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How to Edit Footer in Powerpoint [Step-by-Step Guide

October 26, 2023 1.4K views

If you want to add a professional touch to your PowerPoint presentation, start with the footer. You can add the date, your company name, or even just your contact details. However, sometimes you may not be able to edit the footer. This can be frustrating, especially if you're working on a presentation that you need to finish soon. This article will give you a complete guide on how to edit the footer in your PowerPoint presentation, even if you're having trouble. Keep reading to learn more!

Part 1 Understanding the Footer

In Microsoft PowerPoint, the footer is a specific section at the bottom of each slide where you can include additional information or elements to enhance your presentation. It plays a crucial role in helping users polish their work by providing context, professionalism, and accessibility. Here's how the footer in PowerPoint can be used to improve presentations:

  • Slide numbers for tracking progress.

  • Date and time for context.

  • Presentation title for clarity.

  • Company or presenter info for professionalism.

  • Copyright notices for protection.

  • Navigation links for easy access.

  • Accessibility elements for inclusivity.

  • References and citations for credibility.

  • Confidentiality notices for sensitive content.

Part 2 How to Change Footer in Powerpoint [Step-by-Step]

In PowerPoint, users can apply various changes to the footer to customize it according to their presentation needs. Here are the steps for each of these changes:

Editing the Date and Slide Numbers in the Footer

Step 1: Open your PowerPoint presentation.

Step 2: Go to "View" > "Slide Master."

slide master

slide master

slide master

slide master


Step 3: Click in the footer area to edit.

footer


Step 4: Navigate to "Insert" > "Date & Time."

date time


Step 5: Check the "Date" and click OK

select date


result


Note: You can also choose to display the slide number in a different format, such as "Slide {N} of {Total}" or "{N}/{Total}".

Adding Custom Text to the Footer:

Step 1: Open your PowerPoint presentation.

Step 2: Go to "Insert" > "Header & Footer."

header and footer


Step 3: A Header and Footer dialog box pop-up. Check the "Footer" box and enter your text.

Step 4: Customize options and click "Apply." , or click Apply to All to apply the changes to all slides in your presentation.

Click apply


Note: Be careful not to overload the footer with too much information, as this can make it difficult to read.

Changing the Footer Font, Style, and Placement:

Step 1: Open your PowerPoint presentation.

Step 2: Go to "View" > "Slide Master."

view tab


Step 3: Click on the footer placeholder and use the formatting tools on the Home tab to change its font, size, color, alignment, etc.

edit


Step 4: Drag to adjust placement.

adjust placement.


Step 5: Click "Close Master View" and exit Slide Master view.

close master view


Note: Choose a font that is easy to read and matches the style of your presentation.

Applying Footers to Specific Slides:

Step 1: Open your PowerPoint presentation.

Step 2: Select the slide.

Step 3: Go to "Insert" > "Header & Footer."

insert tab


Step 4: Click the Slide tab.

slide tab


Step 5: In the Footer text box, type the custom text that you want to add.

CUSTOM


Step 6: Click "Apply" for that slide only.

click apply

Part 3 How to Remove Footer in Powerpoint

Step 1: Open the "Slide Master" View

Begin by accessing the Slide Master view, as discussed in a previous section.

access master slide

Step 2: In the "Master Slide" panel, select the Footer.

Navigate to the "Master Slide" in the Slide Master view." that contains the footer by clicking on it once. You'll see the border of the text box to indicate it's selected.

select footer

Step 3: Press the "Backspace" or "Delete" Keys

With the footer's "Text Box" selected in the "Master Slide," press the "Backspace" or "Delete" key on your computer's keyboard.

press delete

This action will remove the footer, and because changes to the "Master Slide" affect all slides based on that layout, the footers will be removed from all slides in the presentation.

Part 4 How to Add Footer in Powerpoint

How to Add Footers to All Slides in Powerpoint

Step 1: Select the "Header & Footers" option.

In the Slide Master view, click on the "Header & Footer" option. You'll find this option in the "Text" section of the "Insert" tab.

insert section

Step 2: Check the Footer Box and Type in the Text

  • In the pop-up window that appears, locate the "Footer" option.

  • Check the box next to "Footer" to enable it.

  • Type in the text you want to add as a footer in the rectangular text box below.

insert footer

  • Finally, click the "Apply to All" button to add the footer to all slides in your PowerPoint presentation.’

Apply to All

Alt: Apply to All

How to Add Footers to One Specific Slide in Powerpoint

Step 1: Select the "Header & Footers" option.

  • In the Slide Master view, click on the "Header & Footer" option. This option can be found in the "Text" section of the "Insert" tab.

Text section

Step 2: Check the Footer Box and Type in the Text

  • In the pop-up window that appears, locate the "Footer" option.

  • Check the box next to "Footer" to enable it.

  • Type the desired footer text into the rectangular text box.

type footer

  • Finally, click "Apply" to apply the changes to the selected slide only.

Result

Part 5 PowerPoint Footer Not Working - What to Do

Troubleshooting Common Issues with Footers in PowerPoint

These tips provide a quick and effective way to address common footer-related problems in PowerPoint presentations.

Check "Footer" Box in "Header & Footer" Window:

Ensure that the "Footer" box is selected in the "Header & Footer" window. If it's unchecked, the footer won't appear on the slide.

Check for Element Overlapping:

Make sure that the footer is not hidden behind other elements on the slide, such as images or text boxes. Adjust the element stacking order if needed.

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FAQs

Can I edit the footer in PowerPoint Online?

Absolutely! The process is quite similar. Navigate to the "Insert" tab and select "Header & Footer" to customize your footer in PowerPoint Online.

Can I edit footers on mobile devices?

Yes, you can! For a seamless mobile editing experience, we recommend using WPS Office, which also allows you to work with cloud files, ensuring your flexibility and productivity on the go.

Summary

In this comprehensive guide, we've covered everything you need to know about editing PowerPoint footers for your 2023 presentations. Understanding the importance of the footer in enhancing presentations, we explored various elements you can include, from slide numbers to copyright notices, all contributing to a more polished and professional presentation.

Finally, for those seeking an alternative to Microsoft Office, we recommended WPS Office as a free, compatible alternative to Microsoft Office for seamless cross-platform work. Download it now for a user-friendly and feature-rich office suite. Elevate your presentations with WPS Office.


15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.