Sharing a PowerPoint presentation during a Zoom meeting is easy and enables you to effectively present slides to remote participants. Follow this simple step-by-step guide to seamlessly share your presentation and control the slideshow view.
Step 1: Prepare Your Presentation in PowerPoint
Before joining the Zoom meeting, open the PowerPoint deck you wish to present and arrange your slides. Make sure your presentation is ready to be viewed by attendees.
Here are some tips for setting up your slide deck:
- Review slide content: Double check your slides for typos, formatting issues, etc.
- Add slide numbers: This helps participants follow along and reference certain slides. Go to the “Insert” tab and check the box for “Slide numbers”.
- Hide slides you won’t present: Right click on any slide thumbnail and select “Hide Slide” to remove slides you don’t need attendees to see.
- Check animations and transitions: Make sure they display properly in presentation mode.
Once your deck is ready, move on to connecting with your meeting.
Step 2: Join the Zoom Meeting
Open the Zoom desktop app and click “Join” to access the meeting. Alternatively, you can launch Zoom from an invite link or meeting ID.
Make sure to join the meeting audio as well. You’ll have the option to join computer/device audio or call in.
Step 3: Start Your PowerPoint Slideshow
With Zoom open, go back to PowerPoint. Navigate to the “Slide Show” tab and click on “From Beginning” to start the slideshow from the first slide.
Tip: For the best experience, put your presentation in slideshow mode before sharing your screen in Zoom.
Your PowerPoint should now display in full screen slideshow mode, ready to share.
Step 4: Share Your Screen in Zoom
Once in slideshow view in PowerPoint, head back to the Zoom meeting screen.
- Click on “Share Screen” in your meeting toolbar.
- Select the PowerPoint window with your presentation.
- Toggle “Share computer sound” if your presentation has audio.
- Click “Share” to show your PowerPoint to meeting participants.
Your slideshow is now being shared!
Step 5: Control Your Slides
With your presentation shared to the Zoom meeting, you can control slides directly from PowerPoint using keyboard shortcuts or mouse clicks.
Keyboard shortcuts:
- Right Arrow: Next slide
- Left Arrow: Previous slide
- Down Arrow: Next animation/build
- Up Arrow: Previous animation/build
Mouse controls:
- Click to go to next slide
- Right click for slideshow menu
Use your arrow keys or mouse to navigate slides and animations. Meeting participants will stay synced to your current slide.
Step 6: Stop Screen Sharing
When you finish presenting, simply stop your PowerPoint slideshow. Then go back to the Zoom toolbar and click “Stop Share” to end screen sharing with the meeting.
Participants will return to seeing the main Zoom gallery view or active speaker.
Advanced Tips for Sharing PowerPoint in Zoom
Follow these expert recommendations to further enhance your PowerPoint presentations in Zoom:
Use Presenter View
Enable PowerPoint’s Presenter View to display speaker notes and next slide preview as you present:
- With your deck open in PowerPoint, go to the “Slide Show” tab
- Check the box for “Use Presenter View”
- Click “From Beginning” to start the slideshow
- Share your screen in Zoom and select the PowerPoint window
Presenter View will show the current slide, next slide preview, timer, and speaker notes as you present in the meeting.
Optimize Display Settings
- Dual monitors: Share your slide deck on one screen while viewing controls/video on the second monitor.
- Fullscreen slideshow: Hide other desktop icons and distractions by enabling PowerPoint fullscreen before sharing.
- Resolution: Make sure your display resolution in Zoom is set to 1080p for best quality.
Share Audio
If your PowerPoint contains sounds or video clips, enable “Share Computer Sound” in the Zoom screen sharing menu before presenting. This allows meeting participants to hear audio coming from your presentations.
By following these tips, you can seamlessly share and control PowerPoint presentations during your Zoom meetings. Using keyboard shortcuts allows you to easily navigate slides without fumbling between windows.
So open your deck, start that slideshow, and share your screen with confidence next time you present in Zoom!