sections of a powerpoint presentation

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How to Structure a PowerPoint Presentation

Table of Contents

This is the main part of your presentation, which should keep the promises you made in the introduction. This is where you explain your topic and present all your information. 

Depending on the nature of your presentation, divide it into segments/points. Arrange your points in a logical order and then provide information to support each of them. There are many different ways to organize your key points, for example:

• Number your points according to their priority (1, 2, 3, …)
• Place the points in a time frame (past, present, future)
• Use narration (tell a story from beginning to end)
• Present the points with a problem-solution dynamic (state a problem, describe its impact, offer ways to solve the issue)

A good conclusion summarizes the key points you made or highlights what the audience should have learned. It clarifies the general purpose of your presentation and reinforces the reason for viewing it. Here are the slides you may want to include:

• Summary. List what goals your audience have achieved, what knowledge they got, and how this information can help them in the future.
• Conclusion. Here you can thank your audience for viewing the presentation.

Tips for Structuring a Presentation in PowerPoint

Now that you know which parts a typical presentation should consist of, let’s see how to structure it in PowerPoint. 

1. Combine slides into sections

When working with a large PowerPoint presentation (PPT), you can create sections that can be collapsed and expanded. This will help you keep presentation slides organized and facilitate navigation in editing mode. To do that, follow these steps:

• To shift a section, right-click on its name and use the Move Section Up and Move Section Down options.
• To collapse or expand a certain section, click on the collapse icon to the left of the section name. You can also minimize and maximize all sections at once by right-clicking on the section name and choosing Collapse All or Expand All .

As well, you can access these settings by choosing Slide Sorter under the VIEW tab.

This kind of segmentation is a great way to overview the logical flow of your slides all at once and see if there are any changes required. For example, you may decide to break one slide into two or three, or the other way around.

2. Use the Outline View

One other way to structure a PowerPoint presentation in the editing mode is to use Outline View . You can choose it from the VIEW tab.

This view doesn’t display sections, but it shows the title and main text of each slide, which can give you a quick overview of the presentation contents. Here you can go through the entire text and edit it instantly. You can also work with text (on the left) and slides (on the right) simultaneously, as the latter is shown on the right side of your screen.

Note that, to be displayed in an outline, text needs to be typed in a text placeholder, not a text box . A text placeholder is a box with the words “Click to add text” or “Click to add title”, and it appears when you choose a standard layout.

You can also use Outline View to promote bullet text to titles and the other way around. To do that, right-click on a relevant title or text and select the Promote or Demote options.

Be attentive about demoting a title, as this will delete the original slide and move its title and text to the adjacent slide.

PowerPoint only allows users to promote and demote text, not entire slides. Therefore, there’s no possibility to change the hierarchical order of slides.

3. Create a table of contents

All the aforementioned tips help you organize a presentation when formatting it. However, it’s crucial that your viewers can easily navigate through entire presentation too. One sure way to provide them with this opportunity is to create an interactive and structured table of contents.

Though there’s no native automatic outline in PowerPoint, it can be created manually:

• Press Ctrl+A to select all the names, and Ctrl+C to copy them. 
• Then Press Ctrl+V to paste the copied titles on the desired slide. In case there are too many titles and they don’t fit onto a single page, you can divide the table of contents into two columns or place it on two slides.

You’ll need to repeat this procedure to link all the chapters to corresponding slides. For more information, read this step-by-step guide on how to add a hyperlink in PowerPoint .

Now all the chapters can be accessed from a single table of contents, which is very convenient. However, you will also need to link them back to that unifying page. You can do this by inserting an Action Button on every slide of your presentation in Slide Master mode:

Now there is a single page from which all the other pages can be easily accessed. As well, it’s possible to go back to the table of contents at any time with the intuitive Home button.

Depending on the size of your presentation, the time it takes to create an interactive outline may vary, as you will need to add hyperlinks to every chapter manually. Be aware that if you rename a slide or simply delete it, these changes will not be automatically registered in the table of contents. For example, if you delete a slide, its title will still be displayed in the table of contents, but clicking on it won’t lead the viewer to another point in the presentation.

This is what our sample presentation looks like:

A Better Way to Structure a PowerPoint Presentation

Creating a table of contents manually might be fine for a small presentation, but if you have 122 slides, it would require too much time and energy to do so. That’s why, instead of manually creating a table of contents, we took advantage of iSpring Suite and simply enabled the automatic outline.  

iSpring Suite

Fully-stocked eLearning authoring toolkit for PowerPoint. No training required to start!

Note: iSpring Suite turns slides into HTML5 format, so your audience can view them online, right in their browsers. 

As you can see, the new presentation has a pop-up outline and a navigation panel, which make it possible to move to any slide at any time without leaving the slide show mode. 

How to set up navigation

To create navigation in your presentation, follow these simple steps:

• Get a free trial of iSpring Suite.

• When you’ve configured the Slide Properties settings, click on Save & Close in the upper-left corner.

How to configure an outline

Whereas PowerPoint requires the outline to be designed manually, iSpring Suite has already prepared it for you. At the same time, you don’t have to stick with the standard outline template, as you can easily customize the player’s final look and feel:

We recommend leaving Enable Search marked, as this will allow viewers to search for any content at any time, including the texts on the slides. This is especially useful for large presentations with a lot of text.

If you have previously arranged slides into multiple levels in the Slide Properties, then leave Multilevel outline marked. That way, the outline will display the nesting structure of the presentation, facilitating navigation. You can learn more about the other outline options here .

• When you have finished configuring the player, click on Apply & Close in the upper-left corner.
• Now you can publish your enhanced presentation either to HTML5, to make it easily accessible via browser on any device, or MP4 video format. If you’re going to upload your presentation to an LMS, you can publish it to any eLearning format: SCORM, AICC, Tin Can, or cmi5. 

While a standard PowerPoint slideshow is straightforward and limited, iSpring Suite saves viewers from having to follow a strict slide order. An interactive and searchable outline allows non-linear navigation, where any information can be accessed at any time at a glance.

Also read : → How to Convert PowerPoint to MP4 Video

Also read : →  How To Record Presentations With Audio

Another perk

iSpring Suite comes with Content Library , which provides a great collection of presentation templates and allows you to create professional-looking presentations in a matter of minutes. Each template includes basic course elements: a title slide, a table of contents, chapters, a timeline, and info slides. Organize them in the order you prefer, populate them with your texts and images, and your presentation is ready to go.

We hope this article will help you develop an ideal structure for your PowerPoint presentation and do this quickly and easily. Captivate your audience with a powerful and persuasive presentation!

Do you have any other insights on how to simplify PowerPoint slides design? Please share them in the comment section. We’d like to hear from you. 

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Helen Colman

She enjoys combining in-depth research with expert knowledge of the industry. If you have eLearning insights that you’d like to share, please get in touch .

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Organize slides into sections

Use sections to organize your PowerPoint slides into meaningful groups.

Add a section

Right-click between slides and select Add Section .

Type in a section name.

Select Rename .

Click the triangle to collapse a section, and the number shows the slides in that section.

Move or delete a section

Select View > Slide Sorter .

From here, you can:

Move a section - Right-click and select Move Section Up or Move Section Down .

Delete a section - Right-click and select Remove Section .

Organize your PowerPoint slides into sections

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How to Use Sections in PowerPoint to Organize Slides

Organize Your PowerPoint Presentation Using Sections

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated June 9, 2021

Applies to: Microsoft ® PowerPoint ® 2013, 2016, 2019 and 365 (Windows)

You can manage a PowerPoint presentation by organizing it into sections. Although you can work with sections in Normal View or Slide Sorter View, it's easier to work with sections in Slide Sorter View. You can insert, name, move, collapse, expand and remove sections in PowerPoint. If you are working with a team on a large presentation, you can assign team members to different sections. In PowerPoint 2019 or 365, you can also use Summary Zoom to create links to different sections.

The Sections command appears on the Home tab in the Ribbon in the Slides group (although you can use the context menu to add and manage sections). Sections created with the Sections command are different from section layouts.

In this article, we'll be using the Slide Sorter to work with sections.

