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How to loop a powerpoint presentation.

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Set up your slideshow to be looped, apply automatic slide transitions.

Slideshows are sometimes used to display images at events, such as weddings or trade shows. Whatever the occasion might be, you’ll want to loop your PowerPoint presentation so your guests aren’t staring at a blank screen. Here’s how it’s done.

First, open your PowerPoint presentation in which you would like to loop. Once open, navigate to the “Set Up” group of the “Slide Show” tab and then select the “Set Up Slide Show” button.

Set up slide show

The “Set Up Show” window will appear. In the “Show options” group, check the box next to “Loop Continuously until Esc.” Once selected, click “OK” in the bottom-right corner of the window.

Loop Continuously until Esc

Now, when you play your slideshow, it will end only when you press the “Esc” key instead of when you've finished the last slide.

Related: How to Make YouTube Videos Loop Continuously

One caveat: With the way we currently have it set up, the slideshow will proceed only when someone clicks the mouse button. That’s fine if there will be a speaker present at all times. Otherwise, you’ll need to set up automatic slide transitions.

Head back to the “Set Up Show” window by selecting “Set Up Slide Show” in the “Set Up” group of the “Slide Show” tab.

There are a couple of options you need to select, but one important note is that you must first select “Using Timings, If Present” under the “Advance Slides” group.

Use timings if present

The next option we select will lock a few things in place (which is why you need to select “Using Timings, If Present” first).

Under the “Show Type” group, select “Browsed at a Kiosk (Full Screen)." The “Loop Continuously until Esc” option will be enabled automatically if you haven’t already turned it on, and the option you’ve selected under “Advance Slides” will remain unchanged.

Select “OK” when ready to proceed.

Browsed at a kiosk

Without the “Browsed at a Kiosk” option enabled, the automatic slide progressions would be disabled if someone were to press the Back key. With it enabled, the Forward and Back keys are locked, allowing the slideshow to automatically progress unattended without fear of someone breaking it.

Now it’s time to set the timings of the slides. Head over to the “Transitions” tab. In the “Timing” group, check the box next to “After” and set the timing at which you’d like each slide to progress. Note that it doesn’t matter if the box next to “On Mouse Click” is checked or not---it won’t work.

After that, select the “Apply to All” option in the same group.

Set slide transition time

Now, when you play your slideshow, it will continuously loop without interruption. To exit the slideshow, press the “Esc” button.

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How to Loop a PowerPoint Slide Show to Repeat Automatically

Loop a PowerPoint slide show to replay automatically represented by two circular arrows on top of a board room.

Set up a PowerPoint Presentation That Loops or Repeats Continuously

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated November 12, 2021

Applies to: Microsoft ®  PowerPoint ®  2013, 2016, 2019 and 365 (Windows)

You can set up a PowerPoint slide show to loop or repeat automatically. A looping presentation can be used at events, trade shows or even in a reception area in an office. The easiest way to set up a slide show to loop or replay continuously is to apply automatic transitions and then configure Slide Show settings.

Recommended article: 5 PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts to Run a Slide Show

Do you want to learn more about PowerPoint? Check out our virtual classroom or in-person PowerPoint courses >

Screenshots in this article are from PowerPoint 365 but are similar in older versions of PowerPoint.

Step 1: Apply transitions to automatically advance slides during a slide show

Transitions occur between slides when you run a slide show.

To apply transitions to automatically advance slides during a slide show:

  • In Normal View or Slide Sorter View, display or select a slide.
  • Click the Transitions tab in the Ribbon.
  • Select a transition in the Transitions gallery (such as Fade).
  • Click Effect Options and choose the desired option. Effect Options change depending on the transition you selected.
  • In the Timing group, click the arrows beside Duration to set the timing you want (in seconds) for the transition. You may also type a duration.
  • In the Timing group, under Advance Slides, deselect or uncheck On mouse click and beside After, select or click the up and down arrows to set the timing to transition to the next slide. You may also type a duration.
  • In the Timing group, click Apply to All.

In the Transitions tab in PowerPoint, you can select the type of transition (such as Fade) as well as timing options:

Transitions tab in the Ribbon in PowerPoint to apply transitions and timings.

