How to Add Transitions in PowerPoint: Apply, Time and Remove

The moment one slide gives way to the next is small, but audiences notice it. A clean, steady transition makes a talk feel finished. A different flashy effect on every slide makes people watch the effect instead of listening to you.

Microsoft's help page covers Windows, Mac, the web, Android tablets and iPad, and the steps are nearly the same on all of them. I'll go through adding, changing, timing and removing transitions, and point out the one wording quirk that confuses most people.

Adding a slide transition in PowerPoint step by step

These are Microsoft's steps for the desktop app:

1. Select the slide you want the transition on.
2. Open the Transitions tab and choose a transition from the gallery. Selecting one shows a preview.
3. Select Effect Options to choose the direction and nature of the effect.
4. Select Preview to see how it looks.

Want every slide to behave the same way? Microsoft says to select Apply To All to add the transition to the entire presentation. For a business deck I'd nearly always do that with one quiet effect, then leave it alone.

Which PowerPoint slide the transition belongs to

This catches people out. Microsoft explains that a transition determines how a slide enters and how the previous slide exits. In its example, a Fade on slide 3 means slide 2 fades out and slide 3 fades in. So you always add the transition to the slide that is arriving, not the one that is leaving. It also means that if you want no effect between slides 2 and 3, you remove it from slide 3.

Changing how fast a PowerPoint transition runs

Once a transition is in place, the Timing group on the Transitions tab holds the controls. Microsoft says you can change the duration, and you can choose whether the change happens after a mouse click or after a set amount of time passes. Setting the duration higher makes it slower. You'll also find options for adding a sound to the transition or applying it to all slides.

Only one transition effect can be applied to a slide at a time, according to Microsoft. To swap it, just pick another effect in the gallery.

Making PowerPoint slides advance by themselves

The After box in the Timing group is also how you make slides move on without a click, and that's what an unattended screen needs.

Removing a transition from a PowerPoint slide

1. Select the slide that has the transition you want to remove.
2. On the Transitions tab, in the gallery, select None.
3. To strip every transition from the deck, select Apply To All after you choose None.

Remember the rule from earlier. To remove the effect that happens as you leave slide 2, you need to remove it from slide 3. Microsoft also says you can spot which slides have a transition by looking for the transition icon in the thumbnail pane.

Adding transitions in PowerPoint on iPad, Android and the web

The steps are close to the desktop ones. On an iPad, Microsoft says to tap the Transitions tab, tap Transition Effect, choose one, tap Effect Options and optionally tap Apply to All. On an Android tablet, tap the Transitions tab and the down arrow to expand Transition Effects, then choose and use Effect Options. The gallery on those devices groups effects into categories called Subtle, Exciting and Dynamic, and Morph is the example Microsoft uses.

PowerPoint for the web follows the same Transitions tab idea, with Effect Options and a Duration box. Menus vary by app version, so if your layout looks different, open the Transitions tab and look for the gallery.

Transitions or animations in PowerPoint: which one do you need?

You want to change	Use this tab
How one slide replaces another	Transitions
How an object moves or appears inside a slide	Animations

Microsoft keeps these as two separate topics. If it's movement within a slide you're after, that's on the Animations tab instead. If you work in Google's app, the equivalent is in adding transitions in Google Slides, and the bigger picture of a good talk is in creating a great PowerPoint presentation.

Choosing PowerPoint transitions that suit your audience

• Pick one subtle effect and use it everywhere. Consistency looks professional.
• Keep fast, bouncy effects for moments you want to stand out, if you use them at all.
• Be careful with strong motion if your audience might find it hard to watch.
• Match the speed to your speaking pace. A slow effect on every slide drags.
• Always play the show from the beginning before you present, to see the timing for real.

If your PowerPoint transition doesn't show up

1. Check the transition is on the arriving slide, not the one before it.
2. Look for the transition icon beside the slide in the thumbnail pane.
3. Make sure you're playing the slide show, because the editing view doesn't run it.
4. Check the Timing group: a long duration can make the effect seem missing, and a short After time can skip past it.
5. If a slide still has an old effect, select it, choose None, and add the new one.

Frequently asked questions

How do I add transitions in PowerPoint?

Select a slide, open the Transitions tab, choose a transition from the gallery, then use Effect Options and Preview. Select Apply To All to use it on every slide.

How do I apply the same transition to all slides?

After picking the transition, select Apply To All on the Transitions tab. Microsoft says this adds it to the entire presentation.

How do I remove a transition in PowerPoint?

Select the slide, open the Transitions tab and select None in the gallery. To remove every transition, select None, then Apply To All.

Which slide should I put the transition on?

The slide that is arriving. Microsoft says a transition controls how a slide enters and how the previous slide exits.

Can a slide have two transitions?

No. Microsoft says only one transition effect can be applied to a slide at a time. Choose a different effect to replace it.