PowerPoint is a program used to create slide presentations. You can add pictures, text, video, audio, and even animation. It helps you present your ideas in a clear and creative way.

Getting Started with PowerPoint

Opening PowerPoint

When you open PowerPoint, the first screen you see is the Start Screen. From here, you can open a recent file, use a template, or start with a Blank Presentation. Choosing a blank one takes you to the main PowerPoint window.

The PowerPoint Interface

The PowerPoint window has many useful parts. The main tools you’ll use are the Ribbon, the Quick Access Toolbar, and Backstage View.


The Quick Access Toolbar lets you access common commands no matter which tab is selected. You can customize the commands depending on your preference.



The Ribbon contains all of the commands you will need to perform common tasks in PowerPoint. It has multiple tabs, each with several groups of commands.



The Tell me box works like a search bar to help you quickly find tools or commands you want to use.



From here, you can access your Microsoft account information, view your profile, and switch accounts.



The Ruler is located at the top and to the left of your current slide. It makes it easy to align text and objects on your slide.



The slide navigation pane allows you to view and organize the slides in your presentation.



Here, you can view and edit the selected slide.



Here, you can quickly see the total number of slides in your presentation, as well as which slide you are viewing.



Click Notes to add notes to your current slide. Often called speaker notes, they can help you deliver or prepare for your presentation.



Reviewers can leave comments on any slide. Click Comments to view comments for the current slide.



There are four ways to view a presentation. Simply click a command to select the desired view.



Click and drag the slider to use the zoom control. The number to the right of the slider reflects the zoom percentage.



The scroll bars allow you to scroll up and down or side to side. To do this, click and drag the vertical or horizontal scroll bar.


The Ribbon

The Ribbon is the strip of tabs at the top of the window. Each tab has groups of commands. For example, the Home tab has tools for text, like font size and color.

Some groups have a small arrow in the corner. Click it to see more options.

You can also hide the Ribbon if you want more space. There are three ways to show or hide it:

Powerpoint Interface

  • Auto-hide Ribbon: Hides everything until you click the top of the screen.
  • Show Tabs: Only shows the tab names.
  • Show Tabs and Commands: Shows everything. This is the default view.

Tell Me What You Want to Do

If you can’t find something, try using the Tell Me box. Just type what you’re looking for. It will show a list of matching tools and commands.

Powerpoint Interface

Quick Access Toolbar

This toolbar is above the Ribbon. It has common tools like Save, Undo, and Redo. You can add more tools to it:

Powerpoint Interface

  1. Click the small arrow next to the toolbar.
  2. Pick a tool from the list.
  3. It will now show up on the toolbar.

Slide Tools: Ruler, Guides, and Gridlines

These tools help you line up objects on your slide. You can turn them on or off from the View tab.

Zoom and Views

You can look at your slides in different ways:

  • Normal View: The default view for editing.
  • Slide Sorter View: Shows all slides in a grid.
  • Reading View: A simple view to read the presentation.
  • Slide Show View: Plays your slides like a real presentation.

Use the buttons in the bottom-right corner to change views. You can also zoom in or out using the Zoom Slider near those buttons.

Backstage View

Click the File tab to open Backstage View. Here you can:

  • Save or open files
  • Print your presentation
  • Share it with others
Powerpoint Backstage view

You can use the arrow to close Backstage view and return to PowerPoint.



The Info pane will appear whenever you access Backstage view. It contains information about the current presentation.



From here, you can create a new blank presentation or choose from a large selection of templates.



From here, you can open recent presentations, as well as presentations saved to your OneDrive or on your computer.



Use Save and Save As to save your presentation to your computer or to your OneDrive.



From the Print pane, you can change the print settings and print your presentation. You can also see a preview of your presentation.



From here, you can invite people to view and collaborate on your presentation. You can also share your presentation by emailing it as an attachment.



You can choose to export your workbook in another format, such as PDF/XPS or PowerPoint 97-2003.



Click here to close the current presentation.



From the Account pane, you can access your Microsoft account information, modify your theme and background, and sign out of your account.



Here, you can change various PowerPoint options, settings, and language preferences.

PowerPoint is a great tool once you learn how to use it. Take some time to explore the tools and try them out. With practice, you'll be creating amazing presentations in no time!