To add a footer in PowerPoint, go to the Insert tab and select Header & Footer. On the Slide tab, tick Footer, type your text, then select Apply to All for every slide or Apply for just the current one. Tick Don't show on title slide to keep your cover slide clean.
A footer is the line of small text along the bottom of each slide: your company name, a "Confidential" note, an event name or a website. PowerPoint handles it through one dialog box, Header and Footer, which also controls slide numbers and the date. Set it once and it appears on every slide, so you're not copying a text box from slide to slide.
Add footer text to every slide
- Go to the Insert tab and select Header & Footer.
- On the Slide tab, tick the Footer box.
- Type your footer text in the box underneath, for example "Company Confidential".
- Tick Don't show on title slide if you'd like the cover slide left clean.
- Select Apply to All for every slide, or Apply for just the slide you're on.
Slide numbers and the date in the same box
The same Header and Footer dialog switches on slide numbers and dates, so it makes sense to set everything in one go.
| Footer item | Where to switch it on | Options |
|---|---|---|
| Footer text | Insert, Header & Footer, Slide tab, Footer | Apply to All or Apply |
| Slide numbers | Insert, Slide Number, then Slide number | Don't show on title slide |
| Date and time | Insert, Date & Time | Update automatically or Fixed |
| Starting number | Design, Slide Size, Custom Slide Size | Number slides from |
For the date, Microsoft explains the difference: Update automatically shows the current date each time you open or print the presentation, while Fixed shows a date you type in. Fixed is useful for a version date, so you know when you last changed the deck. Update automatically is better for a regular report you present each week.
Why your footer isn't showing
This is the frustration that sends people to Google. You tick the box, select Apply to All, and nothing appears on some slides. The usual reason is the slide layout. Footer positions come from the theme and slide master, and Microsoft says each theme has a standard location for where things like slide numbers appear. If a layout's footer placeholder has been deleted or moved off the slide, your text has nowhere to go.
To check, go to View, then Slide Master, and select the Slide Master thumbnail at the top of the pane. Look along the bottom for the footer, date and number placeholders. If they're missing or misplaced on a layout, that's your problem. Microsoft's help also links to a separate troubleshooting article for footers if you're still stuck.
Move or restyle the footer
You change footer position and font in the Slide Master, not on individual slides. Microsoft gives these steps for moving the slide numbers, and the footer placeholder works the same way:
- On the View tab, select Slide Master.
- Select the Slide Master thumbnail at the top of the thumbnail pane.
- Click and hold the placeholder until you see the four-headed arrow, then drag it to its new spot.
- Select Close Master View.
Changing it on the master updates every slide that uses it. That's why it's worth doing here rather than dragging the footer around on each slide.
Start numbering from a different slide number
If your deck is a section of a bigger presentation, you might want the first slide to show a number other than 1. Microsoft's route is on the Design tab: select Slide Size, then Custom Slide Size, and use the arrows under Number slides from to pick your starting number. Select OK. It's handy when two people build halves of one pitch and the numbering needs to run on from one file to the next.
Remove a footer
Go back to Insert, Header & Footer, clear the Footer box on the Slide tab, and select Apply to All. To take it off one slide only, select that slide first and choose Apply. I'd do this for a final "Thank you" or contact slide where the footer just adds clutter.
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Footers in PowerPoint for the web and on a Mac
PowerPoint for the web uses a pane instead of a dialog. On the Insert tab, select Footer, then Footer. In the Footer pane, tick the Footer box, type your text, select Apply to All and close the pane. On a Mac, Microsoft's help covers the same Header and Footer steps as Windows.
What to put in a footer
- Your business name or website, so screenshots of your slides still credit you.
- "Confidential" for client proposals and plans you'd rather weren't forwarded.
- The event or webinar name when you're presenting at a conference.
- A version date, using Fixed, for decks that change often.
Keep it short. A footer is a quiet signature, not a second headline. If slide numbers are the main thing you're after, my guide on how to add slide numbers in PowerPoint goes into more detail. And if your footer looks squashed after switching between widescreen and standard, check how to change slide size in PowerPoint, because the placeholders move with the slide size.
My take
Insert, Header and Footer, tick Footer, type, Apply to All. Do the slide numbers and date in the same visit, hide them on the title slide, and if anything refuses to appear, check the placeholders in Slide Master. Five minutes here and every slide carries your name.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the footer option in PowerPoint?
On the Insert tab, select Header & Footer, then tick Footer on the Slide tab.
How do I put a footer on all slides?
Type your footer text, then select Apply to All instead of Apply.
How do I hide the footer on the title slide?
In Header & Footer, tick Don't show on title slide before applying.
Why isn't my PowerPoint footer showing?
The slide layout may be missing its footer placeholder. Check View, Slide Master.
How do I add a footer in PowerPoint for the web?
Insert, Footer, Footer. Tick the Footer box in the pane, enter your text and select Apply to All.
