Adding slide numbers to your PowerPoint presentation can be very useful for both you and your audience. Here are some key reasons why slide numbers are important:

Help the audience follow along and know where they are in the presentation
Allow presenters and viewers to easily reference specific slides

Provide structure and organization
Look more polished and professional

There are a few ways to add slide numbers in PowerPoint:

Use the Header and Footer Tool

This is the easiest method:

Click on the Insert tab
Select Header & Footer in the Text group

Check the box next to Slide number
Select where you want the number to appear on the slide
Click Apply to All to add slide numbers to all slides

Customization Options:

Change font, size, color
Add effects like shadow or 3D

Adjust alignment
Show on all slides or not on title slide

Edit the Slide Master

The Slide Master controls the default design and layout of slides. Editing it allows global changes:

Click View > Slide Master
Select the slide master thumbnail
Add slide number placeholder

Format appearance as desired
Click Close Master View when done

Benefits:

Changes apply automatically to all slides
Consistent formatting and positioning

Insert Text Box on Each Slide

You can manually add a text box with the slide number to individual slides:

Click Insert > Text Box
Type the slide number (e.g. Slide 1)
Customize font, size, color

Drag to position on slide

Use this method if:

You only want numbers on some slides

You want different formats per slide
Your presentation has multiple sections

Tips:

Use a text box shape to allow more formatting options
Add the total number of slides for context
Automate slide numbers with VBA macros

Change Starting Number

By default, slide numbers start counting at 1. To change this:

Click the Design tab
Select Slide Size > Custom Slide Size

Enter new starting number into the Number slides from box

Reasons to change the starting number:

Continuing slide numbering from a previous presentation

To start counting at a number other than 1
If there are front matter slides without numbers

Troubleshooting Issues

Numbers not showing up?

Check the Slide Master has the placeholder enabled
Look for objects covering the number area on slides
Reset the slide master placeholder visibility

Numbers not correct?

The slide layout may not match master layout
Check slides are assigned correct layouts

Reset slide master placeholders again

Text box numbers not updating?

You must manually update text box numbers

Use Excel links or VBA code to automate

Adding slide numbers is an easy way to polish your PowerPoint decks. Use the Slide Master to apply consistent numbering to all slides, and leverage customization options to match your presentation’s look and feel.