powerpoint crashes presentation mode

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PowerPoint crashes when attempting slideshow

by Kyle · Published June 22, 2021 · Updated July 15, 2022

You spent a lot of time working on your PowerPoint presentation and are ready to see how it looks. You start the slideshow and… PowerPoint crashes! You can get different error messages depending on the Windows version and PowerPoint version.

Whatever the version, the only option you have is to close the program, or restart the program. But when you load the presentation again and try to start the slide show again, the same thing happens…

Steps to fix it

When PowerPoint crashes when attempting to go into slideshow mode, there is a very common cause that can be easily fixed.

• Open the PowerPoint application.
• In PowerPoint, click the File option.
• Click Options .
• In the PowerPoint Options window, click the Advanced option in the left-hand panel.
• Scroll down in the left-hand panel until you see the Display section.
• Click the OK button to confirm.

This basically tells PowerPoint to use the regular CPU for all calculations, and not use the GPU ( Graphics Processing Unit , or video card).

Very often this is the cause for the problem that powerpoint crashes in presentation mode .

In some cases, it can help to update the video card driver in your computer to a new version. Just check if a new driver is available using a driver program .

Tags: PowerPoint Crash slide show

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3 Responses

• Pingbacks 0

Thank you. It works.

Thank you for the solution! It worked, it was driving me crazy.

Brilliant. I have been trying for years to fix this problem. Thank you

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Why PowerPoint crashes and how to prevent it

• Written by: Hannah Harper
• Categories: PowerPoint productivity , Presentation technology
• Comments: 14

You’ve been working on a presentation for hours and suddenly you’re stopped in your tracks by a pop-up box. PowerPoint has crashed. The question is, did you hit save? Despite feeling that your world came crashing down with PowerPoint, there is hope! Read on to discover some common reasons PowerPoint crashes, and what – if anything – you can do to stop it.

Monstrous file size

Type of crash : Semi-transparent screen, ‘PowerPoint has experienced a problem and has to close’, with a spinning circle of doom. This is the kind of crash that retains the last autosaved version of your presentation, so all is not lost. Save regularly guys!

Reason : You probably have a mighty large file in your presentation. It might be a super-hi-res .tiff , or a high-def video. Whatever it is, moving it around PowerPoint is taking up a lot of your RAM.

Solution for your computer : Try to reduce the size of images where possible, or convert .tiffs into .jpegs. If you’re using a video, add it at the last minute. If there’s no way of changing the content, a nice trick is to add a placeholder whilst you work on the presentation. If you add in a smaller image as a placeholder you can even animate it. At the last minute all you have to do is right click and select Change picture to swap the placeholder out for your big daddy.

Solution for you : Try and reduce the size of your file by following our guide to compressing your PowerPoint presentation . Also, take a look at our  PowerPoint masterclasses . They will help you keep up-to-date with PowerPoint hacks and shortcuts to make life just that little bit easier.

Too much open at once

Type of crash : Semi-transparent screen, ‘PowerPoint has experienced a problem and has to close’, with a spinning circle of doom.

Reason : You’re working with 17 different windows open, a crammed desktop, and 47 tabs on your web browser … it’s no surprise your computer’s RAM is not your friend.

Solution for your computer : Close any unnecessary tabs and windows to free up some of your RAM before your computer helpfully decides to close EVERYTHING for you. In particular, close any program that’s accessing the same media you’ve imported into PowerPoint, such as a Photoshop window with an image you just put into your deck.

Solution for you : Chill out my friend. Close some of those mental tabs, as well as the programs you aren’t using. Just keep your essential applications running to maintain a stress-free experience for both you and your computer.

PowerPoint is multitasking 

Type of crash : Your screen goes transparent and you’re greeted by the unwelcoming ‘PowerPoint is not responding’ message.

Reason : This can sometimes happen when files take a lot of resources, are waiting for a response e.g. from a file server, or if you try and perform actions while another process is using PowerPoint.

Solution for your computer : Although PowerPoint may ‘appear’ crashed, if you wait patiently, things settle down and return to normal. If another process is using PowerPoint it will show up in the horizontal status bar at the bottom of the screen. Always take a moment to let the task in progress finish its job before attempting other actions.

Solution for you : Be patient with PowerPoint, restarting the program will mean you’ll be relying on the most recently saved version of your file. We recommend shutting down any unnecessary programs or tabs to help prevent other processes or resources interfering. If the problem persists, save all your work and restart your computer to free the resources again.

Add-ins adding issues

Type of crash : Another fun pop-up to ruin your day, ‘PowerPoint is running into problems with the example add-in’.

