Chart & Visualization Issues

How to Animate Sunburst Chart Sections in PowerPoint

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is trying to apply animations to individual sections of a Sunburst chart in PowerPoint, but the necessary animation effect options are unavailable.

Product: Microsoft PowerPoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating an interactive presentation where different hierarchical sections of a Sunburst chart need to appear sequentially.
Observed behavior: The 'Effect Options' feature is grayed out or unavailable when a Sunburst chart is selected, preventing the animation of individual chart components.

Before you start

Ensure your Sunburst chart data is completely finalized, as the workaround requires converting the dynamic chart into static shapes, which will sever its connection to your original Excel data.

Solution 1Recommended

Convert the Sunburst Chart to Individual Shapes

Since PowerPoint does not natively support animating individual sections of a Sunburst chart, you must convert the chart into separate shapes to animate each piece independently.

This method breaks the chart down into standard PowerPoint vector shapes. Once converted, each slice of the Sunburst chart becomes an independent object that can accept any standard entrance, emphasis, or exit animation.

Copy the chart

Click on the outer border of your completed Sunburst chart to select it, right-click, and choose 'Copy' (or press Ctrl+C on your keyboard).

Paste as an Enhanced Metafile or SVG

Navigate to a blank slide. On the 'Home' tab, click the drop-down arrow below the 'Paste' button and select 'Paste Special'. Choose 'Picture (Enhanced Metafile)' or 'SVG' from the list and click 'OK'.

Ungroup the image

Right-click the newly pasted image, hover over 'Group', and select 'Ungroup'. PowerPoint may prompt you to convert the imported picture to a Microsoft Office drawing object; click 'Yes'. Right-click and 'Ungroup' a second time to break it down into individual shape components.

Apply animations to sections

Select the individual shapes representing your chart sections. Go to the 'Animations' tab and apply your desired entrance effects (like Fade or Wipe) to each shape in the order you want them to appear.

Data Link Warning: Converting the chart to drawing shapes permanently removes its link to the underlying data. If you need to update the numbers later, you will have to recreate the chart and repeat this process.

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1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office for free from the official website and install it on your device.
2. Open Your Presentation: Launch WPS Presentation and open your existing PowerPoint (.pptx) file seamlessly without formatting loss.
3. Add Animations: Navigate to the Animation tab to intuitively apply custom effects to your slides, shapes, and charts.

Fully compatible with Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx) files and complex chart formats.Free and lightweight suite with a familiar, easy-to-use interface.Rich library of built-in presentation templates and smart chart designs.Advanced animation controls to bring your slides to life effortlessly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Effect Options button grayed out for my Sunburst chart?

In PowerPoint, complex hierarchical charts like Sunburst and Treemap are treated as single, unified rendering objects. The software's engine does not support breaking these specific chart types down into animatable elements natively.

Can I animate other types of charts in PowerPoint natively?

Yes, standard charts such as Bar, Column, Pie, and Line charts can be easily animated by category or series. You can accomplish this by selecting the chart, adding an animation, and choosing 'By Series' or 'By Category' in the Effect Options.

Is it possible to animate a Sunburst chart in newer Microsoft 365 versions?

No. Even in the latest versions of Microsoft 365, Sunburst charts still cannot have their individual sections animated natively. The 'Ungrouping' workaround remains the standard solution for achieving this effect.

Excel & Data Problems