Step 2: Set up a presentation to loop during a slide show

To set up a PowerPoint presentation to loop during a slide show:

  • Click the Slide Show tab in the Ribbon and then click Set Up Slide Show. A dialog box appears.
  • Under Show type, if you select Presented by a speaker (full screen), the speaker or those watching the slide show will have control over when they advance slides. This is the default setting for slide shows. If you select Browsed by an individual (window), those watching the slide show do NOT have control over when slides advance. If you select Browsed at kiosk (full screen), those watching the slide show do NOT have control over when slides advance and the presentation automatically loops until those watching press Escape (Esc).
  • Under Show options, select Loop continuously until 'Esc'. You will be able to select this option if you selected one of the first two options under Show type.

Below is the Set Up Show dialog box with Presented by speaker selected and looping enabled:

PowerPoint Slide Show dialog box to set up looping in a presentation.

If you want to set specific timings for slides to advance or to add narration, check out the article How to Run a PowerPoint Slide Show Automatically (Set Up a Self-Running Presentation) . If you have audio or video in the presentation, you'll need to set the media to play automatically (on the Playback tab in the Ribbon) and animations will also need to be set to run automatically.

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How to Loop a PowerPoint Slide Show to Repeat Automatically

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How to loop a PowerPoint slideshow so that it automatically starts over as soon as it ends

  • To loop a PowerPoint slideshow, you'll need to enable looping in the "Set Up Slide Show" menu.
  • Once you set your PowerPoint to loop, it'll start over from the beginning automatically after playing the last slide.
  • Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories .

If you've designed a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation that's meant to be viewed repeatedly, such as on a kiosk or in a museum installation, you can adjust the settings in PowerPoint so that your slideshow "loops" instead of ending after one viewing.

Getting a PowerPoint to loop is easy. Read on to find out how, using PowerPoint for both Mac and PC.

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1. Open the Microsoft PowerPoint presentation that you want to loop.

2. With your PowerPoint presentation open, click on the "Slide Show" tab, then click on "Set Up Slide Show." 

3. In the pop-up window that appears, click on the box next to "Loop continuously until 'Esc'" so that a small checkmark appears inside the box. Feel free to adjust any other settings in this menu as well. Click "OK" when you're finished.

4. To test whether your PowerPoint can loop successfully, click on the "From Beginning" or "Play From Start" button in the Slide Show tab. Click through the slideshow until you reach the end. When your PowerPoint reaches its final slide, it should start over from the beginning automatically. When you're confident that looping is enabled, and you're ready to close the slide show, press the Esc key.

make presentation loop

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make presentation loop

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How To Loop a PowerPoint Presentation

Carla Albinagorta

Learn how to loop a PowerPoint in 3 easy steps! Usually, once you’re finished with your presentation, PowerPoint goes back to the slide editor. But if you want your presentation to go back to the start, this quick tutorial will show you how to loop any PowerPoint presentation and set it to run automatically.

Why Learn How to Loop a PowerPoint

It can be very awkward to have your audience looking at the black screen after going through all your slides. Or even worse, at the slide editor. If you’re planning on going back on some of your previous points, learning how to loop your PowerPoint presentation can be a useful tool. Sure, you can go back using the Back key. But this way can make it easier and more polished, especially if you have a long presentation with many slides.

Learning how to loop a PowerPoint can also be extremely useful for those making a pictured-based presentation. Slides don’t necessarily have to have a lot of information on them. PowerPoint can also be used just to present images and examples or to provide a background for the speaker. Looping your presentation will make sure that you’re never left with an empty screen.

In short, it’s a nice detail to make your presentation look more clean and polished. So, are you ready to learn how to loop a PowerPoint presentation?

How to Loop a PowerPoint Presentation

Luckily, learning how to loop a PowerPoint is very easy! Just follow these 3 steps:

1. Open your presentation and go to the Slide Show tab.

slide show PowerPoint

2. Select the Set Up Slide Show option for the Set-Up Options window to appear.

set up slide show powerpoint

3. In this window, go to the “Show options group” and tick the Loop continuously until ‘Esc’ (the first option). Don’t forget to click OK to apply the new set-up!

loop a ppt

And that’s all! Try putting your presentation on Slide Show mode. You’ll see that your presentation keeps going on until you press the ESC key in your keyboard.

How To Make a Self-Running PowerPoint Presentation

If you’re making a PowerPoint presentation to be used only as a background, then this information might be useful too. Usually, PowerPoint presentations only advance to the next slide when a mouse click occurs. But you can set your presentation to run automatically. This way, you don’t have to keep worrying about moving to the next slide since your presentation will do it on itself!