Reason : PowerPoint add-ins (application/VBA and COM types) can cause PowerPoint to crash either without notice or with the semi-transparent window we know so well.

Solution for your computer : Try starting PowerPoint in safe mode without add-ins to see if the problem goes away:

• Right-click the Start button and click  Run .
• In the  Run  box, type the command powerpnt /safe , and click  OK. You can also start safe mode by starting PowerPoint with the Ctrl key held down.
• If the issue resolves and PowerPoint opens, go to  File , click  Options , and then click  Add-Ins .

• Restart PowerPoint.

If PowerPoint doesn’t immediately run into problems, begin to re-enable the add-ins, one by one, restarting PowerPoint after you enable each add-in. Keep going until you identify the culprit.

Solution for you : Check to see if the add-in can be updated, otherwise you may be better off uninstalling it altogether. Don’t let this put you off using add-ins, they have great productivity boosting benefits! If you’re after the ultimate PowerPoint add-in, download BrightSlide here ; with its regular feature updates and bug fixes, there’s much less chance of interference with your PowerPoint files.

Poor internet connection

Type of crash : Built-in PowerPoint features (Icons, 3D models, Designer etc.) and Office Add-ins don’t work. Or, you experience upload issues or autosaving problems with PowerPoint files saved to SharePoint or OneDrive.

Reason : A fast and stable internet connection powers all these features. A weak or disrupted connection can limit your access to Get Add-ins as well as use of Office Add-ins and built-in PowerPoint tools. Poor internet can also play havoc with saving updates to OneDrive or SharePoint. Lots of people working on a single file on SharePoint can also cause saving problems.

Solution for your computer: Check your internet connection, is it sufficient for the features you’re trying to access? If you’re having saving issues, save a copy of the file to your computer and work on it locally. If you have to work on SharePoint, reduce the amount of people working on the same file at any one time.

Solution for you : Work around the online features for now, use them when you have a better internet connection. Try working on files locally, always remember to keep saving your work, and try uploading to your OneDrive or SharePoint system later.

Additional PowerPoint crash fixes

So, you’ve reduced your file size, shut down your 47 tabs, closed unnecessary programs, tested your patience and fiddled with your add-ins, but you’re still having issues?

First off, save your work! If your luck has run dry and you are having trouble saving check out this article for help.

Second, take a deep breath. It’s time to try some more fixes…

You’ve ignored updates, oops!

We’re all guilty of this one. I’ll do it later, I don’t have time, I just did an update! Whatever your excuse, it’s time to face the updates, however long they take. Downloading and installing recommended updates can often solve your problems by replacing out-of-date files and fixing vulnerabilities. You can find updates in PowerPoint by going to File > Account , and under Product Information , choose Update Options > Update Now.

Is your hardware having a hard time?

If you’re trying to run the latest version of PowerPoint on an old computer, your hardware may be the cause of your crashing conundrum. It’s worth checking to see if the version of PowerPoint you’re running has certain minimum requirements such as operating system, RAM, and available storage.

• Check what version of PowerPoint you’re running by going to File > Account and, under Product Information , go to About PowerPoint
• Find your version of PowerPoint and its system requirements here
• Find your own system details by going to Start and typing About your PC.

If your computer is struggling to meet these requirements, this may be the perfect time to treat yourself to that shiny new upgrade you’ve been eyeing up.

Repair Microsoft Office

The source of your issue may not be a problem with PowerPoint, but a whole Microsoft Office problem. Repairing your Office programs can help to resolve issues such as PowerPoint not responding. To repair your Office programs:

• Close all Microsoft Office applications that are running.
• Click Start and type Add or remove programs into the search bar.

• Click Yes to allow the app to make changes to your device.

Antivirus interference

It’s important to keep your antivirus software up-to-date, especially if it’s integrated with PowerPoint, as this could be the cause of your PowerPoint performance issues. Disable all PowerPoint integration within the antivirus software or disable any antivirus software add-ins you have installed in PowerPoint –  just follow the process described above (see section on Add-ins).

PowerPoint fixes check list

Hopefully one of these solutions will help you fix your PowerPoint crash. However, we recommend following the below check list even if you aren’t having issues:

• Reduce your file size
• Close unnecessary tabs, programs, and windows
• Check if PowerPoint is being used by another process
• Investigate your add-ins
• Save everything and restart your computer
• Install updates
• Repair Office
• Check antivirus software

It’s good practice to optimize your PowerPoint files and computer; preventing a PowerPoint crash could save you a whole lot of time and headaches!

Still having PowerPoint crash issues? Send feedback!

