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How to Use Presenter View in PowerPoint
Applies to: Microsoft PowerPoint (Microsoft 365, PowerPoint 2021, PowerPoint 2019)
Article Type: How-To
Last Updated: 2026-03-09
Summary
Presenter View lets you see your speaker notes, upcoming slides, and presentation tools on your screen while the audience sees only the current slide on the projector or shared screen. This article shows how to enable, use, and troubleshoot Presenter View.
Prerequisites
- Microsoft PowerPoint (desktop app).
- Two displays recommended (laptop + projector/external monitor), but single-display mode is also available.
- No admin rights required.
Instructions
1. Enable Presenter View
Turn on Presenter View before starting your presentation.
- Open your PowerPoint presentation.
- Click the Slide Show tab on the ribbon.
- Check the box for Use Presenter View.
- Ensure the Monitor dropdown is set to your second display (projector or external monitor).
- Click From Beginning (F5) or From Current Slide (Shift+F5) to start the presentation.
- Your laptop shows the Presenter View; the audience sees only the current slide.
2. Navigate the Presenter View Interface
Understand the layout and tools available.
The Presenter View screen shows:
- Current slide — Large preview in the centre.
- Next slide — Preview on the right side.
- Speaker notes — Text panel at the bottom with your notes for the current slide.
- Timer — Elapsed presentation time in the top-left.
- Navigation arrows — Forward and back buttons below the current slide.
- Toolbar — Pen, laser pointer, zoom, and black screen buttons at the bottom.
3. Use Presentation Tools
Mark up slides and engage the audience during your talk.
- Pen / Highlighter — Click the pen icon in the toolbar, select Pen or Highlighter, and draw on the slide. Press Esc to stop drawing.
- Laser pointer — Click the laser pointer icon to simulate a red dot on the slide. Move your mouse to point at content.
- Zoom in — Click the magnifying glass icon, then click on an area of the slide to zoom in. Click again to zoom out.
- Black screen — Click the screen icon to show a black slide (useful during Q&A). Click again to return to the presentation.
4. Resize Speaker Notes
Adjust the notes font size during the presentation.
- In Presenter View, locate the speaker notes panel at the bottom.
- Click the A↑ button to increase the font size.
- Click the A↓ button to decrease the font size.
- Adjust until the notes are comfortable to read at a glance.
If the notes panel is empty, there are no notes attached to that slide yet. See How to Add Speaker Notes in PowerPoint for how to write them, print them, and strip them out before you send the deck to someone else.
5. Use Presenter View on a Single Monitor
Practice with Presenter View without a projector.
- Start the presentation normally (Slide Show > From Beginning).
- Right-click anywhere on the slide.
- Select Show Presenter View.
- Presenter View opens on your current screen, overlaying the slideshow.
Troubleshooting
TIP
Rehearse with Presenter View enabled to practice pacing. The built-in timer helps you track how long you spend on each section of your presentation.
| Symptom / Error | Potential Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Presenter View opens on the projector | Monitor assignment is swapped | In Slide Show tab, click Monitor and select the correct display. You can also click Swap in Presenter View. |
| Speaker notes are not visible | Notes panel collapsed | Drag the divider between the slide preview and the notes panel upward to expand it. |
| Presenter View is not available | Using PowerPoint for the web | Presenter View is only available in the PowerPoint desktop app. |