can you put a powerpoint presentation on a loop

How to Loop a Powerpoint Office 365 Slideshow

For typical Powerpoint presentations that you just show to one person, you likely aren’t concerned with what happens when the slideshow is over.

But some situations call for a slideshow to continue playing for an extended period of time.

This means that you will need to learn how to loop a Powerpoint Office 365 presentation so that it plays continuously.

How to Do a Powerpoint for Office 365 Slideshow Loop

Open the presentation.
Select the Slide Show tab.
Choose Set Up Slide Show .
Check the Loop continuously until Esc box.
Click the top slide, hold down Shift , then click the last slide.
Choose the Transitions tab.
Uncheck On Mouse Click , check After , then set a duration for each slide.

Our guide continues below with more information on how to loop a Powerpoint Office 365 presentation, including pictures of these steps.

Sometimes you will create a presentation in Powerpoint that is going to be shown someplace where it will be unattended.

This could be at a trade show, in an office, or anywhere else where there is a TV or computer screen.

Constantly having to restart that slideshow yourself is often impractical, and would be tedious even if you were physically able to attend to it.

Fortunately, it’s possible to create a slideshow loop in Powerpoint so that the presentation will play continuously once it has concluded.

Our guide below will show you how to create a Powerpoint slideshow loop in Microsoft Powerpoint for Office 365.

Documents with pictures often need some adjustments before they look their best. You can find out more with our how to flip an image in Word article .

How to Make a Powerpoint Slideshow Loop (Guide with Pictures)

The steps in this article were performed in the Microsoft Powerpoint for Office 365 version of the application, but will work in most other versions of the application as well.

Note that the presentation can loop on its own, but you may need to adjust any screensaver or hibernation settings on your computer so that the screen will remain on.

Step 1: Open your slideshow in Powerpoint.

Step 2: click the slide show tab at the top of the window..

Step 3: Click the Set Up Slide Show button.

Step 4: Check the box to the left of Loop continuously until Esc , then click OK .

how to loop a slideshow in Powerpoint for Office 365

Step 5: Click your first slide in the column at the left side of the window, then hold down the Shift key, scroll down and click the last slide.

Step 6: Select the Transitions tab at the top of the window.

Step 7: Click the box to the left of On Mouse Click to remove the check mark, check the box to the left of After , then choose the amount of time to display each slide.

I have set my slideshow to display each slide for 5 seconds in the image above.

You can start your slideshow at any time by pressing the F5 key on your keyboard.

You can stop the slideshow by pressing the Esc key on your keyboard.

You should now know how to loop a Powerpoint Office 365 presentation so that it continuously plays on repeat until you press the Esc key on your keyboard to terminate it.

Find out how to change your slide size in Powerpoint if you need a different orientation or slide dimensions for your presentation.

Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.

His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.

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The Ultimate Guide to Loop Slideshow in PowerPoint

Setting up a looping slideshow in PowerPoint is a fantastic way to keep a presentation running seamlessly at events, in lobbies, or during breaks.

Setting up a looping slideshow in PowerPoint is a fantastic way to keep a presentation running seamlessly at events, in lobbies, or during breaks. A looping presentation automatically restarts once it finishes, allowing your content to play until you decide to stop it continuously. Here’s a step-by-step guide on creating a loop slideshow in PowerPoint.

Key Takeaways:

Loop slideshow in PowerPoint allow presentations to replay automatically, ideal for displays in public spaces or events.
Use the “Transitions” tab to set slide timings and ensure smooth, automatic progress without manual clicks.
In the “Slide Show” tab, select “Loop continuously until ‘Esc'” so the presentation restarts from the beginning after the last slide.
Enhance engagement by adding videos or animations to slides and setting them to play automatically for a captivating looped presentation.
Use “Custom Slide Show” to loop specific slides, allowing you to focus on key messages or information for selective replay.

Table of Contents

Introduction to Looping Slideshows in PowerPoint

What is a loop slideshow.

Loop slideshows in PowerPoint are a feature that allows presentations to run repeatedly without manual intervention. Imagine a digital signage display or an info kiosk where slides showcase content in a perpetual cycle – that’s looping in action.

It’s particularly useful when one needs to keep a static audience engaged, or when the presenter cannot manually control the slideshow.

Why Mastering Loop Slideshows Matters

Mastering loop slideshows is essential because it enhances the effectiveness of your presentations. It becomes a critical skill in creating dynamic and engaging content, especially in settings where information needs to be readily available and repeated for various audiences.

By looping your slideshow, you ensure your message is continually disseminated, maximizing the opportunity for your content to be seen and understood without additional effort on your part. Looping is a simple technique but mastering it can make a significant difference in how your information is consumed and retained.

Guide to Loop Slideshow in PowerPoint

Setting up slide transitions.

