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How to Display Two PowerPoint Presentations Side by Side on Mac
Question details
The user needs to present and view two PowerPoint slideshows simultaneously side by side on a MacBook, particularly when AirPlaying to an Apple TV.
- Product
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- A teacher or presenter wants to show two presentations at the same time during a class or meeting via AirPlay.
- Observed behavior
- Standard widescreen PowerPoint slideshows play in full screen, making it impossible to run and view two presentations side by side simultaneously using just the desktop application.
Ensure both presentation files are saved locally or on OneDrive, and verify you have an active internet connection to access PowerPoint for the web.
Use Desktop and Web Versions Simultaneously
Since PowerPoint desktop normally plays one presentation at a time, you can bypass this limitation by opening one file in the desktop app and the other in your web browser.
By configuring the desktop application to play in a resizable window instead of full screen, you can easily arrange it next to your browser window. This allows both slideshows to be visible when mirroring your screen via AirPlay.
Launch the Microsoft PowerPoint desktop application on your Mac and open your first presentation file.
Navigate to the Slide Show tab in the top ribbon and click on Set Up Show (or Set Up Slide Show).
Under the Show type section, select the option labeled 'Browsed by an individual (window)' and click OK.
Start the presentation. It will now play inside a standard, resizable Mac window rather than taking up the entire screen.
Open Safari or your preferred web browser, navigate to PowerPoint for the web, and open your second presentation.
Resize and drag both the desktop application window and the web browser window so they sit side by side on your Mac screen.
Adjust Slide Dimensions for Better Side-by-Side Viewing
Standard 16:9 widescreen slides can appear too small or distorted when squeezed into half a screen. Adjusting the slide size creates a better visual experience for the audience.
Try WPS Office for Seamless Presentation Management
If juggling between desktop applications and web browsers feels cumbersome, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a powerful, free alternative to Microsoft Office that offers a lightweight tabbed interface, making it easier to manage multiple documents and presentations on your Mac.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the Mac version of the software.
- 2. Install on your Mac: Open the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions to install WPS Office.
- 3. Open your presentations: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing PowerPoint files to enjoy seamless viewing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I open two PowerPoint desktop windows at the same time on a Mac?
While you can open two presentation files in separate windows in the PowerPoint desktop app, starting a slideshow typically defaults to full screen and pauses the other. To keep both active and visible as slideshows, you must use the 'Browsed by an individual window' setting combined with the web version for the second file.
Why does my slideshow pause when I click on the other window?
Operating systems generally prioritize the active window to save resources. When you click away from a playing slideshow window, it loses focus and may pause media or animations. You will need to click back into the window to advance slides.
Will formatting change if I use PowerPoint for the web?
PowerPoint for the web supports most standard formatting and animations, but highly complex transitions, custom macros, or specific embedded fonts might not render exactly as they do in the desktop version. It is recommended to use the simpler presentation in the web browser.