In Office 365 you can send feedback directly to the PowerPoint development team using the smiley face in the top right-hand corner of your screen. This brings up the Feedback tab where you can report things you like (everyone enjoys reading praise) but also things you don’t. To flag your PowerPoint issues, send a frown with a description of what went wrong – include any error codes, they’re important!

This feature can track all the system events that went into the PowerPoint crash and help Microsoft understand what went wrong and try to fix it. You can include a screenshot of what happened. Microsoft doesn’t track any of the actual content of your files, purely what the conditions were that led to the crash. Don’t include screenshots with confidential information in, but otherwise, you’ll be OK.

The PowerPoint development team really does look at this, and it’s a key source of bug fixes. What’s more, if your computer has completely crashed and restarted, you can still open PowerPoint and send a frown and it will track the data from any recent crashes. It’s frustrating that it’s happened to you, but at least you know you’re helping fix it for the future and sparing others from suffering the same issues.

If you’re using Office 2016 or 2019, on the  File  tab in PowerPoint, select  Feedback . Click  Send a Frown . The Feedback pane opens on the right side of the PowerPoint window. Describe the problem, and then select the  Include diagnostic and usage data  box. Sending diagnostic data to the Office product team allows it to analyze the context in which your problem occurred helping the team see what needs to be fixed in the software. Click  Submit  to transmit the feedback to the Office team.

Now we’ve shared all the ways we cope with PowerPoint crashes, and how we prevent them happening in the first place, your presentation creation process should be smooth sailing!

Hannah Harper

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Microsoft Presentation Translator: Does it work?

Microsoft has released Presentation Translator, a translation tool for PowerPoint. It’s part of the Microsoft Garage Experimental Project, so you can imagine it’s not perfect yet, but it promises big. According to the website, it is a PowerPoint add-in that allows you to add live subtitles to your presentation, and it will translate the text in your PowerPoint document. But – does it work?

good info. thanks very much.

hiiii, this is sarvoday singh, i queri is my powerpoint is getting quit again and again, so what i do know?

NONE of this is what’s happening to me. What happens it i’m making a video in owerpoint, and boom, it just randomly closes as if it already saved. No warning or anything. And when I try to open it back up, it says It’s been Corrupted, and WHen I click repair, I works 0% or the time. 0/10000000000% or of the time. Actually NEVER works.. Why can’t it just run normaly? *WHY!?* Please help! ANd today please!

As a teacher I plan my lessons on PowerPoint and i have the same problem. I’ve had to use word decreasing the quality of my lessons as I plan them from home. I dont have enough time personally to stay at work to plan lessons and I have a massive problem. Anybody got a fix yet.

Do none of the fixes above work for you Mark? What’s your exact problem?

Hey Hannah – great article and info here.

I am having a powerpoint crash issue that doesn’t seem to fit into one of the above categories. I am working on powerpoints that are in a live version of microsoft teams / sharepoint. I have a large 30inch 2nd monitor connected via HDMI and whenever I put the deck on that 2nd display it crashes normally after 1-2 minutes of editing. There is no error message the window simply closes altogether.

Wondering if you have any thoughts on the issue – it happens with all decks even ones with small file size and I have made sure that I am on the latest version of office and I don’t have many applications running in the background.

Looking forward to your input!

Hi Ben. I assume you are editing a PowerPoint file that’s stored on SharePoint using the desktop app on a PC? (I’m not sure I understand the Teams bit). If this is the case, you’re moving the desktop app window to your external monitor? Do you have any add-ins installed? We might need to look in more detail at the PC spec, OS version etc. to shed more light on this. If you’re using the latest version of Office, you should see a relatively new “Feedback – We need your help” task pane that appears when you restart PowerPoint following a crash. You can use this to send log files directly to Microsoft and we know they take crashes very seriously and hence investigate quickly.

I am having huge difficulty copying slides from one Powerpoint 365 presentation to another on a brand new Chromebook. Ctrl + V doesn’t seem to work on web version. Local version crashes repeatedly on copy command. This is basic functionality and Microsoft really need to be testing their apps so that they perform better than this, I’m very unimpressed. None of the advice in this forum helps. Other application suites work very well – time to make a switch.

Hi, This blog is Amazing. This information is helpful for me. Thank you for sharing a great information.

I recently just upgraded to windows 11 and i have been facing an issue where an open powerpoint presentation just completely automatically closes when my laptop goes into sleep. i tried googling and found no answers. Is there anyone who has had the same problem and is there a fix for it? Thanks

Same situation here. If presentation is not saved than it is not even present in “crashed files”. Just “puff” without any notice and it is gone.

