how to do a recorded powerpoint presentation

How to Record a PowerPoint Presentation with Narration

Can be helpful in creating a dramatic narrative

Microsoft PowerPoint has a built-in recording tool that allows you to narrate your presentations using recorded audio. You can export and share recorded presentations as video files.

This tutorial covers everything about recording PowerPoint presentations on Windows and Mac computers.

Record PowerPoint Presentation with Narration

Open the PowerPoint file/presentation you want to record and follow the steps below.

Record PowerPoint Presentation on Windows

• Select the slide you want to start recording from on the slide thumbnail pane.

• Head to the Record tab on the ribbon and select the Record button to start recording from the current/selected slide.

To record from the first slide, select the down-facing arrow icon below the Record button and select From Beginning .

You can also record a presentation from the Slide Show tab. Select Slide Show on the ribbon and select Record , From Current Slide , or From Beginning .

That’ll open PowerPoint’s presentation recorder in a fullscreen window.

• Select the Record icon and start speaking after the three seconds countdown.

PowerPoint records the presentation window and captures your voice and webcam feed as you navigate the slides. Select the left-facing and right-facing arrows to move to the previous and next slides in the presentation.

Record PowerPoint Presentation in macOS

• Open the Slide Show tab and select Record Slide Show .

• Select the Record button on the toolbar to start recording your narration.

Use your keyboard arrow keys to move back and forth between slides. Press N or Space Bar to move to the next slide or animation in the presentation. Press P or Backspace to return to the previous slide or animation.

Select Tips in the top-left corner for more keyboard shortcuts and other presentation tips.

Note: The narration tool doesn’t record slide transitions. When moving between slides, wait for the destination slide to appear on the screen before speaking.

PowerPoint Recorder Control/Settings

You’ll find a handful of controls and options on the recording tool. We’ll show you how to use these controls to include voiceovers or audio recordings in your presentation.

Using Presentation Pointer Tools

PowerPoint provides several tools to mark up your slides when narrating your presentation. There’s a pen tool, eraser, laser pointer, and highlighter.

With the Pen tool, you can draw on slides during narration/recording. Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Command + P (Mac) to use the pen tool. You can also select the Pen icon to convert the pointer to a pen.

The Laser pointer tool converts your cursor to an onscreen laser. Use the laser pointer to draw attention to something on a slide/presentation.

Press Ctrl + L (Windows) or Command + L (Mac) to use the laser pointer. There’s also a Laser pointer icon on the toolbar.

Pressing Ctrl + I (or selecting the Highlighter tool ) converts your cursor to a highlighter.

Use the Eraser tool to remove inks and highlight from slides. Select the Eraser icon or press Ctrl + E and select the ink to erase.

On macOS, select the Erase Pen icon (or press E ) to erase all drawings and highlights on the slide.

You can change the pointer tools ink from the color selection boxes. However, one major limitation is that you can’t change the size of these pointer tools.

Pause and Resume Your Recording

In Windows, press I on your keyboard or select the Pause button in the top-left corner to pause your recording.

Press I again or select the Record icon to resume the recording.

If you use a Mac, select the Pause icon in the top toolbar to pause the recording.

Unmute or Mute Microphone

Check that your microphone is unmuted before recording. Select the microphone icon in the bottom-right corner to mute or unmute your mic.

PowerPoint for Windows allows you to mute and unmute your microphone in real time while recording video/audio narrations. The macOS version of PowerPoint only lets you configure your camera and microphone settings before recording.

Switch Microphone or Camera

Want to record your presentation with an external microphone or camera? Press Ctrl + M or select the audio/camera settings icon in the top-right corner and choose your preferred microphone/camera.

In macOS, select the microphone icon to mute or unmute your microphone. Select the arrow-down icon next to the microphone or camcorder icons to switch input devices.

Enable and Disable Camera

The recorder displays your camera or webcam feed in the bottom-right corner of the presentation slides.

Select the camcorder icon to remove your webcam feed from the recording. Select the icon again to display your webcam feed in the presentation.

You can also use the Ctrl + K keyboard shortcut on Windows computers to enable or disable your camera.

On Mac computers, you’ll find the video control icon on the top toolbar.

Note: The recording tool greys out the camcorder icon if your microphone is turned off.

Enable or Disable Camera Preview

PowerPoint allows you to disable the camera preview without turning off your camera or webcam.

Press Ctrl + J (Windows) or select the Camera Preview icon in the bottom-right corner to disable or enable the camera preview.

End a Recording

Press S on your Windows keyboard or select the Stop icon to end the recording.

Replay or Preview Your Recording

When you end a narration, press V on your keyboard or select Replay to preview or watch the recording.

The recorded narration will include all pen inks, highlights, and laser pointer gestures made during the presentation.

You can also preview/replay the narration outside the recording tool. Open the Slide Show tab and choose to watch the playback From Beginning or From Current Slide .

PowerPoint allows you to preview the playback on individual slides. A speaker/audio icon appears in the bottom-right of PowerPoint slides with narrations.

Choose the slide you want to preview, hover your cursor on the speaker icon in the bottom-right corner, and select Play .

Delete Current Narration/Recording

Did you spot an error when previewing your presentation? Want to delete the current narration and start from scratch?

Select the Clear existing recordings icon and choose whether to Clear Recordings on Current Slide or Clear Recordings on All Slides .

On Mac, select the Bin icon to delete the entire narration/recording.

Close the Narration Tool

Select the X icon on the title bar to close the presentation narration tool and return to Powerpoint.

Select End Show in the top-left corner to close the recording tool on a Mac computer.

Delete Narrations from Slides

Want to delete the narration or timing on an individual slide or the entire presentation? Select the slide with the narration you want to delete and follow the steps below.

• Open the Record tab and select the down-facing arrow below the Record icon.
• Select Clear and choose to clear timing or narration on current or all slides.

Export Recorded or Narrated Presentation

You can export a narrated PowerPoint presentation as a video file. The video output includes ink strokes, recorded audio/video, laser pointer gestures, and webcam/camera recording.

• Open the Record tab and select Export to Video .

Alternatively, open the File menu, select Export on the sidebar, and select Create a Video .

• Choose the quality of the video export in the first drop-down box—Ultra HD (4K), Full HD (1080p), HD (720p), Standard (480p).

• Choose Use Recorded Timings and Narrations in the next drop-down box and select Create Video .

• Give the recorded presentation a file name and select Save .

Narrate Your PowerPoint Presentations

The Microsoft PowerPoint web app doesn’t have a recording tool. As a result, you can only record presentations with narrations using PowerPoint for Windows or Mac.

You might meet issues recording a slide show if you use an outdated version of PowerPoint. Also, the recording tool on older versions of PowerPoint has a different interface and lacks some controls. Update PowerPoint and restart your computer if you cannot record a slide show.

Sodiq has written thousands of tutorials, guides, and explainers over the past 4 years to help people solve problems with Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows devices. He also enjoys reviewing consumer tech products (smartphones, smart home devices, accessories, etc.) and binge-watching comedy series in his spare time. Read Sodiq's Full Bio

Read More Posts:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Home Blog PowerPoint Tutorials How to Record a Presentation in PowerPoint

How to Record a Presentation in PowerPoint

Recording PowerPoint presentations can have several benefits. They can serve as recordings of a session that can be uploaded online, shared with participants who might not be able to attend a presentation session, or used as tutorials for passing on instructions.

How to Record a PowerPoint Presentation

PowerPoint provides multiple options for initiating recording for a presentation. You can also choose to record audio and yourself presenting the slides using your camera. When recording your presentations, you can choose PowerPoint templates or something minimalist made by you to record the session. Just be mindful of the graphics to ensure the video does not appear overpowering to the viewer.

How do I Record a PowerPoint Presentation as a Video?

You can start recording your presentation using the following method.

• Record Tab: To record a PowerPoint presentation, go to the Record tab and select whether you wish to record from the beginning, from the current slide, a specific area on the screen, or record audio.
• Slide Show Tab: you can also initiate recording a PPT via Slide Show -> Record to initiate recording from the current slide or the beginning of your presentation.

Record Button: If you’re using the latest version of PowerPoint, you can start Recording your presentation from the current slide via the Record button in the top right corner.

Record from the Current Slide or Beginning of the Presentation

Starting your recording from the beginning of the current slide will open your presentation in recording mode. Hit Record to start the recording.

Screen Recording in PowerPoint

If you initiate screen recording in PowerPoint, you can start recording a screencast by selecting the area you wish to record. This is similar to recording a PowerPoint presentation as a video, with the added advantage of recording other parts of your desktop. This method can also be used for recording a screencast, even if you’re not using a PowerPoint presentation in your video recording.

To start the recording, click Record or use the Windows+SHIFT+R hotkey. To stop the screen recording, click Pause to temporarily halt the recording to resume later or Stop or the Windows+SHIFT+Q hotkey to end the recording session.

The recorded video will be instantly added to your slide once you click Stop .

Record Audio

Another option in the Record tab in PowerPoint is to record audio narrations for your PowerPoint presentation. Simply click Record to start, Pause to temporarily halt, and Stop to stop the recording process.

Once the recording stops, the audio will be added to your PowerPoint presentation.

How can I Annotate Slides in PowerPoint During a Recording?

Once you enter recording mode, you can start annotating your slides using the Pen or Highlighter tool. Other tools in the menu include a Laser pointer and Eraser.

How can I Record a PowerPoint Presentation with Audio?

To enable audio for your Powerpoint recording, unmute the mic from the audio icon on top, CTRL+M hotkey, or click the three dots ( More options for recording menu), followed by the Microphone to select the audio device for recording. You can only record audio if an audio device is connected to your computer. This is a fairly simple process, unlike other presentation platforms. For example, in an earlier article, we showed you how to do a voiceover on Google Slides , which entails a slightly more elaborate process.

How to Record Yourself Presenting a PowerPoint?

Enable the camera during a recording session.

Like turning on audio, you can toggle the camera on or off using the icon on top. The camera input device can also be selected via the Camera option or CTRL+K hotkey, which can be revealed via the three dots from the top menu.

Insert Video Recording in a Slide using Cameo

PowerPoint’s Cameo feature enables recording a video to insert in a slide. You can use the feature to quickly insert a video message in your slides that can be played during a presentation session. This option might also be relevant if you intend to convert PowerPoint to video . If you are looking how to video record yourself presenting a PowerPoint, then follow the steps below.

Once Cameo is turned on, you can also choose to stylize the camera shape, style, border, and add effects. Cameo is quite a unique feature in PowerPoint that currently does not have alternatives in rival presentation apps. For example, you cannot use a similar feature if you wish to convert Google Slides to video .

How to Save Recording for a PowerPoint Presentation?

After you have completed your recording, click Export to save the presentation recording.

You can customize your recording settings via Customize Export or continue the process via Export Video .

Using the Customize Export option, you can choose between a desired output quality for your video, including Ultra HD (4K), Full HD (1080p), HD (720p), and Standard (480p).

Other options in the menu include the ability to choose and preview timings and narrations.

After you are satisfied with your recording settings, you can export your presentation to video.

The video recording of your PowerPoint presentation can be played using any standard video player. The video can also be embedded in PowerPoint slides, uploaded online, such as to a YouTube channel, or shared via cloud storage apps like Dropbox, Box, OneDrive, etc.

You can start recording a PowerPoint presentation using one of the following methods: – Record Tab: Go to the Record tab and select whether to record from the beginning, from the current slide, or from a specific area on the screen. – Slide Show Tab: Go to Slide Show > Record to initiate recording from the current slide or the beginning of your presentation. – Record Button: If you are using the latest version of PowerPoint, you can start recording from the current slide by clicking the Record button in the top right corner.

To record audio: – Go to the Record tab. – Click Record under the Audio section. – Use the Pause button to temporarily halt the recording and the Stop button to end the recording.

Yes, you can annotate slides during a recording: – Enter recording mode. – Use the Pen or Highlighter tool from the toolbar to annotate slides. – Other tools include the Laser pointer and Eraser.

To enable your microphone: – Unmute the mic from the audio icon on top. – Use the CTRL+M hotkey or click the three dots (More options for the recording menu). – Select Microphone to choose the audio device for recording.

To record yourself presenting: – Enable the camera during the recording session by toggling the camera icon on top. – Use the CTRL+K hotkey or access the camera option via the three dots from the top menu.

Cameo allows you to insert a video recording into a slide: – Go to Insert > Video > Cameo. – Record a video message that can be played during a presentation session. – Customize the camera shape, style, and border, and add effects using the Camera Format options.

To save a recording: – Click Export after completing your recording. – Customize your recording settings via Customize Export or continue the process via Export Video. – Choose the desired output quality (Ultra HD, Full HD, HD, or Standard). – Select and preview timings and narrations if needed. – Export the presentation to a video format.

Yes, you can edit the recording settings before exporting: – Use the Customize Export option. – Adjust output quality and other settings as needed. – Preview timings and narrations to ensure everything is as desired.

Yes, you can record a screencast: – Go to the Record tab and select Screen Recording. – Choose the area you wish to record. – Click Record or use the Windows+SHIFT+R hotkey to start recording. – Click Pause to temporarily halt the recording and Stop or use the Windows+SHIFT+Q hotkey to end the session.

Recording a PowerPoint presentation can provide a record of the session, allow you to share it with those who could not attend, and create tutorials or instructional videos.

Final Words

Recording a PowerPoint presentation can provide a record of a session that might be required for further sharing. The best way to record a presentation is to ensure that your slides aren’t visually overpowering, your audio is clear and audible, and if using a camera, the cam input isn’t hazy, grainy, or too dark.

Once you are familiar with how to record a presentation on PowerPoint, it might take a bit of practice to make your video recording look professional and crisp. It’s best to practice your sessions before recording them until you can seamlessly record presentation decks.

Like this article? Please share

PowerPoint Addins, PowerPoint Tips, Presentation Tips, Presentations, Screencasts Filed under PowerPoint Tutorials

Related Articles

Filed under PowerPoint Tutorials • June 21st, 2024

How to Make PowerPoint Full Screen

Experience your presentation design as in the day of the event. Learn how to make a PowerPoint go Full Screen with this tutorial.

Filed under PowerPoint Tutorials • June 11th, 2024

How to Flip an Image in PowerPoint

Sometimes our slide designs require us to learn how to flip an image in PowerPoint. If that’s the case, stay tuned to this step-by-step guide.

How to Work with SVG in PowerPoint

Upgrade your graphics quality by mastering SVG graphics in PowerPoint. A detailed guide on how to create and import them.

One Response to “How to Record a Presentation in PowerPoint”

How do I generate webcam option in PowerPoint 2016 ?

Leave a Reply

How to Record A PowerPoint Presentation [2022 User Guide]

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter

By Nikolay Kaloyanov

in How-To Tutorials

2 years ago

Viewed 702 times

Spread the word about this article:

If knowing how to record a PowerPoint presentation wasn’t necessary a decade ago, this isn’t how things stand today. The pandemic taught us a valuable lesson – if we don’t catch up with technology, we will fall short.

Fortunately, Microsoft’s app is the global leader in presentation software and provides you with all the required tools to create an excellent presentation you can show in front of your audience. But how to record a presentation on PowerPoint, and is it easy to do so?

Article overview: 1. What are the benefits of recording PowerPoint presentations? 2. How to record a PowerPoint presentation? 3. How to live stream a PowerPoint presentation? 4. Frequently asked questions

1. What are the benefits of recording PowerPoint presentations?

I am are pretty sure that if recording presentations weren’t helpful, PowerPoint wouldn’t offer it to its users. Well, we all know that’s not the case. Recording your PowerPoint slides can bring a ton of benefits. Let’s see which they are:

• Save time  – regardless if you’re a lecturer or present in front of colleagues, having a video of your recording will save you many hours. Imagine speaking in front of your marketing team, but 2 members are on summer holidays. It’s fine. They’ll catch up later when they watch your PowerPoint recording.
• Focus on the presentation  – usually, if you’re presenting in front of an audience, it’s typical to get asked many questions that you need to answer promptly. But that is a good reason to get distracted from your core information. Thus, it makes sense to record your presentation beforehand.
• Practice before presenting – the best way to carry out a great presentation is to spend some time at home, focusing on key details. When you record your PowerPoint slides, you can find areas of improvement and work on them.

2. How to record a PowerPoint presentation?

There are many tools that you can use to record a PowerPoint presentation. From Loom and Panopto, and even Apple’s basic Quicktime and Windows’ own recording tool. But here we will discuss none of the other options. Why? The answer is simple: PowerPoint has its own in-built, robust recording tool.

Unlike other options, PowerPoint’s recording feature enables you to record slide by slide. This effectively means you can create as many recordings as you like, until you like the playback version, and move on to the next slide.

Pro tip : PowerPoint doesn’t record slide transitions. You need to start recording each slide when it is opened and finish the recording before you move on to the next one.

Let’s see how to record a PowerPoint presentation with video and audio in just a few steps.

Step #1: Open your PowerPoint presentation

The first step is to open the PowerPoint presentation you wish to record. Ensure you have all the necessary slides and information on them. While this seems logical, there aren’t one or two cases when presenters have recorded wrong or unfinished slides, which leads to a disappointing outcome.

Step #2: Prepare your video and audio devices

Before you start the recording, you should check your camera and microphone. Try to make a sound check and see if your camera works properly.

Step #3: Select the slides you wish to record

PowerPoint gives you the option to record a presentation right from the beginning, or from a specifically selected slide.

• Pick “ From Beginning ” (1) from the Record tab of the Ribbon if you wish to start from the first slide.
• Pick “ From Current Slide ” (2) from the same tab in case you would like to start from a selected slide (which isn’t the first one).
• Click the Record button (3) which is positioned in the top right corner, between the Comments  and Share buttons. It starts the recording from the slide you have currently selected.

Step #4: Start the recording

Once you click on one of the options, you are ready to start narrating your PowerPoint presentation. You will see a countdown timer, after which you can start narrating slides.

