Whereas one-page slides do not need numbering, you cannot say the same for longer and larger presentations which usually run into tens or hundreds of pages. In such cases, it makes perfect sense to number the slides for easy reference.
So, we’ll show you how to add, format, and remove slide numbers from your PowerPoint presentation.
Adding Slide Numbers in PowerPoint
Adding slide numbers in PowerPoint is easy and straightforward. Here’s how to go about it:
Launch PowerPoint on your desktop. Open the PowerPoint presentation you want to number. Click on the Insert tab in the ribbon area. Then click on Header and Footer. On the dialog box, check the Slide number box. To add a page number to the current slide only, click on Apply. To add slide numbers to all the pages, click Apply to All instead. There’s also the provision to add the current date and time. If your first page also doubles as your title page, you definitely don’t want a slide number there. To prevent that, simply check the Don’t show on title slide box.
If you want to be a little adventurous, you can also add the Zoom effect.
Repositioning Slide Numbers in PowerPoint
If, for some reason, you don’t like the placement of the slide number, you can easily reposition it to your liking. You can do this two ways—for specific or all slides.
Repositioning Slide Numbers for a Specific Slide
To reposition the slide number for a particular slide in PowerPoint:
Go to the slide number and click on it once a crosshair appears. Now drag the Slide Number box to any location of your choice. This can be the header, footer, or even side panels; it’s up to you.
Repositioning Slide Numbers for All Slides
To reposition the slide numbers for all slides in PowerPoint:
Click on the Slide Number box. Go to the ribbon and click on the View tab. Go back and click on Slide Master. Now, drag the Slide Number box to your desired location. When done, click on Close Master View.
Formatting Slide Numbers
You can change the font type, size, and color of your slide numbers in PowerPoint. You can even use special characters like Roman, Chinese, or Hebrew numerals and more. To do so:
Click on the Slide Number box. Select or highlight the slide number inside the box by double-clicking. From the popup toolbar options, select your font and size. You can also bolden, underline, or italicize the slide number to your taste. When done, click on Close Master View.
Removing Slide Numbers in PowerPoint
Removing slide numbers in PowerPoint is also easy and straightforward. You can equally do it in two ways for short and long presentations.
Removing Slide Numbers from a Specific Slide
To remove the slide number from a particular slide:
Open the PowerPoint presentation. Click on the Slide Number box to select it. Press the Delete key on your keyboard.
Removing Slide Numbers from All Slides
If you want to remove slide numbers from all pages:
Open the PowerPoint presentation in question. Click on the Insert tab in the ribbon area. Click on Header and Footer. On the Header and Footer dialog box, uncheck the Slide number box. Now click on Apply to All.
You can add, format, and remove PowerPoint slide numbers across all platforms, including online and mobile. It’s essentially the same process.
Keep Track of Your PowerPoint Slides.
If your PowerPoint presentation runs into dozens or hundreds of slides, you’ll be better off numbering it. This way, you can easily reference a particular page. It also makes it easier for your viewers to keep track of your slides as they read or study. It helps them track their progress and not get lost along the way.
Adding, formatting, and removing slide numbers is another simple way of optimizing your PowerPoint presentations for maximum impact.