Recommended article : How to Quickly Remove All Animations in PowerPoint

Do you want to learn more about PowerPoint?  Check out our virtual classroom or live classroom  PowerPoint courses >

Below is a sample presentation organized into sections:

Working with sections in Slide Sorter View

You can work with sections in Slide Sorter View in 3 ways:

• Right-click to access the context menu
• Press Shift + F10 or press the Context key on your keyboard (if available) to access the context menu
• Use Sections on the Home tab in the Ribbon in the Slides group

Below is the Sections command on the Home tab in the Ribbon in the Slides group:

Adding a section

To add a section in Slide Sorter View:

• Right-click the slide you want to use as the starting slide in a section or right-click between two slides where you want to add a section. You can also click Sections in the Slides group on the Home tab in the Ribbon or press Shift + F10 or the Context key to access the context menu. A drop-down menu appears.
• Select Add Section. A section marker appears as a bar across the screen. PowerPoint will also create a default section at the beginning of the presentation. A dialog box appears.
• Enter a name for the section and click Rename.
• Repeat to create other sections.

Renaming a section

To rename a section in Slide Sorter View:

• Right-click the section marker (which may be Untitled or have been named). The section marker appears as a bar across the screen. You can also click Sections in the Slides group on the Home tab in the Ribbon or press Shift + F10 or the Context key to access the context menu. A drop-down menu appears.
• Select Rename. A dialog box appears.

Collapsing and expanding sections

To collapse or expand sections, in Slide Sorter View, click the arrow to the left of the section marker to collapse or expand a section.

Moving a section

To move a section in Slide Sorter View:

• Click the arrow to the left of the section marker to collapse the section.
• Drag the section marker up or down to move the section. You can also right-click the section marker and select Move Section Up or Move Section Down (or press Shift + F10 or the Context key to access the context menu).
• Click the arrow to the left of the section marker to expand the section.

Removing a section

To remove a section in Slide Sorter View:

• Right-click the section marker. You can also click Sections in the Slides group on the Home tab in the Ribbon or press Shift + F10 or the Context key to access the context menu. A drop-down menu appears.
• Select Remove Section. A dialog box appears.
• Select Remove Section, Remove Section & Slides or Remove All Sections.
• A dialog box may appear to ask you to confirm the deletion. Click OK.

Sections will also appear in Normal View in the slide thumbnails area on the left.

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PowerPoint Sections: How to Create Sections in PowerPoint to Reorganize Presentations Quickly

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to use PowerPoint sections, including how to create them, rename them, and use them to rearrange entire segments of the presentation in the Slide Sorter View.

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PowerPoint sections are useful for collapsing and expanding multiple slides, removing multiple slides, and rearranging segments of presentations.

To add a section, press Alt, H, T1 in the PC version of PowerPoint and select “Add Section”:

(This shortcut is Alt, H, T in older, non-365 versions; there is no built-in Mac shortcut for this command, so you must go to the “Home” menu and click on “Section” manually.)

Once you do this, the section name will appear on the left-hand side of the screen on top of the presentation slides in this new section:

You can now collapse and expand all the slides in this section by right-clicking it or going to the “Section” menu with Alt, H, T1:

You can also drag around the section and put it before or after other parts of the presentation:

Sections are useful in this “normal view,” but to use them most effectively , you’ll need to enter the Slide Sorter View (see below).

Video Table of Contents:

0:39:  Slide Sorter View

3:42:  Sections

9:21:  Exercise: Add Sections to the Jazz Slides

14:50:  Recap and Summary

[Click the “Files & Resources” tab to get all the PowerPoint files for this lesson.]

The Slide Sorter View and PowerPoint Sections

The default viewing mode in PowerPoint is too limited to use sections effectively because you can only see a few slides on the screen at once.

To use sections more effectively, you should enter the Slide Sorter View with the Alt, W, I shortcut (⌘ + 2 on Mac):

This “Slide Sorter View” removes the main slide edit area and presents only a high-level presentation summary.

You can’t use this view to edit slides, but you can use it to move around normal slides.

To return to the “normal view,” press Alt, W, L on PC or ⌘ + 1 on Mac.

Most shortcuts that work in the normal viewing mode of PowerPoint also work in the Slide Sorter View:

Move to Previous or Next Slide: Arrow Keys (PC / Mac)

Jump to First Slide: Home (PC) / Fn + <– (Mac)

Jump to Last Slide: End (PC) /  Fn + –> (Mac)

Select Multiple Slides: Shift + Click (PC / Mac)

Insert Slide: Ctrl + M (PC) / ⌘ + Shift + N (Mac)

Insert Slide and Select Layout: Alt, H, I / N/A on Mac

Delete Slide: Del (PC / Mac)

Duplicate Current Slide: Ctrl + Shift + D (PC) / ⌘ + Shift + D (Mac)

Without even using sections, you can select multiple slides in the Slide Sorter View by pressing Shift and clicking on each one, and you can drag them to any position you want:

Doing this in the normal editing view is much less efficient because you must scroll to select multiple slides.

How to Create Sections in PowerPoint: Best Practices

When you add sections in PowerPoint, you should always start at the end of the presentation and move to the front .

When you add a section, PowerPoint applies it to all the slides after the insertion point – so if you add a section on slide 1, every slide in your presentation will be in that section!

Let’s say that your presentation has 25 slides, and they’re organized like this:

Slides 1 – 10: Introduction

Slides 11 – 14: Market Analysis

Slides 15 – 19: Leadership Team

Slides 20 – 25: Conclusions

If you want to add sections to this presentation, you should open the Slide Sorter View, go to slide 20, and add the “Conclusions” section there with Alt, H, T1, A.

Then, you should move to slide 15 and add the “Leadership Team” section, move to slide 11 and add the “Market Analysis” section, and, finally, move to slide 1 and add the “Introduction” section.

Ideally, each section will start with a normal slide that indicates the section’s title or marks it as the next “part” of the presentation.

We follow this approach in the Jazz Pharmaceuticals slides here:

With these “Section Divider” slides in the normal presentation, it’s easy to enter the Slide Sorter View and use the Alt, H, T1 shortcut to add sections in the right spots:

In the Slide Sorter View, you can also press the Right Mouse Button (RMB) on a Section Name to activate additional commands, such as “Remove Section & Slides” and “Move Section Up/Down”:

These commands can be useful if you start with an existing presentation and remove large parts rather than specific slides.

PowerPoint Section Practice Exercise: How to Add Sections to a Long Presentation

Your practice exercise in this lesson is to take the “Before” version of the Jazz Pharmaceuticals slides , add sections in the right spots, and rearrange the entire presentation so the sections are in the correct numerical order.

The presentation should start with Section 1 and then move to Section 2, 3, and so on, and the last two parts should be Appendix A and Appendix B.

You can start this exercise by entering the Slide Sorter View with Alt, W, I, and jumping to the end of the presentation with the End key (Fn + –> on Mac):

You can then move to slide 48 and press Alt, H, T1, A to add a section and name it “Financial_Projections”:

And then, you can proceed backward to slide 44 and add a section and name for the Appendix B slides.

Next, go to slide 32, add a section, and do the same on slides 28, 23, 14, and 2.

When you’re done, your presentation should look like this in the Slide Sorter View:

Now you need to reorder the presentation.

For this part, you might have to enter the normal viewing/edit mode with Alt, W, L to read the “Section Numbers” on each divider slide.

For your reference, here’s the correct numerical order:

Section 1: Market Update and Summary

Section 2: Review of Jaguar Management Forecasts

Section 3: Jaguar Valuation

Section 4: Potential Strategic Alternatives

Section 5: Process Recommendations

Appendix A: Financial Projection Assumptions

Appendix B: Valuation Data

For this part of the exercise, it’s useful to collapse all the sections with the Alt, H, T1, O shortcut so you can focus on just their order:

Once you’ve done this, you can click on each section name and drag it up or down to put the section in its proper position:

When you’ve finished rearranging all the sections, you can expand everything once again with Alt, H, T1, X, and your presentation should look like this in the Slide Sorter View:

Finally, you’ll need to move the “Table of Contents” slide to the Introduction section.

Currently, it’s at the end of the “Management Forecasts” section, which is incorrect:

Beyond PowerPoint Sections: More Advanced Methods for Organizing Your Presentations

Sections and the Slide Sorter View are very useful for organizing and reordering your presentations, but they only scratch the surface of the proper PowerPoint setup required for investment banking pitch books .

