Office Settings & Configuration

How to Change PowerPoint Presentation Pen Thickness

John Wilson Sep 27, 2026 876 views

Question details

The user is looking for a way to adjust the pen thickness while using presentation ink tools on an electronic board.

How to Change PowerPoint Presentation Pen Thickness

Product: Microsoft PowerPoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Annotating slides during an active presentation or live slideshow.
Observed behavior: PowerPoint does not currently offer a built-in setting to change the presentation pen thickness while actively presenting in slideshow mode.

Before you start

Verify that your electronic board's native overlay software is active, as it may provide separate digital ink customization options outside of PowerPoint.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Default Pen Options and Edit Ink Later

Work around the current software limitation by utilizing the default pen settings during the live slideshow and adjusting the ink stroke thickness afterward.

Since PowerPoint does not support real-time pen thickness adjustments while in presentation mode, the best approach is to record your annotations using the default weight and format them once the presentation ends.

Start Your Presentation

Navigate to the 'Slide Show' tab on the top ribbon and click 'From Beginning' or 'From Current Slide' to launch your presentation.

Activate the Pen Tool

Hover your mouse or stylus in the lower-left corner of the active slide, click the Pen icon, and select 'Pen' from the popup menu.

Annotate and Save Ink

Draw on your slides as needed using the default thickness. When you exit the slideshow, a prompt will appear asking if you want to keep your ink annotations. Click 'Keep'.

Adjust Thickness After Presenting

In the normal editing view, click on the drawn ink strokes on your slide. Go to the newly appeared 'Shape Format' or 'Ink Tools' tab to change the stroke weight and thickness.

Use Default Pen Options and Edit Ink Later

Feature Limitation: Real-time pen thickness adjustment during a slideshow is not supported by Microsoft. You can submit or vote for this feature request on the official Microsoft Feedback portal.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Presentation for Seamless Slide Management

If you frequently encounter limitations with your current presentation software, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, free, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office, equipped with intuitive slideshow tools.

1. Download and Install WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website, download the free office suite, and complete the standard installation process.
2. Open Your Presentation: Launch WPS Presentation and seamlessly open your existing PowerPoint files to retain all formatting.
3. Use Presentation Tools: Click 'Play' to start your slideshow and utilize the available right-click pointer options for easy slide annotation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use third-party smartboard software to change pen thickness?

Yes, many electronic whiteboards and smartboards come with proprietary overlay software. By using the board's native drawing tools instead of PowerPoint's internal pen, you can usually customize pen thickness and color on the fly.

Will Microsoft add pen thickness settings to PowerPoint presentations?

Microsoft continuously updates its Office suite based on user feedback. To increase the likelihood of this feature being added, you can search for and upvote existing requests on the Microsoft Feedback Portal.

How do I quickly erase all ink annotations during a presentation?

While actively presenting, you can quickly clear all drawings from the current slide by pressing the 'E' key on your keyboard.

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