Using the laser pointer in PowerPoint
You can use PowerPoint’s laser pointer to draw attention to content on a slide. The steps differ between Windows and macOS, so choose the method for your platform below. A quick test before presenting can help you confirm that you have selected the right pointer tool and can control its movement comfortably.
This guide covers PowerPoint’s Slide Show view. Microsoft’s instructions for turning on the laser pointer, changing its color, and recording its movements provide separate steps for Windows and macOS. If an option does not appear in the menu, check the pointer menu in the version of PowerPoint you are using rather than guessing where it might be in a different version.
Using the laser pointer on Windows
- Open the presentation and start the show from the Slide Show tab by selecting From Beginning or From Current Slide.
- When you reach the content you want to point to, hold down Ctrl.
- Hold down the left mouse button and drag the pointer over the content you want to show.
- When you have finished highlighting, release the mouse button and Ctrl.
If you do not want the regular mouse pointer to be visible to the audience, hold down Ctrl before moving the mouse. Microsoft describes this method in its Windows instructions as a way to help keep the mouse pointer hidden. You can also use the Ctrl-and-left-mouse-button drag method in Reading View; to show the presentation full screen, start Slide Show view.
Selecting the laser pointer on macOS
- On the Slide Show tab, select Play from Start or Play from Current Slide.
- In Slide Show view, open the pen button from the auxiliary buttons at the bottom left of the slide.
- Select Laser Pointer from the menu that opens, then point to the content you want to show.
In Microsoft’s macOS instructions, the laser pointer is selected from the pen button’s drop-down menu. If the button or menu does not appear, check the auxiliary tools below the slide during the presentation; the view and menu names may differ by PowerPoint version.
Adjusting color and visibility
The pointer’s default color is red; Microsoft’s instructions also specify green and blue options. On Windows, to change the color, go to Slide Show > Set Up Slide Show. Under Show options in the Set Up Show window, choose a color from the Laser pointer color list and click OK.
On macOS, select Laser Pointer during the slideshow, then right-click the slide and choose red, green, or blue from Pointer Options > Laser Color. You can use the options in the slideshow tools to control pointer visibility. According to Microsoft’s instructions, with Automatic, the pointer is hidden after three seconds of inactivity and reappears when the mouse moves; Hidden hides the pointer, while Arrow keeps it visible continuously. Option names may vary by platform.
Example: explaining a sales chart
Example scenario: A team is presenting a line chart showing monthly application counts. The values below are fictional and for example purposes only; they are not real company data.
Suppose the chart shows 120 applications in January, 150 in February, and 145 in March. First, point to the February marker to draw attention to the increase. Then move briefly to the March marker to show how the value changed from the previous month. When you have finished explaining, move on to the next point or slide without moving the pointer unnecessarily over the chart. During rehearsal, check whether the pointer obscures any values; if it does, keep the movement brief and state the number aloud as well. These are practical suggestions about the flow of the presentation, not claims about the chart’s data.
Recording pointer movements
Microsoft’s instructions explain how to record laser pointer movements while recording a slideshow. On the Slide Show tab, open the arrow next to Record and choose Record from Beginning or Record from Current Slide. In the recording dialog, check the Narrations and laser pointer box and click Start Recording. While recording, hold down Ctrl and point by dragging with the left mouse button. To finish, right-click the slide and select End Show. If you do not see these options, do not assume they are available in your version; make a short test recording and play it back to check the result.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if the pointer is not visible?
First, check that the slideshow has started. On Windows, try dragging while holding Ctrl and the left mouse button; on macOS, select Laser Pointer from the pen button menu. Then check the pointer visibility setting in the slideshow tools.
How can I check pointer visibility during a presentation?
Start the show on the device you will use to present and test the pointer on a slide. During rehearsal, confirm what the audience can see on the projected or shared screen; the source instructions do not perform this check for your presentation setup.
Are the same steps used in a Teams meeting?
No, using PowerPoint Live in a Teams meeting is a separate workflow. Microsoft’s instructions for laser pointing on PowerPoint slides in Teams meetings explain the meeting tools; do not directly apply PowerPoint’s desktop slideshow steps to Teams.
Pre-presentation checklist
- You started the slideshow and tested the pointer using the steps for your platform.
- On Windows, you checked dragging with Ctrl and the left mouse button; on macOS, you checked the pen menu.
- You verified the color and visibility options in the version of PowerPoint you are using.
- As with the example chart, you used brief movements to show important points and checked that you were not covering the values.
- You rehearsed with the screen the audience will see to confirm pointer visibility.
- If you needed to record the movements, you made and played back a short test recording first.
Related how-to guides
You can explore the relevant step in more detail with the Guide to using a laser pointer clearly during a presentation. You can explore the relevant step in more detail with the Guide to presenting with Teams PowerPoint Live.
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