Step #5: Manage your PowerPoint recording

You have probably seen a couple of other options aside from the recording one. Let’s see which they are:

• Timer with a grey/red light – if you are recording your narration, you will see a timer and a small circle with a red light that indicates you are recording. If you pause, the small circle indicator will become grey again and the timer will stop counting.
• Refresh icon – right next to the timer there is a refresh-like icon but it serves a different purpose – to re-take the recording. You have the option to record again the current slide or all slides.
• Start/Stop button  – the big red button serves as a start/stop button for your recordings. Only stop the recording when you want to move on to the next slide.
• Pause button – if you would like to stop the slide recording, in order to drink some water or read your speaker notes, you can use the Pause button, and then resume the recording. Bear in mind you cannot pause and move to the next slide. You have to stop the recording, to indicate you have finished with the current slide.
• Camera button  – clicking the camera button will work as a toggle on/off.
• Microphone Button – clicking the microphone button will work as a toggle on/off.
• Ellipsis – this is the place where you can select camera and microphone settings, as well as erase recordings from the current slide or all slides.

Step #6: Export your PowerPoint video recording

The last button from the menu is the Export setting. You can export your narration as an mp4 file in Full HD size by default. However, you can customize your export and get your narration in 4 sizes – 480p, 720p (HD), 1080p (Full HD – standard), and 4K. We don’t recommend Ultra HD exports.

Pro Tip : Exporting 4K PowerPoint presentation recordings doesn’t necessarily mean you will get better quality (unless you have 4K resources within your presentation) but it does guarantee a significantly larger file size – up to 4 times more than on standard Full HD recordings.

3. How to live stream a PowerPoint presentation?

If you have already honed your skills and would like to stream your PowerPoint slides directly to your audience, there are many ways to do so. We are going to cover two of them.

3.1. How to stream a PowerPoint presentation from OneDrive?

Microsoft has invested a lot of resources to make OneDrive a powerful cloud service, and so far they have been quite successful. Let’s see how to record a PowerPoint presentation in front of live audiences.

Step 1 – save your PowerPoint presentation in OneDrive.

Step 2 – open your PowerPoint slides from PowerPoint online.

Step 3 – go to Present Live  from the Slideshow Ribbon tab.

Step 4 – share a  live link with your audience.

3.2. Stream your PowerPoint presentation in Zoom

Zoom is one of the most popular conference call apps which has plenty of tools, including live streaming presentations. Since PowerPoint is the leading presentation program in the world, Zoom developers have created some amazing things, like PowerPoint presentation recording with a web camera on a transparent background. If you’re interested, you can check our guide on how to record a Zoom presentation .

Does PowerPoint have a screen recording?

PowerPoint has a screen recording window and you can select the area you would like to be recorded. Go to Record  (from the Ribbon), then select Screen Recording , choose the area and start recording.

Can I view speaker notes while recording narration?

You are able to access your speaker notes if you have created them beforehand. To insert speaker notes, you have to go to View -> Notes Page  and you will have a text box that you can utilize for speaker notes.

What format does PowerPoint use for video?

PowerPoint records videos in mp4 format. The default resolution is 1080p (Full HD).

Recording your PowerPoint presentations can make the difference between a successful and smooth speech and a bad narration. Being able to record each slide means you can get the best narration possible for your whole presentation.

And if you would like to stream your presentation live, there are more than enough options to do so – both via the online version of PowerPoint or via third-party apps like Zoom.

If you found this article helpful, you can also check some of our other PowerPoint tutorials:

• Add Audio to PowerPoint: The Quick Step-by-Step Guide
• Insert GIFs into PowerPoint – a 2022 Pocket Guide
• How to Convert Your PowerPoint Presentation into Google Slides ?

Add some character to your visuals

Cartoon Characters, Design Bundles, Illustrations, Backgrounds and more...

Like us on Facebook

Subscribe to our newsletter

Be the first to know what’s new in the world of graphic design and illustrations.

• [email protected]

Browse High Quality Vector Graphics

E.g.: businessman, lion, girl…

Related Articles

How to record a zoom presentation and present in a virtual meeting, what is google slides and how to get started, how to convert your powerpoint presentation into google slides, how to make an infographic in less than 5 minutes [step-by-step tutorial], 25+ wonderful cartoon character design tutorials, enjoyed this article.

Don’t forget to share!

• Comments (0)

Nikolay Kaloyanov

Nikolay is a copywriter with vast experience in Technology, Marketing, and Design. When he isn't playing with words and crafting texts, he watches sports and asks questions. He is a funny person...until you put him on a diet.

Thousands of vector graphics for your projects.

Hey! You made it all the way to the bottom!

Here are some other articles we think you may like:

How-To Tutorials

Color theory basics for non-designers: everything you should know.

by Al Boicheva

30 Amazing Adobe Photoshop Tutorials for Beginners [2022]

by Nikolay Kaloyanov

Cartoon Yourself Today With 10+ Tools, Tutorials & Tips

by Iveta Pavlova

Looking for Design Bundles or Cartoon Characters?

A source of high-quality vector graphics offering a huge variety of premade character designs, graphic design bundles, Adobe Character Animator puppets, and more.

How to Create Pro-level PowerPoint Videos with Audio

Senior Marketing Manager at Loom

The power of a presentation lies in its ability to educate and inspire.

But why limit access to inspiring ideas because of the time slot in which they were presented? Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Keynote slides have become the go-to formats for delivering supporting content to help audiences from classrooms to boardrooms engage with ideas. But once the content is complete, what happens to it? 

Getting used to the sound of your own voice can take some time, but the benefits of using Loom to record PowerPoint presentations are worth it.

Depending on the content and intended audience, a few will be published, stored, or made available on a marketplace. However, many will be lost, all your hard work never to be seen again. PowerPoint slides that aren't accompanied by a presentation are incomplete and don't do a sufficient job of expressing the author's ideas.

If you want to get ahead of the curve and preserve the integrity of your hard work, learn how to record a presentation by recording your screen .

Loom is one of the most popular choices for recording a video presentation—and for a good reason. The user interface is straightforward and easy to use. Mastering it requires little effort.

The benefits of presenting a PowerPoint in video

There are several reasons someone would want to learn how to record a PowerPoint presentation. Whether they’re explaining the quarterly statistics in a sales meeting , creating a webinar as a marketing tool , or recording training sessions for onboarding new hires, communicating ideas clearly and succinctly via video becomes more crucial every day. 

With Loom, you can engage directly with your audience, allowing you to interact with a large group of people in a small, intimate environment. Let's look at some advantages of knowing how to record slide show presentations and the procedure for doing so.

Scheduled attendance is not guaranteed

Unless your presentation is a mandatory work meeting or you're teaching a paid course, many individuals will drop out before or during the presentation. However, by providing a presentation recording for them, you can still interact with those people, and they’ll feel supported by your accessibility.

Provides on-demand access to your presentation

Using Loom's video recording capabilities, you provide access to your material long after you've presented it. Giving your audience access to resources is one of the best ways to build trust and support. 

Enhances your search engine optimization (SEO)

If you don't want to make your recorded presentations available on-demand but want to reap the benefits of SEO-driven traffic, you may post all or part of it on YouTube as a free resource in the future to attract new prospects. 

Practice makes perfect

Another reason to learn how to record a presentation is that you can review your work before showing it to a live audience. By recording yourself before a meeting or lecture, you can review the footage to ensure you cover every aspect of the topic, make improvements, and eliminate those pre-performance jitters. 

Tips for video recording yourself presenting a PowerPoint

While technology and practice are your two best allies in confidently presenting PowerPoint video presentations, a few extra tips can make yours even more effective and professional. Consider following these best practices:

Choose the right equipment

Video communications technology has flourished in the last few years. There are more options than ever to record presentations and deliver them digitally to a worldwide audience. A tool like Loom makes it easy to record webcam videos, screen captures, and recorded narration quickly and easily. This lets you present your PowerPoint or any other content to a digital audience without extensive and time-consuming video editing.

Include direct-to-camera (DTC) content

Personalization is the heart of every good video—nothing builds a personalized experience like a friendly face. Use a simultaneous webcam and screen capture to record yourself explaining the slides and information on the screen. Adding picture-in-picture DTC elements creates rapport and trust with your audience and ensures they stay engaged with your presentation.

Slide text: Less is more

Text is great for outlining the major themes of a presentation and adding context to discussions, but with a PowerPoint presentation, treat text as the seasoning in a recipe. Use what you need to enhance the experience, but don’t overwhelm. 

Build your slides as an outline for each discussion topic and a home for visual elements like charts, infographics, and embedded video clips. But you, as the presenter, should do most of the talking. Building your presentation this way keeps viewers focused and engaged instead of hurrying to keep up with the reading. 

Structure your presentation

Well-structured content is vital to the flow and digestibility of your presentation. When building your slides and video script, organize your information similarly to a blog post or an ebook. Start with an introduction to share your personal info and a general topical overview. Create segments that logically lay out each point or step in the process. Wrap things up with a conclusion and (if needed) a call to action that invites the viewer to take the next step—booking a call, downloading a resource, or signing up for a service.

Keep videos concise and skimmable

Digital fatigue is real. With so many videos and messages competing for our attention, creating a streamlined presentation results in longer view duration . The average view duration of a YouTube video may be as short as 40 seconds, with the median watch time averaging just over a minute and a half . 

Another trick to increase viewability is to make it easy for viewers to skim. A well-structured presentation offers natural segments to help viewers zero in on the information they need. YouTube offers a Chapters feature that lets you insert a linkable outline so viewers can easily skip to specific timestamps. 

Basic recording in PowerPoint

Microsoft offers basic tools to start recording your PowerPoint presentation. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to recording a simple presentation:

Step 1: From PowerPoint, open the slide with which you want to start your presentation. 

Step 2: Select Record from the upper right hand corner of the PowerPoint window.

Step 3: Make sure your recording and voice settings are set properly, then click the round Record button. Begin your presentation.

Step 4: Click through your slide presentation and record your audio. Be sure to pause during slide transitions, as PowerPoint will not record audio during slide changes.

Step 5: Save your finished PowerPoint video to your local device and share it through email or upload it to sharing platforms like Vimeo, YouTube, etc. 

An important note: PowerPoint’s native recording features offer some editing and highlight features. You’ll need a screen recorder app like Loom to film direct-to-camera or make substantial edits. 

How to use Loom’s presentation recording software

It's simple to record yourself and your screen presentation side-by-side using only your laptop, a built-in camera, a mic, and Loom. Using Loom to record presentations on a computer is a fantastic way to save time and guarantee that your presentation goes precisely as planned. Loom's basic version is free to use and provides users with different options to meet their unique needs best. You may record the material on your screen and even take a video of yourself presenting alongside your screen capture.

Loom is available as a PC screen recorder , Mac screen recorder , iOS screen recorder , and Android screen recorder . The two primary methods are through the Desktop Client or the Chrome Screen Recorder . The desktop versions offer a higher recording resolution (4k compared to 1080p in the Chrome extension) and additional features like camera frames and backgrounds.

In either case, learning to record a presentation is simple with Loom’s easy-to-use presentation recorder. Here’s some information to help you get started. 

You can create a Loom account using a variety of methods. Users may log in with their Google account information, or connect their Slack account information, email address, password, and name. You must first complete the registration process to have access to the program.

What is the Loom desktop client, and how can I use it?

Search for Loom in the Windows search box or click the red pinwheel Loom logo to launch the Loom Desktop Client. After you've opened it, choose the type of video recording you wish to make. Cam Only, Screen Only, and Screen + Cam are the three possibilities for the basic Loom version. As their names suggest, Cam Only and Screen Only allow you to record the material on your screen or yourself through a camera. Screen + Cam will enable you to make a presentation recording with both yourself and the information in real time, allowing others to watch your reactions to the material and connect with you as the presenter.

If you wish to record your screen, the presentation recorder has three options for defining the parameters of your video: Full Screen, Window, and Custom Size. 

Full Screen captures everything on your monitor or display, allowing others to watch and follow along. 

You may use the Window option to record a single computer application if you want to construct a more restricted lesson without interruptions. 

Custom Size is exclusively available to Pro account holders, allowing users to build custom windows to capture particular areas of their screen.

To record your Loom videos, use the built-in webcam and microphone on your smartphone or computer or additional devices as needed. Loom recommends using high-quality microphones for better audio.

Using the Loom Google Chrome Extension to capture videos

First, download and install the Loom Google Chrome Extension from the Chrome Web Store. Then launch the extension's user interface by clicking on the red pinwheel Loom logo in the browser's top right corner. You can choose Cam Only, Screen Only, and Screen + Cam, the same as the desktop client. Unfortunately, users of the Google Chrome Extension can only record their entire screen or the contents of a single tab.

The Video Control menu differs from the desktop extension, appearing in the bottom left corner of the browser window. Users may only utilize three buttons: Start/End Recording, Pause Recording, and Delete Recording.

Using the Loom desktop client to record videos

Each option lets you use Loom's camera bubble , which allows you to see and record yourself as well as a video. There is no set limit on the duration of the video, but Loom will provide you alerts to ensure you don't keep recording by accident. Once you've decided on your selections, go to the four-button Video Control menu on the left side of your screen. To start your video, press the Recording button at the top of the menu. This button has two purposes: When the button is red, it indicates that you’re currently recording, and it stops the recording when clicked a second time.

The Pause button is located beneath the Recording button and is used to pause your video. However, depending on your computer, you may alternatively use Alt + Shift + P or Option + Shift + P . The Delete option is represented by a garbage can icon, which pauses the recording and completely deletes the video once you confirm your decision via a dialog box.

How to use the speaker notes feature

Loom makes presentations easier with speaker notes , an on-screen cue card feature visible only to you. Speaker notes are bullet points or full scripts written by you and activated during recording. These prompts allow you to deliver your message with confidence, without the need to remember your whole script or utilize physical note cards. 

From the desktop app, open Loom and click Speaker Notes. Use the pop-up window to type in your notes, then resize the notes window to suit your needs before recording. Speaker notes are always presented on top, so there’s no need to switch windows during your presentation.  

How AI-generated chapters work

Want your viewers to be able to skip to the most useful portion of a presentation? The AI-generated chapter feature allows viewers to select important topics within your presentation and navigate to them easily. These time-stamped chapters also allow users to link and respond to content. 

How to use the drawing tool

Finally, the drawing tool , symbolized by a pen icon and available with the Pro subscription, can assist you in focusing on certain facts and numbers. Using this button, which includes picking a preset color, lets you make graphics that will draw your viewer's attention to key information.

Preserve your ideas with Loom’s Presentation Recorder

If you’re just starting out, learning to record a presentation with Loom is an excellent tool for creating quality content. As the world continues to move towards remote work environments, the ability to give an online presentation (and record it for posterity) becomes more essential every day.

Loom is free, so don’t wait to see how you can enhance your video presentation with video capture software.

Jan 8, 2024

Featured In:

Share this article:.

Jeong Lee works in Marketing at Loom.

Unsupported browser

This site was designed for modern browsers and tested with Internet Explorer version 10 and later.

It may not look or work correctly on your browser.

• Communication

How to Record a PowerPoint Presentation on Zoom (Audio & Video)

In recent years, we’ve seen the rise of virtual meetings. It’s now possible to connect with a global team from anywhere! When you learn how to video record yourself presenting a PowerPoint on Zoom , your content is accessible to all.

Sometimes, not everyone can attend a Zoom meeting in real-time. This is especially true if your team works across the globe. Luckily, there’s an easy solution! Let's learn how to record a PowerPoint presentation in Zoom.

Why You Should Learn To Record PowerPoint Presentations With Audio and Video

Work has changed. More than ever, you need ways to connect for meetings regardless of your team's location. Zoom is one of the most popular tools to do this.

Zoom is video-conferencing software used by millions. It’s popular because it's got a free tier, with options to upgrade to more robust plans. Zoom supports audio and video sharing, allowing you to virtually meet others face-to-face.

You can also share your screen, to show slide decks, text, video, and more. It’s a top option to share PowerPoint presentations with anyone. Learn how to record PowerPoint presentations with audio and video to pair it with Zoom.

With distributed teams, it's not always possible to coordinate a start time that everyone can agree on. Plus, it’s handy to review a meeting later. Perhaps attendees want to listen to what you said again. Luckily, there’s an easy solution! You need to know how to record a PowerPoint presentation in Zoom.

In moments, you've got an MP4 video file ready for sharing. To record PowerPoint with video in Zoom takes only a few quick steps. Let’s dive in.

Build the Perfect PowerPoint for Sharing

Before you learn how to record a PowerPoint presentation with video, you need a slide deck to share. Premium templates are your best option. These offer styling and features that you won’t get with a free option that you might find online. 

Envato Elements is a great option for this. At Elements, you’ll find thousands of PPT templates that you can share on Zoom. As a member, you've got unlimited download access. That means that you’re able to download and use as many of those templates as you want. 

For this tutorial, I’ll be using the beautiful Virtually PowerPoint template from Envato Elements. It’s a creative modern design with over 50 slides inside.

With your template open, you can start building a slide deck for sharing. As you work, know that PowerPoint slides meant for sharing online should be special. Keep the following design tips in mind to help ensure success:

• Don’t crowd slides. When you’re sharing to record PowerPoint with video, slides will look smaller to your audience.
• Use larger fonts. Fine print is hard to read on a screen, and even more so in a later video playback. Opt for large, readable text styles.
• Illustrate! Photos, charts, and infographics keep things interesting. You need your slide deck to be clear, concise, and engaging.

With these ideas in mind, you’re ready to learn how to record yourself presenting a PowerPoint on Zoom. Learn more about the art of narration in PPT below:

Prepare Your Zoom Meeting

To record PowerPoint presentations with audio and video slides, you need to open Zoom. You can use the Zoom desktop app, which is available for download. Or you can log into your Zoom account inside your favorite web browser.

If you already have a single meeting scheduled, you’ll see a thumbnail for it on the Home tab inside of Zoom. But if you've got many scheduled calls and invites, you’ll want to navigate to the Meetings tab. Here, you’ll find a complete list of Zoom meetings that you’re invited to. 

As you can see above, I've got a meeting scheduled for today at 9:30 PM. The invite has been shared with others, and I'll be the host of the meeting. Imagine in this example that we want to share a PowerPoint deck and record it for others.

To make a good first impression with your audience, it’s helpful to prep your slide deck in advance. This helps you be ready to share when the time comes. You won’t have to scramble around for your files in front of viewers. I like to open my PowerPoint, then minimize it, before starting a meeting. This way, it’s ready to roll when it’s time to share. 

To begin the meeting, click Start. You’ll see the Join Audio menu appear. This lets you choose the audio source that you want to use to capture your narration. In this case, choose Join with Computer Audio. 

