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Hi, Microsoft 365 Insiders! I’m Utkarsh Verma, a Product Manager on the PowerPoint team.
PowerPoint has been around for decades, but even seasoned users are often surprised by what it can do. While most of us stick to the basics, there are a lot of lesser-known features that can make your presentations better and more engaging – and ease the process of making them too.
Whether you’re teaching a class, pitching a product, or leading a team meeting, these tools can help you speed up the creation of your presentation and stand out when you deliver it.
Let’s explore seven features that are easy to miss—but hard to live without once you try them.
🎬 Morph Transition: Smooth Visual Flow Without Complex Animation
Movement draws attention. Morph transitions keep your audience visually engaged and help reinforce key messages through motion. They open up new ways to visualize ideas—like zooming into a detail, rotating a 3D object, or morphing one shape into another. No plugins, no design degree required.
Just duplicate your slide, move or resize the objects on the second one, then on the Transitions tab, select Morph. PowerPoint will automatically animate the changes for you.
🧑🏫 Great for: Educators explaining concepts visually, designers showcasing before/after states.
Availability: This feature is available to PowerPoint for Windows, Mac, Web, Android and iOS users.
🗣️ Live Subtitles & Translations: Speak to Everyone, Everywhere
Multilanguage support isn’t just a nice-to-have – it’s a strategic advantage that expands reach, deepens engagement, and reflects a commitment to inclusivity. Presenting to a multilingual audience or in a noisy room? PowerPoint can automatically generate subtitles in real time – even in a different language!
On the Slide Show tab, select Always Use Subtitles, and then choose your spoken language, subtitle language, and subtitle position.
🌍 Great for: Trainers, international speakers, and accessibility advocates.
Availability: This feature is available to PowerPoint for Windows, Mac and Web users.
🔍 Section & Slide Zoom: Interactive Navigation for Dynamic Presentations
Break free from linear storytelling! With the Zoom feature, you can create clickable links that jump to specific slides or sections—perfect for interactive presentations or Q&A sessions.
On the Insert tab, select Links > Zoom, and then choose either Section Zoom or Slide Zoom. During your presentation, just click the zoom object to jump straight to that part of your deck.
💼 Great for: Consultants, sales professionals, and project managers who need flexible storytelling.
Availability: This feature is available to PowerPoint for Windows and Mac (Insert > Zoom) users.
🎥 Cameo: Put Yourself in the Slide
Want to make your presentation more personal? Use Cameo to embed a live camera feed of yourself directly into your slides. It’s a great way to stay visually connected with your audience – especially in remote meetings or webinars.
On the Insert tab, select Cameo, choose your camera, and position the feed wherever you like.
🎤 Great for: Remote presenters, team leads, and executives delivering keynotes.
Availability: This feature is available to PowerPoint for Windows, Mac, Web and iOS users.
🔒 Object Locking: Keep Your Layout Safe
Ever accidentally moved a background image or logo while editing a slide? With the Object Locking feature, you can prevent that.
Just right-click the object and choose Lock. Now it stays exactly where you want it, no matter how much you edit around it. To unlock, right-click on a locked object and select Unlock.
🧑💻 Great for: Designers, template creators, and anyone working in shared decks.
Availability: This feature is available to PowerPoint for Windows, Mac and iOS users.
🗣️ Rehearse with Coach: Practice Makes Confident
Need to polish your delivery? PowerPoint’s Rehearse with Coach gives you real-time feedback on your pacing, your use of filler words, and even tone. It’s like having a personal speaking coach—without the pressure.
On the Slide Show tab, select Rehearse with Coach, and follow the prompts.
🎙️ Great for: Students, public speakers, and anyone prepping for a big pitch.
Availability: This feature is available to PowerPoint for Windows, Mac, Web, Android and iOS users.
🧠 Convert Bullets to SmartArt: Give Your Slide Visual Appeal!
Bullet points are great—but let’s be honest, they’re not always the most exciting way to share your ideas. Want to make your message pop? Try the Convert to SmartArt feature! With just a click, you can transform a plain list into a vibrant visual that’s easier to follow and way more fun to look at.
Just highlight your bullet list, select Home > Convert to SmartArt, and pick a layout that fits your message – like a process, cycle, or hierarchy. It’s a fast, stylish way to bring structure and flair to your content—no redesign needed!
☸️ Great for: Business analysts, project managers and product marketers.
Availability: This feature is available to PowerPoint for Windows and Mac users.
Feedback
We want to hear from you about how these features and others can make working with PowerPoint more effective. If you have any requests or suggestions, select Help > Feedback.
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