Use sound and narration audio files to enhance your presentation. Play audio files across several slides, play music during specified slides, or play background music along with narration. After you’ve added the sound files, change the volume level and hide the audio icons on the slide.

Play Music Across Several PowerPoint Slides

There may be times when you want a single audio file to play during an entire slide show or from a certain slide to the end of the show. For example, you can add a voiceover on PowerPoint that will narrate your slides for you.

Instructions in this article apply to PowerPoint 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007; PowerPoint for Mac, and PowerPoint for Microsoft 365.

To play music across several PowerPoint slides until the audio ends:

  • Navigate to the slide where the music, sound, or another audio file will start playing.
  • On the ribbon, go to the Insert tab.
  • In the Media group, select Audio, then choose Audio on My PC.
  • If you don’t have a pre-recorded audio file, select Record Audio to create a narration.
  • Navigate to the folder where the sound or music file is stored, choose the file, then select Insert.
  • Select the audio icon.
  • Go to the Audio Tools Playback tab.
  • In the Audio Options group, select the Play Across Slides check box.
  • The sound file will play across 999 slides or to the end of the music, whichever comes first.

Set Music Playback Options Using the Animation Pane

If you want to play several selections of music (or parts of several selections) and want the music to stop after a precise number of slides have been shown, set up the audio files as animations.

Navigate to the slide where the music, sound, or another audio file will start playing.

On the ribbon, go to the Insert tab.

In the Media group, select Audio, then choose Audio on My PC.

If you don’t have a pre-recorded audio file, select Record Audio to create a narration.

Navigate to the folder where the sound or music file is stored, choose the file, then select Insert.

Select the audio icon.

Go to the Audio Tools Playback tab.

In the Audio Options group, select the Play Across Slides check box.

The sound file will play across 999 slides or to the end of the music, whichever comes first.

To find the animation options:

  • Navigate to the slide which contains the sound file icon.
  • On the ribbon, go to the Animations tab and select Animation Pane.
  • Select the audio icon.
  • In the Animation Pane, select the drop-down arrow next to the audio file.
  • Select Effect Options.
  • The Play Audio dialog box opens and displays the Effect tab.
  • Use the Effect tab to set when an audio file should start playing and stop playing.
  • Use the Timing tab to set how the sound should start and to set a delay time.

How to Play Music Over Specific Number of PowerPoint Slides

To change the number of slides that the audio file will play across:

Navigate to the slide which contains the sound file icon.

On the ribbon, go to the Animations tab and select Animation Pane.

In the Animation Pane, select the drop-down arrow next to the audio file.

Select Effect Options.

The Play Audio dialog box opens and displays the Effect tab.

Use the Effect tab to set when an audio file should start playing and stop playing.

Use the Timing tab to set how the sound should start and to set a delay time.

  • In the Play Audio dialog box, go to the Effect tab.
  • In the Stop playing section, delete the entry 999.
  • Enter the specific number of slides for the music to play.
  • Select OK to apply the setting and close the dialog box.
  • Go to the Slide Show tab and select From Current Slide to start the slide show at the current slide.
  • If you prefer to use keyboard shortcuts, select Shift+F5.
  • Preview the music playback to make sure it is correct for your presentation.

Hide the Sound Icon During a PowerPoint Slide Show

A sure sign that a slide show was created by an amateur presenter, is that the sound file icon is visible on-screen during the presentation. Get on the right road to becoming a better presenter by making this quick and easy correction.

In the Play Audio dialog box, go to the Effect tab.

In the Stop playing section, delete the entry 999.

Enter the specific number of slides for the music to play.

Select OK to apply the setting and close the dialog box.

Go to the Slide Show tab and select From Current Slide to start the slide show at the current slide.

If you prefer to use keyboard shortcuts, select Shift+F5.

Preview the music playback to make sure it is correct for your presentation.

To hide the sound icon:

  • Select the sound file icon. The Audio Tools tab appears above the ribbon.
  • Go to the Audio Tools Playback tab.
  • In the Audio Options group, select the Hide During Show check box.
  • The audio file icon will be visible to you, the creator of the presentation, in the editing phase. However, the audience will never see it when the show is live.

Change the Volume Setting of an Audio File on a PowerPoint Slide

There are four settings for the volume of the audio file that is inserted into a PowerPoint slide: Low, Medium, High, and Mute. By default, audio files that are added to a slide are set to play at the High level. This may not be your preference.

Select the sound file icon. The Audio Tools tab appears above the ribbon.

In the Audio Options group, select the Hide During Show check box.

The audio file icon will be visible to you, the creator of the presentation, in the editing phase. However, the audience will never see it when the show is live.

To change the volume of the audio file:

  • Select the sound icon on the slide.
  • Go to the Audio Tools Playback tab.
  • In the Audio Options group, select Volume.
  • Choose Low, Medium, High, or Mute depending on your needs and preferences.
  • Select Play to test the audio volume.
  • If you choose a low audio volume, the audio file may play much louder than anticipated. Adjust the sound playback further by changing the sound settings on your computer, in addition to changing the audio volume in PowerPoint.
  • To make sure the audio plays at the right volume, test the audio on the presentation computer if this computer is different than the one you used to create the presentation. Also, preview your presentation in the location where the slide show will take place to make sure the audio sounds good with the room’s acoustics.

Select the sound icon on the slide.

In the Audio Options group, select Volume.

Choose Low, Medium, High, or Mute depending on your needs and preferences.

Select Play to test the audio volume.

If you choose a low audio volume, the audio file may play much louder than anticipated. Adjust the sound playback further by changing the sound settings on your computer, in addition to changing the audio volume in PowerPoint.

To make sure the audio plays at the right volume, test the audio on the presentation computer if this computer is different than the one you used to create the presentation. Also, preview your presentation in the location where the slide show will take place to make sure the audio sounds good with the room’s acoustics.

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