Optionally, you’ll have the option to test your speakers and microphone. If you’re working with a new setup, this is a great way to ensure that you’re capturing clear audio.

Now, you’re in your meeting. Watch as other participants appear. You’re ready to get started!

Learn more about PowerPoint Sharing on Zoom below:

Begin Recording

With your meeting underway, your next step is to begin recording it. Optionally, you can start sharing slides before you begin recording. But I prefer to start the recording first. It’s easy to forget to turn on the recording once you've got slides displayed. And there’s nothing worse than reaching the end of a meeting and realizing that you’ve forgotten to record!

To begin a recording of a PowerPoint presentation, move your cursor over the menu bar in Zoom. It’s the series of options and buttons at the bottom of the app’s screen. First, make sure that your microphone isn’t muted. This setting is controlled by the Mute button, found on the left side of the menu bar. 

To record your PowerPoint in Zoom, click Record . From this point on, anything you share on-screen or say aloud will be captured in your recording.

This is also true of other attendees. If they speak or ask questions, their voices will be captured in the PPT meeting recording. You also have the option of sharing video from your webcam. This way, viewers can watch you speak as you share your PowerPoint. This can be captured in your recording too. 

It's a good idea to mention to attendees if you're recording the meeting. This ensures they're able to consent to the recording. Plus, it lets them know that you'll have a copy available for review later. Do this at the beginning of your meeting so that all are aware of the recording process. 

Share Slides on Zoom

With your recording underway, it’s time to share your PowerPoint slide deck in Zoom. Once again, return to the menu bar at the bottom of the screen. This time, you’ll want to choose Share Screen . It’s easy to find, highlighted in green in the center of the menu.

Click on Share Screen, and a settings window opens. On its Basic tab, you’ll see several thumbnail buttons. These control the source that you want to share from. Usually, there will be tabs for every app open on your computer. Plus, there are options for a whiteboard, to connect an iPad, and more.

To see how to video record yourself presenting a PowerPoint on Zoom, click on the Microsoft PowerPoint thumbnail. Then, click Share.

PowerPoint appears on your screen. You can navigate through your slides as usual. You’ll see that a green box has appeared around the border of the PowerPoint window. This signifies that this area of the screen is being actively recorded. Anything outside of the green boundary won't be captured in your recording. 

As you can see, it’s easy to learn how to record a PowerPoint presentation in Zoom. It’s a useful way to share and preserve slide presentations for others in the future! 

For best results, keep the following tips in mind:

• Narrate clearly and concisely. Remember, you’re being recorded! Speak clearly, at a cadence that’s easy to follow. Talk too fast and your words will be hard to understand.
• Control sources of audio. Try and eliminate background noise from your environment. This keeps extra sounds from appearing in your recording. And be sure to ask other attendees to mute their mics, unless they've got a question. 
• Use a clean, readable template. Premium templates like the Virtually PowerPoint deck have neatly-arranged slide layouts. These are easy for your audience to read. 

By embracing these ideas, you’re sure to make a winning impression. They help you build useful, enjoyable recordings for meeting participants to watch later. 

Save and Share the Finished Recording

When you’re finished presenting, it’s time to end the meeting and ready your recording for sharing. This is easy to do, and only takes a moment.

You’ll first want to stop sharing your PowerPoint slides when you’re finished. To do so, click Stop Sharing . This is highlighted in red on the menu bar. (It’s only visible when you're actively sharing). 

Then, end your meeting when you're ready. Click End , then End Meeting for All. Once you end a Zoom meeting, the app saves any recordings that you made during your meeting. For longer meetings, this may take a few moments. You can monitor the progress on the bar shown in the Conversion popup.

When the conversion process is complete, a Finder window opens. Inside it, you’ll see an MP4 video file. This is your converted meeting PowerPoint! You can watch it on your computer or mobile device. And it’s ready for sharing with others. 

You’ve learned how to video record yourself presenting a PowerPoint on Zoom. As you can see, it’s amazingly easy to do! It’s the perfect way to ensure that everyone can hear and enjoy what you've got to share. It only takes a few clicks.

The Top Source for Shareable PowerPoint Templates in 2022 (With Unlimited Use)

As we’ve seen, premium templates are the best PowerPoint decks to share on Zoom. With expertly-built layouts and cool designs, they’re sure to help you succeed. The best source for these templates is Envato Elements .

Elements has a powerful offer: unlimited downloads. For a flat monthly rate, you can download and use as many PowerPoint templates as you want.

With a vast library of thousands of custom PPT templates , you’re sure to find one that’s just right for you. 

Plus, Elements offers countless other creative assets. Among them, you’ll find custom fonts, stock photos, music, and more. As a PowerPoint presenter, you can make use of all of these. Together, they help you create stunning slide decks ready for sharing.

Explore PowerPoint Templates

Consider the top advantages of Envato Elements:

• Creative flexibility. Each template is fully editable by you. This lets you tailor each slide to your needs.
• Time savings. Instead of building layouts from scratch, you’re simply filling in blanks. This gives you more time to focus on refining your message and preparing to present it.
• Professional designs . Audiences will appreciate the stylish slides in your presentation. You’ll enjoy them as well, finding inspiring layouts in every template.

Envato Elements is the creative offer that you can’t afford to miss. Join today  and start exploring the vast library!

Now You Know How to Record PowerPoint Presentations With Audio and Video

You just learned how to record PowerPoint with video. This is a crucial skill for successful online meetings. 

Here's a challenge: before you schedule an in-person meeting, convert it to an online meeting instead. Now that you know how to record a PowerPoint presentation with audio and video, you can skip in-person meetings!

How to video record yourself presenting a PowerPoint

What type of content do you primarily create?

Recording yourself presenting a PowerPoint can be challenging, especially getting the technical aspects right. You need to capture your screen, webcam, and audio seamlessly while delivering your content naturally and avoiding awkward transitions between slides.

Finding a tool that integrates all these components can seem daunting. However, recording yourself presenting a PowerPoint doesn't have to be reserved for the tech-savvy or professional speakers.

Whether you're a teacher creating online lessons, a marketer producing a product demo, or someone looking to improve their presentation skills, this guide will walk you through user-friendly tools and strategies that will teach you how to video record yourself presenting a PowerPoint.

• Recording yourself presenting a PowerPoint can be challenging, but it doesn't have to be reserved for experts.
• Video recording offers unlimited reach, repurposing opportunities, and a more engaging experience.
• Use PowerPoint's built-in recording feature or tools like Descript for a polished presentation.
• Other tools like Zoom, Loom, OBS Studio, Clipchamp, and Quick Time Player can also be used for recording.
• Tips include practicing your script, using slide notes, ensuring high-quality audio and lighting, and incorporating storytelling techniques.

Why video record yourself presenting a PowerPoint? 

Video recording your PowerPoint presentations offers several advantages:

• Unlimited reach : Unlike in-person presentations confined to a specific time and location, recorded videos allow your message to reach audiences globally at their convenience.
• Repurposing opportunities: Recorded presentations can be repurposed as evergreen content across multiple platforms, such as social media, online courses, webinars, and internal training materials, maximizing their value.
• Personal and engaging : Recording yourself narrating a presentation adds a personal touch and dynamic element that static slides alone cannot replicate. Your viewers can see and hear you deliver the content, creating a more immersive and engaging experience.

How to record your presentation with the PowerPoint app

Built-in recording feature in powerpoint.

1. Open the PowerPoint slide you want to record. 

2. Click on the Record tab of the top toolbar.

3. Click on the Record button and choose from any of the following options:

• From Current Slide
• From Beginning

4. You'll see the PowerPoint screen recording window.

5. Select the microphone and camera from the icon on the top-right.

6. Click the Stop and Replay buttons to end or replay your recording.

7. To export your presentation's recording, click Export to Video within the Recording tab.

Benefits : Easy to use, no external tools needed

Limitations : Limited editing capabilities.

How to make a more polished recording of your presentation with Descript 

While PowerPoint's built-in recording features are helpful, they may not produce the refined result you want for your presentation. That's where Descript comes in handy. 

It’s a whole production studio at your fingertips, with video recording, transcription, and editing capabilities, ready to transform dull PowerPoint slides into an engaging experience for your audience. Descript also has a built-in screen recorder.

You can use Descript on Windows, Mac, or even straight from your web browser. 

Here's step-by-step guide to recording your PowerPoint presentation with Descript.

Set up your screen recording

1. Install and open Descript. At the top of the editor, click and open the Record panel. 

2. Select Screen.

3. Set Recorder settings:

Adjust the default recording settings to your liking, including the transcription language, the maximum recording resolution, and more. 

4. Set recording options. Choose which audio and video sources to record (e.g., microphone, computer audio, camera). Remember to turn the camera on to capture your talking head video alongside your PowerPoint presentation.

5. Click the Additional Settings icon for

• Studio Sound (Optional): Enhance audio quality with noise reduction and background removal
• Transcription (Optional): Enable automatic transcription for easier editing
• Recording separate audio tracks

6. Add (optional) Speaker labels for each audio track (e.g., "Narrator," "Expert") by typing them in the text box next to your audio inputs. 

Capture your screen recording

1. Select the right recording option:

• Recording into script : Choose this if you haven’t recorded anything yet.
• Replace selection : Choose this if you already have a script and want to replace a specific section with a new recording.
• Record new layer : Pick this for recording your video as a new layer on top of an existing recording.

2. Click Record at the bottom of the Record panel.

3. Drag over the area of your screen you wish to record. Click Start Recording. Press Space to start recording the full screen.

4. Click Stop to finish recording

Bonus: Descript creates separate tracks for camera, microphone, and computer audio. You can edit each track individually for more precise control.

• Do a short test recording to ensure everything is set up correctly.
• Set your recording to transibe for easier editing.

Editing and polishing your PowerPoint recording in Descript

Descript's AI video editing tool makes it a breeze to trim, cut, and splice your video footage, ensuring a seamless flow from start to finish. You can add smooth transitions and other visual effects to make your presentation pop.

Here’s a glimpse of how to edit and polish your PowerPoint recording in Descript:

Edit your recording like a doc

Did you make a mistake during a slide transition? No problem. Just delete those sections in the text transcript (created automatically by Descript) and the video will adjust to match.

Remove filler words

Sound smoother and more confident by easily removing filler words like "um" and "uh" from the transcript.

Fix voiceover mistakes by typing

Didn't nail your delivery on a specific slide? No need to start from scratch! Descript's Overdub feature lets you simply type in the correct narration and replace the audio on that slide with AI voice cloning.

Boost video quality and engagement : 

• Crisp up audio quality by reducing background noise and room reverb with the AI-powered Studio Sound feature.
• ‎Replace your background completely with the Green Screen Video Editor —look like you're presenting in a sleek studio or broadcasting from a beach.
• Enable Eye Contact simulation with AI, so it appears you're making direct eye contact with viewers, even if you’re looking or reading something off-camera.

Other ways to video record yourself presenting a PowerPoint 

Use Zoom’s meeting recording feature to record yourself giving a PowerPoint presentation. Start a Zoom meeting with yourself, share your PowerPoint window, and enable recording

Loom is a handy screen recording tool that also offers a webcam overlay. Launch the Loom app or Chrome extension and set it to record your screen and webcam. Expect high-quality recordings but no advanced editing features. The free plan offers only five minutes of recording at a stretch.

3. OBS Studio

OBS Studio is a free, open-source screen recorder/streaming software with a steeper learning curve. It’s popular among advanced or tech-savvy users who need granular customization and control.

To record your presentation, add a "Screen Capture" source to capture your PowerPoint window and a "Video Capture Device" source for your webcam. 

4. Clipchamp: Recording natively in Windows

You can use Microsoft’s Clipchamp , the built-in screen recorder and video editor for Windows, to simultaneously capture your computer screen, webcam, and audio for recording your PowerPoint presentation. It’s also available as a browser-based app. You can record up to 30 minutes on screen and webcam recordings.

Users can also adjust the screen and webcam recordings in the editing timeline separately. 

5. Quick Time Player Recording natively in Mac

Use Mac’s Quick Time Player to record your PowerPoint presentation. It’s not as straightforward as the other options on this list, so here’s a quick guide to help you out:

• Launch Quick Time Player.
• Select File and go to New Movie Recording.
• You'll be recording your entire screen in addition to recording your face, so adjust the size and location of the recording window so that it's in a nonintrusive corner of your PowerPoint.
• Go to View and select Float on Top .
• Next, go to File and select New Screen Recording.
• On the menu that appears, select Record Selected Portion and drag a border around your PowerPoint and the webcam recording window.
• Press Record and start presenting.
• You can adjust the video quality and the audio source in the webcam recording window.

How to turn your PowerPoint presentation slides into a video 

Did you know PowerPoint lets you save your presentation as a video, too? 

Here's a breakdown of the two ways you can do so—keeping all the presentation elements (narration, animation, pointer movements, timings, and so on) intact in the presentation itself.  

Save your PowerPoint presentation as a video

This creates a separate video file (MP4 or WMV) that anyone can play, even without PowerPoint. 

Follow these steps:

• Save your presentation
• Go to File > Export > Create a Video
• Ultra HD (4K): Best for large screens (if you have Windows 10+)
• Full HD (1080p): Great for computers and TVs
• HD (720p): Good for streaming online or on DVDs
• Standard (480p): Smallest size, good for phones

4. Decide on narration

• If you haven't recorded yourself talking, choose "Don't Use Recorded Timings and Narrations" from the dropdown menu
• If you have a recording, choose "Use Recorded Timings and Narrations." You can also set how long each slide shows for (default is 5 seconds)

5. Click Create Video

6. Name your video, pick a folder to save it in, and choose a file type (MPEG-4 or Windows Media Video)

Creating the video might take a while, especially for longer presentations. You can even leave it running overnight. Once done, find your video in the chosen folder and double-click to play it.

Save your PowerPoint presentation as a slideshow

This saves your presentation as a special file (PPSX) that starts playing automatically on full screen when opened. It only works with PowerPoint.

Here’s how it works:

• Make sure your presentation is saved (regular PowerPoint file)
• Go to File > Save As .
• Pick a folder to save the slideshow in.
• Under Save as type, choose PowerPoint Show (*.ppsx) .
• Click Save .

Now when someone opens the file, it will automatically play the slideshow.

Pro tips for making better video PowerPoint presentations 

Practice your script.

Recording a flawless PowerPoint video rarely happens in one take. The key is practice.

Record practice run-throughs and watch them back. Make notes on areas that need improvement or parts lacking clarity. The more you drill your script, the more confident and natural you'll sound in the final recording.

Take advantage of PowerPoint's built-in Speaker Coach . The feature shows you whether your pace is too fast or slow, your use of filler words like "um," and suggestions to improve your voice modulation.

Use slide notes for coherent delivery

Wouldn’t a personal teleprompter make presentations so much easier? That’s what slide notes are for.

Having your thoughts and talking points organized within your PowerPoint file lets you have all crucial information and prompts readily available when recording.

Go ahead and add detailed notes or even a full script for each slide. This will help you stay on track and provide a handy transcript reference if you need to do any editing or voiceover work in post-production.

Use high-quality audio equipment or turn on Studio Sound

Poor audio recording quality is a surefire way to make even the most visually polished video feel amateurish. Do your presentation justice by investing in a decent external or Bluetooth microphone and audio interface to capture clear voiceover audio.

If you must use a built-in mic, record in a quiet environment to minimize background noise pickup. Or better yet, pair up with an AI-powered audio enhancement tool like Descript's Studio Sound , which reduces background noise , reverb, and other artifacts.

Ensure a clean background and even lighting

Ditch cluttered backgrounds. You want people to focus on the content of your PowerPoint and not be distracted by the funny shapes and colors in your video. 

Your video lighting and framing matters, too. Position yourself facing a natural light source or bring supplemental video lighting to eliminate weird shadows and squinting-level glare.

Look directly into the camera or turn on Eye Contact

Looking directly into the camera is essential to create a sense of connection with the audience. Position your webcam or camera at eye level and imagine you're talking to a friend. If you're using Descript, enable the Eye Contact feature to auto-adjust your gaze towards the camera.

• Dress professionally and maintain a good posture to project confidence and authority.
• Use visuals, animations, and multimedia elements to enhance your presentation and keep your audience engaged.
• Consider adding closed captions or subtitles to your video for better accessibility and engagement, especially for those watching without sound.
• Speak clearly and at a moderate pace, using vocal variety to emphasize key points and maintain interest.
• Incorporate storytelling techniques, real-life examples, or personal anecdotes to make your video presentation more relatable and memorable .

Take your PowerPoint presentations from amateur to amazing 

Recording yourself virtually presenting a PowerPoint allows you to distribute your message using the most engaging type of content: video. And there are many screen recording tools out there that can capture your screen and web camera footage with just a few clicks. 

But how do you stand out?

By focusing on the presentation's depth, your delivery, and the video's quality. The first two are the bare minimum to communicate your message effectively. 

But the right screen capture software and all-in-one video creation tool like Descript can help you with third. Use the tool to improve the quality of your recorded PPT presentations. 

With Descript, it's easier than ever to record your screen, polish up the audio, and create stunning visuals all in one place. So why wait? 

Sign up for Descript today and simplify your workflow while creating a PowerPoint presentation video that sticks with your audience in the long term.

How do you make a presentation video with your face?

To create a presentation video with your face, follow these steps:

• Open your presentation in PowerPoint.
• Go to the Slide Show tab.
• Click on Record and choose From Current Slide or From Beginning .
• Choose your microphone and camera by clicking on a sound icon on the top-right.
• Start recording by clicking on the record button.
• Speak into your microphone to narrate the presentation.
• Your webcam will capture your face during the recording.
• Click Stop when you finish recording.
• Export your recorded presentation by clicking on File> Export>Create a video.

How do you present yourself in PowerPoint?

To present yourself effectively in PowerPoint, follow these steps:

• Determine the key information to include in your presentation.
• Design and prepare your PowerPoint slides with a cohesive theme.
• Craft a compelling introduction to engage your audience.
• Tailor your presentation to different time constraints for flexibility.
• Capture the audience's attention before you begin speaking.

Related articles

Featured articles:

10 excellent Loom alternatives to record your screen

Looking for the best ways to record your screen without Loom? Find out 10 Loom alternatives, their features, and pricing.

How to record a YouTube video: A guide for all devices

If you want to record a YouTube video for personal use or fair-use repurposing, here are the steps to get started.

