Add a Header and Footer in PowerPoint

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Quickly Adding a Header and Footer

To enhance your PowerPoint presentations, adding headers and footers can provide essential information like dates, titles, or slide numbers.

Here’s a straightforward guide to help you add these elements effectively.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Click the Insert tab and select Header & Footer. If you want the header to appear in your presentation, click the Slide tab. Alternatively, you can select the Notes and Handouts tab to add a header (and footer, if desired) for printing only.

Check the “Date and Time” box and choose a time setting. You can choose to display the date as Update automatically for a current date or set it as Fixed if you prefer a specific date. If you select Fixed, simply type the date into the provided field.

Check the “Header” box and type your text. It’s important to note that headers can only be added in the Notes and Handouts tab. If you wish to create a header that appears in your slideshow, navigate to View > Master and create an image or text box on the Master slide, which will then display on each slide.

Check the “Footer” box and add footer text (optional). This text will appear at the bottom of each slide. If you want to include a consistent message (other than the date), input your desired text in the box. Additionally, check the box next to “Page Number” to have each slide numbered in the footer.

Click Apply to All to save your changes. This action will apply your header (and footer, if added) to every slide in your presentation. You can always return to modify your header settings at any time.
- To adjust the header’s position, hover your mouse over one of the borders until a 4-way arrow cursor appears. Click and drag the header to your preferred location on the slide.
- Keep in mind that moving the header in the Notes Master will not affect the Handout Page layout; you will need to switch to the Handout Master found in the Views tab to reposition it there.
- Similarly, footers can also be moved using this method.
- To edit your headers and footers, simply click inside their respective boxes. Any changes to the text, font style, or shape will apply to every slide.

Watch

When delivering a PowerPoint presentation as part of a training session or classroom activity, consider printing slides in the Slide Note format. The additional lines at the bottom of each page can facilitate note-taking for your audience.
PowerPoint presentations can be edited on the go using the mobile app, which offers more functionality, or you can use Google Slides for similar capabilities.