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How to Fix PowerPoint Audio Not Recording on Mac (Effective Ways)

August 30, 2023 3.3K views

Recording audio on PowerPoint Mac is important for creating engaging presentations. However, users encounter issues where the audio fails to record properly. You may not have any idea of what are the causes of this issue and how to solve them.

Read this detailed guide below to find answers to questions like why your PowerPoint is not recording audio on Mac and how to fix that problem.

Part 1: Causes of the “PowerPoint Audio Not Recording” Issue on Mac

Audio recording problems are common in PowerPoint Mac, and there can be multiple reasons for these problems. From Microphone permissions to problems with computer cache, there can be multiple reasons your Mac may not be recording audio on PowerPoint presentations.

If you want to find an answer to why can’t I record audio on PowerPoint Mac, read a short list of the below-mentioned causes that may be contributing to this problem.

Cause 1: Outdated Microphone Permissions

Every application on your Mac needs some permissions to access the hardware and software components of your computer. Similar to other applications, PowerPoint also needs to access your microphone in order to record audio in presentations and use the recording feature available in PowerPoint Mac.

If you are facing this problem, you can sort it out by following a single step. All you have to do is go to the “Insert” tab and select “Audio”.

In that option, press Record Audio and choose OK from the dialogue box that appears as a pop-up on the screen. A visual representation of this problem can be seen below:

Cause 2: Problems with User Profile

If you have been having problems with your profile on Mac, you can consider creating a new user profile. It has worked for many users. This is because the settings in the old profile may be causing problems with audio settings or audio drivers. To create a new profile, you can go to the Apple menu on your Mac, open system and preferences, and click on User and Groups. From there, you can create a new user profile.

Part 2: Solutions for Fixing the “PowerPoint Audio Not Recording” Issue on Mac

Above, we have discussed the top 2 causes of problems occurring with PowerPoint audio not working. To fix these problems and the issues arising due to more problems, you can adopt any of the 3 methods mentioned below:

Method 1: Make PowerPoint Access Your Microphone

This is the most common issue occurring with starters. To alleviate and solve this problem, follow these steps:

Step 1: Click on the “Start” menu of your Mac, and above the power menu, you will see the settings icon. Press this icon, and it will lead to the Settings app.

In the settings app, you will have to select “Security & Privacy”.

Step 2: When you are in this tab, go to the “privacy” option, and below it, you will see the list of apps that will need permission for different hardware and software. From this section, you will have to select “Microphone” and then check the box for the PowerPoint application.

This method will solve the problem, and your PowerPoint will now be able to access the microphone.

Method 2: Reset P-RAM

Just like there is a BIOS option for Windows, there is P-RAM for Mac devices. To solve the problem of PowerPoint audio not recording, you will have to reset the P-RAM on your Mac.

Follow these steps to do so:

Step 1: Turn off your Mac and restart it. When it is restarting, press option+command+P+R keys as soon as the apple logo appears on the screen.

Step 2: This will take you to the boot menu, where you will be able to see multiple options. Go to the system preferences tab and then open Sound settings. Here, you will be able to find the microphone option, and you can check from here if it’s detecting your voice input.

Method 3: Remove Cache Files for PowerPoint

Cache files are the types of files that are created by the application and the browser that works on the internet. It might be possible that the Microsoft for your PowerPoint might be causing problems because of the cache files in the system.

To remove these files for PowerPoint, follow these steps:

Step 1: Start your Mac, and once the system is fully booted up, go to the “Library” option.

Step 2: In the Library option, you will have to go to Application Scripts or Group Containers.

Step 3: In here, you will find the folder named com.microsoft.Powerpoint. You will have to delete this folder in order to clear all the cache files of Microsoft PowerPoint.

After clearing the cache, restart your Mac and open PowerPoint. Now, you will be able to record PowerPoint presentations with the mic working all fine and well.

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Part 3: Use Screen Recorder in WPS Office

The screen recorder feature within WPS Presentation empowers users with a dynamic and versatile tool to capture, showcase, and enhance their presentations. Seamlessly integrated within the WPS Office suite, this screen recorder offers an intuitive solution for capturing screen activities, allowing you to create engaging presentations.

Being a comprehensive and feature-rich office suite, WPS Office offers several notable advantages that make it a standout choice for productivity tasks. Here are some key advantages of WPS Office and its screen recorder:

Advantages of WPS Office:

  • WPS Office is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.

  • With a user-friendly interface similar to well-known office suites, WPS Office enables users to quickly adapt to other productivity software.

  • It provides a wide range of tools for word processing, spreadsheet analysis, and presentation creation.

  • You can integrate WPS Office with popular cloud storage services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive, enabling users to access and edit their documents from anywhere and on any device.

  • WPS Office offers PDF tools with editing capabilities, allowing users to create, convert, edit, and annotate PDF documents directly within the application.

Advantages of the Screen Recorder Tool:

  • The integrated screen recorder tool within WPS Office offers a simple and intuitive interface.

  • The screen recorder tool allows users to capture their entire screen, specific application windows, or custom-defined regions.

  • Users can choose to record both system audio and microphone input simultaneously, ideal for creating instructional videos, tutorials, or presentations with voice narration.

  • The screen recorder tool includes annotation features such as text, arrows, shapes, and highlights, enabling users to emphasize key points or provide additional context.

  • After recording, users can quickly edit their captured footage, trim sections, add captions, and make adjustments to ensure the final video meets their requirements.

FAQs

1: Are there any useful screen recorder tools for Mac?

Yes, there are several screen recorder tools for Mac that can be helpful for screen recording as well as voice narration. Below are some of these software tools:

  1. Movavi

  2. Loom

  3. OBS studio

  4. Vmaker

  5. Snagit

  6. Claquette

  7. Active Presenter

  8. Tiny Take

  9. Camtasia

  10. Screen Flow

2: Can I convert Keynote files to PowerPoint presentations on Mac?

Yes, you can easily convert Keynote files to PowerPoint presentations on Mac. Follow the steps mentioned below to do just that:

Step 1: Open the Keynote presentation file in the Keynote application on the Mac.

Step 2: Go to the File menu and then choose Export to > PowerPoint from the dropdown menu.

Step 3: Click Next to continue.

Step 4: Give a name to your file and then click Export.

That’s it. Your Keynote file will be converted to a PowerPoint presentation using Mac.

Recording PowerPoint Presentation on Mac

We believe you found the answer to your problem: why can’t I record audio on a PowerPoint Mac? PowerPoint is the best presentation software out there. You can use it to record and narrate your presentations as you want. Sometimes, it can cause problems like no audio recording, but this problem can easily be solved by following the methods mentioned above.

However, most users can’t use PowerPoint on their Mac devices because they will have to pay a monthly subscription fee. That’s why we recommend WPS Office as the best alternative software to Microsoft PowerPoint.

The WPS Office suite comes with all the productivity applications, just like Microsoft Office. This includes a word processor, spreadsheet editor, and presentation creator. You can use WPS Presentation Creator to record your audio in presentations and present them more effectively.


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