It’s also critical to understand the Slide Master , templates based on custom layouts, and how to use tools such as Drawing Guides, Theme Colors, and “reference shapes” to make your presentations easy to modify.

We cover all that and more in the full PowerPoint Pro course on this site, and we even give you tools and templates for workflow automation, including our full PowerPoint macro package.

About Brian DeChesare

Brian DeChesare is the Founder of Mergers & Inquisitions and Breaking Into Wall Street . In his spare time, he enjoys lifting weights, running, traveling, obsessively watching TV shows, and defeating Sauron.

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How to organize PowerPoint Presentations with PowerPoint Sections

• February 1, 2023

What are PowerPoint Sections?

PowerPoint sections are section breaks which you can use to group slides within PowerPoint presentations. Sections can make organizing, navigating, and managing your slides easier - particularly when working with very large presentations.

Why use PowerPoint Sections?

You can use Sections in PowerPoint as a way to organize your slides into meaningful groups. These groups can then be used to outline your presentation, or to assign to other team members when collaborating.

Adding PowerPoint Sections to your presentations also makes creating Agenda and Table of Contents Slides with the PPT Productivity Agenda Wizard super easy. Read on to learn how to use PowerPoint Sections, including tips about how to use sections along with the PPT Productivity Agenda Wizard for PowerPoint feature.

How do I add a Section in PowerPoint?

You can add PowerPoint Sections to a PowerPoint document either in Slide Sorter view or in Normal View

To insert a PowerPoint section in Slide Sorter View:

• Right-click the PowerPoint slide you want to use as the starting slide in a section, or right-click between two slides where you want to add a section. Alternatively you can click Sections in the Slides group on the Home tab on the Ribbon. You can also use keyboard shortcut Shift + F10. A drop-down menu will then appear.

• Select Add Section . Your slides after the Section will move to a new line in slide sorter view. PowerPoint will also create a default section at the beginning of the presentation. A dialog box will appear.

• Enter a name for the section and click Rename .

• Repeat the above steps to create additional sections.

To insert PowerPoint Sections in Normal View

• Right-click the slide you want to use as the starting slide in a section or right-click between two slides where you want to add a section. Or click Sections in the Slides group on the Home tab in the Ribbon. You can also use keyboard shortcut Shift + F10. A drop-down menu appears.

• Select Add Section. PowerPoint will create a default section at the beginning of the presentation. A dialog box will also appear.

• Enter a name for the section and click Rename.

• Repeat to create other sections.

How do PowerPoint Sections work?

PowerPoint Sections insert a Section break between groups of slides. Each Section has a name or Section Header/Title. Any slide after the section header is grouped into that section, until the next section break. This means you can effectively group the slides for treatment - when you select the Section Header/Title you can delete a whole section of slides or move or whole section to a different location in your presentation at the same time.

In the below image, the PowerPoint section name has been selected, so all slides in that that group have also been selected. Right mouse click on the section name to reveal the Sections dropdown menu

From the Sections dropdown menu, you can choose to collapse or expand the slide group, move the slide group in the document, remove all Sections, remove all Sections and their slides, remove the selected Section or rename the Section.

Can I rename PowerPoint Sections?

Yes, you can change the name of your Sections easily. To rename a Section in Slide Sorter or Normal View:

• Right-click the Section Header/Title. You can also click Sections in the Slides group on the Home tab in the Ribbon or press Shift + F10. The Sections drop-down menu will appear.
• Select Rename.

• The Rename dialog box will appear. Enter a name for the Section and click 'Rename'

• Your Section name will now update to the name entered in the dialogue box.

How can I move or reorder PowerPoint Sections

To move a section in Slide Sorter or Normal View:

• Click the arrow to the left of the Section Header/Title to collapse the Section.

• The number off slides in the selected Section will appear in parenthesis next to the Section Header/Title. For example in the image about the number 3 indicates that there are 3 slides in the Section/group.
• Drag the Section marker up or down in your document to move the Section. You can also right-click the Section marker and select Move Section Up or Move Section Down (or use Keyboard shortcut Shift + F10)

• Once the Section is in it's new position in the deck, click the arrow to the left of the Section marker to expand the Section.

Can I remove PowerPoint Sections from document?

You can remove Sections from PowerPoint presentations. There are 3 methods for removing PowerPoint Sections;

• Remove Section break so slides merge with the previous Section
• Remove Section & Slides . This will remove not only the Section break but all slides within the group
• Remove All Sections . Removing all Sections will remove all Section breaks from the document. All slides will remain intact and in the current order

Method 1 - Remove Section break and merge slides with previous Section

To remove a PowerPoint Section and leave slides intact, in Slide Sorter or Normal View:

• Right-click the Section Header/Title. You can also click Sections in the Slides group on the Home tab in the Ribbon or use Keyboard shortcut Shift + F10. A drop-down menu will appear
• Select Remove Section.

• The Section break will be removed from the document. The slides that were previously grouped in the selected Section will be merged with the previous Section

Method 2 - Remove Section including slides contained in Section group.

To remove a PowerPoint Section including all slides within the Section group, in Slide Sorter or Normal View;

• Select Remove Section & Slides

• The Section break, along with any slides within the group will be removed/deleted from the PowerPoint document. Any Sections & Slides following the Section that has been removed will be moved 'up' in the presentation.

Method 3 - Remove All Sections, Only Sections removed. Slides within Section groups remain intact

To remove all PowerPoint Sections from a presentation without deleting or changing the order of slides, in Slide Sorter or Normal View;

• Select Remove All Sections

• All Section breaks will be removed from the presentation. Slides will be unaffected. (Image below shows the same document with all Sections removed, Slides remain intact)

Creating PowerPoint Table of Contents and Meeting Agenda's using PowerPoint Sections

The PPT Productivity Agenda Wizard allows you to quickly create PowerPoint Table of Contents and Agenda Slides with ease. In addition to typing the individual Agenda items, Agenda content can be imported from mulitple sources including;

• Section names
• Selected slide titles
• All slide titles
• Slide content
• Clipboard content

In this article we will explain how to create PowerPoint Agenda and Table of Contents slides using PowerPoint Sections

To create a Table of Contents or Agenda from PowerPoint Sections,

• Open the PPT Productivity Agenda Wizard. You'll find the Agenda Wizard in the Insert Group on the PPT Productivity Format Toolbar

• The Agenda Wizard dialogue box will open. Here you can add your Agenda contents manually or select 'Import Agenda Items' to import content for the Agenda/ToC from PowerPoint Sections

• The Import Agenda items window will open. Select 'Load section names'. You will see a preview of the section names that will become the items listed in the Table of Contents/Agenda

• Click OK. The Generate Agenda window will reopen with Agenda items populated according to the Sections contained in the PowerPoint presentation.

• While on the 'Edit Agenda Items' tab in the 'Generate Agenda' window you can set your Agenda preferences. Update the Title, or deselect 'Show' to create Agenda's without a Title. Set the purpose of the Agenda - either a Meeting Agenda or Table of Contents. (For this example I have selected Table of Contents). Decide whether to include item numbers and/page numbers on the Agenda/Table of Contents slide.
• Once you have happy with your preference, select 'Next'
• Selecting Next will take you to the 'Format Agenda' tab in the 'Generate Agenda' window. Here you can select preferences for your Cover Slide and Divider Slides. PPT Productivity will automatically select a slide layout and colors that are based on your Master theme so in general you will not have to do anything except decide whether you require Divider Slides to be generated along with the Agenda/Table of Contents slide. However you can make alternative formatting selections via the dropdown menus linked to Slide Layout, Agenda Style, Primary Color and Secondar Color if desired.

• Once you have set your preferences click 'Create' (Note, if you want to set these same preferences as your default for Agenda/ToC slides select 'Save Settings' before creating your Agenda)
• Your new Agenda/ToC slide, along with Divider slides will be inserted directly into your PowerPoint presentation. Dividers slides will be inserted at each Section break, at the beginning of the Slide group.

• If you reorder the PowerPoint Sections in the document, simply open the Agenda Wizard and hit 'Update' to Sync the Agenda/ToC and Dividers Slides based on the new order of the Sections in the presentation.

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How To Use Sections in Microsoft PowerPoint Tutorial

In this tutorial, we will talk about How To Use Sections in Microsoft PowerPoint. It’s a versatile tool for creating visually appealing and engaging presentations. However, as your presentations grow in complexity and length, it can become challenging to maintain an organized structure. This is where PowerPoint Sections come to the rescue. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore how to use PowerPoint Sections effectively to manage and organize your slides for maximum efficiency and productivity.

Why Use Sections in PowerPoint?

Sections in PowerPoint offer a simple yet powerful way to divide and conquer your presentations. They bring several benefits to the table:

1. Enhanced Organization

Divide your presentation into logical sections to create a clear structure. Whether it’s an introduction, multiple chapters, or various topics, sections help you keep your content well-organized.

2. Streamlined Navigation

Sections make it easier to navigate through your presentation, particularly when dealing with a large number of slides. You can expand or collapse sections to focus on the relevant content, simplifying the process.

3. Efficient Slide Management

Working with sections allows you to perform actions on specific groups of slides. This includes changing backgrounds, hiding or unhiding slides, altering layouts, and adding transitions – all with just a few clicks.

Creating and Managing Sections

Let’s dive into the practical aspects of creating and managing sections in PowerPoint:

Adding a New Section

• Open your PowerPoint presentation.
• Navigate to the “Home” tab.
• In the “Slides” group, click on the “Section” dropdown.
• Select “Add Section” and give it a name.

Repeat this process for each section you want to create.

Renaming Sections

To rename a section, simply right-click on the section name and choose “Rename Section.” Give it a descriptive name for easy identification.

Organizing Sections

To rearrange your sections, you can drag and drop them to the desired position. Alternatively, right-click on a section and choose “Move Section Up” or “Move Section Down.”

Removing Sections

If a section is no longer needed, right-click on its name and select “Remove Section.” Be cautious, as this action deletes both the section and its associated slides.

Using Sections for Maximum Efficiency

Now that you’ve created and organized your sections, here’s how to leverage them for a smoother workflow:

Applying Commands to Specific Sections

• In the Thumbnail View, select a section by clicking on its name.
• Right-click on a slide within the section.
• You’ll see commands that can be applied to all slides in that section, such as copying, duplicating, deleting, changing backgrounds, or hiding/unhiding slides.

Bulk Editing

Want to change the background color, transition type, or slide layout for all slides in a section? It’s a breeze! Just select the section and apply the desired changes.

Slideshow Customization

During a presentation, you can choose to hide specific sections to focus on specific content. Simply select the section, go to the “Slideshow” tab, and click “Hide Slide.”

Mastering PowerPoint Sections is a game-changer for anyone who frequently works with this presentation software. It brings a new level of control and organization to your slides, ensuring your presentations are polished and professional. Start using sections in your PowerPoint presentations and experience the benefits firsthand.

In our next post, we’ll explore advanced techniques for using PowerPoint transitions to make your presentations more dynamic and engaging.

Stay tuned, and keep creating stunning presentations!

Watch How To Work With PowerPoint Sections Tutorial

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• 5 mins read

Discover how to use PowerPoint’s section tool to make your presentations more organized, better managed, and faster to develop.

Overwhelmed by a slew of slides?  Break them into sections!  PowerPoint’s section tool (available since PPT 2010) can easily make your presentations more organized, better managed, and faster to develop.  Sections let you organize your slides, much like you would use folders to organize your files.

You can use named sections to keep track of groups of slides, or you can assign sections to co-workers to make ownership clear during collaboration.  And if you’re starting with a blank slate, sections can even be used to outline the topics in your presentation.

Why Sections in PowerPoint are very useful?

By using  sections  you can:

• Divide the slides into logical subgroups
• Organize the chapters using meaningful names
• Reorder sections using the drag and drop
• Apply effects in groups (sections), for example the same animation transition to all the slides under a section
• Collapse sections
• Hide all the slides in a given section
• Delete all the slides under a section

The PowerPoint section feature is easy to be used. You can add, edit, remove sections by using the Sections menu in PowerPoint 2010. Typically, sections are added from the Slide Sorter window.

Right click the Slide and choose Add Section option from the context menu.

Now a new section will be added with name “Untitled Section”. Whatever slides you will create, will be categorized under this section. You can start another section in the presentation by the same way.

Once the section is added, right-click its title bar and choose Rename Section.

Specify the new name and click Rename.

That’s it, the particular section will be renamed. Now you can easily create, differentiate and manage your slides within the presentation.  Moving groups of slides around is easier than ever when they’re grouped in sections.  You can also minimize or maximize groups of sectioned slides too.

This section feature is also good for organizing the content in the edit view and keep an eye in the overall information at once…sort of like an outline.

• add sections in powerpoint 2010 , how to add presentation sections , how to rename presentation sections , PowerPoint 2010 , powerpoint sections , ppt , rename sections in powerpoint 2010 , sections in powerpoint , working with powerpoint slides

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Organize Your Presentation With Sections in PowerPoint

• March 9, 2015

Discover how to use PowerPoint’s section tool to make your presentations more organized, better managed, and faster to develop.

Overwhelmed by a slew of slides?  Break them into sections!  PowerPoint’s section tool (available since PPT 2010) can easily make your presentations more organized, better managed, and faster to develop.  Sections let you organize your slides, much like you would use folders to organize your files.

You can use named sections to keep track of groups of slides, or you can assign sections to co-workers to make ownership clear during collaboration.  And if you’re starting with a blank slate, sections can even be used to outline the topics in your presentation.

Why Sections in PowerPoint are very useful?

By using  sections  you can:

• Divide the slides into logical subgroups
• Organize the chapters using meaningful names
• Reorder sections using the drag and drop
• Apply effects in groups (sections), for example the same animation transition to all the slides under a section
• Collapse sections
• Hide all the slides in a given section
• Delete all the slides under a section

The PowerPoint section feature is easy to be used. You can add, edit, remove sections by using the Sections menu in PowerPoint 2010. Typically, sections are added from the Slide Sorter window.

Right click the Slide and choose Add Section option from the context menu.

Now a new section will be added with name “Untitled Section”. Whatever slides you will create, will be categorized under this section. You can start another section in the presentation by the same way.

Once the section is added, right-click its title bar and choose Rename Section.

Specify the new name and click rename..

That’s it, the particular section will be renamed. Now you can easily create, differentiate and manage your slides within the presentation.  Moving groups of slides around is easier than ever when they’re grouped in sections.  You can also minimize or maximize groups of sectioned slides too.

This section feature is also good for organizing the content in the edit view and keep an eye in the overall information at once…sort of like an outline.

add sections in powerpoint 2010 , how to add presentation sections , how to rename presentation sections , PowerPoint 2010 , powerpoint sections , ppt , rename sections in powerpoint 2010 , sections in powerpoint , working with powerpoint slides

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Working with sections

Sections can be collapsed or expanded in the left pane in the Normal or Slide Sorter view and named for future reference. Sections do not appear in other views.

Create a Section

To create a section in the Normal or Slide Sorter view, do one of the following:

From the Section dropdown list, choose Add Section :

A new section with the default name Untitled Section shows up in the left pane:

Note : If the slide from which you start a new section is not the first slide in a presentation, PowerPoint automatically creates a Default Section (see an example above) containing all slides before the Untitled Section .

Manage Sections

You can rename, remove, move, collapse, and expand sections.

Rename a section

To rename a section, do one of the following:

In the Rename Section dialog box, in the Section name field, replace or edit the current section name, then click the Rename button:

Collapse and expand sections

To collapse or expand one section in the Normal or Slide Sorter view, click the triangle next to the section name:

• A lower-right triangle indicates an expanded section:

Click the triangle to collapse the section.

Click the triangle to expand the section.

Note : PowerPoint shows the number of slides within each collapsed section.

To collapse or expand all sections in a presentation, do one of the following:

• Right-click any of the section names, then select Collapse All or Expand All in the popup menu:

Move a section

The main reason for having sections in PowerPoint is to simplify slides reordering. You can move an entire section that includes a group of slides at once. To reorder sections in the Normal or Slide Sorter view, do one of the following:

• In the Normal or Slide Sorter view, drag the slide thumbnail or thumbnails to a new position.
• Use the Clipboard to cut and paste slides in a presentation.

For example, after cutting the Untitled Section :

Remove Sections

PowerPoint offers three options to remove section:

To merge a section with the previous one by removing the section break, select it (highlight it), then do one of the following:

Note : If you see that the Remove Section option is disabled, you need to select a section first.

To delete a section with all slides in it, do one of the following:

• Right-click a section name, then choose Remove Section & Slides in the popup menu.
• Click the Delete key.

Note : If the selected section is collapsed, in the Microsoft PowerPoint dialog box, click the Yes button to confirm the deletion:

To merge all sections by removing all section breaks, do one of the following:

• On the Home tab, in the Slide group, click the Section dropdown list, then select Remove All Sections .
• Right-click any section name, then choose the Remove All Sections option in the popup menu.

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Home Blog PowerPoint Tutorials How to Add Sections in PowerPoint

How to Add Sections in PowerPoint

PowerPoint sections can help organize a PowerPoint presentation to help you sort out different subtopics. Adding sections to your PowerPoint templates can be handy for quickly creating new outlines and generating organized slide decks. It also makes finding subtopics in a presentation to revisit specific information easily.

How to Add Section in PowerPoint

If you’re wondering how to add a PPT section, go to Home -> Section -> Add Section or right-click between slides and select Add Section .

From the dialog box that appears, add a name for your section and click Rename . This will give a name to your section. You can name various sections according to the topic they cover. For example, one section might introduce the topic, another your team, followed by a section about the project, budget, timeline, etc.

How to Rename, Remove, Collapse, and Expand Sections in PowerPoint

To rename, remove, collapse, or expand sections, select the section and go to Home -> Sections .

Rename Section: This option allows you to rename the section.

Remove Section: You can use this option to remove a specific section.

Remove All Sections: This is a quick way to remove all sections simultaneously.

Collapse All: This option can be used to collapse all sections.

Expand All: All collapsed sections can be expanded using this option.

How to Move Sections in PowerPoint

You can either use drag and drop to move sections or via right-click menu. The latter provides options to move sections up or down. You will find various options in the right-click menu via the Sections menu. Furthermore, you can also select Remove All Sections & Slides at once to start over from scratch.

Final Words

You can group slides in PPT by creating sections in PowerPoint. Now that you know how to create sections in PPT, you can create relevant groups of slides clubbed together to generate more comprehensive presentations that are easier to sort and manage.

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How to Add Section in PowerPoint? [And Why to Use them!]

By: Author Shrot Katewa

When creating a big presentation (of more than 30 or 40 slides), there are times when you end up looking for a slide that you just created, and it takes you quite some time to locate it! If this happens frequently to you, then you’re perhaps better off adding sections to your PowerPoint presentation!

To add sections in PowerPoint, right-click between any two slides in the slide navigation panel. From the options presented, click on “Add Section”. This will add a section to your PowerPoint presentation.

Adding sections and grouping slides in PowerPoint allows you to stay organized when creating and delivering a presentation. It can come in handy especially when you have a long presentation.

But, what more can you do and how exactly can you benefit from using sections in PowerPoint? Let’s find out!

1. How to Group Slides in PowerPoint? 

Let’s first start with the basics once again.

Here’s how it works – to begin with, you need to add sections in your presentation. Then, you’ll want to move the slides around so that the correct slide is present in the correct section! If needed, you can then rename the sections to be on top of things.

We’ll learn how to do all these things in the following sections of the article.

But, let’s start with grouping slides in PowerPoint as this is where the whole process begins.

To group a slide in your PowerPoint presentation, you have to select the “ Add section ” option from the dropdown menu of the slide’s navigation bar as mentioned previously.

Here’s a step-by-step process on how to do it –

Step-1: “Right-click” on the slide navigation bar

The first step of the process is to “ Right-click ” between any two slides to add a section. Ideally, you should right-click just above the first slide from which you want to group of slides to begin.

When you right-click, you will be presented with a dropdown menu.

Step-2: Click on “Add section”

Now, from the dropdown menu, click on the “ Add sections ” option which is the last option there (as shown in the image in step 1).

Step-3: Give a name to the section

In the pop-up window, give a name to the group and hit the “ Rename ” button. This will group all the slides below the newly added section.

Step-4: Create another group after the last slide

When you add a section above the first slide of the group of slides, it adds all the slides below that section into one group.

To separate one group from another, add another section under the last slide of your group following the same process described above. This will separate the slides in your group from the next group.

2. How to Rename Sections in PowerPoint? 

To rename a section in your PowerPoint presentation, you have to select the rename option from the drop-down menu. The easy 3 step process is described below.

Step-1: “Right-click” on the title of the section

The first step of the process is to “ Right-click ” on the title of the section that you want to rename. This will open a dropdown menu.

Step-2: Click on “Rename section”

In this step, all you have to do is to select the “ Rename section ” option from the dropdown menu. It is the first option in the dropdown menu (as shown in the image in step 1).

Step-3: Rename the slide

After you click on the “ Rename Section ” option, a pop-up window will appear on your screen. Now, rename the section and then hit the “ Rename ” button.

After that, the section will be renamed accordingly.

3. How to Add Slides to a Section in PowerPoint? 

There are two ways in which you can add a slide to a group in your PowerPoint presentation. You can either add a new slide in the group or you can move a slide from another group to your preferred group.

Both of these methods are explained in the following section.

3a. Add New Slides to a Section 

To add a new slide to a section in your PowerPoint presentation, you have to select the “ New slide ” option from the drop-down menu. The whole process is described step-by-step below.

The first step of the process is to “ Right-click ” on the slide navigation bar, in the location of the sequence of slides where you want the new slide to be added.

For example, if you want to add the slide as the fourth slide in the slide navigation bar, “ Right-click ” just above the existing fourth slide.

Step-2: Select the “New Slide” option

After you right-click on the slide navigation bar, a dropdown menu will appear on your screen. From the dropdown menu, click on the “ New Slide ” option, which is the first option in the menu.

After that, a new slide will be added to your preferred sequence.

3b. Move Slides from Other Sections 

You can also move slides from one group to another

Step-1: Select and hold the slide

The first step of moving a slide from one group to your preferred group is to select the slide that you want to move and keep holding the “ Left mouse button ”.

This will allow you to move the slide up and down the slide navigation bar.

Step-2: Place the slide in your preferred location

While holding the “ Left mouse button ”, drag the slide from its original position and place it in your preferred location then let go of the “ Left mouse button ”.

This way, the slide from one group will be moved to your preferred group.

4. How to Expand and Collapse Sections in PowerPoint? 

You can also expand and collapse a section or a group of slides in PowerPoint.

To collapse a section in PowerPoint, simply click on the section name or the arrow before the name of the section. This will collapse the section and hide all the slides within the section from the slide navigation panel.

You have to use the same button to expand a section in PowerPoint. If a group is expanded then you will see a triangular arrow pointing downward, located just to the left of the title of the group.

And, if the group is already collapsed, you will be able to expand it using the same button.

4a. How to Expand and Collapse All Sections in PowerPoint?

You can also expand or collapse all sections in PowerPoint in one quick movement! Here’s how to do it –

Step-1: Right-click on any section

The first step is to right-click on any one of the sections in your PowerPoint presentation. You will be presented with a dropdown menu.

Step-2: Click on the “Expand All” or “Collapse All” options

The next step is to simply click on the “ Collapse All ” option to collapse all the sections in your presentation (as shown in the image in step 1).

You can also click on the “ Expand All ” option to expand all the groups of slides or the sections in your PowerPoint presentation.

Do remember, the “Expand All” option can also be used when only a few sections are in a collapsed state. Using this option then will expand only the collapsed sections.

5. How to Move a Section Up or Down in Slide Thumbnail View? 

The process of moving an entire section up or down in the slide thumbnail view is very similar to moving a slide from one group to another. The whole process is described in easy steps below.

Method 1 – Dragging the Sections Up or Down

This method is the easiest when you have all the sections collapsed first.

Step-1: Collapse all the sections

The first step is to collapse all the sections in your presentation as described in the previous section. This will allow you to move a section quickly and easily.

Step-2: Click and hold the title of the section

The first step of the process is to select the title of the section and then keep holding the “ Left mouse button ”.

Step-3: Move the section to your preferred sequence

While holding the “ Left mouse button ”, drag the title of the group up or down to the position where you want to move the section.

After that, let go of the “ Left mouse button ” and the entire section will change its position accordingly. 

Method 2 – Using the “Right-click” Option

You can also move a complete section using the right-click option. However, it can sometimes be confusing when you have all the slides open.

Nevertheless, here’s what you need to do when moving a section in PowerPoint using this method –

Step-1: Right-click on the section

The first step is to “Right-click” on the section that you want to move. A dropdown menu will appear.

Step-2: Move the section

The next step is to simply move the section. You can click on the “ Move Section Up ” to move the section up (as the name suggests).

Likewise, you can also click on the “Move Section Down” option to move the section below the next section.

Repeat the process if you want to move a section up or down multiple steps.

6. How to Delete a Section in PowerPoint? 

To delete a section in your PowerPoint presentation, you have to choose the remove section option in PowerPoint.

Here’s how you can remove a section in PowerPoint –

The first step of the process is to “ Right-click ” on the title of the section. This will open a drop-down menu.

Step-2: Click on “Remove section”

After you have opened the drop-down menu, simply click on the “ Remove section ” option, which is the second option of the menu.

After that, the section will be deleted immediately, and the slides in that section will merge with the preceding section.

6a. How to Remove All Sections in PowerPoint?

If you want to get rid of all sections in your presentation, PowerPoint provides you with the option to do that as well. Don’t worry, your slides will not be deleted if you choose to remove all the sections from your PowerPoint presentation!

Here’s how to delete all sections in PowerPoint –

Step-1: Right-click on any one section

The first step is to right-click on any one section in your PowerPoint presentation. You will be presented with a dropdown menu.

Step-2: Select the “Remove All Sections” option

From the options in the dropdown, simply click on the “ Remove All Sections ” option and this will delete all the sections in your presentation.

As mentioned before, this will not remove any of your slides. It will only remove all the sections.

6b. How to Remove a Section with Slides in PowerPoint?

Using sections comes in really handy especially when you want to delete an entire section from your presentation.

Although deleting a section in PowerPoint doesn’t delete the slides, PowerPoint also provides you with an option to delete a section along with the slides within that section.

Here’s what you need to do –

Step-1: Right-click on the section to delete

As usual, the first step is to select the section that you want to delete and right-click on it. This will open a dropdown menu with options.

Step-2: Select the “Remove Section & Slides” option

From the dropdown, simply click on the “ Remove Section & Slides ” option. This will remove the section along with the slides in that section.

7. Can you Create Sub-Sections in PowerPoint?

Unfortunately, you can’t create a subsection in your PowerPoint presentation.

Although it is quite the obvious upgrade, and many users have been requesting it since the option to add sections was introduced in PowerPoint, you can’t make a subsection in your PowerPoint.

However, to organize your PowerPoint presentation, you can insert a new section and add an underscore (“_”) before the title of the section to identify that it is a subsection. 

Credit to cookie_studio (on Freepik) for the featured image of this article (further edited).

How-To Geek

How to add section and slide zooms in microsoft powerpoint.

Want more professional transitions for your presentation?

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Create a section zoom in powerpoint, create a slide zoom in powerpoint, customize a section or slide zoom.

If you want to move to a different slide or section in your presentation, you can easily add a link on your slide . But by using a Section or Slide Zoom in PowerPoint, you can make that move look professional.

In Microsoft PowerPoint, a Section or Slide Zoom places an image on your slide instead of linked text. In addition, when you click to visit that section or slide, you'll see a nice zoom effect. You can customize the displayed image, duration of the zoom effect, and additional actions.

As of this writing at the beginning of April 2022, you can create a Section or Slide Zoom on Windows with Microsoft 365 and in PowerPoint 2019 or later. For Mac and mobile PowerPoint users, you can play a Zoom, but not create one.

Using sections in PowerPoint is a good way to divide your presentation into separate portions. Whether you use it to organize your slideshow or show only particular sections to certain audiences, sections are handy tools.

Related: How to Organize a Microsoft PowerPoint Slideshow Using Sections

To create a Section Zoom, you'll need your sections set up ahead of time. When you're ready, go to the slide where you want to add the Section Zoom.

Head to the Insert tab and Links section of the ribbon. Click the Zoom drop-down arrow and pick "Section Zoom."

In the Insert Section Zoom window that appears, check the box next to the section you want to use. You can also include zooms for multiple sections. Click "Insert."

You'll see the Section Zoom pop onto your slide. It's similar in appearance to a static image of the first slide in that section. You can move the zoom by selecting and dragging it or resize it by dragging a corner or edge.

When you present the slideshow, click the Section Zoom. You'll see the zoom effect as you land on the first slide in that section. By default, you'll advance through each slide in the section and return to the zoom. This can be changed as described in the customization options below.

Similar to a Section Zoom in PowerPoint is the Slide Zoom. If you don't use sections in your slideshow or simply want the ability to jump to a certain slide , this is the way to go.

Related: How to Link to Another Slide in the Same PowerPoint Presentation

Go to the slide where you want the Slide Zoom. Then, head to the Insert tab and Links section of the ribbon. Click the Zoom drop-down arrow and pick "Slide Zoom."

In the Insert Slide Zoom window that opens, check the box next to the slide you want to use. You can also include zooms for multiple slides; however, you might consider using a Summary Zoom in this case instead. Click "Insert."

Like the Section Zoom, you'll see the Slide Zoom on your slide where you can drag to move or resize it.

When you present the slideshow, click the Slide Zoom. You'll see the zoom effect as you land on the slide. You'll then advance through the remainder of your slideshow. However, you can return to the zoom if you prefer using a customization option below.

The customization options for Section and Slide Zooms are the same. You can adjust the zoom's actions, change the appearance, or use additional formatting tools .

Zoom Options

Select the Section or Slide Zoom you want to edit. Then, visit the Zoom tab that displays. On the left side, you have the following actions you can adjust in the Zoom Options section.

Change Image : If you prefer to display an image rather than the slide for the zoom, select this option. You can then insert a picture from a file, stock images, online pictures, or from icons.

Return to Zoom : To go back to the zoom on the slide, check this box. For a Section Zoom, you'll return after advancing to the last slide in the section. For a Slide Zoom, you'll return after viewing that particular slide.

Zoom Transition : While the intent of a Section or Slide Zoom is to provide a transition effect, you may prefer to use the feature without that effect. Uncheck the Zoom Transition box to remove the effect.

Duration : If you decide to keep the Zoom Transition , you can use the Duration field to change the length of the effect. Enter a number in seconds or use the arrows to increase or decrease the duration.

Related: How to Use the Morph Transition in PowerPoint

Zoom Tab Tools

Along with the above actions, you can change the zoom style, border, background, alt text, and more. Select the Section or Slide Zoom and use the tools on the Zoom tab.

Zoom Format Options

To change the fill or line, add a shadow or reflection, or scale the zoom, right-click and pick "Zoom Format Options" from the menu. The Format Section/Slide Zoom sidebar opens for you to adjust the formatting.

For a unique way to jump to a particular section or different slide in your PowerPoint presentation, check out the Section and Slide Zoom features.

How To Use Sections In Powerpoint To Group Slides

Adding sections to your presentation can make it easier to organize the content and keep track of where you are in your presentation. Sections can also help you group slides together based on a single theme or topic.

In this article, we will discuss how to use sections in PowerPoint to organize your content and group related slides together.

Adding Sections

1. Place your cursor above the slides you want to separate into a section.

2. Right-click and then click “Add Section.”

3. Rename the section.

You have successfully added a section to your presentation. Adding multiple sections gives you more freedom to organize your content.

Organizing slides and sections

Rearranging slides and sections is easy. Simply drag and drop the slides and sections to rearrange them in your presentation. Alternatively, you can also rearrange slides and sections by using the “Slide Sorter” in the “View” menu.

Organizing your slides and sections is an important step in creating a professional presentation. With sections, you can group related slides together and make it easier to navigate through your content. Whether you are creating a PowerPoint for work or school, using sections is a useful tool that can help improve the clarity and organization of your presentation.

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How to Make Sections in PowerPoint

Sections allow you to group slides together into different categories, which makes it easier to keep a presentation organized.

Add a Section

• Select the slide where the new section will begin.
• Click the Section button on the Home tab.
• Select Add Section .

Right-click the first slide of the section in the Thumbnails pane and select Add Section .

The section is added as Untitled Section.

• Type a name for the section.

The slides are grouped into a new section. When you create your first section, all of the slides after the selected slide are included in the section.

Rename a Section

You can rename an existing section after it's been created.

• With the section heading selected, click the Section button on the Home tab.
• Select Rename Section .

The section is renamed and the new name is displayed in the Thumbnails pane.

Collapse Sections

To more easily see all the sections in your presentation, collapse them down.

All sections are collapsed, hiding the slides behind the section labels.

Remove Sections

If you no longer need a particular section, you can remove it. Removing a section does not remove the slides in that section.

• Select the section you want to remove.

The section is removed, and the slides that were in it move to the section above it.

Remove all of the slides in the section by right-clicking the section heading and selecting Remove Section and Slides .

Move Sections

You can move sections around in the outline, which will move all of the slides in that section at once.

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How to Create Dynamic PowerPoint Presentations with Slide, Summary, and Section Zoom

(Note: S uitable for users of PowerPoint 2016, 2019, 2021, and PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 . )

Use Slide, Summary and Section Zoom to create a dynamic slide deck that allows people to choose their own path through a presentation.

Slide Summary and Section Zoom Explained

Slide, Summary, and Section Zoom are three ‘new-ish’ tools available to users of PowerPoint 2019, 2021, and PowerPoint for Microsoft 365. So, what are these Zoom tools, and why are they useful?

Slide, Summary, and Section Zoom help bring our presentations to life. They make slides more dynamic and exciting and give our clients and customers the opportunity to choose their own path through the presentation. Goodbye linear, flat slide decks – hello dynamic, flexible content!

When we create a Zoom in PowerPoint, we can jump to and from specific slides, portions, and sections of the presentation in whatever order we please. This is helpful if we present a slide deck to an audience, as we can seamlessly dive in and out of sections. It’s also great if we have emailed a presentation to a client. They can choose how they want to move through the presentation and drill down quickly to the information of interest to them without clicking through 50+ irrelevant slides.

For example, we could have a presentation showcasing some new products to launch. We could add a slide to the deck that has an image of each product and then create a zoom so customers can click the image and zoom to the relevant slide or section.

We can create three types of zoom: Summary, Section, and Slide. We can find these tools on the Insert tab in the Zoom group.

In this article, we will take a look at all of them to identify the differences.

Summary Zoom

Selection zoom, change image, return to zoom, zoom styles and effects.

Related reads:

How to Superscript in PowerPoint

How to Add a Watermark in PowerPoint

How to Embed a Video in PowerPoint

Summary Zoom is a landing page where we can see parts of our presentation all at once. We get to specify which parts of the presentation are included in the summary Zoom. We can zoom from one place in the presentation to another, skip ahead or revisit slides without interrupting the flow of the presentation.

When we create a summary zoom, a new section will be added to the presentation titled ‘Summary’.

Let’s take a look at Summary Zoom in action.

• From the Insert tab in the Links group, click the lower half of the Zoom button.
• Click Summary Zoom .

The Insert Summary Zoom window will open.

• Select the beginning slide of each section.

• Click Insert .

A new summary slide is inserted into the presentation in a new section titled‘ Summary Section’. The selected slides show as clickable thumbnails and can be used in a similar way to a table of contents.

In this example, our customers/clients can choose which presentation tip they are most interested to read about and jump directly to that section of the slide deck.

• Press F5 to run the slide show.
• Click on any slide thumbnail.

PowerPoint will jump to that slide with a nice zoom-in effect. We can move through the rest of the section slides by clicking the mouse as normal. Once we get to the next section, PowerPoint will zoom us back out to the thumbnail page.

Section Zoom is similar to Summary Zoom in many respects. We can use a Section Zoom to dive in and dive out of different sections of our presentation. Sections help us manage long presentations by splitting the slides into manageable ‘chunks’ of related content.

For section Zoom to work correctly, ensure you have sections added to your presentation.

A difference between Section Zoom and Summary Zoom is that Section Zoom doesn’t create a summary slide of thumbnails. Instead, the clickable thumbnails will show on whichever slide we have selected in the presentation.

• Click on the slide where the thumbnails should appear.
• Click Section Zoom .

The Insert Section Zoom window will open.

• Select the slides to insert.
• Click the Insert button.

In this example, I have positioned the thumbnails in the bottom corners of the slide so users can click to jump to the next section or click to go back to the previous section.

Slide Zoom works in a similar way to Summary and Section Zoom. Slide Zoom does not create a summary page of thumbnails; our presentation doesn’t need to be divided into sections.

Slide Zoom lets us add individual slides as thumbnails to an existing slide so users can jump easily between different slides in the presentation.

• Click Slide Zoom .

• Press the F5 key to run the slide show.

Zoom Options

Section, Summary, and Slide Zooms can be customized using the Zoom ribbon.

We can change the size of the zoom, change the image, modify the zoom style, add a border, and much more.

Suggested reads:

How to Change PowerPoint Slides to Portrait

How to Change Slide Size in PowerPoint

How to Save PowerPoint as Video

When we insert a zoom, we will always get a thumbnail view of the slide or section we are zooming in to. We might want to use a different image as our Zoom thumbnail. In this example, we are going to use a PowerPoint icon.

• Click on any thumbnail.
• From the Zoom tab, click the arrow next to Change Image in the Zoom Options group.
• Click Change Image .
• Click From Icons .
• Select an Icon from the gallery.

The slide thumbnail has now been replaced with an icon.

Return to Zoom controls the running order of the slides in the presentation. For example, if we have created a summary Zoom and we want to zoom back out to the main thumbnail page once we’ve finished moving through the slides in the first section, we need to turn on Return to Zoom.

• From the Zoom tab, in the Zoom Options group, check the box next to Return to Zoom .

We can apply zoom styles and effects to our thumbnails.

• In the Zoom tab, click the drop-down arrow in the Zoom Styles group.
• Select a style from the gallery.

We can add a simple border around the outside of each thumbnail.

• Select one or more of the thumbnails.
• From the Zoom tab, in the Zoom Style group, click the drop-down arrow next to Zoom Border.
• Select Weight .
• Choose a line thickness.
• Click the drop-down arrow next to Zoom Border .
• Choose a color from the palette.

We can add effects to the thumbnail by clicking Zoom Effects .

How to Make a Flowchart in PowerPoint

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How to Add Slide Numbers in PowerPoint

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How to Create Sections in PowerPoint

PowerPoint has become one of the most widely used presentation software in the world, and for good reason. It is a powerful and intuitive tool that lets you create presentations with ease and flexibility. One of the most useful features of PowerPoint is the ability to create sections. This article will cover everything you need to know about creating sections in PowerPoint, from why organizing your presentation matters, to troubleshooting common issues that may arise.

Table of Contents

Why Organizing Your PowerPoint Presentation Matters

When creating a PowerPoint presentation, it is important to think carefully about how you organize the content. A well-organized presentation helps the audience understand the structure of your ideas and the flow of information. This is where sections come in handy. With sections, you can divide your presentation into logical parts, which makes it easier for you and your audience to follow the content. By using sections, you can also quickly navigate between different parts of your presentation, without having to scroll through a long list of slides or sections.

In addition to using sections, it is also important to consider the visual organization of your presentation. This includes using consistent fonts, colors, and layouts throughout the slides. By doing so, you can create a cohesive and professional-looking presentation that is easy on the eyes. Another tip is to use visual aids, such as images, charts, and graphs, to help illustrate your points and break up text-heavy slides. Remember, a well-organized and visually appealing presentation can make all the difference in engaging your audience and effectively conveying your message.

Understanding the Benefits of Sectioning in PowerPoint

Sectioning in PowerPoint offers several benefits. Firstly, it allows you to break your presentation down into manageable parts, making it easier to create and modify your content. Secondly, sections help you keep your content organized and structure your presentation in a logical manner. Additionally, sections make it easier to collaborate with others on the same presentation by dividing the work into different sections. Lastly, sections can help you save time and work more efficiently when editing your presentation.

Another benefit of sectioning in PowerPoint is that it allows you to easily navigate through your presentation during a live presentation. By dividing your presentation into sections, you can quickly jump to the relevant section without having to scroll through the entire presentation. This can help you deliver a more polished and professional presentation, as you can easily access the information you need without any delays or distractions.