For Business

Social media video marketing: Everything you need to know

Learn how to win over potential customers (and the algorithms) with the right social media video marketing tools, strategy, and optimizations.

How to record a podcast on Zoom: A beginner’s guide

Follow this step-by-step guide on how to record a podcast on Zoom, then learn about why it may not be your best recording option.

How to record a Microsoft Teams meeting: 5 easy ways

Learn how to record a Microsoft Teams meeting on any device and get answers to common problems.

10 effective how-to videos to engage your audience

How-to videos are a great way to educate your audience. Whether you’re recording a software demo or training instructions, here’s how to create a how-to video.

Articles you might find interesting

How to Make Your Own Viral Meme Video

Meme videos and social accounts that feature memes are popular across all ages and demographics because they make people smile

AI for Creators

The 11 best AI voice generators you need to try out

Discover the best AI voice generators for voiceovers, podcasts, and social media videos.

Get Personal in a Film Using a Close-Up Shot

A close-up shot influences the mood and meaning of a scene, it captures a human subject or object at close range and gives an intimate look at details they might miss.

How to make an advertisement video: Step-by-step guide

Master the art of crafting compelling video ads. Learn how to make an advertisement video that converts.

How to track podcast analytics: 5 data points to measure and grow your show

In this article, you’ll learn about some of the most common podcast analytics, why you may want to consider tracking them, and how to use the information you gather to make strategic decisions about your show.

Grow your podcast with promo swaps — here's how

Promo swaps are one of the easiest, most seamless, time-friendly, and effective ways to promote your podcast. Here's everything you need to know to make them happen.

Join millions of creators who already have a head start.

Get free recording and editing tips, and resources delivered to your inbox.

Related articles:

Share this article

How to Record a Presentation with Webcam, Narration, and More

Everyone has, at some point, put a load of time and effort into creating the perfect PowerPoint presentation, only to use it once or twice. But isn’t it a shame for all that hard work to be discarded so quickly? Is every slide deck destined for deletion after just a couple of uses? 

Isn’t there a better way to make the most out of your presentations? Well, yes. Yes, there is. 

Rather than simply creating and presenting your work once or twice, recording your presentations can give them a new lease of life. Whether it’s a data report or a self-recorded PowerPoint, you can record a presentation in real-time, or in advance to make it available on-demand.

In this guide, we’ll explore two distinct ways of recording your presentation. First, we’ll discuss how to record a presentation from PowerPoint with audio and webcam, and then we’ll look at how to turn your .ppt slides into a video.

Benefits of Recording a Presentation 

As well as there being many different ways to record a presentation, there are also many benefits of recording them. So, before we show you the ‘how,’ let’s talk about the ‘why.’ 

• Encouraging asynchronous communication : One key benefit is fostering asynchronous communication . By recording presentations, you’re letting your audience engage with the content in their own time, breaking the constraints of time zones and scheduling conflicts. This also ensures your viewers can absorb information at their own pace, and revisit it as needed.
• Boosting SEO : You can use your presentation to create a YouTube video and share it on your website to increase your online visibility and attract prospective customers. This can be a great way to expand your audience, increase web traffic, and establish yourself as an expert in your field.
• Perfecting your presentation : Whether it’s in-person or over Zoom, you don’t get second chances with live presentations. However, a pre-recorded keynote lets you perfect the content and the narration before anyone sees it. This is a great way to combat stage fright while honing your presentation skills and building confidence.

With this in mind, turning your slides into a video is a no-brainer. It’s an easy way to grow your audience and make the information you’re sharing more accessible and easier to digest.

Record your presentation today!

Download a free trial of Snagit to quickly and easily record your presentation.

How to record your presentation (with Snagit)

Depending on your audience and the type of presentation you need to deliver, TechSmith’s Snagit could just be the perfect tool for recording your PowerPoint. With its user-friendly interface and advanced features, Snagit is ideal for capturing top-notch presentation videos, in just a few clicks. 

Now, there’s no denying that presentations are better when you can see the presenter… Fortunately, Snagit lets you capture your screen and webcam at the same time to create a Picture-in-Picture video.

In this section, we’ll guide you through the steps to record your presentation and webcam with Snagit. 

Step 1: Open video capture 

First, open Snagit and navigate to the Capture window. Select the Video tab, and start by clicking the big red Capture button.

Step 2: Select a recording area

Next, you’ll be prompted to choose which parts of your screen you want to record. Use Snagit’s orange crosshairs to select a specific region, window, or your entire screen. 

Step 3: Configure recording settings

With the Video Recording toolbar, you can set options like Cursor Capture and Effects, System Audio, and Webcam. 

If your webcam isn’t showing, click on the webcam icon. If you have an external webcam, select the one you want to use by clicking the dropdown arrow next to the webcam icon. 

Step 4: Adjust your webcam

Next, adjust your webcam options to ensure your Picture-in-Picture recording looks how you want it. Here you can change the Picture-in-Picture placement as well as the shape and size of your webcam recording. You can even toggle between Picture-in-Picture and fullscreen webcam modes as you like.

The best part? You can make these adjustments even while recording.

Step 5: Manage recording

When you’re ready to roll, hit the Record button and click the Stop button when you’re finished. It’s that simple! 

And remember, if there’s an interruption (like an unexpected visit from the mailman), just hit Pause. It’s okay to take a break — your video won’t be ruined by a little interruption.

Step 6: Edit your video

Once you’ve finished recording, Snagit will automatically open your video in the Snagit Editor, which is super easy to use. From here, you can make light edits to the footage as needed. 

For example, if you need to cut or trim your footage , you can! Here’s how: 

• Set Start Point : Drag the Start handle (green) on the timeline to your desired starting point.
• Set End Point : Similarly, drag the End handle (red) to where you want to end the cut.
• Review the Segment : Before making any cuts, you can review the segment by dragging the Playhead (white) left and right across the timeline. This ensures you’re only cutting the footage you intend to.
• Make the Cut : Once you’re satisfied with the selection, click the Cut button, which will pop up once you’ve made a selection.

And that’s all there is to it! If you want to go the extra mile, you can also use Snagit to save individual frames of your video as images , which can be used to create a thumbnail for your video . 

How to record a presentation from PowerPoint with audio and webcam

Now, Snagit is great for recording less formal videos in a flash, but if your presentation is intended for a particularly large or important audience, you might be looking to create something more polished. This is where TechSmith’s Camtasia comes in. 

Camtasia is one of the smartest and most intuitive pieces of editing software out there, but it also makes for a pretty nifty screen recorder too. Camtasia is great for recording presentations when you need more control and editing powers over the final product. 

But best of all, Camtasia streamlines the process by letting you record your presentation and voice over directly within PowerPoint. 

Step 1: Set up your presentation video recording

If you’re a Windows user, you’ll have the option to include a PowerPoint Add-in Toolbar when you install Camtasia. While this feature isn’t currently available on MacOS, the Camtasia Add-in Toolbar allows you to start, stop, and control your recordings from within PowerPoint — so you don’t need to switch between applications.

Just open the presentation you want to record and locate the Add-in toolbar under the Add-ins tab. 

Don’t see the add-in toolbar? Go to File > Options > Add-ins, to enable it. Click on the Manage drop-down, select Disabled Items, then click Go. If the Camtasia Add-in is listed, select it, and click Enable.

If you’re an Apple user, don’t panic! You can still record your screen (with audio) on a Mac using Camtasia, and it’s just as easy. Alternatively, you can skip ahead to the next section and import your slides directly into Camtasia. 

Step 2: Customize your recording options

Now let’s walk through each of the options on the toolbar before we begin recording.

Record audio

The microphone button controls whether or not audio is recorded as part of your presentation. When you enable it, you’ll be able to record your narration using a microphone.

If you are planning to record audio, this is where you’ll select your microphone. If you want to record great audio , we suggest using an external microphone, rather than the one that’s built into your laptop. 

Some of the best microphones for recording video are likely to be less expensive than you think. But, if you’re on a shoestring budget, even the mic that’s built into your headphones could produce better audio than your laptop. 

Once you’re set up, be sure to test the mic and adjust the volume slider as needed. You’ll also need to decide whether or not to record your system audio, which is any sound that comes out of your speakers, such as email notifications. 

Record webcam

If you have a webcam, you can also record your camera during the presentation to create a Picture-in-Picture clip — just as you can with Snagit! 

To customize even more of the recording settings, click the Recording Options button. Here you’ll find settings that let you record with a watermark and adjust your video frame rate . There are a few more options too, but the default settings should work just fine.

When you’re ready, click OK to close this window and save any changes made.

Step 3: Record your presentation

The final step is as simple as clicking the Record button in the toolbar. This will launch your slides into the Presentation Mode and start recording.

When you exit Presentation Mode or reach the end of your slideshow, you can either continue recording your screen, or stop recording and save your file. Pretty easy right? 

Before you get started, let us show you another way to turn your presentation into a video, without recording your desktop . 

How to turn your PowerPoint presentation slides into a video

Another way to create a video from your presentation is to import your PowerPoint slides into Camtasia. This way you can adjust how long each slide appears on screen, as well as add Behaviors and Annotations to personalize your presentation and highlight important information. 

By importing your slides into Camtasia, and recording your voice over separately, you get a lot more flexibility with the editing process, which means you have more control over the finished article. 

If you do decide to record your audio separately, you might want to take a look at TechSmith’s Audiate . This advanced audio recorder will transcribe your voice over in real-time and let you edit the audio file as if it were a text-based document. We don’t want to brag, but it’s probably the best way to add a voice over to a PowerPoint . 

Regardless of how you decide to narrate your PowerPoint, here’s how to turn your presentation into a video: 

1. Import your PowerPoint slides

First, start by importing your PowerPoint slides directly into Camtasia. Once your media is imported, you can edit it by dragging your slides into the Editing Toolbar.

You can now add the images to the Timeline, and edit them like any other media in a Project. 

If you drag your slides to the Timeline, the slides will be placed in the order of the presentation, each with a default 5-second duration.

With your presentation on the timeline, use Ripple Move to create space in between slides to adjust the timing of each one. To do this, hold shift, then click and drag.

Once you’ve imported your slides and adjusted the duration of each one to correlate with your voice over, it’s time to start editing. 

How to edit a presentation video (in Camtasia) 

Add behaviors.

Firstly, add some visual interest with Camtasia Behaviors . A Behavior is an animation that brings movement to your slides, making them stand out on screen. This is a great way to bring parts of your presentation to life and take it from ordinary to extraordinary — because nobody likes a boring presentation . 

To add a Behavior, click and drag the Behavior you wish to use onto the slide you want to animate. Once added, you can adjust the Behavior using the Properties tab.

Add annotations

Another good way to grab and direct your audience’s attention is to add some Annotations, which are great for highlighting important information.  

To insert an Annotation, click the Annotation tab on the left side of the screen and drag it into the designated slide. You can then re-position and edit the Annotation in the Properties tab as needed.

Recording a PowerPoint Presentation, the FAQs

Absolutely! Both Snagit and Camtasia are excellent choices for recording a professional and polished presentation. Snagit is perfect for no-fuss recording and editing. If you require more sophisticated editing capabilities, Camtasia is the ideal choice, offering the added convenience of recording your slideshow and voice over directly within PowerPoint.

Click the Record button in the toolbar to launch your slides into the Presentation Mode and start recording. When you exit Presentation Mode or reach the end of your slideshow, you can either continue recording your screen or stop and save your file.

If you’re planning to record audio, select your microphone in the recording options. The microphone button controls whether or not audio is recorded as part of your presentation. If you have a webcam attached to your computer, you can also record your camera to create a Picture-in-Picture clip, perfect for showing the presenter during the presentation.

With Snagit, you can conveniently record your voice over as you go through your presentation, capturing both the audio and visuals in one go. If you’re looking for more advanced recording and editing options, you might also consider using Camtasia, which allows you to record your voice over while presenting. For even more control, use Audiate to record your audio separately and then import it into Camtasia for fine-tuning.

Justin Simon

Global Content Strategy Manager at TechSmith. I play a lot of golf and watch a lot of football.

• How To Rotate a Video
• How to Write A Shot List That Will Transform Your Video
• YouTube vs. Vimeo: What’s the Difference?

Subscribe to TechSmith’s Newsletter

Join over 200,000 people who get actionable tips and expert advice every month in the TechSmith Newsletter.

Win $1000

Free Video Course

Mini AI Tools

Tella Screen Recorder

Try Tella for free

October 16, 2023

How to Record a PowerPoint Presentation (with Audio)

Elevate your PowerPoint presentations with this comprehensive guide on creating captivating, self-paced narrations, enhanced with transformative tools and the power of software like Tella.

Table of contents

Record with powerpoint's built-in features, record with obs, record with tella.

Other solutions

Things to do before you start recording

Tips for creating engaging powerpoint recordings.

Engaging virtual presentations are essential in today's world. This guide will walk you through recording a PowerPoint presentation with voiceover. Doing this makes your presentation more professional and polished for your audience. Let's begin.

Step 1: Open your PowerPoint presentation

First, open the presentation you'd like to record with voice-over. This guide will be for he 365 version of PowerPoint, but bear in mind you can still do this in PowerPoint versions all the way back to 2013. The settings are pretty much the same, just maybe in a slightly different place.

This doesn't work, however, on the Web version of PowerPoint.

Whatever version you're using, ensure all your slides and content are ready for narration. This will save time and provide a smoother recording experience. Far better than simply making it up as you go along.

Step 2: Prepare for recording

Navigate to the slide where you want to start your recording. If you're planning to record the entire presentation, start with the first slide.

Step 3: Start the recording

In the PowerPoint menu, select the Slide Show tab. From here, click on Record Slide Show. This will open the recording window with two options to choose from:

Record from Current Slide : This option allows you to start recording from your selected slide.

Record from Beginning : This option enables you to record the entire presentation starting from the first slide.

Click on your preferred option to proceed with the recording.

Step 4: Recording the narration and timings

When you're ready to start recording, click on the red Record button (round circle with a dot in the center). A three-second countdown will begin, and once it reaches zero, start speaking to record your voiceover.

Remember that the transition between slides isn't recorded, so pause your narration during slide transitions and resume speaking once the next slide appears.

Step 5: Manage your recording

During the recording, you have several tools at your disposal:

Pause: Use this button to pause your recording if needed.

Stop: Click this button to end your recording.

Replay: This allows you to review your recording.

Pen, Highlighter, or Eraser: Use these tools to mark up your slides during the recording, if desired.

Step 6: Edit or remove narration and timings

If you're not satisfied with your narration or timings, you can remove or edit them:

If you're still in recording mode, click on Clear.

Choose one of the following options:

Clear Recording on Current Slide: To delete the narration and timings on the current slide.

Clear Recording on All Slides: To delete the narration and timings from all slides at once.

Consider re-recording the sections that need improvement.

Step 7: Save and share your presentation

Once you're satisfied with your recording, save and share your presentation as either a PowerPoint file or a video:

Click on File and select an option like Save or Export.

Follow the on-screen instructions to save or export your presentation.

Now your voice-over presentation is ready for your audience. They'll be able to view and listen to your narration as they go through the slides.

We hope this step-by-step guide helps you create a polished PowerPoint presentation with a voice-over. Good luck, and happy presenting!

For added flexibility and features, you may want to swing by other recording software.

For instance, OBS Studio offers a good deal of control, allowing you to tweak all sorts of audio and visual settings. However, it may be a little complicated if you're new to the game. Here are the steps to do this.

Step 1: Install OBS Studio

If you haven't already, first download and install OBS Studio from the official website . The software is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Step 2: Open OBS Studio

Open OBS Studio. You'll see a black screen; this is your canvas where you'll be recording your content.

Step 3: Setting Up Your Scene

Click the '+' button under 'Scenes', name your new scene. This allows you to create different recording settings for different types of needs.

Step 4: Setting Up Sources

Underneath 'Sources', click the '+' button. This allows you to add different sources to your scene. You'll want to add two sources:

Display Capture: This captures your entire screen. Name the source, click OK, then OK again.

Audio Input Capture: This captures your microphone. Again, name the source, select your microphone from the dropdown, and hit OK.

Step 5: Positioning Your Sources

You may see the 'Display Capture' source covering up everything. Click on 'Display Capture' source and drag it down the list until it's under your 'Audio Input Capture'. This ensures your voice is picked up over your presentation.

Step 6: Open PowerPoint Presentation

Open your PowerPoint presentation but don't start the slide show yet.

Step 7: Adjust OBS Studio Settings

Go back to OBS. Make sure your Display source is selected, then hover over the canvas. A red border will appear around your display source. You can resize and reposition this to only capture the portion of your screen that your PowerPoint presentation will take up.

Step 8: Start Your Presentation

In PowerPoint, start your slide show. OBS should now be capturing your presentation. Any slides you progress through in PowerPoint will be captured by OBS.

Step 9: Start Recording

When you're ready to start your presentation, go back to OBS Studio and click on the 'Start Recording' button located in the lower right. Once you hit this button, everything captured in OBS is recorded until you hit 'Stop Recording.'

Step 10: Save Your Recording

Once you've finished your presentation, click 'Stop Recording'. Your video is automatically saved in a specific location. To find where your recordings are saved, go to the 'File' > 'Show Recordings' in OBS.

And that's it! Now you know how to use OBS Studio to record a PowerPoint Presentation and voiceover using a microphone.

If you're looking for something simpler, ScreenPal (formerly Screencast-O-Matic) is a great choice. It's ideal for getting the job done without any distractions. However, you get less control over your content and the final product. OBS has a few other contenders, including Streamlabs . Check it out if OBS doesn't do it for you.

Comparatively, this software fares well with a broader set of controls than PowerPoint. However, they might demand a steeper learning curve, so brace yourself for a bit of a climb.

Now you're all prepped and cozy with your goals, spruced-up presentation, and audio equipment, it's time to step into the recording booth.

And folks, today, we'll spotlight this cool little tool called Tella. It's like your Swiss army knife for screen recording, fully equipped to integrate smoothly with PowerPoint, too.

Talk about a dream team!

Step #1 - Getting started with Tella

Alright, first things first. We've got to get Tella onto your computer.

There are several ways you can do this, including;

Running the Web App

Running the Chrome extension

Running the Mac App

Simply download or log into the one you want to use. It's as easy as pie.

