The footer in a PowerPoint presentation displays at the bottom of slides and commonly includes page numbers, date, time, or custom text. Editing the footer is easy in PowerPoint and allows you to customize the look and feel of your presentation.
Accessing the Footer
To edit the footer in PowerPoint, you first need to access it. Here are the steps:
- Go to the Insert tab
- Click Header & Footer in the Text group
- The Header and Footer dialog box will open
This dialog box contains several options for customizing your footer:
- The Slide, Notes and Handouts, and Handouts tabs allow you to enable different footer elements on slides, notes pages, and handouts
- Checkboxes to enable the Date and time, Slide number, and Footer
- Formatting options like font, size, color
- The Don’t show on title slide option
- The Apply buttons to apply changes
Adding and Editing Footer Elements
Once in the Header and Footer dialog box, you can add or edit several footer elements:
Date and Time
To add the date and time:
- Go to the Slide tab
- Check the box for Date and time
- Select the date and time format
- Click Apply
You can update the date and time automatically or enter a custom date.
Slide Numbers
To add slide numbers:
- Go to the Slide tab
- Check the box for Slide number
- Change the starting number if needed
- Click Apply
Custom Footer Text
To add custom text:
- Go to the Slide tab
- Check the box for Footer
- Enter text into the Footer box
- Click Apply
You can include whatever text you want here.
Formatting the Footer
Once you’ve added elements to the footer, you can format its appearance:
- Font: Change the font family, size, color
- Alignment: Align the text left, center or right
- Language: Change the calendar and numbering format
- Margins: Adjust spacing around the footer text
Make sure to click Apply after making formatting changes.
Hiding the Footer on Title Slides
You may want to hide the footer on your title slide. To do this:
- Check the box for Don’t show on title slide
- Click Apply
This will remove the footer from just your title slide.
Applying Footer Changes
As you make footer changes, pay attention to the Apply buttons:
- Apply: Applies changes only to the currently selected slide
- Apply to All: Applies changes to all slides
In most cases, you’ll want to use Apply to All so the footer is consistent.
Editing the Slide Master
For more extensive footer customization, edit the Slide Master:
- Go to the View tab and click Slide Master
- Select the top thumbnail to edit the Slide Master
- Access footer placeholders to make changes
Any edits here will apply to all slides.
Troubleshooting Issues
Here are some common footer issues and fixes:
- Footer not showing up: Check the Slide Master to make sure footer placeholders exist
- Can’t edit footer text: The footer placeholder may be turned off; turn it on in Slide Master view
- Footer overlaps objects: Adjust positioning or size of footer text box on Slide Master
Resetting slides or Slide Master may help resolve stubborn issues.
Tips for Using Footers
When adding footers:
- Keep footer text short and relevant
- Use consistent font formatting
- Place footer in an area without overlapping objects
- Test different alignments (left, center, right)
- Print slides and notes pages to check footer placement
Conclusion
The footer is a simple yet effective way to enhance PowerPoint slides. By inserting date, time, page numbers, company info or other text, you can create a professionally branded presentation. Use the Header and Footer dialog box to enable footer elements, the Slide Master to customize layout, and the Apply buttons to add footers consistently. Follow formatting best practices and troubleshoot issues as needed. With these tips, you can easily edit footers to suit your presentation needs.
