Rehearse and Record Slide Show in PowerPoint

Rehearse Timings helps you practise your presentation and measure how much time you spend on each slide.

• Practise your speaking pace.
• Measure the time spent on individual slides.
• Estimate the total presentation duration.
• Identify slides that need more or less explanation.

Example: You can practise a 10-slide presentation to see whether it fits within a 15-minute time limit.

1. Open your PowerPoint presentation.
2. Click the Slide Show tab.
3. Select Rehearse Timings, if available.
4. Present each slide as if you were speaking to an audience.
5. Advance through the slides when you are ready.
6. Finish the slide show and review the timing summary.
7. Choose whether to save the recorded timings.

Slide timings record how long you spend on each slide during rehearsal. They can help you plan the flow of your presentation.

These sample timings total seven minutes. Your actual timing will depend on your speaking speed and slide content.

Record Slide Show allows you to record a presentation from within PowerPoint. Depending on the version and recording setup, you can record narration, slide timings, and supported ink or pointer actions.

• Record your voice while explaining slides.
• Capture timing information.
• Record supported drawing or pointer actions.
• Prepare a narrated presentation for learners.

Camera recording and some additional features depend on your PowerPoint version and device setup.

Before recording, check the following items:

• Complete and review your slides.
• Prepare your speaking notes.
• Check your microphone.
• Choose a quiet recording environment.
• Check your camera if you plan to use it.
• Close unnecessary applications and notifications.
• Practise difficult sections before recording.

1. Open your presentation.
2. Go to the Slide Show or Record tab.
3. Select the available Record Slide Show or recording command.
4. Choose the recording options supported by your version.
5. Start recording and explain the slides.
6. Advance through the presentation at the appropriate time.
7. Stop or finish the recording when you are done.
8. Play back the recording and check the result.

Recording controls may appear in different locations in different PowerPoint versions.

Narration lets you explain your slides using your voice. It is particularly useful for online lessons and self-paced courses.

1. Connect or select your microphone.
2. Open the recording interface.
3. Check the microphone input level if available.
4. Start recording.
5. Speak clearly and explain the slide content.
6. Review the recorded audio.

Avoid speaking too close to the microphone, and pause briefly between major points.

Supported PowerPoint recording features may allow you to include a camera video of the presenter.

• Position the camera at eye level.
• Use clear and even lighting.
• Keep the background tidy.
• Check your camera preview before recording.
• Confirm that the camera is enabled when required.

If your PowerPoint version does not support the required camera feature, you may need another recording tool.

Supported recording and slide show tools can help you highlight important information as you speak.

• Use a pointer to direct attention to a specific item.
• Use available pen or drawing tools to mark important areas.
• Highlight steps in a process diagram.
• Use annotations only when they improve understanding.

Check the recording options in your PowerPoint version to confirm which pointer and ink actions can be captured.

After recording, review your presentation to find sections that need improvement.

1. Play back the recorded presentation.
2. Check the narration and slide timing.
3. Identify slides with unclear explanations.
4. Use the available recording controls to re-record the required section.
5. Play back the updated recording.

Available options for recording a single slide or the entire presentation vary by PowerPoint version.

Save the PowerPoint presentation after recording so that supported narration, timings, and recording data are retained.

1. Finish the recording.
2. Review the recorded slides.
3. Choose File and then Save or Save As.
4. Save the presentation in PowerPoint format.
5. Reopen the file and test the recording.

Keep a backup copy before making major changes to a completed recording.

Supported desktop versions of PowerPoint can export a presentation as a video file.

1. Complete and save the recorded presentation.
2. Open File and select Export, if available.
3. Choose Create a Video.
4. Select the desired video quality.
5. Choose whether to use recorded timings and narrations.
6. Create the video and wait for the export to finish.

The exact export options depend on your PowerPoint version. Check the exported video to make sure the narration and timings play as expected.

• No voice recorded: Check the selected microphone and its permissions.
• Low audio quality: Reduce background noise and test the microphone.
• Camera not visible: Check camera selection and access permissions.
• Incorrect slide timing: Rehearse or re-record the affected slides.
• Large video file: Consider a suitable export quality and resolution.
• Recording not playing: Save the presentation and test it in Slide Show view.

Create a five-slide presentation on Introduction to Computers.

1. Create five slides with relevant headings and pictures.
2. Use Rehearse Timings to practise the presentation.
3. Review how much time you spend on each slide.
4. Prepare short speaker notes.
5. Record narration if the feature is available.
6. Review the recording and correct any mistakes.
7. Save the PowerPoint file.
8. Export it as a video if the option is available.
9. Play the video and check its sound and timing.