Office Settings & Configuration

How to View PowerPoint Presenter Notes in a Separate Window

Chanuka Geekiyanage Oct 1, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to view their presentation notes separately from the slides being shown to the audience.

How to View PowerPoint Presenter Notes in a Separate Window

Product: PowerPoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Delivering a live presentation where the speaker needs to reference private notes without displaying them to the audience.
Observed behavior: Needs to display speaker notes on a secondary screen or private window while the audience views only the slides.

Before you start

Ensure your computer is connected to a secondary display or projector, and verify that your operating system's display settings are configured to 'Extend' rather than 'Duplicate'.

Solution 1Recommended

Enable Presenter View in PowerPoint

Presenter View allows you to view your speaker notes privately on one monitor while the audience views the full-screen slides on another.

This is the built-in and most professional method for handling speaker notes during a live presentation. It requires a dual-monitor setup (such as a laptop connected to a projector).

Access the Slide Show Tab

Open your presentation and navigate to the 'Slide Show' tab located on the top ribbon menu.

Enable Presenter View

In the 'Monitors' group on the right side of the ribbon, check the box next to 'Use Presenter View'.

Start the Slide Show

Click 'From Beginning' or press F5 on your keyboard to start the presentation. Your notes will automatically appear in a separate dashboard on your primary screen, while the slides show on the extended display.

Tip: You can adjust the size of the notes text during your presentation by clicking the 'Make the text larger' (A+) button at the bottom of the notes pane.

Solution 2

Add Notes Directly to Slides for Audience Viewing

If your goal is for the audience to read the notes along with you, you must incorporate the text directly onto the presentation slides.

Professional Presentations Made Easy

Use WPS Presentation for an Effortless Presenter View Experience

WPS Presentation provides a highly compatible and user-friendly Presenter View interface, allowing you to seamlessly read your notes, monitor your time, and control your slides while presenting.

1. Open Your Presentation: Launch WPS Presentation and open your .pptx or .ppt file.
2. Navigate to Slide Show: Click on the 'Slide Show' tab located in the top menu ribbon.
3. Enable Presenter View: Click on 'Set Up Show' and ensure that multiple monitors are selected, then toggle on the Presenter View option.
4. Start Presenting: Click 'Play from Beginning' to start your presentation. Your notes will be clearly displayed on your private screen.

Fully compatible with Microsoft PowerPoint formats (.ppt, .pptx)Intuitive Presenter View dashboard with easy-to-read speaker notesFree and lightweight alternative for creating and delivering professional presentations

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Presenter View showing on the projector instead of my laptop?

This happens when your primary and secondary monitor configurations are swapped. While in Presenter View, click on 'Display Settings' at the top of your screen and select 'Swap Presenter View and Slide Show' to instantly fix the orientation.

Can I test and view my presenter notes with only one monitor?

Yes, you can rehearse using Presenter View on a single screen. Press Alt+F5 in PowerPoint to launch Presenter View locally, allowing you to practice reading your notes and clicking through slides without needing a second monitor.

Can I print my PowerPoint slides along with the presenter notes?

Yes, you can print notes pages to have a physical copy. Go to File > Print, and under the Settings dropdown, change the print layout from 'Full Page Slides' to 'Notes Pages'. This will print a thumbnail of the slide with your notes below it.

How do I format text within the presenter notes pane?

You can format your notes by highlighting the text in the notes pane at the bottom of the normal editing view, then using the standard font tools in the 'Home' tab to make text bold, italicized, or to change its color for better readability.

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