Formatting Issues

How to Start PowerPoint Slide Numbering at 1 on Slide 3

Camila Milosovich Oct 13, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs the first two slides to have no numbers and the third slide to display as slide number 1 automatically.

How to Start PowerPoint Slide Numbering at 1 on Slide 3

Product: PowerPoint / WPS Presentation
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating a professional presentation where the first two slides (e.g., Title and Agenda) should be excluded from the formal slide count.
Observed behavior: The user wants an automated way to display slide number 1 on the 3rd slide without having to manually insert text boxes on every slide.

Before you start

Ensure that your presentation is fully assembled and that the slide number placeholders are enabled in your Slide Master settings before adjusting the numbering sequence.

Solution 1Recommended

Use a Custom Slide Show to Adjust Numbering

Since native slide size settings only allow starting numbering from 0 (making slide 2 the first numbered slide), creating a Custom Show is the best automated workaround for making the 3rd slide display as slide 1.

This method creates a virtual presentation inside your existing file. When you play or print this custom show, the software treats the first slide in the custom sequence (your 3rd slide) as slide number 1.

Apply Slide Numbers to All Slides

Go to the 'Insert' tab, select 'Header & Footer', check the 'Slide number' box, and click 'Apply to All'.

Open Custom Slide Show Settings

Navigate to the 'Slide Show' tab on the ribbon and click on 'Custom Slide Show' (or 'Custom Shows').

Create a New Custom Show

Click 'New' to create a new custom show and give it a recognizable name in the dialog box.

Select the Starting Slides

In the 'Define Custom Show' window, select slide 3 and all subsequent slides from the left panel, then click 'Add' to move them to the right panel.

Save and Present

Click 'OK' and then 'Close'. When you play this Custom Show, the numbering will automatically treat your selected starting slide (slide 3) as slide 1.

Use a Custom Slide Show to Adjust Numbering

Printing Custom Shows: To print your slides with this updated numbering, go to the Print settings menu, select your 'Custom Show' instead of 'All Slides', and proceed with printing.

Effortless Presentation Formatting

Easily Manage Slide Numbers with WPS Presentation

WPS Presentation makes it incredibly easy to format slide masters, insert headers and footers, and create Custom Slide Shows to give you total control over your slide numbering and layout without manual adjustments.

1. Open your presentation: Launch WPS Presentation and open your document.
2. Enable slide numbers: Go to the 'Insert' tab and click 'Header and Footer' to apply slide numbers.
3. Access custom shows: Navigate to the 'Slide Show' tab and select 'Custom Slide Shows'.
4. Define the sequence: Create a new custom show, adding only the slides starting from your 3rd slide.
5. Play or print: Run or print the custom show to display your starting slide correctly as number 1.

Fully compatible with Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt, .pptx) formats.Intuitive Custom Slide Show manager for advanced numbering control.Free, lightweight, and user-friendly interface.Robust Slide Master tools to easily edit and format placeholders.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I just type the numbers manually on each slide?

Yes, but manual numbering is not recommended for larger presentations. If you add, delete, or rearrange slides later, you will have to manually update every text box, which is tedious and prone to errors.

How do I hide the slide number on the title slide only?

You can easily hide the number on the very first slide by going to the 'Insert' tab, clicking 'Header & Footer', and checking the 'Don't show on title slide' option.

Why can't I just change the 'Number slides from' setting to -1?

Most presentation software limits the 'Number slides from' setting to a minimum of 0. Because of this limitation, the Custom Slide Show method is the standard workaround for starting numbering at 1 on the 3rd slide or later.

Document & File Issues