Create interactive PowerPoint presentations with buttons and internal links

Presentations have evolved far beyond a simple succession of slides. Today, create interactive presentations in PowerPoint Not only is it possible, but it's a great way to keep your audience engaged and allow them to navigate autonomously through the content. Thanks to the action buttons and the internal links, you can transform a linear presentation into a truly personalized and dynamic experience.

If you've ever wondered how those navigation menus are built within a presentation or how you can make clicking on an icon take the user directly to a specific section, this article is for you. Here, I'll explain step by step how to take full advantage of all the possibilities PowerPoint offers to create truly interactive presentations, both with standard elements and with images, text, or graphics that function as buttons. I'll also detail all the options available when it comes to linking and assigning actions.

What does it mean to create an interactive PowerPoint presentation?

We talk about interactive presentation When the user is given the option to make decisions within the presentation itself, choosing paths, jumping to different sections, running multimedia content, or accessing external resources. All of this is possible, primarily, thanks to the action buttons and internal hyperlinks, which function as authentic menus or shortcuts in the structure of your PowerPoint.

These tools allow the audience to interact by clicking on different elements or simply hovering over them, enabling two-way communication between the presenter and the audience, or even making the presentation self-running and navigable without the need for a presenter.

Action Buttons: The Engine of Interactivity

On action buttons These are special shapes that you can insert directly from the PowerPoint Shapes gallery. These buttons already come with recognizable icons (arrows, Symbols start, pause, sound, etc.) and are used to perform different actions, such as jumping to a specific slide, returning to the start, playing a video, opening a file or running a program.

Why use action buttons?

• They allow you to design presentations autonomous and self-executing.
• They offer intuitive navigation, both in person and online.
• They help create menus, theme blocks, and custom paths within the presentation.

How to Insert Action Buttons in PowerPoint

1. On the PowerPoint ribbon, go to the tab Insert and select Forms.
2. At the bottom of the drop-down menu, you will find the section Action buttons with various preset options (arrows, start, end, sound, etc.). Choose the one that suits you best.
3. Draw the button on the slide by clicking and dragging the cursor to define its size and position.
4. When you release the button, the dialog box will automatically appear. Action Configuration, where you can assign the behavior that this button will have.

These steps allow you to design everything from simple 'next' and 'previous' buttons to complete menus, tailoring each one to the function you need within your presentation.

Assign an action to a button

The box of Action Configuration is the key that transforms a shape into a real interactive button. Here you can decide how and when the action should be triggered: on click (Mouse click) or simply hover over the button (mouse over).

• Hyperlink to: Allows you to link to another slide in the same presentation, to a specific slide in another presentation, to a web page, or to a file.
• Run program: Open any program installed on your computer.
• Run macro: Associate the button with a pre-existing macro to automate tasks. You must save the presentation in a macro-enabled format.
• Object action: Available when the presentation includes OLE objects, such as charts or tables embedded from other programs.
• Play sound: Allows you to choose whether pressing the button triggers a specific sound effect.
• None: The button will have no action, functioning only as a visual element.

When you finish assigning the actions, press Accept and test your button in mode Slide show to make sure the interaction is what you expected.

Advanced action button customization and formatting

PowerPoint offers many options for customize The appearance of your action buttons. You don't have to settle for the default size, color, or style: you can modify the shape, adjust the size, change the background color, add outlines, or even apply shadow and glow effects to make them more eye-catching.

Some tips for improve appearance of the action buttons:

• Use the tab Format to change the fill, border and apply 3D effects.
• If you want to change the assigned action, right-click on the button and choose Modify link o Action Configuration.
• Place buttons in strategic locations for easy navigation, such as in the corners of the slide or in a persistent side menu.

Use images and graphics as interactive buttons

You don't have to limit yourself to PowerPoint's pre-designed shapes. You can transform any image, SmartArt graphic or even text box into an interactive button using exactly the same procedure as with standard shapes.

1. Insert the image or graphic from the tab Insert > Images o SmartArt.
2. Click on the object you just added.
3. On the ribbon, select Insert > Links > Action.
4. Choose the type of action you want to associate with that image or graphic (hyperlink, run macro, open program, play sound, etc.).

