Presentation Tips

If you don't know all the handy shortcuts, controlling your computer can distract your audience from your presentation. Here are a few shortcuts which can be used during a PowerPoint® presentation.

PowerPoint® 2000+ Tips

For PC using PowerPoint® 2000+

  • End slide show: ESC or '-' (HYPHEN)
  • Start or stop black screen: B or '.' (PERIOD)
  • Start or stop white screen: W or ',' (COMMA)
  • Hide the pointer: CTRL+H
  • Return to first slide: Both mouse buttons for 2 seconds
  • Advance slide: N, ENTER, PAGE DOWN, RIGHT ARROW, DOWN ARROW,
  • SPACEBAR (or click the mouse)
  • Back up a slide: P, PAGE UP, LEFT ARROW, UP ARROW, or BACKSPACE

For MAC using PowerPoint® 2000+

  • End slide show: Esc, Command + '.' (PERIOD) or '-' (HYPHEN)
  • Start or stop black screen: B or '.' (PERIOD)
  • Start or stop white screen: W or '.' (PERIOD)
  • Hide the pointer: Command + H
  • Go directly to slide: (slide #) + enter
  • Advance slide: N, ENTER, PAGE DOWN, RIGHT ARROW, DOWN ARROW, SPACEBAR (or click the mouse)
  • Back up a slide: P, PAGE UP, LEFT ARROW, UP ARROW, or BACKSPACE

You can use the following shortcut keys while running your slide show presentation in full-screen mode. A shortcut key is a function key or key combination, such as F5 or CTRL+A, that you use to carry out a menu command. In contrast, an access key is a key combination, such as ALT+F, that moves the focus to a menu, command, or control.

PowerPoint® 2003/XP

For PC using PowerPoint® 2003/XP

  • Advance slide: N, ENTER, PAGE DOWN, RIGHT ARROW, DOWN ARROW, or the SPACEBAR (or click the mouse)
  • Back up a slide: P, PAGE UP, LEFT ARROW, UP ARROW, or BACKSPACE
  • Stop or restart an automatic show: S or PLUS SIGN
  • End slide show: ESC, CTRL+BREAK, or HYPHEN
  • Start or stop black screen: B or '.' (PERIOD)
  • Start or stop white screen: W or ',' (COMMA)
  • Return to first slide: 1+ENTER
  • Hide the pointer: CTRL+H
  • Erase on-screen annotations: E
  • Redisplay pointer/change pointer to pen: CTRL+P
  • Redisplay pointer/change pointer to arrow: CTRL+A
  • Hide pointer/navigation button in 15 seconds: CTRL+U
  • Display shortcut menu: SHIFT+F10 (or right-click)

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Source: Microsoft® Office® 2003 help files