Once you've installed Tella through the app, run it, and you'll see a slick little control bar that'll be your best friend throughout this process. If you're working through the web app, just click "New Video" to get started in your browser. Don't worry, you can still screen record through the web app.

Have your presentation ready already?

You can actually upload the presentation to Tella and run the PowerPoint through the app. Just click the "New Video" option, More, and then import your slides. All major presentation formats are compatible!

Now, we've got a couple of settings to tweak.

Click on the mic icon to configure your audio input settings. Make sure it's capturing the right microphone (yes, the one we picked out earlier). Next up, choose your recording area.

You'll want to adjust the recording frame to fit your PowerPoint presentation just right—think of it like framing the perfect picture!

Step #2 - Roll cameras, action!

Start recording your PowerPoint by hitting the red button. As you present, Tella will record your voice and slides.

You can pause, restart, or stop anytime using the controls. If you go off-topic, pause and restart.

When moving between slides, adjust your voice volume to match the mood. Keep a smooth rhythm, and your audience will follow along.

Step #3 - Wrapping it up

Breathe out; you made it!

But before we call it a day, let's give our recording a quick polish. Click on 'stop' when you're done, and Tella will save your recording.

Now, fire up Tella's editing tools and trim any unnecessary bits—like when you knocked over your coffee mid-slide (we've all been there!). You can also add captions, effects, and basically anything you need to bring your presentation to life.

Aaand cut! With your shiny new feed of your PowerPoint presentation, you're all set to captivate your audience, one slide at a time. Isn't Tella just swell?

Other solutions to record a PowerPoint

There's a whole parade of cloud-based tools like CloudApp ( now Zight ) or Loom that lets you record right from your browser! They store your recordings in the cloud, allowing you to access or share your work from anywhere.

If you're using Zight, a basic step-by-step guide would look like this:

Open Zight: Start up the Zight application on your device. Zight is available for Mac, Windows, and Chrome.

Prepare Your Presentation: Open your PowerPoint presentation that you wish to record. Make sure it's in view on your screen.

Capture & Record: In Zight, choose the ' Screen Recorder ' feature to capture and record your screen. Make sure your entire PowerPoint window is in the capture area.

Voice-Over: As Zight records the screen, start your PowerPoint presentation and provide your voice-over. Ensure your device's microphone is on and working. Zight will record the PowerPoint and your voice simultaneously.

Edit & Annotate (Optional): If needed, make use of Zight's editing capabilities. You can trim segments of your recording, add text or highlight areas for emphasis.

Save & Share: Once you're satisfied with the recording, save the file. You can also share your recorded presentation directly from Zight through a generated link.

While easy, remember, even clouds have their gray days. With these tools, you rely on internet speeds to keep things running smoothly. Plus, you might stumble upon some limitations in editing features compared to our pals like Tella.

Before recording, you need to plan and set up. Envision your end product so you can make the right choices. This lays the groundwork for great content. This plan includes;

Setting your goals

Know the purpose of your presentation. This gives it clear direction, like finding your true north.

The purpose could be educating, convincing, or rapport building. Align it with your company or personal goals.

Once you know the purpose, you're halfway there.

Creating content to fit your audience

Tailor your content to your audience. Understand their backgrounds, needs, and preferences.

Align your content accordingly. Use familiar examples and anecdotes to create a personal, engaging experience.

Let your audience know you speak their language.

Polishing your presentation

Use good design - neat layouts, color schemes, legible fonts. Make it visually appealing.

Add informative visuals like diagrams, charts, and images to convey information effectively.

Sprinkle in interactivity - polls, links, videos. This engages your audience.

Review every slide carefully to fix any errors. Consistency is key.

Polish your presentation to make it the best it can be. This will engage your audience and get your message across clearly.

Prepare your audio equipment

Pick a good microphone for clear audio . A USB mic is simple. A condenser mic offers high quality. A lapel mic leaves your hands free.

Tune your audio settings for the best sound quality. Monitor your audio live to avoid background noise.

With your microphone and settings ready, you're set to start recording high-quality audio.

Creating an engaging PowerPoint presentation takes skill. Follow these tips to boost engagement:

Speak clearly and expressively. Your voice guides the audience, so use a friendly, steady tone.

Use visuals. Graphics, charts, and animations complement narration. Strike a balance between visuals and audio.

Provide resources. Include downloads, links, or CTAs to encourage interaction after the presentation.

Edit thoroughly. Refine audio levels and flow. Even basic video editing goes a long way in delivering a seamless presentation.

With these techniques, you can create compelling presentations that captivate your audience.

Wrapping up

We've covered every tool to record PowerPoint presentations with audio. Tella stands out for its easy interface, audio settings, and editing tools. It works seamlessly with PowerPoint, too. But the tool is only part of the equation.

You must also speak clearly, use visuals, provide resources, and edit your recording.

Whether making webinars, tutorials, or virtual classes, you've got this.

Are you ready to record your next award-winning PowerPoint?

Try Tella for your recording needs. Let your ideas take flight. Use Tella to captivate your audience, one slide at a time. Create presentations that engage, excite, and inspire.

Happy recording! Go make memorable presentations that resonate with audiences.

Jul 24, 2023

The Ultimate Chrome Screen Recorder Extension (with Audio)

May 19, 2022

How to Record Your Screen on a Mac

Aug 18, 2022

How To Record Your Screen And Webcam Simultaneously

Tella — Screen recording for entrepreneurs

Learn more ->

Learn more about Tella ->

• Slide Library
• Slide Library for PowerPoint
• Downloadable slides and shapes
• Slide Library search
• Search Library via shortcut keys
• Slide Library update alerts
• Rename or delete objects
• Share Slide Library
• Save slides or shapes to Slide Library
• Save presentation to Slide Library
• Manage Templates
• View all templates and set default
• Agenda Wizard
• Create Agenda Slides
• Update Agenda Slides
• Agenda Slide Numbering
• Navigate via Agenda
• Table of Contents
• Import Agenda Items
• Save Agenda Format
• Manage Colors
• Color Palette Toolbar
• Customize Color Toolbar
• Apply fill with outline color
• Recolor Charts
• View RGB color values & names
• Theme Color Tints and Shades
• Share Color Palette with team
• Insert Shapes
• Standard PowerPoint shapes
• Callouts / Speech Bubbles
• Hand Drawn Circles
• Harvey Balls
• Create Mini Slides
• Move to Multiple Slides
• Right Facing Centered Triangle
• Status Indicators
• Arrange and Align Shapes
• Select same color or size
• Select shapes by attribute
• Align shapes
• Align to first selected shape
• Choose Align anchor point
• Align using shortcut keys
• Copy paste position multiple shapes
• Straighten Lines
• Swap positions
• Distribute evenly
• Set Horizontal Gaps
• Set Vertical Gaps
• Squeeze or expand gaps
• Remove gaps
• Group Objects by Row
• Group Objects by Column
• Send to back, bring to front
• Send backward, bring forward
• Flip or rotate
• Group, ungroup and regroup
• Edit Shapes
• Same height, same width
• Copy paste position, size
• Resize shapes
• Slice shapes
• Multiply shapes
• Stretch shapes and fill gaps
• Toggle line weight and style
• Change margins toggle
• Chevrons same angle
• Paragraph Styles
• Save Paragraph Styles
• Apply Paragraph Styles
• Use PowerPoint Indent Increase/ Decrease to apply bullet styles
• Reset Paragraph Styles
• Ticks and Crosses bullets
• Paint Formatting
• Advanced Format Painter
• Position & Size Painter
• Table Format Painter
• Style Painter
• Text Format Painter
• Change Shape Painter
• Chart Format Painter
• Angles & Curves Painter
• Animation Painter
• Cycle Accent Colors
• Format Text
• Fit text to textboxes
• Wrap Text Toggle
• Merge Textboxes
• Split Textboxes
• Increase/ Decrease Font size
• Change Text Case
• Color Bold Text
• Delete Text or Replace
• Insert Superscript text
• Format Tables
• Create table from text boxes
• Convert table to text boxes
• Convert text to table
• Insert columns and rows
• Paste Excel data without source formatting
• Paste Excel data into text box tables
• Export Table or Box Table Data to Excel
• Set cell margins
• Express Table layout
• Table stripes
• Autofit columns
• Evenly space columns
• Align shapes over tables
• Harvey Balls for Tables
• Status Indicators for Tables
• Customizable PowerPoint Shortcuts
• Extra PowerPoint shortcuts
• Add PowerPoint shortcuts
• Search shortcut keys
• Reassign PowerPoint shortcuts
• Reset PowerPoint shortcuts
• McKinsey PowerPoint shortcuts
• F4 or Ctrl+Y redo or repeat
• Printable PowerPoint Shortcuts PDF
• How to Print a Custom Shortcuts list
• Search Shortcut Keys
• Searchable PowerPoint Shortcuts list
• Format Toolbar Overview
• Format Toolbar Layout Options
• Lock or Unlock Objects
• Lock objects
• Lock objects to the Slide Master
• Unlock objects
• Proofing Tools
• Fix Lines & Outlines
• Fix Layout, Transitions, Animations
• Fix Punctuation & Spacing
• Fix Margins, Bullets, Indents
• Check for Confidential items
• Reduce File Size
• Check Slide Master
• Set Proofing Language
• Change set language for PowerPoint presentations
• Flip PowerPoint Slides
• Flip Slides for Translation
• Slide Numbering
• Manage Slide Numbering
• Slide Numbers with totals
• Add words to Slide Numbers
• Change Starting Slide Number
• Skip Slide Numbers on Hidden Slides
• Slide Navigator
• Footers & Footnotes
• Filename Footer
• Enlarge Footnotes
• Refine Slides
• Add summary slide
• Format slide title
• Display No Fly Zone
• Send slide to appendix
• Camouflage mode
• Format Painter
• Set Grayscale
• Format Images
• Compress file size
• Format Charts
• Charts Toolbar
• Config Options
• Customize Settings
• Dark Mode Display
• Review Slides
• Customizable Status Stamps
• Sticky Notes
• Tag slides with filename and page number
• Share Slides
• Email selected slides in PPT or PDF format
• Print selected slides
• Save selected slides
• Slide Library for Teams
• Team Slide Library
• Create multiple Team Slide Libraries
• Synchronize Team Slide Libraries
• Synchronize Team Slide Library to your company Dropbox/ Box/ OneDrive folder
• Updating your Team Slide Library
• Import entire presentation to the Slide Library
• Share Slide Library with a colleague
• Share Custom Settings
• Share Custom Settings with Team
• Getting Started
• Getting started with PPT Productivity add-in for PowerPoint
• Downloadable PowerPoint Elements for Slide Library
• Tutorial - How to Create Custom Paragraph Styles for PowerPoint
• Can I use PPT Productivity on a Mac?
• PPT Productivity Basic Tools Tutorial
• PPT Productivity Plus Tools Tutorial
• New Features
• August 2023 update: Color Toolbar enhancement, new icons and more
• February 2023 update: New Slide Libraries available to download!
• January 2023 Update: Agenda Wizard, Format Painters + More
• How to copy and paste formatting in PowerPoint
• PowerPoint How To
• What are the most popular PowerPoint shortcuts?
• Where are PPT templates stored? Finding templates in PowerPoint
• Pasting data into a PowerPoint table without source formatting?
• Consulting Toolkit
• How to create effective consulting slides using Minto Principles
• Missing the McKinsey PowerPoint Shortcuts?
• Missing the Accenture QPT for PowerPoint?
• Missing the BCG PowerPoint Tools?
• Missing the Bain Toolbox for PowerPoint?
• How to add Stamps or Stickers to PowerPoint slides?
• Looking for a Consulting PowerPoint Toolbar?
• Top 10 PowerPoint Hacks / Shortcuts used by strategy consultants
• PowerPoint Tips

How to record a PowerPoint presentation with audio for sharing

• October 12, 2023

Wondering how to make a video with PowerPoint? If you want to create a video presentation from your PowerPoint slides, you can use PowerPoint's in-built recording feature. The feature allows you to narrate your slides, add annotations, and insert webcam video. You can then export your recording as a video file that you can share with your audience.

This article explains how to record your PowerPoint slideshow and how to share the recorded presentation via Teams or Zoom. We'll also give you some tips on how to avoid common pitfalls and glitches that you might encounter.

Here's our step by step guide to record a PowerPoint slide show:

• Open your PowerPoint presentation and click on the Slide Show tab.

• From the PowerPoint Set Up group, click on Record Slide Show button. You can choose to record from the beginning, or from the current slide.

• A new window will open with your PowerPoint presentation in full screen mode. You will see a Recording toolbar at the top left corner of your PowerPoint screen if you are on a single monitor, or at the top of your main monitor if you are working on dual screens (as pictured in the screenshot below). You can use this toolbar to control your recording in PowerPoint, such as start, pause, stop, rewind, and forward. You can also use the pen, highlighter, and eraser tools to annotate your slides.

• To start recording your PowerPoint presentation, click on the Record button (the red circle). You will see a countdown from 3 to 1 before the recording begins.
• As you record, you can speak into your microphone to narrate your PowerPoint slides. You can also click on the Camera button (the camera icon) to turn on your webcam and insert a video of yourself in the corner of your slide.
• To move to the next or previous slide, you can use the arrow keys on your keyboard or click the Next or Previous buttons on the Recording toolbar.
• When you get to the end of your PowerPoint slideshow, you can export the video immediately by selecting export and following the prompts, or you can end your recording to review, before exporting to video format. To end your recording in PowerPoint, click the Stop button (the square icon) or press Esc on your keyboard.
• You will be taken back to the normal view of your PowerPoint presentation. You will see a speaker icon and a camera icon on each slide that has audio or video recording. You can click on these icons to preview, edit, or delete your PowerPoint recordings.

• To export your PowerPoint recording as a video file, click the File tab and select Export.
• In the Export window, choose Create a Video from the menu on the left.

• In the Create a Video panel, you can adjust the video quality, resolution, and file size. You can also choose whether to use recorded timings and narrations or not.
• Click on Create Video and choose a location and a file name for your video.
• Wait for PowerPoint to create your video. You can see the progress bar at the bottom of your screen.
• Once your PowerPoint video is ready, you can play it with any media player or upload it to any online platform.

Troubleshooting issues that may arise when recording a PowerPoint presentation

If you want to record a PowerPoint presentation with narration, annotations, or video, you may encounter some issues depending on your device, software, and settings. Here are some common problems and how to fix them:

• If your microphone is not working, make sure it is plugged in, turned on, and selected as the default recording device in your system settings (for example sometimes your monitor or webcam can also have a microphone, and the wrong device has been selected). You can test your microphone in PowerPoint by going to Slide Show > Record Slide Show > Settings > Microphone.
• If your video camera is not working, make sure it is plugged in, turned on, and selected as the default camera in your system settings. You can also test your camera in the PowerPoint app by going to Slide Show > Record Slide Show > Settings > Camera.
• If your annotations are not showing up in your PowerPoint recording, make sure you have enabled the pen and laser pointer tools in the PowerPoint app. You can do this by going to Slide Show > Record Slide Show > Settings > Pen and Laser Pointer Tools.
• If your PowerPoint recording is not saving or playing back correctly, make sure you have enough disk space and memory on your device. You can also try saving your PowerPoint presentation as a video file by going to File > Export > Create a Video.

Can I share my recorded PowerPoint presentation via Zoom or Microsoft Teams?

If you have recorded a PowerPoint presentation, you can share it with your audience via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Here's how to share your recorded PowerPoint presentation in both platforms.

How to share recorded PowerPoint Presentations via Zoom To share your recorded PowerPoint presentation on Zoom, you need to have the Zoom app installed on your computer and the PowerPoint file saved on your device or on OneDrive. Here are the steps to follow:

• Start or join a Zoom meeting and click Share Screen in the meeting controls.
• Select your primary monitor then click Share. If you are not sure which monitor is your primary, select the one that PowerPoint opens in.
• Switch back to PowerPoint and click the Slide Show tab. Begin playing the recorded PowerPoint presentation by selecting the Play from Start or Play from Current Slide options.

• If you have recorded narration or video for your PowerPoint presentation, make sure to check the Play Narrations and Use Timings option in the Set Up group on the Slide Show tab.
• Your participants will see your PowerPoint presentation in slide show view with your narration and video playing along.
• To stop sharing your recorded PowerPoint presentation, click Stop Share on the Zoom toolbar.

How to share recorded PowerPoint Presentations via Microsoft Teams To share your recorded PowerPoint presentation on Teams, you need to have the Microsoft Teams app installed on your computer and the PowerPoint file saved either on OneDrive or your local computer. Here are the steps to follow:

• Start or join a Teams meeting and click Share content in the meeting controls.
• In the share content menu ensure 'include computer sound' is turn on

• Select Browse OneDrive or Browse my computer at the bottom of the 'share content' menu.

• Navigate to the folder where you have saved your PowerPoint presentation file and select it.

• To stop sharing, click Stop presenting on the Teams toolbar.

Troubleshooting issues when sharing recorded PowerPoint presentations via Teams or Zoom

If you want to share a recorded PowerPoint presentation with your audience via Zoom or Teams, you may encounter some issues that can affect the quality or the delivery of your presentation. Here are some common problems and how to solve them:

• If your recorded PowerPoint presentation has audio or video embedded, make sure you check the option to share computer sound when you start sharing your screen. Otherwise, your audience will not hear the sound from your presentation.
• If your recorded PowerPoint presentation has animations or transitions, make sure you play it in slideshow mode and not in editing mode. Otherwise, your audience will see the editing tools and the slides will not advance automatically.
• If your PowerPoint presentation has hyperlinks or action buttons, make sure you click on them during the presentation and not before. Otherwise, your audience will not see the linked content or the action result.
• If your PowerPoint presentation is too large or has high-resolution images or videos, make sure you compress it before sharing it. Otherwise, your presentation may lag or freeze during the presentation due to bandwidth limitations.

See our tools at work

Book a personal demo with our PPT professionals

Start 30 Day Free Trial

Start your 30 day free trial - Microsoft Office for Windows

Download and Install

Existing customers download to install on a new computer

Related productivity tips

How to add animation to PowerPoint objects

PowerPoint has a number of built in functions that can enhance the impact of your slide ...

How do I create a PowerPoint Agenda / Table of Contents?

PPT Productivity add-in for PowerPoint makes creating and updating PowerPoint Agenda and Table of ...

