To choose how the audio file starts, select the dropdown arrow next to Start, then select an option:
- In Click Sequence: Plays the audio file automatically with a click.
- Automatically: Plays automatically once you advance to the slide that the audio file is on.
- When Clicked On: Plays audio only when the icon is clicked on.
- Play Across Slides: Plays one audio file across all slides.
- Loop until Stopped: Plays an audio file on loop until it’s stopped manually by clicking the Play/Pause button.
Delete audio
To delete an audio clip, select the audio icon on the slide and press Delete.
You can add audio, such as music, narration, or sound bites, to your PowerPoint presentation. To record and hear any audio, your computer must be equipped with a sound card, microphone, and speakers.
To add music or other audio clip to your slide show, select the slide you want and click Insert > Audio. You can add audio to a single slide, play audio automatically when a slide appears, or add a song that plays as background music during your entire presentation.
You can add your own narration or commentary to an entire presentation by recording it on the Slide Show tab. See Record your slide show for more information.
Add audio to a single slide
- In Normal view, select the slide you want and click Insert >Audio.
Select the audio clip. On the Audio Format tab, select the audio options you want.
(Optional) If you want to change or modify the standard audio file icon, use the picture format buttons on the Audio Format tab to add a frame, border, or other formatting effect to the audio icon.
Preview the audio
- On the slide, select the audio icon, and then click Play/Pause beneath the audio icon.
Play audio automatically when a slide appears
By default, during a slide show, audio plays when it is clicked. You can change it so that the audio plays automatically as soon as its slide appears.
- In Normal view, select the slide you want and add an audio clip if you haven't already done so.
- On the Audio Format tab, on the right, click Start >Automatically.
Add audio that plays during your entire presentation
- In Normal view, select the first slide in your presentation and add an audio clip if you haven't already done so.
- On the Audio Format tab, on the right, click Play across Slides.
Add audio that plays repeatedly
- In Normal view, select the slide you want and add an audio clip if you haven't already done so.
- On the Audio Format tab, on the right, click Loop Until Stopped. (Used alone, this option means the looping sound lasts while the slide it resides on is being shown. When Loop Until Stopped is used in tandem with Play Across Slides, the looping sound continues throughout the presentation.)
Hide the Audio icon
- Select the audio clip icon on the slide.
See also
Supported audio formats in PowerPoint for the web: MP3, WAV, M4A, AAC, and OGA
Maximum size of the audio file: 16 MB
Add audio from your computer
- On the Insert tab, near the right end, select Audio.
- In the file explorer, browse to the audio file you want to use, then select Open.
Hide the Audio icon
- Select the audio clip icon on the slide.
- On the ribbon, on the Playback tab, select the Hide During Show check box. Use this option only if you set the audio clip to play automatically. Note that, in Normal view, the audio icon is always visible unless you drag it off the slide.
Change playback options
Select the audio icon and then select the Audio tab or Playback tab. Then select which options you'd like to use:
- To adjust volume, select Volume and select the setting you prefer.
- To choose how the audio file starts, select the Start dropdown arrow and select an option:
- Automatically: During a slide show, the audio plays automatically once you advance to the slide that the audio file is on.
- When Clicked On: During a slide show, the audio plays only when the icon is clicked.
- Play Across Slides: Plays one audio file across all slides.
- Loop until Stopped: Plays an audio file on loop until it’s stopped manually by clicking the Play/Pause button.
- Hide During Show: If you've set the audio clip to play automatically, you can hide the audio icon during the show, because you won't need to click it at any time.
- Rewind after Playing: Use this option if you need to play an audio clip more than once while you are still presenting the same slide that contains that audio clip.