My powerpoint keeps crashing and I have followed several steps :)(

Crashed after adding 10 3d models to the same slide 3 terrain platforms the one with a sign water and dead tree. (No issue) Vintage character tiger leaping (no issue) Monster dragon (no issue) Monster plant (no issue) Monster ice troll (no issue) Fireball (no issue) T-Rex model dinosaur (no issue) 3nd fireball (not responding issue) Trying to simulate a video game stage for context.

Thanks for much information. What else to check when I have done following: How many times that this issue occurs on my PowerPoint? every time Is this happening to all of my PowerPoint presentation files? only later version of trusted file Am I having the same problem with the other Office applications? no what other troubleshooting steps you’ve done to fix the issue? Repair App disabled all add-in PowerPoint Safe Mode

setting default Printer to Microsoft XPS

What is the file size of my PowerPoint presentation? 1,602 KB crash but not 1,573 KB

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Top 6 Ways to Fix Microsoft PowerPoint Not Responding on Windows 11

Microsoft PowerPoint is a popular application for creating visually appealing slideshows business meetings, educational presentations, or conferences. While loaded numerous useful features, it is prone to occasional instability, rendering the app unusable. One such instance is when Microsoft PowerPoint stops responding or crashes on your Windows 11 PC .

Encountering such problems with PowerPoint can significantly disrupt your experience, particularly when in the middle of a critical presentation. We’ve compiled solutions to get PowerPoint running smoothly on your Windows PC.

1. Close and Reopen PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint app processes may experience problems while running on your PC. When this happens, PowerPoint may misbehave or stop responding on Windows. In most cases, simply closing and reopening the PowerPoint app can help restore normalcy.

Step 1: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc keyboard shortcut to open Task Manager.

Step 2: In the Processes tab, select Microsoft PowerPoint and click the End task option.

Open Microsoft PowerPoint again and see if it works fine.

2. Open PowerPoint in Safe Mode

One of your add-ins may be conflicting with PowerPoint and causing it to freeze or hang. To check that, you can open PowerPoint in safe mode. For that, press the Windows + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run dialog box. Type powerpnt /safe in the Open field and press Enter.

Try using PowerPoint in safe mode for some time and check if the issue occurs again. If it doesn’t, it means one of the installed add-ins is responsible for the problem. To identify the one causing the problem, you will need to disable all add-ins and then re-enable them individually. Here’s how you can go about it.

Step 1: Open PowerPoint and click the File menu at the top-left corner.

Step 2: Select Options from the left pane.

Step 3: In the PowerPoint Options window, switch to the Add-ins tab. Click the drop-down menu next to Manage and select COM Add-ins. Then, click the Go button next to it.

Step 4: Uncheck all the boxes to disable your add-ins and click OK.

Restart the app after this and enable your add-ins one at a time. You will need to observe PowerPoint’s performance after enabling each add-in. Once you find the problematic add-in, it’s best to remove it to avoid such issues in the future.

3. Repair Your PowerPoint File

Does PowerPoint only become unresponsive when you try to edit or save a particular file? If so, there may be an issue with the file itself. You can try repairing it by following the steps below and see if it works.

Step 1: Open Microsoft PowerPoint and click the File menu at the top-left corner.

Step 2: Select Open from the left sidebar and click the Browse option.

Step 3: Browse and select your file. Click the downward arrow next to Open to select Open and Repair.

PowerPoint will attempt to repair your file and then open it. Following that, check if the issue still occurs.

4. Change the Default Printer

Another reason why Office apps like PowerPoint may not open or stop responding on Windows is due to incorrect default printer settings. Here’s what you can do to fix it.

Step 1: Press the Windows + I keyboard shortcut to open the Settings app. Navigate to the Bluetooth & devices tab and click on Printers & scanners.

Step 2: Select your preferred device from the list.

Step 3: Click the Set as default option.

5. Update the App

Using an outdated version of PowerPoint can also cause such anomalies. Hence, it’s a good idea to install any pending Office updates on your PC .

Step 1: Open PowerPoint on your PC and click the File menu at the top.

Step 2: Switch to the Account tab, click on Update Options, and select Update Now.

Wait for Microsoft Office to check for and install any available updates. Following this, PowerPoint should work smoothly on your PC.

6. Run the Office Repair Tool

If PowerPoint continues to be unresponsive or crashes despite installing the latest updates, there may be an issue with its installation on your Windows PC. In that case, your best option is to run the Office repair tool to fix PowerPoint. This tool can automatically find and fix issues with all the Office apps on your PC. Here’s how to run it.

Step 1: Right-click on the Start icon and select Installed apps from the list.

Step 2: Locate the Microsoft Office suite on the list. Click the three horizontal dots menu icon next to it and select Modify.