This is a great option for presentations that are only images on a loop, like in a Pecha Kucha presentation . You will be able to focus much better on what you have to say rather than in clicking on your slides to avoid boring your audience with only one picture.

1. Go to the Transitions tab.

2. In the “Timing” group (in the far right), tick the After option. In the timer on its side, enter how much time you want between slide and slide.

automatic transitions PowerPoint

3. Select the Apply To All option so every slide follows the same set-up.

If you want different times for each slide, you can also customize it like so. You just have to go one at a time changing how much time you want to spend on each slide and ignore the last step. Don’t forget to practice before your presentation! Only then you’ll know if the times you set for each slide are right. Good luck!

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Home Blog PowerPoint Tutorials How to Loop a PowerPoint

How to Loop a PowerPoint

When a PowerPoint slideshow ends, the screen turns blank after the last slide. However, you can opt to restart the presentation from the first slide by running the slide deck in loop. You might want to loop a slide if you have created a PowerPoint slideshow that needs to run on a screen in loop, such as a self-running slideshow for a kiosk, a PowerPoint template indicating a break at an event, or when you need to go back to one or more of the previous slides from the start for a quick review of the presentation.

How to Make PowerPoint Loop

To loop PowerPoint, go to Slide Show -> Setup Show .

Set up slideshow in PowerPoint

From the dialog box that appears, select Loop continuously until ‘Esc’ to enable looping your slides. By default, all slides are looped in a sequence.

Loop all slides in PowerPoint

How to Loop PowerPoint from Selected Slides

To loop specific slides, go to Slide Show -> Setup Show , enable loop, and select the slides to run in a loop via Show Slides .

Loop from selected slides in PowerPoint

How to Loop PowerPoint Slides Manually and Automatically

You might want to create a slideshow from break or countdown-themed PowerPoint templates or Google Slides templates to indicate a break during an event.

You can select the time each slide remains on screen via the Transitions tab. The Timings menu provides the option to select the duration for each slide and whether you intend the slides to move automatically or on mouse-click.

Loop slides manually on PowerPoint

To loop PowerPoint slides manually or automatically, go to Slide Show -> Setup Show , enable the loop option, and go to Advance slides . Select Manually for moving slides on mouse click, arrow keys, or PowerPoint remote. Alternatively, select Use timings .

Loop slides automatically in PowerPoint

Final Words

Whether you need to loop a PowerPoint presentation manually or automatically for an event or to create a self-running slideshow that loops PPT, you can use the instructions mentioned above to customize the settings for your slide deck according to need.

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Microsoft PowerPoint, PowerPoint Tools Filed under PowerPoint Tutorials

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COMMENTS

  1. How to Loop a PowerPoint Presentation - How-To Geek

    If you're showing off a lot of photos at a special event, set your presentation to progress at a continuous, automatic loop. Here's how.

  2. How to Loop a PowerPoint Slide Show to Repeat Automatically

    A looping presentation can be used at events, trade shows or even in a reception area in an office. The easiest way to set up a slide show to loop or replay continuously is to apply automatic transitions and then configure Slide Show settings.

  3. How to loop a PowerPoint slideshow so that it automatically ...

    To loop a PowerPoint slideshow, you'll need to enable looping in the "Set Up Slide Show" menu. Once you set your PowerPoint to loop, it'll start over from the beginning automatically after...

  4. How to make a PowerPoint Presentation loop / repeat itself ...

    In this Microsoft PowerPoint tutorial we are going to teach you how to loop a PowerPoint Presentation so your PowerPoint Slideshow will run again and again continuously in an infinite loop...

  5. How To Loop a PowerPoint Presentation - 24Slides

    Usually, once you’re finished with your presentation, PowerPoint goes back to the slide editor. But if you want your presentation to go back to the start, this quick tutorial will show you how to loop any PowerPoint presentation and set it to run automatically.

  6. How to Loop a PowerPoint Presentation (Easy Way) - SlideModel

    How to Make PowerPoint Loop. To loop PowerPoint, go to Slide Show -> Setup Show. From the dialog box that appears, select Loop continuously until ‘Esc’ to enable looping your slides. By default, all slides are looped in a sequence.