How Do I Insert an Auto Slide Number in PowerPoint?

Adding automatic slide numbers to your presentation is a straightforward way to help your audience follow along and make references easier.

Steps to Add Automatic Slide Numbers

Here's how to insert auto slide numbering in your PowerPoint presentation, incorporating the essential steps:

1. Navigate to the View tab on the ribbon and select Normal. (This ensures you are in the standard editing view).
2. Go to the Insert tab.
3. In the Text group, click on Slide Number. This action opens the Header and Footer dialog box.
4. Within the Header and Footer dialog box, locate and select the Slide Number checkbox.
5. The dialog also includes settings where you can control the numbering. While the specific option to "enter the starting slide number" is typically managed through the Slide Size settings (found under the Design tab > Slide Size > Custom Slide Size > Number slides from:), enabling the Slide Number checkbox in the Header and Footer dialog is the crucial step to make the number appear based on that starting point.
6. A Preview area in the dialog box shows the default location where the slide number will appear on your slides (usually in the bottom corner).

Once you've selected the Slide Number checkbox:

• Click Apply to apply the number only to the currently selected slide (or the current view's context, like the Slide Master if you are in that view).
• Click Apply to All to add the slide number to every slide in your presentation, except possibly the title slide if you choose to hide it.

Key Options in the Header and Footer Dialog

When you open the Header and Footer dialog via Insert > Slide Number, you'll see options beyond just the slide number:

• Date and time: Automatically updates or is fixed.
• Slide Number: The checkbox to enable numbering.
• Footer: Text you can add to the bottom of slides.
• Don't show on title slide: A common option to exclude the number from your presentation's first slide.

Summary Table

Step	Action	Purpose
1. Go to View	Select Normal	Ensure standard view
2. Go to Insert	Select Slide Number	Open Header and Footer dialog
3. Select Slide Number	Check the Slide Number box	Enable automatic numbering
4. Control Start Number	(Reference: "enter the starting slide number") Via Slide Size	Determine where numbering begins (e.g., from 1)
5. Preview	Observe the location in the dialog	See where the number will appear
6. Apply Numbers	Click Apply or Apply to All	Add numbering to slides

By following these steps, you can quickly add automatic slide numbers to your PowerPoint presentation, making navigation easier for both you and your audience.