The advantage of using images or SmartArt as buttons is that you can add a different visual touch, create custom icons, or design menus that are much more attractive and in line with your visual identity.

Hyperlinks: Connecting Slides and Resources

Un hyperlink It is a link that allows you to connect directly to a specific resource: another slide within the same presentation, a different presentation, an external web page, an attached document, or even an email address. hyperlinks can be applied to almost any object: words, phrases, images, graphics, icons, or even action buttons.

These links must always be associated with an existing element, and cannot be added independently.

Types of hyperlinks and their uses

• To another slide: Allows you to move from one part of the presentation to another without having to advance sequentially.
• To another presentation: Ideal for splitting long content into multiple linked files.
• To the website: Enter external URLs directly from the presentation.
• To email: Gives the user the option to contact by email from the file itself.
• To other files: Allows you to link documents from Become, Excel or any other type that the user can consult.

How to create a hyperlink in PowerPoint?

1. Select the text, image, or shape you want to associate the link with.
2. Access the tab Insert and choose the option Link > Insert link.
3. Choose the destination of the link: it can be Place of this document (to link to a specific slide), Existing file or web page (for external resources), Create new document (to link to a new PowerPoint) or Email address (to open the email client).
4. Fill in the fields Text to display y Information on screen to customize the appearance and information the user will see.
5. press Accept to activate the link.

Once the hyperlink is created, test it by right-clicking on the linked object and selecting Open hyperlinkThis will verify that the destination address or slide is correct.

Advanced hyperlink customization

Hyperlinks in PowerPoint are usually underlined and colored to match the theme. When the user clicks on the link, the text color changes to indicate that it has been visited. To customize how these links appear, you can change:

• The color of the text from the tab Home using the button Font Color.
• The appearance of the link by selecting and choosing it Edit link.
• Remove the underline using the formatting options.

Modify and delete links and actions

To update or delete a hyperlink or action, select the corresponding object, right-click, and choose Modify link o Action ConfigurationThis way, you can adjust the navigation based on the progress of your presentation or add new resources.

Special Actions: Run programs, macros, and OLE objects

PowerPoint also allows you to assign advanced actions to buttons or images, such as:

• Run programs: Open applications installed on your system.
• Run macro: Run automations in VBA, ideal for repetitive tasks (remember to save in macro-enabled format).
• Object action: Related to OLE objects, such as embedded graphics.
• Play sound: Add sound effects to reinforce communication.

Good practices and important considerations

• clear structure: Include 'Back to Home' buttons or persistent menus for easy navigation.
• Try navigation: Before submitting, please verify that all links and buttons work correctly.
• Compatibility: If you use advanced features, save in the appropriate format and inform users to avoid security issues.
• Do not overload: Limit jumps and links to avoid confusion.
• Portability: If you link to external files, be sure to include them all in the same folder or package them together.

Practical applications of interactive presentations

Interactive presentations offer multiple possibilities:

• Design learning paths for training and online courses.
• Create interactive catalogs for customers to select products.
• Develop educational games, contests, and virtual escape rooms.
• Make automatic presentations at trade shows or information points, without the need for a presenter.

It all depends on your creativity and how you configure buttons and links to create memorable experiences.

PowerPoint Compatibility and Versions

Most of the described functions are supported in both PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 as in PowerPoint for the Web, PowerPoint 2024, PowerPoint 2021, PowerPoint 2019 y PowerPoint 2016, as well as mobile versions for iPad, iPhone y AndroidHowever, some advanced features, such as macros or running external programs, may not be enabled in the online or mobile versions.

It is recommended to test the presentation in the environment where it will be presented, to ensure that everything works correctly.

Mastering PowerPoint's interactivity tools will allow you to design more engaging, functional presentations tailored to each audience, whether in a professional, educational, or recreational context. All you need is a thorough planning of the structure and a few minutes to configure buttons, hyperlinks, and advanced actions. You're ready to start creating interactive experiences that amaze and communicate effectively.

Related article:

Example: Create or place a table of contents, or an interactive index in PowerPoint

Isaac

Passionate writer about the world of bytes and technology in general. I love sharing my knowledge through writing, and that's what I'll do on this blog, show you all the most interesting things about gadgets, software, hardware, tech trends, and more. My goal is to help you navigate the digital world in a simple and entertaining way.