How to protect / lock a PowerPoint presentation?

Unless you protect your PowerPoint document, anyone with access to the .pptx file can open, copy and...

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

Working with Video (Kaltura, Canvas, Zoom, and PowerPoint)

Recording an individual or group presentation with PowerPoint 365 or 2019

These instructions are for Office 365 or Office 2019 for Windows . You can download Office 365 from IUWare for free . Office 2019 is available on all computer lab Windows computers and via IUAnyWare . (See instructions on setting up and using IUAnyWare .)

If you are using a Mac

If you are using the latest version of Office 365, you can export a presentation narrated in Slide Show as a video file  which can then be submitted as a previously recorded video . Note that when you export your presentation as a video, any narrated audio that was recorded in Slide Show will play, but other embedded media files will not play .

You can also record audio onto slides in Keynote and export them to a QuickTime .mov file which can then be submitted as a previously recorded video .

Video Walkthrough

Instructions.

The following steps presume you have Office 365 or 2019 on a Windows computer.

• The Recording tab does not appear on the Ribbon in PowerPoint 365 or 2019 by default so you may need to enable it. Go to File > Options and choose “Customize Ribbon.”
• On the right side list of Main Tabs scroll down to Recording, check the box next to it, and click “OK.”

• Check and make sure your microphone and webcam (if using) are recording properly by clicking the small microphone and video camera icons at the bottom right of the recording screen.
• Click the red “Record” button at the top left to start. You can stop after each slide and review your recording or you can continue through the whole presentation. If you continue, make sure to pause between slides. The 1-2 seconds of silence allow PowerPoint to tell what audio goes with what slide.
• When you are done, click the “X”  at the top right to finish.

• Select the quality you would like the video to be. Normally 1080p (the default) is fine and leave “Use Recorded Timings and Narrations ” selected.
• Click “Create video” and tell PowerPoint where to save your video file. The small black status bar at the bottom of PowerPoint will show you the progress of your export. Do not do anything else in PowerPoint while a video is processing or it will cancel the job.
• Once the video has been processed, you are ready to upload your video to Kaltura and submit. See submitting a previously recorded video for instructions.

Group Recording with PowerPoint

If your group prefers to record the individual sections independently and at least one person has Office 365 or 2019 or can access it at a computer lab, you can compile your separate recordings in PowerPoint. Each person in the group would

• begin with a copy of the master PowerPoint file,
• delete the slides that they are not responsible for recording,
• record their audio and/or video on their slides only, and
• send the file with their recorded slides to the group member responsible for putting together the slide deck.

The person putting the slides together would add the other members’ slides into their PowerPoint file and export it to video.

Recording tips

• Team members using Powerpoint for Mac or an older version of PowerPoint for Windows can record audio onto their slides by using the “Audio”  option on the “Add” tab on the Ribbon. To do this,
• open your PowerPoint file in the version of PowerPoint that you have
• go to the Insert tab,
• click the Audio button and choose “Record audio”
• Starting from the same PowerPoint file is very helpful for the person who is compiling the recorded slides.
• After your video is created, the person who will submit the assignment for the group will upload the video file to their Kaltura account.

Submit Your Assignment

See Upload a previously recorded video for instructions on adding your video to Kaltura. Then, based on your instructor’s instructions, submit your video in one of the two following ways.

• Submit your video by embedding it in a text box in an Assignment or Discussion .
• Submit your video by adding it to the Kaltura: Media Gallery for your course

Verify the Automatic Captions on Your Video

All video uploaded to Kaltura is automatically mechanically captioned using speech-to-text technology. If you’ve ever used speech-to-text, you know it’s never 100% accurate so you need to check your captions and edit as needed to make sure they are correct and not saying anything embarrassing. The mechanical captions appear fairly quickly on short videos once they’re uploaded. You can check them either in Kaltura: My Media  if it is available in your course, or at Kaltura Mediaspace.   Instructions on checking and editing your captions are at  Accessible Videos in this book.

Note on Video Processing

When a video is first uploaded to Kaltura you will see a “media is being processed” animation  where you expect your video to be.

Please be patient.  Processing time depends on the length of the video and the number of other videos Kaltura is processing.  It will appear once it has completed processing, though you may need to refresh your page to see it. You can embed a video that is still processing in Kaltura .

A Canvas Semester Checklist Copyright © by Trustees of Indiana University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Byte Bite Bit

How to Record a PowerPoint Presentation: Step-by-Step Guide for Professionals

Recording a PowerPoint presentation can be a game-changer for anyone looking to deliver polished and professional content. Whether we are educators, business professionals, or students, knowing how to record and narrate our slides efficiently can bring our presentations to a whole new level. Forget about the days of live presentations where a slip of the tongue or technical glitch could throw us off. Now, we can rehearse, record, and perfect our slides before ever presenting them.

The process is surprisingly straightforward with PowerPoint’s built-in features. Start by navigating to the “Record” tab where we can select options to record our screen, audio, and even video through a webcam. This allows us to create an engaging presentation that looks and sounds like we are right there in the room with our audience. Just imagine the flexibility and professionalism it brings, especially when we can embed annotations and gestures using the ink feature!

What makes it even better is the ability to edit and save the recording in various formats, including MP4 video files, ensuring compatibility across different platforms. Think about how convenient it is to send your polished presentation to remote teams or even upload it to your favorite online platform. This means our hard work reaches the audience exactly as intended, with all our points perfectly emphasized and no missed cues.

• 1.1 Incorporating Visuals and Transitions
• 1.2 Enhancing Narration and Audio
• 2.1 Streamlining Presentations with Recording Tools
• 2.2 Exploring Advanced Editing and Playback
• 3.1 Mastering Presentation Techniques
• 4.1 Useful Tabs and Tools
• 4.2 Recording Narration
• 4.3 Editing and Saving
• 4.4 Subscriptions and Compatibility

Crafting a Powerful PowerPoint Presentation

Creating a compelling PowerPoint presentation involves carefully balancing appealing visuals and dynamic audio. We focus on incorporating visuals with transitions and enhancing narration with seamless audio integration.

Incorporating Visuals and Transitions

Effective visuals can transform a good presentation into a memorable one. High-resolution images, crisp icons, and thoughtfully designed layouts play a significant role in capturing and maintaining the audience’s attention. For PowerPoint, resolution options like Full HD or Ultra HD can make a big difference, especially on large screens.

Slide transitions should be chosen carefully. While flashy animations might be tempting, they can sometimes distract rather than enhance. Focus on subtle transitions like Fade or Push from the Slide Show tab to keep the flow smooth. Adding custom animations to specific elements can also help highlight key points without overwhelming the viewer.

Incorporating charts, graphs, and infographics can break up text-heavy slides, making information easier to digest. Using the Record Slide Show option allows us to time these transitions perfectly with our narration, ensuring a synchronized and professional outcome.

Enhancing Narration and Audio

Good narration adds personality and clarity to a presentation. Before recording, we need to check our microphone settings to ensure clear audio. PowerPoint’s Record tab lets us add voiceovers to individual slides, making it easy to pause and adjust as needed.

Adding background music or sound effects can enhance the auditory experience. However, it’s crucial to balance this audio so it doesn’t overpower the narration. Background music should be set at a lower volume, while sound effects should be used sparingly for emphasis.

Ensuring that the narration and audio timings align with the visual transitions creates a seamless experience. After recording, we can preview the presentation, make adjustments, and ensure the final version is polished. This involves exporting the PowerPoint file to formats like MP4 or Full HD video, ready to be shared.

Effectively Utilizing PowerPoint Features

Leveraging PowerPoint’s robust tools for recording and editing ensures your presentation is polished and engaging. Let’s dive into efficient methods for streamlining your presentations with the built-in recording tools and explore advanced editing techniques for playback.

Streamlining Presentations with Recording Tools

Recording your PowerPoint presentations transforms them into dynamic videos that can be easily shared. First, ensure that you enable the Recording tab in the Ribbon to access essential features. Using a webcam can personalize your narrative and create a direct connection with your audience.

For a seamless recording experience, we recommend utilizing the Teleprompter View . It displays your notes without cluttering the screen. Press Record Slide Show and wait for the countdown before starting.

During the session, make full use of ink gestures for real-time annotations on slides. Pause and resume recordings to maintain a natural flow. Once done, click Stop Recording . Replaying and editing recordings is straightforward. Utilize the edit view to trim parts, adjust timings, and even re-record sections if necessary. Save your recording in MP4 format for universal compatibility.

Exploring Advanced Editing and Playback

After creating your recording, fine-tune it with advanced editing options. PowerPoint allows precise control over the playback. We can adjust slide timings, overlay additional audio narrations, and incorporate screen recordings .

Reset to Cameo inserts your video into a specific position on the slide, making the setup professional. Clean up any unwanted areas with the eraser tool and clear specific parts without affecting the entire recording.

Exporting your presentation as a video is simple. Under the File menu, choose Create a Video . Select the desired quality and save it. Ensure the file size suits your needs, balancing quality and accessibility. With these tools, you maximize the impact of your presentations, delivering content that is both informative and engaging.

Maximizing Engagement during PowerPoint Delivery

Making our PowerPoint presentations engaging is vital. By refining our presentation techniques, we capture attention and make the material more memorable.

Mastering Presentation Techniques

Using a laser pointer can effectively highlight key points. It helps direct the audience’s focus precisely where we need it.

Incorporating a webcam can add a personal touch, making our delivery feel more human and relatable. This is especially useful when presenting to remote audiences.

Engage with visual aids, such as highlighters and cameos , to emphasize important content. Highlighting can be done digitally on slides, adding layers of interaction.

We shouldn’t overlook the power of audio icons for narrations. Narrating slides, coupled with recorded timings, ensures the message is delivered as intended.

When it comes to resetting parts of the presentation, tools like the retake and delete options give us flexibility. Also, we can use the pause and stop buttons to manage our pacing.

Utilize presenter view for a comprehensive view of notes and upcoming slides, maintaining seamless delivery. This helps us know what’s next without losing track.

Subscriptions benefits and training courses from providers offer in-depth tutorials and expert tips to sharpen our skills. These benefits help us stay updated with the latest features and best practices.

Finally, tapping into communities and forums can provide additional insights from fellow presenters. We learn from shared experiences, thus improving our techniques.

Optimizing PowerPoint for Different Formats and Audiences

When preparing a PowerPoint presentation , it’s crucial to tailor it to the intended audience and output format. Let’s explore some key tips.

First, let’s talk about resolution . If projecting onto large screens, we should choose Full HD 1080p or even Ultra HD for crystal-clear visuals. This ensures our images and text remain sharp.

We can control video quality by exporting the presentation as a video file. PowerPoint supports MP4 format , which balances quality and file size effectively. If our audience is using different devices, this format will be widely compatible.

Useful Tabs and Tools

PowerPoint offers several tabs for a seamless recording experience:

• Record tab : Allows us to record our slideshow, including narration and laser pointer gestures.
• Slide Show tab : Useful for setting up Presenter View and Teleprompter View, ensuring we stay on track during the presentation.

Recording Narration

Including narration can enhance our presentation. We can utilize a webcam and web camera for recording narration to add a personal touch.

To get started:

• Click on the Record Slide Show option.
• Ensure our microphone and camera are enabled.

Editing and Saving

We’re bound to make mistakes. Luckily, PowerPoint lets us delete and edit specific sections of our recordings. After perfecting it, we can export the presentation in different formats or save it directly to OneDrive for easy sharing.

Subscriptions and Compatibility

For those of us using Microsoft 365 , some features offer added benefits, such as better integration with other Office apps and cloud storage. However, PowerPoint 2016 users can still access essential recording tools, though with fewer bells and whistles.

By customizing our presentation and recording settings, we can ensure it resonates with any audience and looks professional across all formats. Let’s always aim for precision and clarity to leave a lasting impression!

Related posts:

• How to Do Hanging Indent on PowerPoint: Step-by-Step Formatting Guide
• How to Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint: Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Add a Video to PowerPoint: Step-by-Step Tutorial
• How to Make a Picture a Circle in PowerPoint: Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Print Notes in PowerPoint: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Add Narration to PowerPoint: Step-by-Step Guide for Effective Presentations
• How to Add Slide Numbers in PowerPoint: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Insert GIF into PowerPoint: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Add Hyperlink in PowerPoint: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Do a Voice Over on PowerPoint: Easy Steps for Professionals
• How to Add Notes to PowerPoint: Enhance Your Presentations with Ease
• How to Add Music to PowerPoint: Step-by-Step Guide for Seamless Presentations

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Add, change, or remove transitions between slides Article
• Animate text or objects Article
• Use the Morph transition in PowerPoint Article
• Insert a video from YouTube or another site Article
• Add or delete audio in your PowerPoint presentation Article
• Record your screen in PowerPoint Article

Record your screen in PowerPoint

You can record your computer screen and related audio, and then embed it in your PowerPoint slide—or you can save it as a separate file.

Open the slide that you want to put the screen recording on.

On the Insert tab of the ribbon, select Screen Recording .

Tip:  PowerPoint automatically records the audio and the mouse pointer, so by default those options are selected on the control dock. To turn them off, deselect Audio  and Record Pointer.

Select  Record . Use Pause as needed and Stop when you're done. 

Note:  Unless you pin the Control Dock to the screen, it will slide up into the margin while you record. To make the unpinned Control Dock reappear, point the mouse cursor at the top of the screen.

Your video is added to the slide. Right-click the video frame, select the  Start  icon and pick how you want your video to start: In Click Sequence , Automatically , or When Clicked On .

You can change the look of the video by right-clicking the video frame, select the  Style icon, and pick another shape. 

Save your screen recording as a separate file

Right-click the video frame and select  Save Media as .

In the Save Media as box, choose a folder, and in the File name box, type a name.

Select  Save.

Trim your video

Right-click the video frame and select  Trim .

To determine where you want to trim your video footage, in the Trim Video box, select  Play .

When you reach the point where you want to make the cut, select  Pause . Use the Next Frame and Previous Frame buttons to specify precise timing.

Do one or more of the following:

To trim the beginning of the clip, select the start point (shown in the image below as a green marker). When you see the two-headed arrow, drag the arrow to the desired starting position for the video.

To trim the end of the clip, click the end point (shown in the image above as a red marker). When you see the two-headed arrow, drag the arrow to the desired ending position for the video.

Select  OK .

Need more help?

Want more options.

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Microsoft 365 subscription benefits

Microsoft 365 training

Microsoft security

Accessibility center

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.

Ask the Microsoft Community

Microsoft Tech Community

Windows Insiders

Microsoft 365 Insiders

Was this information helpful?

Thank you for your feedback.

• English   Español Deutsch Português Italiano Français 日本語 한국어 繁體中文 Türkçe Dutch Polish Thai Indonesian Malay
•  Free Download    For Windows  For macOS
• Screen Recording     RecExperts For Windows Screen recorder for PC   RecExperts For Mac Screen recorder for macOS   Online Screen Recorder Record screen online free   ScreenShot Take Screenshot on PC
• Buy Now Buy Now
• Student Discount
• Resources   Screen Recorder Windows 10 Record Zoom Meeting Record Internal Audio Mac Record Gameplay on PC Video Recording Software
• Support     Support Center Guides, License, Contact   Chat Support Chat with a Technician   Pre-Sales Inquiry Chat with a Sales Rep

How to Record a Presentation with Your Face (Audio and Video)

How to record a presentation with your face? This article offers three ways: video record all presentations without limits by using EaseUS RecExperts, record a PowerPoint presentation with its default recording function, and record Google slideshows via its built-in recorder.

 Trustpilot Rating 4.7

Don’t forget to share this post!

Page Table of Contents

Updated on Jun 19, 2024

The development of technology enriches communication forms. From professors to business consultants, college to company, and school assignments to work reports, self-presenting has become indispensable in our study and work.

Adding narration in Google Slides, meetings, and other scenarios not only enhances audience engagement but also conveys ideas efficiently. So, users are more inclined to record presentations with their faces and audio.

This guide will teach you how to record a presentation with your face in PowerPoint, Google Slides, and other video narration forms. Read this article and get free video recording software to record slide about yourself easily and effectively.

How to Record Presentation with Face Using EaseUS RecExperts

A professional screen recorder like EaseUS RecExperts would be the best way to record PPT with video. It helps you  record yourself presenting a PowerPoint , including your face and audio. 

Narrators can  record PowerPoint with webcam and audio, easily record presentations on Google Slides, and effectively record a presentation on Zoom with face. This easy-to-use presentation recorder can simplify the experience of recording presentations with faces.

EaseUS RecExperts

• Record Google Slides , MS PowerPoint, Zoom meetings, and other presentations with face, audio, and video using a webcam and microphone.
• Record about me presentation, self-presenting videos, and slide about yourself without time limit, lag, or watermark.
• Record full screen , part of screen, and any region of screen on computer.
• Save a PowerPoint as a video in high-quality. The AI-empowered function can reduce noise naturally.

Now, let's see how to record a presentation with your face.

Step 1.  Launch EaseUS RecExperts on your computer. Choose a recording mode from  "Full Screen" or  "Region" . To record a part of the screen, select the recording area manually.

Step 2.  After selecting the recording mode, click on the camera sign on the interface. This will let the tool record your screen and the webcam at the same time.

Step 3.  You can also change the background with the AI Recognition ot green screen feature. Classroom, blur, studio, or your local images are supported. Just click "Webcam" > "Settings" > "Remove Background" to download and use these modules. Then, click the  "REC"  button to start recording.

Step 4.  After recording, the recording list window will open. Here you can view, split, delete, manage your recordings easily.

How to Record a PowerPoint Presentation with Your Face via the Internal Recorder

If you want to record yourself talking in Microsoft PowerPoint, an inbuilt screen recorder is provided. You can record PowerPoint presentations with audio and video through its Record Slide Show or Screen Recording feature.

Before learning how to record on PowerPoint, pay attention to the following tips:

➤ You need to have a license for Microsoft Office to use PowerPoint.

➤ Check if the webcam and microphone are pre-placed well before recording.

➤ A new recording is saved on each slide separately. So, you should cover everything on one slide and not go back, otherwise the new recording will replace the previous one.

➤ Microsoft PowerPoint only records the PPT area, not supporting full-screen recording.

➤ The saved videos are very large. Make sure your computer has enough space.

After reading the perquisites, let's see how to record a PowerPoint presentation with your face.

