Printing Problems

How to Fix PowerPoint Skipping Slides When Printing

Huma Ashraf Ch Oct 8, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is experiencing an issue where certain slides are skipped and fail to print when sending a PowerPoint presentation to the printer.

How to Fix PowerPoint Skipping Slides When Printing

Product: Microsoft PowerPoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Printing a presentation containing multiple slides for a handout or hard copy review.
Observed behavior: Certain slides are entirely omitted from the final printed output, often due to the slides being marked as hidden or incorrect print range settings.

Before you start

Before altering your presentation settings, perform a quick Print Preview (File > Print) to visually confirm which slides are currently recognized by the printer to avoid wasting ink and paper.

Solution 1Recommended

Unhide Hidden Slides in the Presentation

Use this solution if specific slides were previously hidden for a slideshow presentation but now need to be printed.

PowerPoint allows users to hide slides so they do not appear during a live presentation. By default, hidden slides are also skipped during the printing process. You must manually unhide them or tell the printer to include them.

Switch to Slide Sorter or Normal View

Open your presentation and look at the left-hand slide thumbnail pane in Normal view, or click 'View' > 'Slide Sorter' to see all your slides at once.

Identify Hidden Slides

Look for slide numbers that are grayed out and have a diagonal slash through them. This indicates the slide is currently hidden.

Unhide the Slide

Right-click on the grayed-out slide thumbnail and select 'Unhide Slide' (or 'Hide Slide' to toggle the visibility back on). The slash should disappear.

Unhide Hidden Slides in the Presentation

Tip: You can select multiple hidden slides by holding down the Ctrl key (Command on Mac) while clicking, then right-click to unhide them all simultaneously.

Solution 2

Enable the 'Print Hidden Slides' Setting

Use this method if you want to keep the slides hidden for your digital slideshow but still want them included in your printed handouts.

Solution 3

Export as PDF to Bypass Printer Errors

If slides are unhidden and print settings are correct but slides are still skipping, converting the file to a PDF can resolve software-to-printer communication errors.

Print Presentations Flawlessly with WPS Office

Easily Print All Your Slides with WPS Presentation

WPS Presentation provides a highly intuitive interface for managing slide visibility and comprehensive print settings, ensuring no slide is accidentally skipped. It is a lightweight, fully-featured alternative for handling all your presentation needs.

1. Open Your Presentation: Launch WPS Office and open your PowerPoint file in WPS Presentation.
2. Check Slide Visibility: Review the slide thumbnails on the left. Right-click any slide with a crossed-out eye icon and select 'Unhide Slide'.
3. Open Print Options: Click the 'Menu' button in the top left corner, then select 'Print'.
4. Print All Slides: In the Print dialog box, choose 'All slides'. If you wish to keep some slides hidden but still print them, simply check 'Print hidden slides' and click 'OK'.

Completely free to use with a lightweight installationSeamless and perfect compatibility with Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt and .pptx) formatsIntuitive print settings to easily manage hidden slides and custom layoutsBuilt-in PDF converter to instantly export and print your slides

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are some slide numbers grayed out with a slash in PowerPoint?

A grayed-out slide number with a diagonal slash means the slide is marked as 'Hidden'. Hidden slides will not be displayed during a live slide show and will be skipped during printing unless you specifically configure your print settings to include them.

Can I print hidden slides without unhiding them first?

Yes. In the Print menu under Settings, click on the 'Print All Slides' dropdown menu and check the 'Print Hidden Slides' option at the bottom of the list. This allows you to print the slides while keeping them hidden in your digital presentation.

Why does my presentation print in black and white even though my printer has color ink?

This is usually caused by the print settings within the software. Go to File > Print, look at the bottom of the Settings section, and ensure the color option is set to 'Color' rather than 'Grayscale' or 'Pure Black and White'.

What should I do if PowerPoint still skips slides after checking all visibility settings?

If all settings are correct but slides are still missing, try saving the presentation as a PDF (File > Save As > PDF). Open the PDF and print it. This flattens the file and usually bypasses application-specific printing bugs.

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