2 Easy Ways to Add Transitions to a PowerPoint Presentation

PDF download Download Article
An easy-to-follow guide to create animated transitions between PowerPoint slides
PDF download Download Article

Is your PowerPoint presentation boring? Spice it up by adding transitions between your slides! Slide transitions are effects that happen when you move from one slide to the next during a presentation and can make your presentation a little more interesting. This wikiHow article shows you how to add transitions to PowerPoint on your PC or Mac, and using the mobile app using an Android, iPhone, or iPad.

Things You Should Know

  • Add a transition from one slide to another by selecting an option from the "Transition" tab.
  • Click or tap "Apply to all" if you want that transition to appear on every slide throughout your presentation.
  • If you don't apply a single transition to all your slides, you can use different ones on each slide.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

On a Computer

PDF download Download Article
  1. You can either create a new presentation on your PC or Mac or open a file by going to File > Open.
  2. You will see your slides in the panel on the left side of your screen.
    Advertisement
  3. You'll see a bunch of transitions that are available. Click the arrow icon to see more options.
    • Click a transition to see a preview of it.
    • For example, if you have slide 3 picked and choose a "Fade" transition, slide 2 will fade out to reveal slide 3.
  4. You'll see this to the right of the transition options. Click the down arrow to see more effect options. However, not every transition has effect options.
    • There is also "Sound" so you can set a specific sound to that transition and "Duration" so you can adjust how long the transition effects last.
  5. You'll see this button in the far left corner of the editing ribbon. This will preview the transition again along with your "Sound", "Duration", and "Effect Options" choices. You can go back and tweak any of those settings to get your transition just right.
  6. If you don't do this, you'll be able to use multiple different transitions throughout your presentation.
    • If you want to remove a transition, click None under the Transitions tab. Repeat this and click Apply to all to remove all the transitions in your presentation. [1]
    • Slides that have a transition display a star icon in the slide panel.
    7. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Mobile App

PDF download Download Article
  1. You can start a blank document to make a new one or you can tap to open a saved document.
    • This method works for Android, iPhone, and iPad.
  2. It's in the editing ribbon above your presentation with File and Home if you're using a tablet.
    • If you're using a phone, tap the "Edit" icon (it looks like an "A" next to a pencil) at the top of your screen, then tap Home and Transitions .
  3. The transitions will be grouped into "Subtle," "Exciting," and "Dynamic" categories.
  4. Once you select it, you'll see a short preview of the transition.
  5. The effect options will vary depending on the transition you picked.
  6. If you don't do this, you'll be able to use multiple different transitions throughout your presentation.
    • If you want to remove a transition, tap None under the Transitions tab. Repeat this and tap Apply to all to remove all the transitions in your presentation. [2]
    7. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How can I add videos to my slides?
    Community Answer
    Select "Insert" from the top toolbar. On the far right there will be an option to insert a "movie." Click that and then locate your video file.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 12
  • Question
    Can I make custom transitions for Powerpoint?
    Community Answer
    No, you cannot make your own transitions, but you can use animations instead.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 13 Helpful 8
  • Question
    How do I transition only on one slide? I have one question on it and want to transition the answer in on a mouse click.
    Community Answer
    Have your question and answer be in separate text boxes, then you can add fade in and out animations to each text box to have them appear or disappear with your mouse click. It is helpful to add your animations to text boxes and then bring up the animation pane to help sort things out.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 3 Helpful 3
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Add Text Transitions and Animations in PowerPoint
      4 Easy Ways to Add Music or Audio to Microsoft PowerPoint
      Easy Steps to Add a Header & Footer in PowerPoint
      How to
      Add Images to a PowerPoint Presentation
      How to
      Add Background Graphics to Powerpoint
      How to
      Add a Stopwatch to PowerPoint
      How to
      Insert Slide Numbers in PowerPoint
      5 Ways to Embed a Video File in Microsoft PowerPoint
      How to
      Edit a PowerPoint Template
      How to
      Put a Hyperlink in a Powerpoint
      6 Easy Steps to Make Bullet Lists in a PowerPoint Presentation
      6 Simple Steps to Insert Gifs Into PowerPoint
      How to
      Enable Macros in PowerPoint
      How to
      Add Animation Effects in Microsoft PowerPoint
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-change-or-remove-transitions-between-slides-3f8244bf-f893-4efd-a7eb-3a4845c9c971#OfficeVersion=Windows
      2. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-change-or-remove-transitions-between-slides-3f8244bf-f893-4efd-a7eb-3a4845c9c971#OfficeVersion=Android

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 215,422 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement