How to share PowerPoint slides in Teams meetings

If you're working remotely or simply need to share a presentation with colleagues across locations, Microsoft Teams is an excellent tool that can help you do this easily and efficiently. Teams allows you to share your PowerPoint slides in real-time during a meeting, ensuring that all participants are on the same page and can follow along with your presentation.

In this blog post, we'll guide you through the process of sharing your PowerPoint slides in Teams meetings, including some advanced options that can help you deliver a more engaging and interactive presentation.

Preparing your PowerPoint slides

Before you start sharing your slides in Teams, it's important to ensure that your presentation is organized and easy to follow. This means using a clear and consistent design, including headings and bullet points to break up text-heavy slides.

It's also a good idea to add speaker notes to your slides, which can help guide your presentation and ensure that you cover all of the key points. To add speaker notes, simply click on the "Notes" button at the bottom of the PowerPoint screen and type in your notes.

Finally, make sure that you save your PowerPoint presentation in a Teams-compatible format. This can be done by selecting "Save As" and then choosing a file type that is supported by Teams, such as PPTX.

Sharing PowerPoint slides during a Teams meeting

Once you've prepared your PowerPoint presentation, it's time to share it during your Teams meeting. Here are the steps you'll need to follow:

• Starting a Teams meeting and joining the call

First, start a Teams meeting by selecting the "Calendar" tab in the left-hand menu, then clicking on "New Meeting". Choose a date and time for your meeting, then invite your colleagues by entering their email addresses.

When it's time for your meeting, click on the "Join" button in the Teams app and select the meeting you created. You'll be taken to a virtual meeting room where you can see and hear your colleagues.

• Selecting the PowerPoint option to share your slides

To share your PowerPoint presentation, click on the "Share" button at the bottom of the Teams screen. Select the "PowerPoint" option from the list of sharing options.

• Navigating through your slides during the meeting

Once you've shared your PowerPoint presentation, you can navigate through your slides using the arrows at the bottom of the screen. You can also use the "Zoom In" and "Zoom Out" buttons to adjust the size of your slides, making it easier for participants to see the details.

• Troubleshooting common issues during the presentation

If you run into any issues during your presentation, such as a slide not displaying correctly, try stopping and restarting the sharing session. You can also check your internet connection and make sure that your PowerPoint presentation is saved in a compatible format.

Advanced PowerPoint sharing options in Teams meetings

Teams offers several advanced options that can help you deliver a more engaging and interactive presentation:

• Annotating your slides during the presentation

To annotate your slides during the presentation, click on the "Draw" button at the top of the screen. You can then use your mouse to draw or write on the slide, adding emphasis or highlighting key points.

• Using the laser pointer to highlight important details

To use the laser pointer, click on the "Laser Pointer" button at the top of the screen. You can then use your mouse to highlight specific details, drawing your participants' attention to important information.

• Allowing other meeting participants to control the presentation

Finally, you can allow other meeting participants to control the presentation by clicking on the "Give Control" button at the top of the screen. This can be useful if you need a colleague to take over the presentation or if you want to give participants the ability to move through the slides at their own pace.

Sharing PowerPoint slides in Teams meetings is a great way to collaborate with colleagues and deliver engaging presentations in real-time. By following the steps and tips outlined in this blog post, you can ensure that your presentation is clear, organized, and easy to follow, while also taking advantage of some advanced features to make your presentation more interactive and engaging.