Office Settings & Configuration

Fix PowerPoint Kiosk Slide Show Stopping When Switching Apps

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to prevent a PowerPoint slide show running in kiosk mode from automatically stopping or pausing when switching to another application to change music.

Product: PowerPoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Running a presentation as a kiosk on a television display while needing to interact with a separate application (like a music player) on the same device.
Observed behavior: The PowerPoint slide show stops playing the moment the user clicks or switches to another application, due to the presentation window losing focus.

Before you start

Before proceeding with a VBA solution, ensure that your PowerPoint presentation is saved as a Macro-Enabled Presentation (.pptm) to allow the necessary scripts to run, and verify the file path of the application you wish to open.

Solution 1Recommended

Use a VBA Macro to Launch Secondary Applications from the Slide Show

Use a VBA Shell command to launch external applications directly from a button within your PowerPoint slide show, which helps manage window focus without breaking the presentation state.

By design, PowerPoint pauses active presentations when the application window loses focus to preserve system resources. A practical workaround is to use VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) to launch your other application from within the slide show itself.

When you use a macro to trigger a Shell command, PowerPoint handles the focus shift more gracefully, allowing the presentation to regain focus or continue running once the external application is closed or minimized.

Enable the Developer Tab

Open PowerPoint, go to File > Options > Customize Ribbon, and check the box next to 'Developer' in the right pane. Click OK to display the Developer tab on your ribbon.

Create the VBA Macro

Navigate to the Developer tab and click 'Visual Basic'. In the VBA editor, go to Insert > Module. Type the following code: Sub OpenMusicApp() Shell "notepad.exe", vbNormalFocus End Sub. (Replace 'notepad.exe' with the path to your desired application).

Insert an Action Button

Close the VBA editor and return to your slide. Go to the Insert tab, click 'Shapes', and select a standard shape or an Action Button. Draw it on your slide.

Assign the Macro to the Button

With the shape selected, go to Insert > Action. In the Action Settings dialog, choose 'Run macro' and select the 'OpenMusicApp' macro you just created from the drop-down list. Click OK.

Run the Kiosk Slide Show

Start your presentation in Kiosk mode. When you need to access the other app, click the Action Button. The secondary application will open, and PowerPoint will be able to resume normally when you return.

Macro Security Warning: You will need to adjust your Macro Security settings in the Developer tab to allow macros to run. Only enable macros for trusted documents.

Set Up Kiosk Mode Easily in WPS Presentation

WPS Office offers a highly compatible and streamlined way to set up automatic, looping presentations for kiosks or television displays without draining system resources.

1. Open Your Presentation: Launch WPS Presentation and open the file you wish to display on the television.
2. Access Slide Show Settings: Navigate to the 'Slide Show' tab located on the top ribbon menu.
3. Configure Kiosk Mode: Click on 'Set Up Show'. In the dialog box that appears, look under the 'Show type' section and select 'Browsed at a kiosk (full screen)'.
4. Start the Slide Show: Click 'OK' to save your settings, then press F5 or click 'Play' to start your automated kiosk presentation.

Fully compatible with Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt, .pptx) files.Lightweight software optimized for running continuous displays smoothly.Intuitive interface to configure auto-looping without complex settings.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my PowerPoint presentation stop when I click on another screen?

By default, PowerPoint requires active window focus to continue playing media, animations, or slide transitions. When you click on another application or a secondary monitor, PowerPoint loses focus and automatically pauses the slide show.

Can I run a PowerPoint slide show in the background?

Natively, PowerPoint does not support running a slide show in the background while actively interacting with other applications on the same display. Using a dual-monitor setup or setting up a virtual machine are the most reliable ways to bypass this operating system-level focus limitation.

How do I save my presentation after adding a VBA macro?

After adding a VBA macro to your presentation, you must save the file in a macro-enabled format. Go to File > Save As, and choose 'PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Presentation (*.pptm)' from the format drop-down menu so your interactive buttons remain functional.

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