Office Settings & Configuration

How to Create an Image Carousel with Previous and Next Buttons in PowerPoint

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to design an interactive presentation slide containing a central large image, smaller adjacent images, and clickable navigation buttons to simulate an image carousel.

Product: PowerPoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating an interactive image gallery, product showcase, or portfolio presentation.
Observed behavior: The desired layout features a small previous image on the left, a large current image in the center, a small next image on the right, and functional buttons for moving through the images.

Before you start

Gather all the images you plan to use in your carousel and ensure they are cropped to consistent aspect ratios before inserting them into your presentation layout.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Action Buttons for Carousel Navigation

Insert built-in action buttons to create clickable 'Previous' and 'Next' navigation controls for your carousel.

Action Buttons are specialized shapes in PowerPoint that automatically come with hyperlink settings, making them perfect for creating interactive slideshow navigation.

Insert Action Buttons

Navigate to the 'Insert' tab, click on 'Shapes', and scroll down to the 'Action Buttons' section at the bottom.

Draw the Buttons

Select the 'Action Button: Back or Previous' and draw it on the left side of your slide. Repeat the process with the 'Action Button: Forward or Next' for the right side.

Configure Hyperlinks

When the Action Settings dialog box pops up for each shape, ensure the 'Hyperlink to' dropdown is correctly set to 'Previous Slide' and 'Next Slide' respectively.

Test in Slide Show Mode

Press F5 or go to the 'Slide Show' tab to play the presentation and test the clickable navigation.

Apply to All Slides: If you want these navigation buttons to appear perfectly aligned on every slide in your carousel, paste them onto the Slide Master (View > Slide Master) instead of individual slides.

Solution 2

Design a Custom Carousel Layout with Placeholders

Create a reusable slide layout to consistently position the previous, current, and next images.

Solution 3

Navigate the Carousel Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Use default keyboard shortcuts to move between carousel images if you prefer not to add visible buttons.

Advanced Presentation Tools

Create Interactive Image Carousels Easily with WPS Presentation

WPS Presentation provides intuitive slide master controls, dynamic action buttons, and smooth transition effects to help you build interactive image carousels effortlessly.

1. Open WPS Presentation: Launch WPS Office and create a new blank presentation or open your existing project.
2. Add Navigation Buttons: Navigate to the Insert tab, select Shapes, and choose the left and right arrow Action Buttons.
3. Set Interactive Hyperlinks: Right-click the inserted buttons, select 'Hyperlink', and link them to the Next Slide and Previous Slide.
4. Apply Slide Transitions: Go to the Transitions tab and apply the 'Push' or 'Morph' effect to make the images slide seamlessly like a real carousel.

Fully compatible with Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx) formatsIntuitive drag-and-drop picture placeholdersRich collection of built-in shapes and interactive action buttonsSmooth slide transitions to mimic realistic carousel scrolling

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make the carousel transition look smooth instead of abruptly changing?

To create a seamless sliding animation, apply a transition effect like 'Push' or 'Morph' (available in newer versions). Set the transition direction from left or right to mimic the physical movement of a carousel when users click the next or previous buttons.

Can I apply the next and previous buttons to all slides at once?

Yes. Instead of pasting the buttons on each slide individually, go to View > Slide Master. Paste your configured Action Buttons onto the main master slide or a specific layout. They will then automatically appear and function on every slide that uses that layout.

Are there customizable keyboard shortcuts for the next and previous images?

By default, presentation software does not support assigning custom keyboard shortcuts to macros or specific elements without third-party add-ins. However, you can seamlessly use the built-in Page Up/Page Down or Arrow keys to achieve the exact same navigation during your slideshow.

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