Can You Use Custom Slide Shows in Teams PowerPoint Live?
Question details
The user wants to know if they can present a custom slide show using the PowerPoint Live feature within Microsoft Teams.
- Product
- Microsoft Teams / PowerPoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Presenting a customized subset of slides during a virtual meeting in Microsoft Teams.
- Observed behavior
- PowerPoint Live currently does not support the custom slide show feature that is available in the desktop application.
Ensure you have your presentation desktop application installed and your custom slide show properly set up and saved before joining your Microsoft Teams meeting.
Share Your Screen Using the Desktop App
Since PowerPoint Live lacks custom slide show support, the recommended workaround is to run the presentation from your desktop app and share the specific application window.
By sharing your application window instead of using PowerPoint Live, you retain full access to all desktop features, including custom slide shows and advanced transitions.
Launch the PowerPoint desktop application and open the presentation file you want to share.
Navigate to the 'Slide Show' tab, click on 'Custom Slide Show', and select the specific custom show you want to present.
In your Microsoft Teams meeting, click the 'Share' icon located at the top right, select 'Window', and choose your active presentation window to broadcast it to the attendees.
Submit a Feature Request to Microsoft
If relying on PowerPoint Live is critical for your workflow, you can send feedback directly to Microsoft to request the addition of custom slide shows.
Present Seamlessly with WPS Office
While cloud integrations can sometimes limit your presentation features, using a robust desktop alternative like WPS Office allows you to create, manage, and present custom slide shows flawlessly. Simply run your custom deck in WPS Presentation and share your window in any meeting software.
- 1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office for free from the official website and install it on your computer.
- 2. Open Your Presentation: Launch WPS Presentation and open your existing PowerPoint file.
- 3. Present in Teams: Start your custom slide show in WPS and use the 'Share Window' feature in Microsoft Teams to present to your audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a custom slide show in a presentation?
A custom slide show allows you to present a specific, hand-picked group of slides from a larger presentation file. This lets you tailor your deck for different audiences without needing to create and save multiple separate files.
Can I see my presenter notes when sharing a window in Teams?
Yes. If you use Presenter View in your desktop presentation software and carefully share only the active slide show window (not your entire screen) in Teams, you will be able to see your private notes while your audience only sees the slides.
Why doesn't PowerPoint Live support all desktop features?
PowerPoint Live is a web-based integration designed to optimize bandwidth and allow seamless co-presenting in Microsoft Teams. Because it operates differently from the desktop app, some advanced features like custom slide shows or complex macros are not yet supported.
Can I use WPS Presentation to share custom slide shows in Teams meetings?
Absolutely. You can create and run your custom slide show natively within WPS Presentation on your desktop. Once the slide show is running, simply use the 'Share screen' or 'Share window' function in Microsoft Teams to present it clearly to your audience.