Step 3: Select the Quick Repair option and click Repair.

If PowerPoint doesn’t work properly even after this, repeat the above steps and opt for an Online Repair instead. This process may take longer, but it’s most likely to fix the problem.

Power Up Your Presentations

You are in for a chaotic experience when PowerPoint stops responding or repeatedly crashes on your Windows 11 PC. Fortunately, you don’t have to accept this as the norm, as fixing issues with PowerPoint with the tips mentioned above is possible.

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Last updated on 29 June, 2023

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The article above may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. The content remains unbiased and authentic and will never affect our editorial integrity.

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Pankil Shah

Pankil is a Civil Engineer turned freelance writer from Ahmedabad, India. Since his arrival at Guiding Tech in 2021, he delves into the world of how-tos, and troubleshooting guides on Android, iOS, Windows, and the Web at Guiding Tech. When time permits, he also writes at MakeUseOf and Techwiser. Besides his new-found love for mechanical keyboards, he's a disciplined footfall fan and continues to plan his international travels with his wife.

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Does Your PowerPoint Keep Crashing? Here’s What to do!

By: Author Shrot Katewa

So, just the other day, I was working hard and assembling slides all night for the presentation next morning. Out of the blue, my PowerPoint just stopped responding! Even when I restarted the program, it would keep crashing! It was EXTREMELY frustrating, to say the least!

It is not the first time that I had faced this issue. So I decided to do a little digging and put an end to this problem once and for all!

In this article, I’ve captured all the lessons that I’ve learned so that you don’t have to go through this grind. I sincerely and genuinely hope that this article helps you and saves you the numerous hours that I spent finding out the issue with my PowerPoint!

A Quick Note Before We Begin – if you want to make jaw-dropping presentations, I would recommend using one of these Presentation Designs . The best part is – it is only $16.5 a month, but you get to download and use as many presentation designs as you like! I personally use it from time-to-time, and it makes my task of making beautiful presentations really quick and easy!

Why does PowerPoint Close Unexpectedly or Keep Crashing?

Microsoft PowerPoint is the bread and butter when it comes to documentation and presentation. By design, it is simple and straightforward, and comes packed with bunch of powerful features that makes designing a presentation a breeze.

But, not all programs are flawless, and crashing or freezing of an application is often a common phenomenon.

One of the most common reasons that cause PowerPoint to crash is size of your PowerPoint file.

The last few updates of PowerPoint have made the experience smoother, but not without a few bumps. The program is prone to freezing or not responding for several reasons. These could be because of other apps or programs, the state of your hardware, or how updated your PC. Each issue needs to be handled differently.

We need to understand WHY the issues occur before we try solving it. It is unfortunate that PowerPoint works smoothly throughout the year but will probably freeze up the week you are stressed over a certain presentation. I have been there. So, let us calibrate the various reasons and try to figure it out. 

Why does PowerPoint Freeze?

When your PowerPoint Freezes, it can be a real hassle and often even result in loss of your work progress. I personally find it really annoying to see PowerPoint freeze especially when I’m in the middle of making an important presentation as this makes me lose my chain of thought.

However, it really helps if you know how to handle this type of freeze up of PowerPoint. Most importantly, knowing the reasons why this happens can help you fix the issue.

PowerPoint can freeze for various reasons including the large size of PowerPoint file, multiple heavy programs running simultaneously, the computing capacity of your computer, or even third-party Microsoft Office add-ins causing a conflict. The issue can be resolved by restarting your computer.

I’ve included a short list of all possible reasons for Microsoft PowerPoint to freeze –

• If your computer is not up to date and performing poorly, PowerPoint will perform poorly. 
• If your computer is running too many heavy programs at once it will hamper the performance of most apps. In turn, freeze PowerPoint.
• If your CPU gets hot frequently, it can cause PowerPoint to not work properly.
• If PowerPoint is already being used in another process, it can malfunction.
• If MS Office is not updated, it will deteriorate the user experience.
• Third-party Add-ins can cause a disturbance in MS Office apps.
• Antivirus or firewall conflicts with PowerPoint can cause it to become slow.
• If your hard disk is corrupted it will affect PowerPoint and freeze.
• Malware or Virus in your PC can also cause PowerPoint to freeze or become slow.

How to Fix the PowerPoint Crashing Issue?

The crashing issue can occur for various reasons and the solution varies from problem to problem. Unless it is a major issue with your hardware or a virus strikes, some of the points mentioned below will most definitely help you solve the problem.

1. Update Microsoft PowerPoint Software

Programs can malfunction if they are not regularly updated. Many users have reported that their crashing or freezing problems were automatically fixed after updating. 

