In PowerPoint, slides that need to remain within the presentation file but should not appear on screen when running the slide show can be hidden. A hidden slide is not deleted from the file; it is merely excluded from the automated flow when Slide Show view is launched. In Normal view within the left navigation pane, or in Slide Sorter view, the process is completed by right-clicking the slide thumbnail and selecting Hide Slide. When needed, these slides can be displayed during the presentation or made permanently visible again.
When Should You Decide to Hide a Slide?
Hiding a slide rather than deleting it from the file allows content to be presented flexibly according to different audience requirements. When detailed technical data, supplementary financial tables, or backup slides meant to be referenced only when a question arises are included in the main flow, the presentation duration can stretch and audience attention may wander.
Deleting the slide entirely disrupts what the presentation needs to accomplish and requires extra work if that same slide is needed again in the future. When the slide-hiding feature is preferred, the slide continues to be stored in the presentation file with all its content intact. This keeps the primary show streamlined while preserving a backup pool that can be referenced whenever necessary. For similar steps in other cloud-based tools, you can also consult our guide on hiding and skipping slides in Google Slides.
View Options and Initial Preparation
According to official Microsoft documentation, hiding and unhiding slides can be performed in two primary editing views:
Normal View: The action is carried out via the slide thumbnails located in the navigation pane on the left side of the screen.
Slide Sorter View: The same right-click method applies in this view, where all slides are listed as thumbnails.
Before you begin editing the presentation file, it is recommended to verify that the file is open in an editable mode and that slide thumbnails are visible in the left navigation pane.
Step-by-Step Hiding and Unhiding Slides
To remove a slide from the presentation flow, follow these steps:
- Select the thumbnail image of the slide you want to hide in the left navigation pane or in Slide Sorter view.
- Right-click the slide and choose the Hide Slide option from the shortcut menu (Hide or show a slide).
Once completed, a slash appears over the slide number or a "no" symbol is displayed on the slide to indicate that it is hidden. This mark confirms that the slide is preserved in the file but will be skipped in Slide Show mode.
To make a hidden slide visible again:
- Select the thumbnail of the currently hidden slide in the left navigation pane.
- Right-click the slide and click the Hide Slide / Unhide Slide option to turn off the hidden state. The slash across the slide number disappears, and the slide returns to the standard show flow.
Showing a Hidden Slide During a Live Presentation
If you need to open a hidden slide during a slide show in response to an audience question, you can jump to this slide without ending the presentation:
- While in Slide Show view, right-click the current slide and select the See All Slides command (Hide or show a slide - Microsoft Support).
- The screen switches to a list displaying thumbnails of all slides in the presentation.
- Select the hidden slide you wish to display.
The chosen slide is immediately projected in full screen, and the slide show continues normally from that point onward. For scenarios where you want to pre-configure navigation between slides using buttons, you can also explore the hyperlink steps in our guide on jumping to a specific slide in a PowerPoint presentation.
Presenter View and the Audience Experience
If you are using Presenter View while presenting, the intermediate steps you take to select the hidden slide are not mirrored to the audience. As noted in Microsoft support documentation, the audience does not see the thumbnail screen you use for slide selection; they only see the slide you choose in the second step displayed in full screen. This capability allows you to transition to supplementary information without distracting from the presentation flow.
Example Scenario: Quarterly Operating Report
The following 6-slide corporate report structure is a fictional example illustrating how to use this feature:
Slide 1: Executive Summary and Agenda
Slide 2: Income Statement Summary
Slide 3 (To be hidden): Departmental Expense Breakdown (To be opened only if detailed audit questions arise)
Slide 4: Quarterly Wins
Slide 5 (To be hidden): Server and Infrastructure Maintenance Costs (To be referenced if technical questions arise)
Slide 6: Next Quarter Goals
Implementation Steps: In Normal view, right-click the thumbnails for Slide 3 and Slide 5 and choose the Hide Slide command. Verify that the slash appears across the slide numbers. When the slide show is started, the flow advances directly in the sequence of Slide 1, Slide 2, Slide 4, and Slide 6. When an attendee asks a question regarding expense details, right-click on the screen, select See All Slides, click Slide 3 from the thumbnail list to provide the answer, and continue the presentation.
Potential Issues and Verification Steps
Hidden Slide Appearing on Screen: Ensure that the slide's thumbnail in the left pane displays a slash over the number or a "no" symbol. If this indicator is missing, the Hide Slide option in the right-click menu may not have engaged.
Document Sharing and Privacy: Hiding a slide does not remove it from the file or encrypt its content. Remember that hidden slides remain part of the file when sharing the presentation file with third parties.
Pre-Show Verification Checklist
Visually verify the slash or "no" symbol over the numbers of all slides intended to be hidden in Normal view or Slide Sorter view.
Start the slide show and advance through it to confirm that hidden slides are automatically skipped during the presentation flow.
Test that backup slides appear in the thumbnail list by right-clicking during the show to open See All Slides, and verify that they open full screen when clicked.
If using Presenter View, ensure that transitions project smoothly to the audience display.
Can hidden slides be seen by other users who open the file?
Yes. Hiding a slide is not a security or access restriction measure; the slide remains inside the file. Any user who opens the file in PowerPoint can see these slides in the left navigation pane, click on them to edit, or unhide them.
Is a hidden slide considered permanently deleted?
No. A hidden slide is only skipped when the Slide Show is run. File size, slide objects, and editing capabilities are fully retained.
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