How to add audio to PowerPoint

How to add audio to PowerPoint for all slides

How to add audio to PowerPoint for all slides? In case you want to add audio to PowerPoint 2016, 2013, or 2010, you can use the following steps. The information is comprehensible and straightforward, and some relevant images have been shown in some parts for further help. In different versions of PowerPoint, the steps are similar though they might be a bit different. 

Recommended article: How to add speaker notes in PowerPoint

How to record sound in a PowerPoint presentation

If you do not have an external audio file to add to your PowerPoint, you can use the record audio option and record your audio input yourself. For doing this, you have to have a microphone device that enables you to record your voice. Suppose you want to record your audio input. In that case, you should open your PowerPoint project, and after selecting one of the slides, follow this path: Click Insert > Audio > Record Audio, and then you can start recording. 

If you want to choose a name for the audio you are recording, you can go to the Record Sound window and write the name in the Name box. 

You should press the record button when you feel ready to start recording.

Press the stop button when you are done recording your audio, and in case you want to hear what you’ve recorded, you can do so by pressing the play button.

Once you’ve finished recording the audio, press the stop button. You can play the recorded audio by simply pressing the play button.

Now it’s time to insert the file you recorded in your presentation, so press OK, and then the recorded audio file will be added to the slide as a little speaker icon.

To get the playback controls for the recorded file, you can select the file while editing. To view the controls for your recorded audio input, you can hover the mouse pointer on this icon. With these controls, you will be able to play the audio, pause, or stop it, forward or backward by 0.25 seconds, and you can even manipulate the Volume.

Add External Audio to a PowerPoint Presentation

If you choose to use an external audio file in your PowerPoint project instead of recording the audio input yourself, you can easily do so. You need to ensure that the audio file has a supported format like WAV, MP3, or MID; if your external audio has an alternative format, you have to convert it to MP3 first and then insert it in the project. 

To add the external audio input to your PowerPoint project, you first have to select one of your slides then follow this path: Click Insert > Audio > Audio on my PC. Now you can choose the external audio file to be added to your project. 

Find your chosen file on your PC; after selecting it, click Insert, and then it will be added to your PowerPoint slide.

Like with the recorded audio file, PowerPoint will show your external audio file in your slide as a little speaker icon. You can access the playback options for this inserted audio by hovering the mouse over it during a live presentation or just by selecting it while editing.

Recommended article: Insert video into PowerPoint

Controlling the way audio starts

To manipulate how your audio begins during the slide show, follow these steps:

1. On the slide, click the audio icon while in Normal View.
2. In the ribbon, click on the Audio Playback tab or Audio Tools Playback.
3. Find the Audio Options next to Start, then from the drop-down menu In Click Sequence, choose When Clicked On or Automatically. 

You must have in mind that if you choose When Clicked On when you run your slide show, you must directly click on the audio to play it.

You can manipulate the Start Settings in the Audio options section, which is located on the playback tab:

How to hide audio in PowerPoint

In case you prefer to have your audio input remain invisible while you are presenting, you can try and do one of two things, first, you can click on the little speaker icon and drag it somewhere outside your slide frame, or you can follow these steps:

1. Select your audio file
2. Go to the playback options tab and open it
3. Then select the Hide During Presentation option

By selecting the Hide During Presentation option, you can hide your audio file’s speaker icon when you’re playing the slideshow so that it wouldn’t be displayed. 

If you chose this option, you should remember to ensure that you are using either the Automatically option or the In Click Sequence in the Play Options for your audio file. If you don’t do this, PowerPoint will never play your audio during the presentation.  Remember to ensure that you have added your audio/music file to the slides you want them to be played on since your audio files can only be played when you reach their slides while presenting.

Controlling audio Volume

You can control the volume of your audio using these steps:

1. While in Normal View, click the audio (little speaker) icon on the slide.
2. In the ribbon, find and click on the Audio Playback tab or Audio Tools Playback.
3. Find the Audio Options and then click on Volume and choose between Low, Medium, High or Mute.
4. If you want to change the Volume of an audio clip, you can go to the media controls below the icon and use the volume slider.

To ensure that all systems are working and your audio plays as planned, you have to check your device’s Volume (generally located in the taskbar shown with a volume icon), or you might have to check your speaker settings in the Control Panel of your Windows.

How to trim an audio file in PowerPoint

The audio trimmer tool in PowerPoint is beneficial when you want only a portion of your audio input to be played. You can follow the following steps to trim an audio file in PowerPoint:

1. First, select the audio file
2. Find the playback tab and open it
3. Find and select Trim Audio
4. Set the Start Time
5. Set the End Time
6. Click on OK

This way, you can trim the beginning and end of your audio file as you please.

More resources

• How to add background music to PowerPoint presentation
• Save a powerpoint slide as an image
• How to add Voice Over to PowerPoint on iPad
• Why can’t i record audio on PowerPoint mac