How to Use Sections to Improve Navigation in Your Presentation

Using sections to improve navigation in your presentation is easy. To create a section, simply select the slide or slides you want to include in the section, right-click on the selection and choose “Add Section”. You can name the section whatever you like. Once you have created a section, you can easily navigate between them by using the navigation pane on the left-hand side of the screen. The navigation pane will display a list of all the sections in your presentation and allow you to move between them with ease.

Another benefit of using sections in your presentation is that it allows you to organize your content in a logical and meaningful way. By grouping related slides together in a section, you can help your audience better understand the flow and structure of your presentation. Additionally, sections can be collapsed or expanded in the navigation pane, making it easier to focus on specific parts of your presentation and avoid distractions.

Creating Your First Section in PowerPoint: A Step-by-Step Guide

To create your first section in PowerPoint, follow these steps:

• Open PowerPoint and navigate to the slide or slides that you want to include in the section.
• Select the slide or slides by clicking and dragging your cursor over them.
• Right-click on the selected slide or slides and choose “Add Section”.
• Name the section whatever you like.
• You will now see a section header appear in the navigation pane, indicating that a new section has been created.

Sections in PowerPoint are a great way to organize your presentation and make it easier to navigate. You can add as many sections as you need and move slides between them at any time. To move a slide to a different section, simply click and drag it to the desired section header in the navigation pane. You can also collapse and expand sections by clicking on the arrow next to the section header. This can be especially helpful when working with longer presentations with multiple sections.

Tips for Naming and Renaming Sections in PowerPoint

When naming or renaming sections, it is important to choose names that are clear and descriptive. This will make it easier to navigate between sections and understand the content. Additionally, if you have multiple people working on the same presentation, it is a good idea to establish a naming convention that everyone follows to ensure consistency. To rename a section in PowerPoint, simply right-click on the section header in the navigation pane and choose “Rename Section”.

Another important consideration when naming or renaming sections in PowerPoint is to keep the names concise. Long section names can be difficult to read and may not fit properly in the navigation pane, making it harder to navigate between sections. It is also a good idea to avoid using special characters or symbols in section names, as these can cause issues when exporting or sharing the presentation with others. By following these tips, you can create clear and concise section names that make it easy to navigate and understand your presentation.

How to Move Slides Between Sections in PowerPoint

If you need to move a slide from one section to another, simply drag and drop the slide from its current location to the desired section in the navigation pane.

It’s important to note that when you move a slide to a new section, any animations or transitions on that slide will also be moved to the new section. If you have custom animations or transitions that are specific to a certain section, you may need to adjust them after moving the slide.

Additionally, if you have a large number of slides and sections in your PowerPoint presentation, it can be helpful to rearrange the order of your sections. This can make it easier to navigate and organize your presentation, especially if you need to make changes or updates later on.

Rearranging Sections in Your PowerPoint Presentation for Better Flow

If you need to rearrange the order of the sections in your presentation, simply click and drag the section header to the desired location in the navigation pane.

Rearranging the sections in your PowerPoint presentation can greatly improve the flow and organization of your content. Consider grouping related sections together or placing the most important sections at the beginning of your presentation to grab your audience’s attention. Additionally, you can use section breaks to create pauses or transitions between topics. Experiment with different arrangements to find the one that works best for your presentation.

Customizing Section Headers and Footers in PowerPoint

PowerPoint does not allow customization of section headers and footers. However, you can customize the look of your slides to match the rest of your content. This includes adding a date and time stamp to your slides or adding a logo or image to your slides. To do this, simply click on the “Insert” tab and choose the appropriate option.

Using the Slide Sorter or Slides Pane to Manage Your Sections and Slides

The Slide Sorter view or the Slides Pane is a powerful tool that allows you to manage your sections and slides with ease. To access the Slide Sorter view, click on the “View” tab and then click on “Slide Sorter”. The Slide Sorter view will appear and allow you to view and manage all the sections and slides in your presentation.

Saving Time with Keyboard Shortcuts for Sectioning in PowerPoint

While PowerPoint does not have specific keyboard shortcuts for adding sections, renaming sections, or moving slides to different sections, there are many other keyboard shortcuts that can help you work more efficiently. For example, you can use “Ctrl + M” to insert a new slide, “Ctrl + D” to duplicate a slide, or “Ctrl + Arrow Keys” to move a slide up or down in the order.

Troubleshooting Common Issues When Working with Sections in PowerPoint

While sections in PowerPoint are generally easy to work with, there are a few common issues that may arise. For example, if you are having trouble deleting a section, make sure that the section is not the only one in the presentation before attempting to delete it. Another common issue is accidentally moving a slide or section to the wrong location. To avoid this, always double-check your work before making any changes.

Best Practices for Using Sections in Large or Complex Presentations

When working on large or complex presentations, using sections can help you stay organized and ensure that the content flows smoothly. However, it is important to plan your sections carefully and avoid creating too many sections, as this can make your presentation confusing and difficult to navigate. Additionally, if you are collaborating with others on the same presentation, make sure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to how the sections are organized.

How Sectioning Can Help You Collaborate More Effectively on PowerPoint Presentations

Using sections in PowerPoint can also help you collaborate more effectively with others on the same presentation. By dividing the work into different sections, you can assign tasks to different team members and ensure that everyone is working on the same page. Additionally, sections makes it easy to review and edit each other’s work, without having to scroll through a long list of slides or sections.

As you can see, creating sections in PowerPoint is a powerful tool for organizing your presentation and improving navigation. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can begin using sections in your PowerPoint presentations with confidence and start creating presentations that are both visually appealing and easy to navigate.

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Microsoft 365 Life Hacks > Presentations > Five tips for choosing the right PowerPoint template

Five tips for choosing the right PowerPoint template

The design or template you choose can greatly influence the success of your presentation, either capturing your audience’s attention or leaving them disengaged. To make a lasting impression on your audience, utilize these five tips when selecting your PowerPoint presentation template.

How do you choose a template in PowerPoint?

The initial step in creating your PowerPoint presentation is choosing the appropriate design. To effectively select the best PowerPoint template for your presentation, there are several components you should consider. These components include the following:

1. Consider your audience

The first component you should consider is your audience. Is the presentation intended for a formal setting, such as in a business context, or will it be delivered in a more informal gathering? Are the viewers going to review the slides virtually , in-person, or will they be viewing the presentation independently? What are the demographics of your audience? It’s crucial to contemplate your audience before outlining your presentation, as they significantly influence your design choices. For example, if you are delivering a business-oriented presentation, you might choose a more conservative design, while a more informal presentation may call for a bolder and more captivating template.

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2. Select a template with appropriate layout options

The layout plays a crucial role in determining how your content is delivered, read, and ultimately comprehended by your audience. When you assess presentation templates, ensure that the layout options align with the nature of your content. Ask yourself, ‘Will this format enhance the readability and comprehension of my content for my audience? Is it the most efficient way to convey my information?

3. Choose a design that fits your style

You’ll feel most comfortable presenting when your presentation feels like yourself. Make you presentation an extension of your personal style and brand, that effectively complements your aesthetic preferences. Whether you prefer minimalism and clean lines or a striking, vibrant presentation filled with animation, select a design that aligns with your style and creates cohesive visuals.

4. Find a template that reflects your message

Outside of aesthetics, your template should reflect the core message of your presentation. If your content is data-heavy, opt for a template with clear charts and graphs. For a storytelling presentation, choose a template that incorporates visuals and storytelling elements. Ensuring your template and message aligns strengthens your presentation’s storytelling .

5. Consider the length of your presentation

The duration of your presentation should be incorporated in your template decision making. Longer presentations may benefit from a clean and organized template that aids in maintaining audience attention. Shorter presentations, on the other hand, provide room for more creative and visually striking templates. Consider the pacing and structure of your content in relation to the template to optimize your audience’s engagement.

The key to an effective PowerPoint presentation template is extensively considering the context of your presentation. Know who your audience is, what your message is, the length of your message, and how the content should be presented. When you consider these elements, you can ensure your presentation will resonate with your audience, with your intended impact. For more ways to improve your next presentation, learn more presentation tips .

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