This goes for everything. A system update or a windows update can enhance your user experience and fix bugs. On top of that, delaying updates for your apps and computers can also have security liabilities.

So, it is best to comply with those update notifications. You can manually update your Microsoft Office by visiting the website or clicking this link . Microsoft provides detailed instructions for every single version of your Office application that you may be using.

If your PowerPoint still crashes, then you should keep reading. 

2. Check Add-ins

Slides are a visual aid and sometimes we prefer to beautify it by using Add-ins or third-party apps.

Add-ins can be fun and really helpful. But, these third-party apps or add-ins can cause your program to malfunction. In case your PowerPoint is crashing, it is best to check if it is caused by any add-in. 

To check whether installed add-ins are causing an issue, do the following –

• Go to “ File ” and then click on “ Option “.
• Then go to “ add-in “.
• Uncheck all the add-ins and except one before restarting the app.
• Try each add-on separately and restart to see if everything runs smoothly.

In this way, you can identify the source of the issue. 

If it is an add-in related problem, try to explore its source and evaluate whether you should uninstall it.

If unchecking all the add-ins doesn’t work, then the issue lies elsewhere.

3. Check Your PowerPoint File Size

One of the most common reasons for PowerPoint to freeze or crash too often is the size of your presentation file.

If you’re using too many images or if you have embedded couple of videos, the size of your PowerPoint file is bound to increase.

Try to keep your PowerPoint file below 10 MB. While, a PowerPoint file with more than 10 MB may not cause an issue immediately, however, if the size of your PowerPoint file is crossing beyond the 50 MB limit, this could be of the main reasons for PowerPoint to crash.

I wrote a detailed article on the site earlier that explains why PowerPoint files get so big also. I also share several valuable tips and ninja tricks that can help you reduce the size. Do check out the article!

Why do PowerPoint Files get So Big & How to Reduce the Size!

4. Repair Microsoft Office in Control Panel

MS Office programs can be repaired by going to the control panel.

You should firstly close all Microsoft Office apps (including any word or excel files that may be open) before opening the Control Panel .

Then, open the “ Control Panel “. Next, click on “ Programs ” and search for “ Programs and Features ” where you will find all the apps on your computer.

Locate Microsoft Office and click Change , then select Repair . 

This is the simplest way to repair Microsoft Office apps (including PowerPoint) and usually after this step, it starts to work for me. It is like a factory reset for MS Office.

4. Check if Anti-virus is the Culprit

Anti-virus is necessary, but it is important to get the right one. Make sure your antivirus is upgraded and working properly. A backdated anti-virus could be the reason behind your PowerPoint crashing. Download the latest updates of your antivirus and restart your app. 

You should also check if your antivirus is compatible for you. Sometimes it can be conflicting, and it can prevent PowerPoint from functioning smoothly. If this is the case, you should disable all affiliations with PowerPoint on your anti-virus. You can also remove or disable any add-ins that work as an anti-virus. 

However, it should be noted that any changes made to your anti-virus can have collateral damages. It is wise to consult your antivirus provider and figure out how to properly configure the software for optimum user experience. 

5. Check Your Computer Usage

Another factor that can negatively influence Microsoft PowerPoint is the usage of your computer’s processing capability.

Make sure your computer is not running too many apps at once. I often neglect the programs running in the background; gaming, streaming or large downloads. These can use up a large chunk of your computer’s memory, especially if you have not upgraded your device in a few years. 

When you have too many apps or processes running in the background, PowerPoint will likely glitch or have issues while using animations or gifs.

So, the best solution is to shut down the unnecessary, CPU-eating programs. 

To check the applications consuming the processing power of your computer, simply press Ctrl+Alt+Del to open up the task manager (on Windows). If you notice some applications that were perhaps running in the background, simply click on that application name, and then click “ End Task ” to force shut that software.

For Mac users, you can do the same thing by opening the Activity Monitor, by pressing Cmd+Space (which will open the spotlight search).

Once the activity monitor opens up, simply on “%CPU” to sort the names of the software consuming the most processing power in the descending order, and then force close the process.

6. Check the Internet Connection

Some features in Microsoft PowerPoint require an internet connection to function properly such as Design Ideas, Inserting Online Pictures etc. This is especially so if you using Office 365 or above versions of Microsoft Office.

If you notice that you are having issues with the various PowerPoint features and Office Add-ins, you should check your internet. This also goes for the autosave option. These features rely on the internet to work properly. 

