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How to Use Presenter View in PowerPoint

Applies toPowerPointMicrosoft 365
4 min fix Updated 9 Mar 2026 · 6 months ago

By , 10+ years in IT support and helpdesk How these guides are checked

Quick Answer

Connect your laptop to a second monitor or projector, open your PowerPoint file, go to the Slide Show tab, ensure Use Presenter View is checked, and click From Beginning. Your audience will see the full slide, while you see your notes and the upcoming slide.

Checked against Microsoft 365 Roadmap, Office release notes - Current Channel and between 5 Aug 2026 and 12 Sep 2026. Nothing published in that period has been linked to this guide.

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.

Before You Start ​

  • 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.

  1. Open your PowerPoint presentation.
  2. Click the Slide Show tab on the ribbon.
  3. Check the box for Use Presenter View.
  4. Ensure the Monitor dropdown is set to your second display (projector or external monitor).
  5. Click From Beginning (F5) or From Current Slide (Shift+F5) to start the presentation.
  6. 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.

  1. Pen / Highlighter — Click the pen icon in the toolbar, select Pen or Highlighter, and draw on the slide. Press Esc to stop drawing.
  2. Laser pointer — Click the laser pointer icon to simulate a red dot on the slide. Move your mouse to point at content.
  3. Zoom in — Click the magnifying glass icon, then click on an area of the slide to zoom in. Click again to zoom out.
  4. 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.

  1. In Presenter View, locate the speaker notes panel at the bottom.
  2. Click the A↑ button to increase the font size.
  3. Click the A↓ button to decrease the font size.
  4. 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.

  1. Start the presentation normally (Slide Show > From Beginning).
  2. Right-click anywhere on the slide.
  3. Select Show Presenter View.
  4. 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 / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
Presenter View opens on the projectorMonitor assignment is swappedIn Slide Show tab, click Monitor and select the correct display. You can also click Swap in Presenter View.
Speaker notes are not visibleNotes panel collapsedDrag the divider between the slide preview and the notes panel upward to expand it.
Presenter View is not availableUsing PowerPoint for the webPresenter View is only available in the PowerPoint desktop app.

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Frequently asked questions

What if Presenter View shows up on the projector instead of my laptop?
At the top of the Presenter View screen on the projector, click 'Display Settings' and select 'Swap Presenter View and Slide Show'. The screens will instantly flip.
Can I use Presenter View in a Teams or Zoom meeting with only one monitor?
Yes. Start the slide show, hover over the bottom left of the full-screen slide, click the three dots (...), and select 'Show Presenter View'. Then, when sharing your screen in Teams/Zoom, share only the 'PowerPoint Slide Show' window, not your whole desktop.