Office Settings & Configuration

How to Hide the Audio Icon During a PowerPoint Presentation

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 875 views

Question details

The user wants to hide the audio icon during a PowerPoint slideshow but cannot find the expected hide option directly on the audio player.

Product: PowerPoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Playing background audio or voiceovers during a presentation without displaying the speaker icon on the slide.
Observed behavior: The audio icon remains visible during the slideshow, and the user struggles to locate the 'Hide During Show' option in the interface.

Before you start

Ensure your presentation is saved and confirm that your audio is configured to start automatically, as hiding the icon means you cannot click it to trigger the sound during the slideshow.

Solution 1Recommended

Enable 'Hide During Show' in Playback Settings

The correct method to hide the audio icon is found within the Playback ribbon tab, rather than directly on the audio player object itself.

Select the Audio Object

Click on the audio speaker icon on your slide to make it active.

Open the Playback Tab

Navigate to the top ribbon menu and click on the 'Playback' tab, which appears only when the audio object is selected.

Enable Hide Option

In the Audio Options group, check the box labeled 'Hide During Show'.

Set Auto Play

Ensure the 'Start' dropdown is set to 'Automatically' or 'Play across slides' so the audio triggers without requiring a click.

Solution 2

Update Microsoft Office

If the 'Hide During Show' option is missing from the Playback tab, your Office version might be experiencing a bug that requires an update.

Solution 3

Reset Office Registry Settings

If the option remains missing after an update, resetting the Office registry settings can restore default ribbon behaviors and missing options.

Seamlessly Manage Presentation Audio

Hide Audio Icons Easily with WPS Presentation

WPS Presentation provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface to manage audio files in your slideshows. You can easily hide the audio icon without searching through complex menus or resetting system registries.

1. Insert Audio: Open your presentation in WPS Presentation, go to the 'Insert' tab, and select 'Audio' to add your background track.
2. Access Audio Tools: Click on the inserted audio icon on your slide to reveal the 'Audio Tools' tab on the top ribbon.
3. Hide the Icon: In the Audio Tools ribbon, simply check the 'Hide During Show' option so the icon disappears during your slideshow.
4. Set Auto Play: Change the Start setting to 'Automatically' so the music plays seamlessly without requiring a click.

Fully compatible with Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt, .pptx) formats.Intuitive audio and video playback controls prominently displayed on the ribbon.Lightweight software with fast loading speeds.Free to use with a vast library of rich presentation templates.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't the audio play when the icon is hidden?

If the audio is set to start 'On Click', hiding the icon means you have nothing to click to trigger the sound during the presentation. You must set the audio to start 'Automatically' or 'Play across slides' before hiding the icon.

Can I hide the audio icon by moving it off the slide?

Yes. If you prefer not to use the 'Hide During Show' checkbox, you can simply click and drag the audio icon outside the visible slide canvas. It will still play according to your settings but won't be seen by your audience.

Why is the Playback tab not visible in PowerPoint?

The Playback tab is a contextual menu that only appears when an audio or video object is actively selected on the slide. You must click on the speaker icon first to reveal the tab on the ribbon.

Does hiding the audio icon stop the sound from playing?

No, hiding the icon only removes the visual speaker graphic during the presentation mode. The audio file will continue to play in the background according to your chosen playback settings.

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