A good and strong internet connection can power all these features and let your work go uninterrupted. If your ISP is faulty, it will affect your add-ins as well as the designing tools built into PowerPoint itself. This will also affect your OneDrive and SharePoint. If you are facing this problem, it is advisable to save a local copy and work from there. 

Additionally, if a lot of people are working on SharePoint at the same time, it can cause problems. In such cases, it is best to limit the number of people who can access the document. If that doesn’t work, you can work around the online features until your internet connection gets fixed. 

7. Check for Hardware Compatibility

As the newer versions of Microsoft PowerPoint come to the market, the possibility of crashing and freezing issues increase if you are using an old computer.

It is possible for the latest PowerPoint to have troubleshooting problems if you are using an old computer. Your hardware may not be able to keep up with your apps and the lack of synergy between the two causes the crash. 

Check if your computer has the minimum requirement to run the app. Check the version of your MS PowerPoint by accessing Product Information in the File option. You can check here to see if your PC meets the criteria. And if you want to know the system details of your PC, you can find out by simply searching “ About PC ” in the Start option. 

8. Check your Printer Settings and Set it to Default

One of the rare causes for your PowerPoint File crashing is due to an incorrect printer set up. A good tell-tale sign that the issue is the printer setting is when your PowerPoint crashes especially when you try to print or save the file as PDF.

In such a scenario, the printer settings should be checked since PowerPoint has to load a default printer. You can try changing this setting in the printer options and see if it helps you resolve the issue.

Go to the Control Panel . Now, find and click on Hardware and Sound . Now, click Device and Printers and then click Send to OneNote or MS XPS Document Writer in the list of printers. Choose either of these options and set it as the default printer. 

9. Upgrade your Computer

This kind of ties in with point number 7 mentioned above. A backdated computer can be your biggest issue for the constant crashing of PowerPoint.

It helps if you keep your system updated as well as the version of windows you are using. Of course, it is important to make sure your hardware is up to date as well, so everything runs smoothly. If you notice that most of your apps freeze up, then perhaps it is time to splurge on a new PC.

How to Save a PowerPoint File that is Not Responding?

It is really annoying when you spend hours and hours creating your perfect presentation, and just when you are about to save it, your PowerPoint freezes up and stops responding. Sometimes, you even end up losing the work that you’ve done!

I know I have panicked on more than once occasion over this. So, how do you ensure that you save your work done on PowerPoint even when the file is not responding?

I’ve included 2 different methods which you could try. Let’s understand these in detail –

Method 1 – Using the “Recent File” option

You can find your work lost despite your PowerPoint crash by looking for it in the “ Recent Files ” section. Here’s how to do it –

• Open Microsoft Office and go to PowerPoint. 
• Head over to the File tab and click on “Open”.
•  You’ll find a section labeled “Recent”
•  You will get a folder of saved drafts which should include the work you lost. Find your file and save it immediately. 

However, for this method to work, you need to first make sure that Auto-recovery is enabled in your PowerPoint. In most cases, PowerPoint will have automatically set this up for you. Regardless of whether it is automatically set up for you, it is best that you double-check and go through the process described below –

Steps to Enable Auto-recovery in Microsoft PowerPoint

Setting up auto-recovery may seem cumbersome at first, but it is quite simple.

• Launch PowerPoint and click on the Files tab on the upper left corner. Point and click on “Options”.
• Move the cursor to “Save” 
• Here you’ll find a checkbox labeled “Save auto-recover info every ___ minutes”. Check it. 
• Also, check the box labeled “Keep the last auto recover version”.
• In case you have auto-recover already enabled, you can copy the file location from the “ Auto recover file location ” section to find your unsaved file (PPT).
• Now, you can paste the destination on to the address bar of Windows Explorer. 

It is advisable to save your work progress every few minutes with Ctrl+S, for good measure. 

Method 2 – Use RecoverIt

Recoverit Data Recovery is an excellent app that you can use to recover your deleted PPT files if you find that none of the previous methods worked for you. As the name of the app implies, Recoverit helps with recovering your files and retrieving lost documents. 

• Download RecoverIt Data Recovery 
• Run the app
• Select a location where you previously might have stored the lost PowerPoint files. 
• Let the Software run. It will scan the disk and find any deleted files. 
• After the scan is complete, all the deleted files will appear. You can then recover the lost files by right-clicking and choosing ‘Recover’.

Why does PowerPoint take So Long to Open?

It really throws me off when PowerPoint takes time to load.

It is awkward when this happens to you before are about to give a presentation. Just standing there and waiting for the presentation to open while everyone stares at you can feel really weird. Furthermore, a technical error at the beginning of your presentation can take a toll on your confidence as well.

There are some possible reasons behind this delay in loading. 