First, I go through my slides to make sure each one flows well into the next. If the presentation is left unattended, I set specific transition timings so the slides change automatically. Here’s how I do it:

STEP 1: Open my presentation in PowerPoint and go to the Transitions tab.

STEP 2: Select the slide I want to adjust and choose a transition effect if desired (such as Fade or Push).

STEP 3: To set the slide to advance automatically, I make sure to uncheck the “On Mouse Click” option and check the “After” box. Then, I set the timing for how long I want the slide to display before advancing.

I repeat this for each slide, keeping in mind the ideal viewing time for each. This way, I have full control over the pace, so my slideshow flows at just the right speed for my audience.

Setting the Presentation to Loop

Once the slide timings are ready, I enable the looping feature. This setting ensures the slideshow will automatically start over from the beginning after the last slide. Here’s how:

STEP 1: Go to the Slide Show tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.

STEP 2: From the Set Up Slide Show option, I click on it to open the setup menu. In the dialog box that appears, I check the “Loop continuously until ‘Esc’” box.

This setting means the slideshow will loop indefinitely until I manually stop it by pressing the “Esc” key.

Customizing Your Loop Slideshow

Tailoring time intervals between slides.

Tailoring time intervals between slides allows you to control the pace of your presentation and ensure that each slide gets its due attention. Click on the “Transitions” tab once again and check the box next to “After” under the “Timing” group.

Here, adjust the duration by typing in the exact number of seconds or using the up and down arrows. This setting is crucial to keep your audience engaged and to ensure that the slides change at an appropriate speed − not too fast that the content is missed, nor too slow to cause disinterest.

Incorporating Videos and Animations into Your Looped Slideshow

To enhance the visual appeal and engagement of your looped slideshow, you can incorporate videos and animations with ease. On the slide where you want to embed a video, go to the “Insert” tab and choose the video file or animation you desire.

Once placed, you can fine-tune its settings so it plays automatically as part of the loop. In the video’s playback settings, select ‘Start Automatically’ and for animations, use the ‘Animations’ tab to set them to initiate with or after the slide transition.

These dynamic elements can make your slideshow more interactive and captivating for viewers.

Advanced Looping Techniques

Looping selected slides for targeted impact.

For targeted impact, you can choose a subset of your slides to loop continuously. This is particularly effective if you want to emphasize specific information or create a concise, targeted message for your audience. To do this, first select the slides you want to loop in the Slide Sorter view.

Then, create a Custom Show by going to the “Slide Show” tab, clicking “Custom Slide Show,” and selecting “New.”

Add your chosen slides to the list and name your show.

Now, you can set the custom show to loop by accessing “Set Up Show” and ensuring “Loop continuously until ‘Esc'” is checked.

Pausing and Stopping Your Loop for Interactivity

Pausing and stopping your loop mid-presentation can be essential for answering questions or facilitating discussions. To take a break from the automated sequence, you just need to press the “Esc” key on your keyboard at any time.

This will halt the looping process and grant you full control, allowing for an interactive session or a deeper dive into specific content. It’s that simple – one keypress transitions you from automated playback to interactive presentation mode, catering to the immediate needs of your audience.

How do you make a PowerPoint Slide Show run automatically?

To make a PowerPoint slideshow run automatically, go to the “Transitions” tab, enable ‘After’ in the Timing group, and set the duration each slide should display. This timing applies to all slides you select, ensuring they progress without manual clicks, which is ideal for self-running kiosks and displays.

Why do you need to loop your slideshow in PowerPoint?

Looping your slideshow in PowerPoint is crucial for continuous information delivery in settings like trade shows, waiting areas, or educational displays. It keeps the content flowing and allows for consistent engagement, regardless of when an audience member begins watching.

How to make a looping Slide Show?

To make a looping slideshow, you start by clicking on the “Slide Show” tab and selecting “Set Up Slide Show.” In the dialog box, choose “Loop continuously until ‘Esc.'” Remember to configure slide timings under the “Transitions” tab so the slides advance on their own.

How Do I Set Up My PowerPoint to Loop Only Specific Sections?

To loop only specific sections of your PowerPoint, first decide which slides to include. Select these slides in the “Slide Sorter” view, then create a “Custom Slide Show” under the “Slide Show” tab. In “Set Up Show,” select your custom show and check “Loop continuously until ‘Esc’.”

Can My Animations and Transitions Maintain Their Timing in a Loop?

Yes, animations and transitions maintain their timing in a loop as long as you configure them correctly. Set specific timings in the “Animations” pane and “Transitions” tab to ensure they perform consistently within each loop cycle. Regular testing is advised to confirm synchronization.

John Michaloudis

Founder & Chief Inspirational Officer

at MyExcelOnline.com

John Michaloudis is a former accountant and finance analyst at General Electric, a Microsoft MVP since 2020, an Amazon #1 bestselling author of 4 Microsoft Excel books and teacher of Microsoft Excel & Office over at his flagship MyExcelOnline Academy Online Course .

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