Office Settings & Configuration

Fix Missing PowerPoint Navigation Arrows in Windowed Slide Show Mode

Huma Ashraf Ch Sep 25, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to navigate their presentation when the default PowerPoint navigation arrows disappear in windowed mode during a Zoom screen share.

How to Fix Missing PowerPoint Navigation Arrows in Windowed Slide Show Mode

Product: Microsoft PowerPoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Running a presentation in "Browsed by an individual (window)" mode while screen sharing over Zoom.
Observed behavior: The on-screen navigation arrows disappear from the toolbar, preventing remote participants from clicking to navigate the presentation.

Before you start

Make sure that both your Zoom client and presentation software are updated to their latest versions, as overlay visibility issues during screen sharing are often patched in software updates.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Right-Click Context Menu

Bypass the missing arrows by using PowerPoint's built-in contextual menu to navigate back and forth between slides.

When the visual arrows on the bottom toolbar fail to render over a Zoom screen share, PowerPoint's native right-click capabilities usually remain fully functional.

Open Context Menu

While presenting in windowed mode, right-click anywhere on the current slide.

Select Navigation Action

From the popup shortcut menu, click 'Next' to advance the slide or 'Previous' to go back.

Platform Differences: The availability of certain shortcut menu commands may differ slightly between PowerPoint for Windows and PowerPoint for Mac.

Solution 2

Insert Action Buttons Directly onto Slides

Adding permanent navigation buttons to your slides ensures viewers can always click to navigate, regardless of software glitches.

Solution 3

Navigate Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Use standard keyboard commands to advance slides instead of relying on on-screen graphical interfaces.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Present Flawlessly Over Zoom with WPS Office

If you continue experiencing missing toolbars and display glitches while presenting in Microsoft PowerPoint, WPS Presentation offers a stable, lightweight, and completely free alternative for your remote meetings.

1. Open Your Presentation: Launch WPS Office and open your existing .ppt or .pptx file directly.
2. Configure Windowed Mode: Go to the 'Slide Show' tab, click 'Set Up Show', and select 'Browsed by an individual (window)'.
3. Start Presenting: Click 'From Beginning' to start your presentation in a stable window that can easily be shared over Zoom without losing controls.

Fully compatible with Microsoft PowerPoint formats (.ppt, .pptx)Lightweight architecture ensures stable windowed screen sharing on ZoomFamiliar ribbon interface requires no learning curve to masterFree to use for viewing, editing, and presenting slide decks

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do the navigation arrows disappear during a Zoom presentation?

This is often due to how Zoom captures shared windows. Zoom's screen sharing engine may inadvertently suppress or hide overlay UI elements—like the PowerPoint floating navigation toolbar—to optimize the video feed of the main window content.

Can remote viewers navigate my presentation if I give them remote control on Zoom?

Yes. If you grant remote control permissions in Zoom, remote participants can click directly on the slide to advance, right-click to use the context menu, or use their keyboard (such as the Spacebar or Arrow keys) to navigate, even if the graphical arrows are missing.

Is the missing arrow issue dependent on my operating system?

It can be. Older versions of PowerPoint on Windows typically displayed the arrows reliably in windowed mode, whereas newer updates or the Mac version might behave differently under certain screen-sharing conditions.

Office App Problems