Office Settings & Configuration

Fix PowerPoint Animation Requiring Two Clicks to Return to Previous Slide

Algirdas Jasaitis Sep 28, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user needs to navigate backward to the previous slide in one click, but PowerPoint animations require two clicks because the first click reverses the animation effects instead.

How to Fix PowerPoint Requiring Two Clicks to Return to the Previous Slide

Product: Microsoft PowerPoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Navigating backward during a presentation slideshow that contains objects with 'With Previous' animation settings.
Observed behavior: When pressing the back button or left arrow key, the first click hides or reverses the current slide's animations. A second click is required to actually transition to the previous slide.

Before you start

Open your presentation and review the Animation Pane to identify which slide elements are set to 'With Previous', as this native PowerPoint grouping behavior directly affects backward slide navigation.

Solution 1Recommended

Use a Transparent Hyperlink Shape as a Back Button

Create an invisible shape on your slide that links directly to the previous slide, bypassing PowerPoint's default animation reversal sequence completely.

Because PowerPoint inherently treats a backward click as an 'undo' action for recently played animations, bypassing the standard navigation click is the most effective workaround.

Insert a Shape

Navigate to the 'Insert' tab on the ribbon, click 'Shapes', and draw a rectangle over a corner of your slide (or over the entire slide if you prefer a large click area).

Add a Hyperlink

Right-click the newly created shape and select 'Link' (or 'Hyperlink'). In the dialog box, choose 'Place in This Document' and select 'Previous Slide', then click OK.

Make the Shape Transparent

Right-click the shape and select 'Format Shape'. Set both the 'Fill' transparency to 100% and the 'Line' to 'No line' so the shape becomes completely invisible during your slideshow.

Use a Transparent Hyperlink Shape as a Back Button

Seamless Navigation: Clicking this invisible area during your presentation will instantly take you to the previous slide without playing the reverse animation.

Solution 2

Report the Behavior to Microsoft Support

Since this is a known structural quirk in how PowerPoint handles animated objects, documenting the issue can help Microsoft developers investigate the playback engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does PowerPoint require two clicks to return to the previous slide?

PowerPoint natively treats backward navigation as a command to 'undo' the last action. If your slide contains entrance animations set to 'With Previous', the first backward click hides those animations. A second click is then required to change the slide.

Can I disable the animation undo feature in PowerPoint?

There is no built-in toggle to disable this backward animation reversal behavior in PowerPoint's settings. You must rely on workarounds, such as using invisible hyperlinked shapes to force a slide change.

Does this issue happen with all PowerPoint animation types?

This navigation quirk primarily occurs with effects set to 'With Previous' or sequential 'On Click' animations that have already executed on the current slide.

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