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How to Fix a Non-Clickable Home Button on a PowerPoint Slide Master

Amos Gikunda Sep 25, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to create a functional Home button on a PowerPoint slide master, but the inserted link cannot be clicked during the presentation slideshow.

How to Fix a Non-Clickable Home Button on a PowerPoint Slide Master

Product: Microsoft PowerPoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating interactive navigation buttons on master slides to apply across an entire presentation.
Observed behavior: The Home button appears on every slide but functions only while editing the slide master, becoming completely unclickable in presentation view.

Before you start

Verify that you are testing your presentation in Slide Show mode (by pressing F5), as hyperlinks and action buttons behave differently in normal editing view compared to presentation view.

Solution 1Recommended

Copy and Paste the Home Button Directly Onto Each Slide

Since standard objects placed on the slide master act as background graphics and lose interactivity, placing the button directly on individual slides ensures it remains clickable.

Standard text boxes, shapes, and hyperlinks added to the Slide Master are flattened into the background when viewed in Slide Show mode. To maintain interactivity, the navigation elements must reside on the actual slides rather than the master layout.

Open Slide Master View

Navigate to the View tab on the top ribbon and click on Slide Master to access your background layouts.

Copy the Existing Button

Locate the Home button you previously created, click to select it, and press Ctrl+C to copy it to your clipboard. Once copied, click 'Close Master View'.

Paste Onto Individual Slides

In the Normal view, select your first slide and press Ctrl+V to paste the button. Repeat this pasting process for all slides that require the Home navigation link.

Copy and Paste the Home Button Directly Onto Each Slide

Quick Formatting: Pasting an object directly onto slides will retain its exact X and Y coordinates, ensuring your Home button remains perfectly aligned across every slide.

Solution 2

Use the Zoom Feature for Visual Navigation

Instead of relying on manual hyperlinks, use PowerPoint's modern Zoom feature to create a clickable, visual index of your presentation sections.

Presentation Solution

Easily Add Interactive Navigation Buttons with WPS Presentation

WPS Presentation provides intuitive tools for adding action buttons and hyperlinks to your slides, ensuring your interactive elements work flawlessly and are fully compatible with Microsoft formats.

1. Open Your Presentation: Launch WPS Office, select Presentation, and open your existing slideshow file.
2. Insert an Action Button: Navigate to the Insert tab, click on Shapes, scroll down to the Action Buttons section, and select the 'Home' icon.
3. Configure the Hyperlink: Draw the button on your slide. A dialog box will automatically appear; set the 'Hyperlink to' option to 'First Slide'.
4. Apply Across Slides: Copy the configured action button and paste it onto the necessary slides. The hyperlink properties will be preserved perfectly.

Seamlessly open, edit, and save Microsoft PowerPoint formats (.ppt, .pptx)Intuitive action button insertion for reliable slideshow navigationFree and lightweight alternative without compromising on featuresFamiliar user interface requiring zero learning curve

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do hyperlinks on the slide master work only in edit mode?

Elements placed on the slide master are rendered as static background graphics during the actual presentation. Because they are pushed behind the slide content, standard hyperlinks applied to text boxes or images in the master view are flattened and cannot be clicked.

Can I put clickable links on a slide master at all?

Standard hyperlinks on custom shapes often fail on the slide master. However, if you use built-in 'Action Buttons' (found under Insert > Shapes > Action Buttons), these specific elements are programmed to remain interactive on a slide master across all standard slides.

How do I remove a Home button that appears on every slide but cannot be selected?

If an object appears on every slide and cannot be clicked or deleted in Normal view, it is embedded in the Slide Master. Go to View > Slide Master, find the specific master layout thumbnail containing the button, select it, and press Delete.

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