Step 1. On the toolbar, tap Record Slide Show or Screen Recording .

Step 2. Click Record . Then, you can select Record from Current Slide… or Record from Beginning… .

Step 3. You have entered the recording screen. In the bottom right corner, turn on the microphone and webcam.

Step 4. Click Record in the upper left corner. It starts recording the PPT on yourself with audio. Click the arrow to move to the next slide, and use the pen to write notes on the slide if needed.

Step 5. To stop recording in PPT, click Stop .

Step 6. To save a PowerPoint as a video, go to Files > Export > Create a Video in the upper left corner. The recording file will be saved in MP4 format.

Share this post on your social platform to help more people!

How to Record a Presentation with Your Face Google Slides via the Default Recorder

Google Slides is another popular presentation tool that allows users to record video with face. Unlike MS, Google Slides is a cloud-based software that requires no installation or license. But there are some limitations you need to pay attention to:

➤ Each presentation can be recorded for up to 30 minutes.

➤ You need a Google account to use this function.

➤ There is a storage limit. You cannot record new videos if the Google Cloud has insufficient space.

After reading the perquisites, let's see how to record a presentation with your face Google Slides:

Step 1. Open a browser, sign into your Google account, and visit Google Slides .

Step 2. Create or open a PPT, click the Rec button in the upper right corner, and tap Record new video .

Step 3. You will enter the screen recording interface. Press the red button to start recording.

Step 4. In the coming prompt, click Allow and toggle on Also allow tab audio to enable the camera and microphone. Now, you can record your face and voice.

Step 5. To end the recording, press the red button again. Here, you can click Re-record to start over or click Save to Drive to save the presentation as a video.

Extra Tip: How to Record a PowerPoint Presentation with Your Face on Mac

Since there is not a Mac version of MS PowerPoint, users may ask what is the best way to record a presentation for Mac ?

For how to record a PowerPoint presentation with your face Mac, you have two options:

Way 1. Use the Mac built-in recorder - QuickTime Player

Although Mac has a default presentation recorder, it cannot capture internal sound. If you want to record screen on Mac with audio , you need to download and install an extra add-on extension: Soundflower.

Step 1. Open the Soundflower download page . Then, download and install Soundflower on your Mac.

Step 2. Launch Soundflower and go to System Preferences > Volume . Click the Gear icon at the bottom-left panel. Tap Create a Mult-Output Device > Built-in Output > Soundflower (2ch) .

Step 3. Click the Gear button again and click Use This Device for Sound Output .

Step 4. Open QuickTime Player, navigate to File > New Screen Recording , tap the down-arrow icon next to the record button, and choose Soundflower (2ch) as the microphone device.

Step 5. Now, open the presentation PPT and locate the slide you want to record.

Step 6. Click Record to start recording slide about yourself.

Step 7. To stop recording in PPT, the Stop button.

Way 2. Try another presentation recorder - EaseUS RecExperts for Mac

To record presentation with face and audio directly, you can use a Mac screen recorder . Compared with QuickTime Player, it offers an easier and more straightforward solution.

Step 1. Firstly, launch EaseUS RecExperts on your Mac. There are two options, "Full Screen" and "Region," for you to select the recording area.

Step 2. Then, click on the "Webcam" button at the bottom. When a "Record webcam" window pops up, click the button to activate the webcam, and you can select the device you want to use from the dropdown menu.

Step 3. If you want to capture the screen with audio, the "Sound" button beside "Webcam" can help. You can click on the two buttons on the "Select recording sound" window to choose the audio source, such as the system sound, the microphone audio, or two of them.

After adjusting the settings appropriately, click on the "REC" button to start recording.

Step 4. Now, you can record the Mac screen and your webcam at the same time. After capturing all the content you need, hit the "Stop" button to end it, and this software will offer you a built-in video player to view the video you captured.

Guess now you have known how to record a presentation with your face . To summarize, both the internal recording functions in PowerPoint and Google Slides are limited. If you want to record PowerPoint, Google Slides, Zoom, or other presentations without any limits, use EaseUS RecExperts.

It allows narrators to record their PPT with face easily. No time limit, no screen size limit, and no sophisticated steps. Download this free presentation recorder to your computer and give it a shot.

FAQs on How to Record a Presentation with Your Face

Learn more frequently asked questions on how to record presentation with face.

1. Is there a free recording app?

Yes, there is a free recording app called EaseUS RecExperts. This versatile screen recorder lets you record everything you want, including presentation, video conference, streaming video, gameplay, YouTube, and more. You can record full screen or part of screen to your liking.

2. Why can't I record my face on PowerPoint?

Recording face on PowerPoint not working can be caused by:

• The microphone not enabled. Go to Settings on PowerPoint to check if you give access to your microphone.
• Insufficient disk space. You need to free up your drive and leave more storage space.

3. How do you present yourself in PowerPoint?

To present yourself in PowerPoint, you can use the built-in recorder in MS PowerPoint. Here are the steps:

Step 1. Go to Record Slide Show or Screen Recording .

Step 2. Click Record > Record from Current Slide… or Record from Beginning… .

Step 3. Click Record on the upper left corner to video record yourself presenting a PowerPoint.

Step 4. Click Stop to end recording the introduction slide about yourself.

One-click to capture anything on screen!

No Time Limit, No watermark

  

Melissa Lee

  

 

Related Posts

How to Record Overwatch with 4 Ways

Top 10 Best Video Player for Windows 11 [2024 Updated]

How to Record Flash Video in 2024 [High Quality]

Editor's Pick | Top 8 OGG Player Recommended in 2024

Success, thanks for submitting!

• Refund Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• Do Not Sell

Copyright © 2004 - 2023 EaseUS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

How-To Geek

How to record voiceover narration in powerpoint.

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Everyone Should Have a Portable Power Station, Here's Why

7 tips to use your massive android phone one-handed, want to uninstall a bunch of apps at once this is the app, quick links, preparation, record a voiceover for your presentation.

If you’re sending out your presentation instead of giving it in front of an audience, but you feel adding a vocal explanation would better help to deliver the message, record a voiceover narration. Here’s how to do it.

Before you begin your PowerPoint narration, you’ll need to make sure you’ve made the proper preparations.

Set Up Your Mic

First, you’ll need a microphone. Most modern computers have a built-in microphone that gets the job done, but investing in a USB microphone will increase the audio quality of the narration by quite a bit.

The built-in microphone will be set as your input device by default, so if you plan on using it for the PowerPoint narration, you don’t need to take any additional steps in setting it up. However, if you plan to use a USB microphone for the narration, be sure to set it as the input device.

To do this on Windows, right-click the volume icon found on the right of the taskbar. In the menu that appears, select “Open Sound Settings.”

The “Sound Settings” window will appear. Here, scroll down to the “Input” section and click the box under “Choose your input device.”

If you’re using a USB microphone, it will appear here. Select it to set it as the input device.

The steps for Mac users are extremely similar. The only difference is you should go to "System Settings" and select "Sound" instead of right-clicking the volume icon like on Windows. From there, the steps are the same.

Take Notes and Rehearse

With your mic set up, you’re ready to start recording, right? Well, not quite. While you may not be physically standing in front of the audience delivering this presentation, you still need to treat it as though you are. This means going through the basics---taking notes and rehearsing your delivery.

One thing you can do to help you record a successful narration is to write out a script. As with a live presentation, though, you don’t want to sound like you’re reading straight from your notecards. Practice reading through the script a few times so that it sounds natural and fluid.

Once you’re confident in your delivery, it’s time to start recording.

Open the PowerPoint presentation in which you would like to record a voiceover narration. Head over to the “Slide Show” tab and, in the “Set Up” group, select “Record Slide Show.” Once selected, a drop-down menu will appear. Here, you can choose to start the narration from the beginning or from the current slide. If you choose to start recording from the current slide, make sure that you’re on the slide you’d like to start recording from.

Related: How to Record Your Screen with Microsoft PowerPoint

In this example, we’ll choose “Record from Beginning.”

Now, you’ll be in full-screen mode. You’ll notice a few extra tools appear, including a record button at the top-left corner of the screen. When you’re ready to start recording, click this button.

When you select the record button, a countdown timer will appear, giving you a three-second delay between clicking the button and starting your recording.

You can now start recording your voiceover narration! Continue through the presentation by clicking the right arrow to go to the next slide.

You can pause the recording at any time by pressing the pause button in the top-left corner of the window. The recording will automatically end when you make it to the last slide. Alternatively, you can press the stop button, also located at the top-left corner of the screen.

If you want to play your narration back, you can select the replay button.

A speaker icon will appear at the bottom-right corner of each slide that has a recorded narration. You can also play your narration back on each slide by hovering over the icon and pressing the play button.

If you’re not satisfied with the narration, simply repeat these steps to re-record.

• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• office 2019

60 Effective PowerPoint Presentation Tips & Tricks (Giant List)

Here's a PowerPoint presentation tips and tricks guide that takes you through how to make a good PowerPoint presentation.

The best PowerPoint presentations shouldn’t be remembered. Instead, they should fall into the background to support you and the message you’re trying to get across.

Unlike good PowerPoint presentations , bad PowerPoint presentations are a distraction. You may remember them, but not in a good way.

You’ve seen them before. They might have millions of lines of text. Or a disjointed flow to the slides. Even worse, some slides feature ugly photos and poor design that detract from the message you’re trying to get across. That can even hurt your credibility as a professional or speaker.

This article will take you from finding your initial topic to learning how to make a great PowerPoint presentation. Our guide covers everything in between so that you learn how to present a PowerPoint like a pro.

These Microsoft PowerPoint presentation tips and guidelines are organized into sections. So cut straight to the advice you need and come back when you’re ready for the next steps.

Guide to Making Great Presentations (Free eBook Download)

Also, download our Free eBook: The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations . It’s the deepest resource for learning effective presentation skills for a PPT.

This eBook covers the complete presentation process. It takes the PowerPoint tips and tricks you learn in this article further. Learn how to write your presentation, design it like a pro, and prepare it to present powerfully. It’s another great source for presentation design tips.

Master PowerPoint (Free Course): 15 Essential Tips

This article is full of helpful tips so you can build a powerful presentation. You can also find more PowerPoint tips in this video lesson:

To learn even more about how to make a PowerPoint look good, review the huge list of tips below.

What Makes a PowerPoint Presentation Effective?

Knowing how to use PowerPoint and work within it quickly is helpful. But more important is making a good presentation that hits all your goals. A great PowerPoint presentation is:

• Prepared to Win . Research, plan, and prepare your presentation professionally. It helps you deliver an effective message to your target audience.
• Designed Correctly . Your visual points should stand out without overwhelming your audience. A good PowerPoint visual shouldn’t complicate your message.
• Practiced to Perfection . Rehearse your timing and delivery so that your points land as practiced with a live audience.
• Delivered With Poise . Present with a relaxed inner calm and confident outward projection. Give your audience warmth, excitement, and energy.
• Free From Mistakes . Avoid typos, cheesy clip art, and mistakes like reading directly from your slides.

Consider this your all-inclusive guide to how to make a good presentation. We’ll look at preparing your presentation and explore how to design it in PowerPoint. Plus, we’ll cover how to practice and nail your delivery successfully come presentation time.

We’ll also address what not to do in these tips for PowerPoint presentations—so you can sidestep any big mistakes. Now let’s dig into these tips for effective PowerPoint presentations.

Killer Presentation Preparation Tips to Get Started Right

Before even opening PowerPoint, start by addressing these things. These Microsoft PowerPoint tips and tricks will ensure that you’re prepared for your presentation:

1. Know Your Stuff

Your presentation isn’t about your slides alone. It’s about the message you want to get across. Before filling in stats, facts and figures, think about the narrative that’ll be discussed, why, and in what order.

2. Write It Out

Start in a Word or Google doc, and storyboard or script the entire presentation. This will give you an idea of how the information presented will flow and how viewers will see it in sequence. Learn the complete writing process .

3. Highlight What’s Most Important

A presentation covers the most crucial pieces only. Whatever you’ve been working on that led to this—a paper, a work project, a new product design—doesn’t need to be shared in its entirety. Pick key points and put the rest in an “Appendix” to refer to during the Q&A session at the end.

4. Know Your Audience

How you talk to a room full of medical professionals should be different from the way you address a room full of young entrepreneurs. Everything, in fact, is different: your topic selection, the language you use, the examples you give to illustrate points. The little bits of humor you include should be tailored specifically with your target audience in mind.

Understand your audience’s needs to create a successful PowerPoint presentation. Customize your content to meet their specific requirements.

5. Rehearse! (Yes, Already)

It’s never too early to get used to the rhythm of your presentation and take note of points you want to emphasize. While saying it out loud, you’ll start to develop a “feel” for the material. You’ll notice that some things work well, while others don’t and might need to be worked around.

6. Rewrite After You Rehearse

As you’re rehearsing your presentation, you’re bound to stumble over sections that don’t quite flow naturally. Instead of reworking your delivery, it might be time to consider the content and rewrite the areas that served as stumbling blocks.

“Editing is hard. ‘It’s good enough,’ is a phrase wannabes use. Leaders take editing seriously.” – Anthony Trendl

The most important part of creating a great presentation is the writing stage. The second most important stage is rewriting.

7. Share With a Friend

If the stakes are high for your presentation, it’s never too early to get feedback from those that you trust. Here’s an article that helps you collaborate as a team on a PowerPoint presentation. Get PowerPoint design tips from those that you trust when you collaborate.

Simple Tips to Design Your PowerPoint Presentation Better

Second only to you (the information you bring and how you present it) is your PowerPoint slides. If not designed well, a PowerPoint can be disengaging or distracting (regardless of the content quality). Here are some presentation design tips to make sure this doesn’t happen to you:

8. Keep Your Slides Simple

This is one of the most important PowerPoint presentation tips to follow when designing your slides. Keep in mind that less is more (effective.) A cluttered slide is distracting. It causes confusion for an audience: Which part of the slide should I focus on? Should I read the slide or pay attention to the presenter?

A simple, visually appealing slide will engage your audience, keeping them on track with your main points. Here’s an example of a simple slide that serves its purpose perfectly:

Minimalist slide templates like Nook can help you resist the urge to clutter your slides.

9. Limit Words on Your Slides

Piggybacking on the last point, less is more effective. If possible, avoid bullets altogether. Otherwise cut them to just a few simple words. The audience should be listening, not reading.

10. Use High-Quality Photos and Graphics

One of the most important tips for quality PowerPoint presentations is to use high-quality photos and graphics.

Earlier in this tutorial, you saw Envato Elements, an all-you-can-download service with PPT tips inside of templates. Those pre-built designs are a beginner’s best friend. They’re even better when paired with Elements’ unlimited library of stock photos .

People are more likely to take you seriously if your presentation is visually appealing. Users view attractive design as more usable. Similarly, they’ll view a more attractive PowerPoint as more effective.

11. Use Accurate and Relevant Charts and Graphs

Charts and graphs can also be distracting if they’re not used right. Make sure your information design is simple and clean so that the audience doesn’t spend the entire time trying to decipher what your X axis says. Learn more about PPT data presentation .

12. Use High-Quality, Fresh Templates

Have you seen the old PowerPoint template that looks like worn paper and uses ink splashes? Yeah, so has your audience. Templates can be distracting if they’re too basic or if the design feels dated. You need one with great design options.

Costs are always a concern. But when you use Envato Elements, you’ve got everything you need to create a great PowerPoint presentation . That’s thanks to the incredible all-you-can-download subscription package.

The best PowerPoint tips and tricks can hardly compare to the value of using a template while building your presentation.

On Envato Elements, there are thousands of PowerPoint design templates that are ready to use. Instead of designing a presentation from scratch, start with a template! Just add your specifics to the placeholders.

Templates like Galaxi are impressively designed and waiting for your slide specifics.

The best PowerPoint design tips save you time. And there’s no tip more powerful than this one: use a pre-built template . It helps you master how to present a PowerPoint without spending all your time in the app.

13. Choose Appropriate Fonts

Fonts are an important part of engaging your audience. Fonts and typography choices have a subconscious effect on viewers. They can characterize your company’s presentation and brand either positively or negatively. Make sure that you’re choosing fonts that are professional and modern.

14. Choose Color Well

Like font choice, colors cause specific subconscious reactions from viewers. Choosing an outdated color combination for your presentation will render it ineffective.

Below is an example of the Popsicle PowerPoint template , which has a modern presentation color choice:

The Popsicle PowerPoint template highlights how harmonized color palettes can create beautiful slides.

15. Clean + Simple Formatting Makes All the Difference!

We’ve got a full tutorial on how to make a good presentation slide . Give it a read through and review the accompanying video. Just remember, less is more. The focus is you and your message , not your slides.

16. Make Sure All Objects Are Aligned

A simple way to create a well-designed presentation is to make sure all items on a slide are intentionally aligned. To do this, hold down Shift and select all the objects you want to include. Then choose Arrange in the options bar and apply Alignment Type .

17. Limit Punctuation

This isn’t the place for exclamation points. Emphasize your points (while speaking). Don’t enlist punctuation to do this for you. (Leave these at home!!!)

18. Avoid Over-Formatting Your Points

This PowerPoint presentation tip is simple. There’s no need to have every word of every bullet point capitalized, or to have all your bullet points in title case. If possible, drop bullets altogether. Again, the simpler, the better!

Limit your text formatting, including reducing the use of bullets, underline, and other effects. Compare the before example on the left to the revised version on the right.

19. Combine Information With Graphics in PowerPoint

One of the most powerful presentation skills for PPT is using infographics. With the right type of visuals, slides come to life and reduce the text in favor of graphics.

Infographics help combine information with graphics. It’s easier to explain complex ideas when you use visual formats that are intuitive.

Practice Presentation Tips: Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse!

Delivery is probably more important than the actual content. Here’s how to become more aware of your own unique ticks, and how to present like a polished pro:

20. I’ll Say It Again, Rehearse!

Just do it. Again and again. Experiment with pauses, gestures, and body language. Practice around one hour for every minute of your speech.

21. Practice With a Timer

Consistency is key to an effective PowerPoint presentation. The timing should be similar (ideally the same) each time you rehearse. This one will especially pay off when it’s time to present in front of your audience.

22. Slow It Down

Many of the best speakers today intentionally speak slowly. You’ll have the chance to emphasize, appear more thoughtful, and make your information easier to digest.

