Insert Slide Numbers in PowerPoint

To effectively manage your PowerPoint presentations, adding slide numbers can be quite helpful.

This guide will walk you through the process of inserting and formatting slide numbers in Microsoft PowerPoint, ensuring your presentation is organized and professional.

Things You Should Know

• To add slide numbers to your presentation, click the Insert tab, select Header & Footer, check the box next to Slide number, and click Apply All.
• The position, font, size, and color of your slide numbers are determined by your slide master.
• To format your slides, click the View tab, select Slide Master, click the first master slide, and edit the placeholder (the hashtag symbol) as needed.

How to Add Slide Numbers

1. Click the Insert tab in your presentation. It’s located at the top of PowerPoint.
2. Click Header & Footer. This option can be found on the toolbar at the top of PowerPoint. This opens the Header & Footer window to the Slide tab.
3. Check the box next to “Slide number.” This option is on the left side of the window.
   • If you don’t want a slide number to appear on the first (title) slide, check the box next to Don’t show on title slide at the bottom-left corner.
   • All slides, including hidden slides, are included in the slide count. You will also see slide numbers when you print your presentations.
4. Click the Apply to All button. This button is at the bottom-right corner of the window. Slide numbers will now appear on each slide in your presentation.
   • If slide numbers aren’t showing up, the slide number placeholder may have been removed from your slide master. You can follow the instructions below to insert them if they aren’t visible.
   • To remove all slide numbers, return to Insert > Header & Footer, uncheck Slide Number, and click Apply to All.
   • To remove just one slide number, select the slide in the left panel, go to Insert > Header & Footer, uncheck Slide Number, and click Apply.

How to Format Slide Numbers

1. Open Slide Master view. This is where you can control the position, size, and color of your slide numbers. To access it, click the View tab at the top of PowerPoint, then click Slide Master in the toolbar.
2. Click the master thumbnail. You will find this at the top of the left panel. You should now see the slide number placeholder, which is a small box with a hashtag (#) inside, typically located at the bottom-right corner.
   • If your slide numbers didn’t show up after you inserted them, you may not see the placeholder. To add one, follow these steps:
     • Click the Insert tab, then click Text Box in the toolbar.
     • Click and drag a text box in any blank area of the slide. You can always reposition it later.
     • Click inside the text box.
     • Click Slide Number in the toolbar. The hash symbol will now appear in the text box as the slide number placeholder.
3. Select the slide number placeholder. This is the box with a small hashtag inside, usually located at the bottom-right corner of the master slide.
4. Reposition the slide number. If you want to move the slide number to a different location, click and hold the slide number placeholder. When the cursor changes to arrows, drag it to your desired location.
5. Change the slide number font, text size, or color. To customize the appearance of your slide numbers:
   • Click the Home tab.
   • Select the slide number placeholder.
   • To change the color, click the letter “A” with a line under it in the toolbar, then select your preferred color.
   • To modify the font face and size, use the drop-down menus in the toolbar.
   • You can also format slide numbers by making them bold, italicized, or underlined, just like other text.
   • To return to your presentation, click Normal on the View tab.