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How to Keep PowerPoint Audio Playing While Switching Applications in Teams

John Wilson Sep 30, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to prevent embedded PowerPoint audio from stopping when they switch to another application during a Microsoft Teams meeting.

How to Keep PowerPoint Audio Playing While Switching Applications in Teams

Product: Microsoft PowerPoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Sharing a PowerPoint presentation with embedded background music during a Microsoft Teams meeting while trying to multitask in other applications.
Observed behavior: The embedded presentation audio automatically stops playing as soon as PowerPoint loses window focus (when the presenter clicks on another application).

Before you start

Ensure that 'Include computer sound' is toggled on in your Microsoft Teams screen sharing options before attempting these workarounds.

Solution 1Recommended

Use a Separate Media Player for Audio Playback

By playing your background music through a standalone media player rather than embedding it in PowerPoint, the audio will continue regardless of which application has window focus.

PowerPoint is designed to pause embedded media automatically when the application loses focus. This is a built-in behavior that cannot be directly disabled in the application settings. The most reliable workaround is decoupling the audio from the slide deck.

Open audio in a media player

Locate the audio file you intended to use and open it in a dedicated application like Windows Media Player, VLC, or Apple Music.

Share system audio in Teams

Join your Microsoft Teams meeting, click the 'Share content' button, and ensure the 'Include computer sound' toggle is turned on.

Play the audio and present

Start playing the audio from your media player, then switch to your PowerPoint presentation. You can now freely switch between applications without the music stopping.

Use a Separate Media Player for Audio Playback

Testing Your Audio: Always test the audio setup in a quick test meeting beforehand to ensure your microphone and the computer sound are balanced properly.

Solution 2

Link to an External Audio File from the Slide

You can insert a hyperlink to the audio file on your slide, which will force the file to open in a separate application when clicked.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Presentation for Seamless Slideshow Management

If you are frustrated by the rigid window focus behaviors in Microsoft PowerPoint, consider using a versatile and lightweight alternative. WPS Office provides excellent format compatibility, a familiar user interface, and smooth performance for all your remote meeting needs—completely free of charge.

1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free WPS Office suite on your device.
2. Open your Presentation: Launch WPS Presentation and open your existing PPT or PPTX file directly.
3. Present with Ease: Use the built-in slideshow tools to present your slides while sharing your screen in Microsoft Teams.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats including PPT and PPTXLightweight design for smooth performance during intensive Teams screen sharing100% free with a familiar interface, requiring zero learning curveSeamlessly transition your existing presentations without formatting loss

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does PowerPoint stop playing audio when I click on another screen?

This is a built-in feature of Microsoft PowerPoint designed to pause media playback when the application loses 'focus' (meaning it is no longer the active window). It prevents unexpected audio overlapping but can be inconvenient during screen sharing.

How do I share computer sound in a Microsoft Teams meeting?

Before you select a window or screen to share in Teams, look for the 'Include computer sound' toggle switch in the Share tray (usually located at the top right of the sharing options). Turn this on to broadcast your system audio to the meeting participants.

Can I run my presentation in a window instead of full screen?

Yes. In PowerPoint, go to the 'Slide Show' tab, click 'Set Up Slide Show', and under 'Show type', select 'Browsed by an individual (window)'. This makes multitasking easier but will not prevent embedded audio from pausing when you click away to another app.

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