How to use your phone as a remote control to control PowerPoint

PowerPoint presentations are now part of our daily lives, both in professional and educational settings. However, one of the most common concerns is how to comfortably control the presentation, especially when we need to move around the room to interact with the audience. In this context, the possibility of using a mobile phone as a remote control to change slides, highlight information, or even use a virtual laser pointer arises, giving the presenter much greater freedom and dynamism.

While there are dedicated presentation remotes, they aren't always available when you need them, or you might prefer to avoid carrying around a separate device. Fortunately, thanks to various applications and options available both in Android as in iPhone, you can transform your smartphone in a remote control for PowerPoint and other presentation tools, with amazing results. Below, you will discover all the practical and current ways to achieve this, integrating Tricks, recommended apps and useful tips for any user, regardless of their technological level.

Advantages of controlling PowerPoint from your mobile

Before going into detail about the different options, it is worth highlighting the main ones Advantages of using your mobile phone as a remote control in your presentations:

• Greater mobility and contact with the audience: By not being glued to your computer, you can move around the room, look at the audience, and stay active.
• Discreet and simple control: Change slides, activate the laser pointer, or review speaker notes from the palm of your hand, without visible distractions.
• Eliminate dependency on accessories: Forget about the typical remote control that is often forgotten or lost; your phone always travels with you.
• Cross-platform compatibility: There are solutions for both Windows as if to Mac, Android and iOS, as well as alternatives for Google Slides.

Official Microsoft solution to control PowerPoint from your mobile phone

The first alternative you should consider is the official PowerPoint app for Android and iOSMicrosoft has evolved its mobile app so you can not only create and edit presentations from your phone, but also display them on a big screen and control every aspect of the slideshow.

How Does It Work?

• Open the presentation in the PowerPoint app on your mobile.
• You can share your screen via an HDMI adapter, Chromecast, or Apple TV (AirPlay) to display on a TV or projector.
• Once in presentation mode, simply swipe to advance or rewind through the slides.
• If your phone has a gyroscope, you will have access to virtual laser pointerJust press the screen for a few seconds and a red dot will appear, moving along your finger.
• Additionally, in the top corner you will find icons for draw, underline, or change the color of your notes, making the exhibition even more interactive.

Strengths: Full integration, a familiar interface, and minimal technical complications. However, to share the presentation, you'll need the destination display (TV, projector, etc.) to support Chromecast or AirPlay, or to have an HDMI adapter.

Control presentations from your mobile phone using Office Remote

Another very popular solution, although not always so well known, is Office remote. This add-on allows you to connect your smartphone to your computer via Bluetooth, transforming your mobile into a smart controller for Office programs (Word, Excel and PowerPoint).

Basic steps to set it up:

• Install the Office Remote add-in on your PC (officially supported only up to Office 2013, although it still works in recent versions with nuances).
• Connect computer and Android phone via Bluetooth.
• Download the Office Remote app on your phone and follow the pairing steps.
• Open the PowerPoint presentation, activate “Office Remote” and select “Turn On.”
• From the Office Remote app on your mobile device, you'll have controls to advance/rewind slides, view notes, use a virtual laser pointer, and control multimedia elements.

Relevant note: Although Microsoft hasn't updated Office Remote for a while, it remains the most direct and wireless alternative for those who work with Windows and Office. However, some users have reported incompatibilities with very recent versions of Windows or Office, especially in Windows 11Alternatively, try Microsoft Remote Desktop (on Google Play), which lets you control your Windows desktop from your mobile device and includes a feature called Workspaces for interacting with apps like PowerPoint.

Alternatives for managing presentations in Google Slides from your mobile device

If you are a regular user of Google Slides (Google Slides), there are several ways to control your presentations wirelessly:

Direct control via Google Slides and Chromecast

• On both Android and iOS, make sure your phone and Chromecast device are on the same Wi-Fi network.
• Open the Google Slides app, select the presentation, and tap the cast icon (the screen with Wi-Fi lines).
• You'll be able to advance and rewind slides by swiping, control the volume with the phone's physical buttons, and show/hide speaker notes.
• To stop broadcasting, simply tap the close icon.

This integration seeks maximum simplicity: It doesn't require adding extensions, just have Chromecast and use the official app.

Remote for Slides Extension: Turn your phone into a remote control

If you need to control Google Slides remotely from your mobile and you don't have Chromecast, a great option is the extension Remote for Slides to Google ChromeThis extension allows you to use any mobile device as a remote control, even if the presentation is being displayed on a computer.

• Install the extension in Chrome from your computer.
• Open the presentation in Google Drive and tap “Present with remote.”
• The system will show you a unique session ID and a web address (for example, http://s.limhenry.xyz) to open on your mobile.
• Enter your ID and that's it: from your mobile browser, you can flip through slides, use a laser pointer, and view speaker notes.

Extra trick: Add a shortcut to the control website on your mobile desktop so you don't have to search for it every time you need it. Although the mobile app is no longer on Google Play, you can manage everything from the browser without any problems.

Third-party apps for Android and iPhone that turn your phone into a PowerPoint remote

ApowerMirror

This popular app can be used to mirror your phone's screen to your computer or to control your PC from your phone. It's compatible with Android and iPhone and stands out for its versatility.

• Install the app on your PC and mobile, and connect them to the same Wi-Fi.
• On your mobile, search for PC (usually called “Apowersoft”) by pressing the blue “M” button.
• Activate the PowerPoint remote control feature in the mobile menu.
• Open PowerPoint on your computer and, from your mobile, select the presentation-specific remote control.

Allows you to change slides from anywhere in the room, and also project photos, videos, and other files between both devices. It's a very complete tool for those looking to centralize multimedia control.

AIO Remote

AIO Remote is another all-rounder, compatible with Windows, Linux and Mac, which turns your phone into a keyboard, mouse, gamepad and, of course, a PowerPoint controller.

• Install AIO Remote on your computer and phone. You'll need Java Runtime on your PC for it to work properly.
• Connect both devices via WiFi or Bluetooth, entering the port and IP provided by the application.
• Once paired, select slideshow mode and control PowerPoint comfortably.

Point to consider: Some settings may revert to their defaults after saving, so you'll need to review them each time you use them. Still, it's one of the most powerful and customizable apps for presentations and general multimedia control.

Remote Mouse

For those looking for an app that can be used for both presentations and controlling the entire computer, Remote Mouse It's a great choice. It turns your phone into a mouse, keyboard, and presentation controller, ideal for Android and iOS users.

• Install the server software on your PC or Mac.
• Download the mobile app and pair both on the same WiFi network.
• Manage PowerPoint slides, the media player, or any compatible app from your mobile device.

It stands out for its ease of use and multiplatform compatibility, also allowing you to control volume, use multi-touch gestures and other advanced features.