23. Pause More Often

Like the prior tip, pausing more often allows your main points to be emphasized and gives time for information to sink in. You need to let key points breathe a little before rushing into the next section.

24. Record Yourself

Use your phone’s voice recorder. Assess and critique yourself. Consider:

• Are your pauses too short or too long?
• Are you speaking slowly enough? Too slow?
• When you’re nervous, does your voice get high like the mice in Cinderella?

It’s always weird to hear your own voice recorded; don’t stress it. Use this as a time to adjust.

25. Choose Three Focal Points in the Room

If you stare at the same spot (or even creepier, the same person) the entire time, your presentation will be ineffective (and awkward.) People will be distracted by you, wondering what you’re staring at.

Try this: pick three points in the room (typically: left, center, right). Take time to direct your delivery toward each physical focal point in the room. Also, focus on the center when making your primary points.

26. Vary Your Sentence Length

This makes you sound more interesting, and it’s easier for your audience to follow. Think short and punchy. Or go long and complex for dramatic effect.

27. Modulate!

Don’t speak in monotone for your whole presentation. Be conscious of raising and lowering your voice tone. Otherwise, people will tune you out, and you’ll come across like the teacher in Charlie Brown.

28. Practice in Front of a Mirror

What you look like is as important as how you sound. Pretend you’re having a normal conversation, and allow your hands to move with your speech to emphasize your points. Just don’t get carried away! (I’m thinking Brene Brown or President Obama , not your Aunt Jamie after a few gin and tonics.)

29. Use “Present Mode” When Rehearsing

When you finally are ready to hit the Present button in PowerPoint, make sure you use the Present Mode option. This allows you (and only you) to view extra notes about each slide—just in case you forget something!

30. Practice With New Audiences

If possible, try doing a few real live test runs as a webinar or even at a local Toastmasters organization to get some feedback from a live audience.

31. Engage the Audience by Asking Questions

There’s no reason that a presentation should be one-sided. Why not invert the format and ask your audience a question?

To learn how to create a slide that kicks off a Q&A, use this article . These PowerPoint design tips help you create an engaging and exciting discussion.

Helpful Tips to Step Up and Deliver Come Presentation Time

When the actual day arrives, there are only a few last PowerPoint presentation tips and guidelines to keep in mind:

32. Take a Deep Breath

Deep breathing is proven to relieve stress. It’s simple, and it’ll help you remain calm and in the moment, even up to the last minute before starting.

33. Lighten Up Your Mood

Tell yourself a joke or watch a funny video clip. Do this before the presentation, of course. Research concludes that happy people are more productive. More productive is more focused and able to perform better.

34. Remind Yourself to Take It Slow

When we’re stressed or nervous (or both), we tend to speak faster. Consciously, take yet another deep breath and remind yourself to take it slow!

35. Read the Room

Every presentation room has a temperature. It’s your job as a speaker to gauge it and tailor your presentation to it.

Here’s a great example. Layoffs are coming at a company, and you’re asked to speak to an audience. Even if the audience isn’t personally affected by the actions, you’ve got to consider the morale of the workforce.

Skilled speakers have a knack for reading the energy of the room and adjusting their presentation on the fly.

The last thing that group will want to hear is how strong the economy is and why the company is the best place to work. That doesn’t mean that you’ve got to align to their uncertainty, but don’t go too far against the grain while presenting.

Robert Kennedy III is a master of bringing energy and aligning a speech to the audience. Here’s his advice for adjusting:

“It can be hard to wake up a “dead” crowd but go for it. Most of all, don’t take their energy personally. Focus on serving them with every bit of your fiber then leave empty.”

36. Fake It ‘Til You Make It!

Go forward with confidence. If you act confident, you’ll start to feel more confident. Move slowly with grace, speak clearly, smile, wear something nice. You’ll appear confident to all attendees (no matter how you feel internally).

PowerPoint Presentation Tips and Tricks to Help Avoid Mistakes (What Not to Do)

Most importantly, focus on what you can do to make your presentation better. There are a few important things not to do that we’ve got to address. Here are a handful of PowerPoint presentation tips and tricks to help you avoid missteps.

37. Stop With the Sound Effects

Sound effects are distracting and outdated. In most cases, avoid them. Add audio or music to your presentation to inject interest or highlight an important point, but it’s something to take extra care with. If you insert audio, then make sure your use really connects with your audience and has a fresh approach. Otherwise, it’s best to leave it out.

38. Don’t Use Flashy Slide Transitions

Again, this is distracting and outdated. Use transitions and subtle animations in your PowerPoint presentation. But you need to take care and do it right .

39. Beware of Clip Art

This PowerPoint presentation tip shouldn’t even have to be said. But please, please don’t use clip art. Use professional graphics instead.

40. Don’t Be Afraid to Be Afraid

The fear of public speaking is a real one. Many beginners think that if they’re feeling nervous that a presentation won’t go well or succeed. That might lead them to cancel the presentation.

Here’s a tip from expert Sandra Zimmer, who leads The Self-Expression Center on conquering your fears before you take the stage:

“Get out of your head and into your body. I do this through a grounding exercise that really works to calm nerves and bring you present in the moment.”

If you think that public speaking fears aren’t normal, you might never give your award-winning presentation. So don’t be afraid to be afraid, and acknowledge it’s part of the process!

41. Don’t Read Directly During Your PowerPoint Presentation

If you spend your entire presentation looking at the screen or your note cards, you’re sure to lose your audience’s attention. They’ll disengage from what you’re saying, and your presentation will fall flat.

Reading from your paper or screen also makes it look like you’re not prepared. Many people do it, but no one should. As a general rule, only present something you know well and have, at least mostly, memorized the main points of.

42. Don’t Miss Out on PowerPoint Customizations

Many new PowerPoint users often make significant mistakes when using Envato Elements designs.

The best way to see how to make a good presentation PPT is to start with designs from others. That means using a template, but that doesn’t mean you can’t customize them!

Don’t forget that PowerPoint templates are infinitely customizable. Think of them as guides with built-in presentation design tips.

To see more presentation tips that show you what not to do, make sure to check out our guide .

Work in PowerPoint More Effectively (Tips & Tricks to Level Up Your PPT Skills)

These PowerPoint tips will help you get the most out of the application to level up your next presentation. Let’s dive in.

43. Use the Visual Guides

When you’re designing your next PowerPoint presentation, it helps to create a sense of visual rhythm. Slides that have objects aligned and centered are more likely to resonate with an audience.

44. Use a Few Animations (Tastefully)

Animations in effective PowerPoint presentations are a slippery slope. We’ve all sat through presentations where there were so many objects in motion that it was easy to lose focus on the key ideas in the presentation.

But that’s why animations get an unfairly bad reputation. Use animations to create motion and hold an audience’s attention. Use them sparingly and on key elements on your slide, and you’ll capture that attention properly.

45. Stage Key Content With Animations

You just learned that animations should avoid being distracting. But there’s an important principle to using animations properly. It’s called staging content.

Staging content means that the content appears step by step. There’s nothing worse than overwhelming an audience with all your content at once. But when you stage content, bring it on step by step.

Take it from presentation pro Suzannah Baum :

“If you’re sharing a slide with lots of different points on it, using the animation to reveal those points one at a time is a way to keep the presenter’s content flowing smoothly.”

For more animation presentation tips and tricks, follow our guide .

46. Add a Video to Your PowerPoint

When you’re sharing a big idea in your presentation, it helps to share your perspective from a few different angles. Adding a video to supplement your content can do just that. Luckily, it’s easy to add and embed a YouTube video in your next PowerPoint presentation.

47. Add Charts & Graphs

Charts and graphs can help you tell stories with data. It’s easy for an audience to zone out when you throw a big data table or set of statistics at them.

instead, convert those to charts and graphs. Try out our tutorial to learn how to edit those graphs.

48. Build Your Own Infographics With SmartArt

Earlier in this tutorial, we gave you one of my favorite PowerPoint design tips: use infographic templates.

Here’s another. One of my favorite PowerPoint features is SmartArt, which allows you to build infographics right inside the app.

You don’t have to use another graphic design app like Photoshop or Illustrator to add visuals. Instead, try out SmartArt to help you build graphics that are easy to update.

49. Use Presenter View

Remember that when you use the PowerPoint, you’ re the presentation. The slides are just there to reinforce what you’ve got to say and support your speaking points.

That’s why I always recommend using Presenter view. More often than not, you’re going to have several displays. Presenter view shows your content on your screen, while your presentation is displayed on another screen.

50. Track Your PowerPoint Changes

One of my favorite PowerPoint design tips is to collaborate. Those who know you best will suggest compelling changes that are sure to help you succeed.

As you start collaborating on your presentation, it helps to keep track of proposed and included PowerPoint changes. Use this article to track changes made by others.

10 More Advanced PowerPoint Tips & Tricks

Really need to wow an audience with a good PowerPoint presentation? Give these tips a try to make an unforgettable impression:

51. Engage With an Interactive Quiz

A good PowerPoint presentation gets your audience involved. One of the best PowerPoint tricks is to do that with a quiz. By engaging audiences, a quiz makes your slides memorable.

By adding trivia, you’ll see how to present a PowerPoint in a way that people will love. Channel your inner game-show host today. MIDTEST is a  good PowerPoint presentation  with quiz slides.

52. Illustrate With Custom Image Masks

One of the top PowerPoint tips is to illustrate your slides. But you can go beyond simple, rectangular images on each slide.

The Burte template is full of  PowerPoint tricks , including custom image masks. Image masks shape photos into unique works of art. And thanks to premium templates, you can style photos just like this. Masks overlay your photos onto geometric shapes, instantly elevating your style.

53. Print Handouts With Extra Notes

Wonder how to give a good presentation PPT that audiences will remember? Give them a piece of it to take home.

PowerPoint makes it easy to print handouts with room for notes on the page. This way, audiences can keep copies of your slides, along with their own notes. This is the perfect way to ensure everyone engages with and retains your content.

54. Make Bulk Edits With Master Slides

When you think about how to present a PowerPoint, consider your branding. That means keeping your logo front and center in the eyes of an audience. But if you’re working with a lengthy slide deck, this could seem daunting.

That’s where master slides come in. They’re common in premium layouts, and they’re a leading example of presentation skills for PPT. Master slides let you make bulk edits fast.

55. Shrink File Sizes for Sharing

Many of the top presentation tips involve making your slides more accessible. Often, that involves sharing them with audiences online.

You’ll often find that email clients and cloud services limit the size of files that you share. This can be a problem with large PPT slide decks. But there are a few quick steps you can take to reduce PPT file size. Cut graphics, scale down photos, and more.

56. Map Processes With Flowcharts

As you consider how to do a good PowerPoint presentation, think of ease of understanding. After all, you’re trying to explain something to your audience.

The  Flowcharts in Infographics  template seamlessly illustrates ideas and processes. A flowchart maps out a process in a visual way. Instead of resorting to endless narration, try a quick illustration like this. It saves you time and effort, and your audience is sure to thank you.

57. Use Brand-Specific Colors

Using presentation skills for PPT helps form an association between your message and branding. There’s no better way to do that than with your brand colors.

PowerPoint makes it easy to change color themes, adding your brand colors and logo to each slide. This is one of the top PowerPoint tricks for marketing presentations.

58. Build Social Media Posts in PPT

A good PowerPoint presentation doesn’t have to be shared through a projector. Use the app and templates to build amazing illustrations to use anywhere.

A template like Soffee helps you learn how to present a PowerPoint easily with a pre-built design.

Try using PowerPoint to create social media posts. It helps you engage with your audience, with no need to design custom layouts from scratch.

59. Be Industry-Specific

One of the top presentation tips in 2024 is to be industry-specific. That means avoiding generic layouts and choosing something more customized.

This offers two key advantages. First, you save time by having layouts built for you. Second, you gain design inspiration for your specific topic. Themed templates are truly the best of both worlds.

The Medical and Health template is a good PowerPoint presentation with a set theme.

60. Design for Online (Virtual) Sharing

Last but not least in our list of PowerPoint tips comes virtual presenting. More and more often, slides will be shared with online audiences around the globe.

Why not design your slides for that very purpose? And then learn how to share flawlessly with a global team? It’s one of the top presentation tips for 2024. Embrace it today.

More Great PowerPoint Tutorial Resources

We’ve built a resource for Microsoft PowerPoint that you’re sure to want to try. It includes countless PowerPoint tips and tricks. It’s called How to Use PowerPoint (Ultimate Tutorial Guide) and has all the PowerPoint design tips you need.

Discover More Top PowerPoint Template Designs From Envato Elements for 2024

You’ve just seen our favorite powerful PowerPoint presentation tips and guidelines to help you improve your speaking. We’ve also mentioned Envato Elements, an incredible all-you-can-download source for top PowerPoint designs .

Here are five of the best PowerPoint templates that you can use to create your best presentation yet:

1. Galaxi PowerPoint Template

Blast off to success with the help of this PowerPoint template! Think of the pre-built slide designs as pro PowerPoint design tips. They’re built by professional graphic designers. All the popular and modern slide styles that are perfect for your next presentation. Use Galaxi’s five styles and 30 designs to create a great presentation.

2. Masmax PowerPoint Template

We selected templates for this article that match the PowerPoint tips and tricks provided. Masmax fits the bill perfectly across its 234 unique slide designs. These slide designs are sure to align with the latest in design expectations.

3. STYLE Multipurpose PowerPoint Template V50

Style is subjective, but we can all agree that this template is stunning! The light and airy slide designs are built with fashion-focused designs in mind. But that doesn’t mean that it’s not perfect for most presentations. When learning to present a PowerPoint, remember that templates can be customized to suit your purpose.

4. Peachme Creative PowerPoint Template

Peachme has image-focused slides with splashy designs. The slides are colorful and perfect for a modern presentation. Don’t worry about remembering all the PowerPoint design tips because they’re included in the pre-built slides. Use Peachme’s designs for your presentation today.

5. Buizi Office Building Rent PowerPoint Template

Buizi markets itself as a real estate focused template. It’s ideal for that purpose because of the minimal, image-focused slide designs. But that also makes it a perfect choice for presentations in many fields.

We’ve just scratched the surface of PowerPoint design tips with these five options. Here are many more, bundled inside of the best roundups on Envato Tuts+:

How to Build a Good PowerPoint Presentation Quickly (In 2024)

You’ve already seen effective presentation skills PPT techniques. But you may be wondering exactly how to do a good PowerPoint presentation. It only takes a few clicks. Let’s learn how in just five steps.

For this mini-tutorial, we’ll use the Enjoy PowerPoint Template from Envato Elements. You’ll see that it’s a beautiful template that helps you learn how to present a PowerPoint by giving you every object and layout you need.

Let’s get started:

1. Choose Your Slides

As you can see, a template like Enjoy has dozens of unique slides inside. The key to how to give a good presentation PPT is to choose only the slides that you need.

One of the best PowerPoint tricks is to start by selecting slides you wish to use from your template.

In PowerPoint, scroll through the sidebar on the left to view different slide layouts. Right-click and choose Delete to remove unwanted designs. Plus, you can click and drag slide thumbnails to reorder them in the deck.

2. Add Text

Consider how to do a good PowerPoint presentation without investing a ton of time. That’s where premium templates come in.

One of our top presentation tips when working with a PPT is to lean on the pre-built text boxes for your content.

To add custom text, simply click and select the contents of any text box on your slide. Then, type in your own words. Repeat as needed throughout your slide deck.

3. Customize Fonts

With text selected, it’s easy to customize fonts on each slide. Find the Font section on PowerPoint’s Home tab. From there, you’ve got a variety of dropdown options.

Another of our top tips for presentation tricks is to use a custom font setting in your template.

Click to change the font, font size, and more. You can also use the buttons on the left to add bolds, italics, and more.

Need more custom font styles? As an Envato Elements subscriber, you’ve got instant access to thousands of custom fonts . Use them in your presentation with ease.

4. Insert Images

Slides like this one contain an image placeholder. That’s another advantage found only with premium templates. These make adding images a breeze.

Add images to your PPTX template for more visually interesting slides.

To get started, find an image file stored on your computer. Then, drag and drop it over the placeholder. PowerPoint will import it, sized and scaled for a perfect fit.

5. Change Colors

One of the top effective presentation skills is changing shape colors. This helps you control the look and feel of each slide.

With a shape selected, find the Shape Format tab on PowerPoint’s ribbon. Then, click on the Shape Fill dropdown. You’ll see a color chooser menu appear. Click on any thumbnail to apply it to the shape or browse through the Gradient and Texture options.

Start Putting These PowerPoint Presentation Tips & Tricks Into Use Today!

Learning to write, design, and present a PowerPoint presentation is an invaluable skill, no matter where you use it. If you’re a good communicator of important messages, you’ll never go hungry.

Luckily, improving PowerPoint presentations isn’t as hard as it seems. Follow these tips for PowerPoint presentations to design and deliver with greater confidence.

Remember: Less is more (effective) . Use PowerPoint presentation templates for better design and more effective visual impact. And you can customize a PPT template quickly , with the right workflow.

Related Articles

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Reading Lists
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

How to Make a “Good” Presentation “Great”

• Guy Kawasaki

Remember: Less is more.

A strong presentation is so much more than information pasted onto a series of slides with fancy backgrounds. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others. Here are some unique elements that make a presentation stand out.

• Fonts: Sans Serif fonts such as Helvetica or Arial are preferred for their clean lines, which make them easy to digest at various sizes and distances. Limit the number of font styles to two: one for headings and another for body text, to avoid visual confusion or distractions.
• Colors: Colors can evoke emotions and highlight critical points, but their overuse can lead to a cluttered and confusing presentation. A limited palette of two to three main colors, complemented by a simple background, can help you draw attention to key elements without overwhelming the audience.
• Pictures: Pictures can communicate complex ideas quickly and memorably but choosing the right images is key. Images or pictures should be big (perhaps 20-25% of the page), bold, and have a clear purpose that complements the slide’s text.
• Layout: Don’t overcrowd your slides with too much information. When in doubt, adhere to the principle of simplicity, and aim for a clean and uncluttered layout with plenty of white space around text and images. Think phrases and bullets, not sentences.

As an intern or early career professional, chances are that you’ll be tasked with making or giving a presentation in the near future. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others.

• Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist at Canva and was the former chief evangelist at Apple. Guy is the author of 16 books including Think Remarkable : 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference.

Partner Center