Office for Mac Issues

Fix PowerPoint for Mac Shortcuts Not Working in Slide Shows

Huda Qurayshi Oct 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users are unable to use custom keyboard shortcuts to activate presentation tools like the pen, highlighter, and ink colors during a slide show.

Fix PowerPoint for Mac Shortcuts Not Working in Slide Shows

Product: PowerPoint for Mac
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Presenting a slide show and attempting to trigger contextual tools using mapped keyboard shortcuts.
Observed behavior: Custom macOS keyboard shortcuts assigned to contextual menu items fail to execute during the presentation mode.

Before you start

Verify that your assigned shortcuts are mapped to commands that actually exist in the persistent top menu bar, as macOS shortcuts cannot reliably target dynamic or contextual menus.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Built-in Presentation Toolbar

Since macOS custom shortcuts do not apply to PowerPoint's contextual menus, the most reliable method is using the built-in toolbar during your slide show.

macOS application shortcuts are designed to work only with commands listed in the main menu bar at the top of the screen.

Because PowerPoint presentation tools (like the pen and highlighter) appear in contextual menus with dynamic titles during a slide show, macOS cannot target them reliably.

Start the presentation

Open your presentation and click 'Play from Start' in the Slide Show tab, or press Command + Shift + Return.

Reveal the toolbar

Hover your mouse over the bottom-left corner of the active slide to make the translucent presentation toolbar appear.

Select the required tool

Click the pen icon in the toolbar to manually select the Pen, Highlighter, or change the ink color.

Menu Limitation: This is a structural limitation of how macOS interacts with Microsoft Office contextual menus, making the toolbar the intended fallback.

Solution 2

Use Native PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts

Instead of creating custom macOS shortcuts, use the default keystrokes built natively into PowerPoint for Mac.

Solution 3

Implement a Macro-based Workaround

Advanced users can create VBA macros for specific actions and assign shortcuts to those macros.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless Presentations on Mac

Experiencing integration limitations with PowerPoint for Mac? WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative with intuitive presentation tools that work smoothly on macOS.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installer specifically optimized for macOS.
2. Open your presentation: Launch WPS Presentation and open your existing .pptx files seamlessly without losing any formatting.
3. Start presenting: Enter Slide Show mode and enjoy responsive, built-in tools for annotating and highlighting.

Fully compatible with Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt, .pptx) formatsLightweight design ensures smooth slide shows on macOSBuilt-in, easy-to-use presentation tools and pointersFree to download and use with a highly familiar interface

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my macOS custom shortcuts work in Excel but not during a PowerPoint presentation?

macOS shortcuts require a static menu bar item. During a PowerPoint slide show, the standard menu bar is hidden, and presentation tools use contextual menus, making them inaccessible to the macOS custom shortcut mapper.

Can I assign a keyboard shortcut to a specific pen color in PowerPoint for Mac?

Natively, PowerPoint for Mac does not provide a direct keyboard shortcut for specific pen colors. You must select colors manually from the presentation toolbar or set up a custom VBA macro.

Is there a default shortcut for the highlighter in PowerPoint for Mac?

Unlike the Pen tool (which uses Command + P), there is no default native keyboard shortcut to instantly switch to the Highlighter tool in PowerPoint for Mac. You must select it from the on-screen presentation toolbar.

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