration on a slide, follow the procedure:

• Step 1: in the regular view, tap the sound icon. This is located in the bottom right corner of the slide.
• Step 2: click Play.

Running a recorded slideshow

To run a recorded slideshow in Normal View :

• Step 1: if necessary, in the tab Slide show From the list, click on Set up slide show. A dialog box appears.
• Step 2: en Show type, select the desired option.
• Step 3: click Accept.
• Step 4: go to the tab Slide show and press From the beginning o From current slide, when playback is running, your animations, inking actions, laser pointer, audio and video playback will be synchronized.
• Step 5: To end the program, press Escape.

Disable times or narrations

You can turn timings and narration off and back on at any time. To turn off recorded slide timings, on the Slide Show tab, clear the Use Timings check box.

If you want to turn off recorded narrations, handwriting input, and the laser pointer, on the Slide Show tab , clear the Play narrations check box.

Elimination of times or narration

You can use the Delete command to permanently remove the timings or narration from your slideshow recording. You have 4 options:

• Delete timings on the current slide.
• Remove timings on all slides.
• Delete narration on the current slide.
• Remove narration on all slides.

To erase times or narratives

These are the steps you must follow:

• Step 1: tab Slide show, click on the arrow below Record slide show. A menu appears.
• Step 2: Choose Delete and then the appropriate delete option.

Once you've recorded a presentation, you can save it later as a video if you want.

Check out: How to Use the Laser Pointer in PowerPoint (Green, Red, and Blue)

Final thoughts

There you have it, we now know how to automatically move slides in PowerPoint. We have given a complete guide on how to configure each of the parameters related to this topic. Did you like our tutorial? Let us know through the comments section. You can also send us any suggestions. See you next time. Remember that you can find many more PowerPoint tutorials on our page.