To hide the toolbar in PowerPoint’s full-screen slide show, go to File > Options > Advanced, scroll to Slide Show, and uncheck Show popup toolbar. The small row of buttons in the bottom-left corner won’t appear when you present. For a one-time fix during a show, press Ctrl+H.
Microsoft describes the setting in PowerPoint Options (Advanced) (PowerPoint for Microsoft 365, 2024, 2021, 2019, and 2016) and lists the slide show keys in Use keyboard shortcuts to deliver PowerPoint presentations. The setting applies app-wide.
How to hide the popup toolbar in PowerPoint
- Select File > Options.
- Select Advanced.
- Scroll down to the Slide Show section.
- Uncheck Show popup toolbar.
- Select OK.
Result: the toolbar stays hidden the next time you run a slide show. Microsoft says clearing the box hides the toolbar that appears at the bottom of a full-screen presentation.
This is a program-level setting, not saved in the file. It applies to every presentation you run in PowerPoint on that computer, but if you present from someone else’s computer, their setting applies.
Hide it for one show only with Ctrl+H
If you don’t want to change the setting, Microsoft lists Ctrl+H as the slide show shortcut to hide the pointer and navigation buttons. Press it after the show starts. On a Mac, Microsoft lists Command+I to hide the pointer.
What the toolbar does
The toolbar appears when you hover in the lower-left corner during a slide show and includes Previous and Next slide, Pointer Options (laser, pen, highlighter), See All Slides, Magnify, Subtitles, Camera, and More options.
Keyboard shortcuts to use instead
With the toolbar hidden, Microsoft’s shortcut list covers the same jobs on Windows:
- Next slide: N, Enter, Spacebar, Page Down, or the Right or Down arrow
- Previous slide: P, Backspace, Page Up, or the Left or Up arrow
- All Slides dialog: Ctrl+S, or type a slide number and press Enter to jump to it
- Laser pointer: Ctrl+L
- Pen: Ctrl+P, then Ctrl+A to switch back to the arrow; Ctrl+E for the eraser
- Black or white screen: B or W (press again to return)
- End the show: Esc
On the same Slide Show section, Microsoft says clearing Show menu on right mouse click stops the shortcut menu from appearing when you right-click a slide in Slide Show view. The right-click menu is how you reach the toolbar’s controls once the toolbar is off, so you may want to keep it on.
Other slide show settings on the Advanced screen
- Prompt to keep ink annotations when exiting: Microsoft says this asks whether to save anything you drew during the show; clear it to exit without the prompt.
- End with black slide: adds a black slide after your last slide.
- Automatically extend display when presenting on a laptop or tablet: listed higher on the same screen; Microsoft says clearing it turns off Presenter View, which otherwise extends your desktop across your laptop screen and the projector.
- Disable Slide Show hardware graphics acceleration: also higher on the screen; Microsoft suggests trying this if transitions show flashing black screens.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get the toolbar back?
Go to File > Options > Advanced, scroll to Slide Show, check Show popup toolbar, and select OK.
Will hiding the toolbar remove the black slide at the end?
No. That’s a separate option in the same section, End with black slide. Microsoft says clearing it makes your last slide the final thing the audience sees.
Related guides
- How to hide a slide in PowerPoint
- How to set time for slides
- How to add a YouTube video in PowerPoint
- More PowerPoint guides
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
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