• Your PowerPoint file is quite big in size. When a PowerPoint file is too big in size, it becomes not only susceptible to crashing or freezing, but it can also increase the initial load time.
• Lack of disk space can cause Microsoft office apps to become slow. But, this can be easily taken care of with an external hard disk or by clearing any unnecessary large files. 
• Check your Temp folder. A congested Temp folder can slow down MS PowerPoint along with other apps on your computer. You can clean your Temp folder by accessing Run, by searching in Start. In Run, type in %temp% and press enter. You will be directed to the Temp folder, which you can empty out as soon as you close all the running programs in the background. 
• Graphics and performance can also affect MS PowerPoint’s speed. You can solve this problem by adjusting your graphics accelerator in PowerPoint. Simply go to PowerPoint’s Advanced Settings and under Display, you will find the option “Hardware Graphics Acceleration.” Disabling it will make the app faster. 
• Other fancy options on PowerPoint tend to slow it down, such as the Live Preview option. This option allows you to see a demo of any font, color, or picture before you have selected it. While it is a handy and fun feature, it can eat up a lot of RAM. Resulting in slower performance. So, you should go right back into options and disable it.
• Using videos or images that are too large can drastically slow down PowerPoint. It is better to compress the files before inserting them into slides. It is also advisable to decrease the size of any graphics or visuals to speed up PowerPoint. 

Why does PowerPoint Freeze on Mac?

It is rare for Mac users to face PowerPoint troubles, but anything can happen. The solutions are very similar, but I will reiterate for Mac users. So, if PowerPoint is freezing on Mac you should:

• Check the running processes and shut down any heavy apps in the background
• Check the image or animation size in your presentation
• Make sure your PowerPoint is up to date
• Check if you have disk permission. This is the most common and can be easily fixed if you have an admin account. All you have to do is select Utilities and go to Disk Utility. Select the drive where you installed Office, proceed to the First Aid Tab and Repair Disk Permissions. 
• Remove com.microsoft.powerpoint.plist and change it to com.microsoft.powerpoint.plist.old in Microsoft. This file causes PowerPoint to freeze up and crash, and this fix has proved to be useful for many. This can be done shutting down all Office apps and then going to GO Menu, Home. There you will find the Library and Preferences which contains Microsoft. And voila! 

Final Thoughts

If you have followed the above-mentioned remedies and it worked, then you can thank me by sharing this link with others! But, if your problem persists, you need to contact the big boys at Microsoft and send them a ping. They are usually very quick to reply and helpful. 

They will most likely ask you to go through this entire process, but you would have already done it by then. This means you will be ready to answer any questions and understand the issues better. Hope this helped! 

Make sure you bookmark this site as we keep sharing several helpful tips and tricks about PowerPoint and everything else related to Presentations.

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Blog / PowerPoint keeps crashing? Try these 9 helpful tips.

PowerPoint keeps crashing? Try these 9 helpful tips.

PowerPoint keeps crashing. You don’t know why. That’s why you’re here, right? Microsoft’s PowerPoint might be a powerful tool for making great presentations, but even it can occasionally crash, hang, or freeze up. That’s the absolute last thing you want when creating a presentation on a tight deadline, and nobody needs the stress of worrying that their slideshow will crash when they’re giving that all-important presentation. If PowerPoint keeps crashing  when you’re building an awesome deck, hold off on throwing your laptop out of the window and check out our helpful tips for fixing PowerPoint.

• Install all those updates

We know, we know… update notifications can be annoying and easily ignored. However, if the solution to your problem has already been included in an update, make sure you’ve downloaded and installed them all. If you can’t work out how to get those updates, you can manually download them here from Microsoft.

Once updated, start working on your presentation as usual, making sure to save everything as you go. If it’s been a while since you updated the programme, things might look a little different, but don’t panic, it should all be fundamentally the same. PowerPoint keeps crashing still? Try the next step.

• Check your file sizes

If you have a picture and video heavy presentation consider how big your overall file size will be. Huge photos and high-def video will put a lot of pressure on your computer and may result in PowerPoint throwing in the towel and crashing.

Consider resizing large pictures, making them small enough so they still look great in the finished deck of slides. Also, try converting the likes of .tiff images to .jpg to save even more space. When it comes to videos, it might be worth adding them only at the last minute, when all other slides and design work has been completed. This will take the pressure off both PowerPoint and your computer’s processor and therefore reduce the risk of crashes. We have more great advice for reducing file size in PowerPoint right here .

Done? Still crashing? Read on…

• Is your machine ‘busy’?

If you’re deep in your creative process, building a kick-ass presentation that is sure to wow your audience, you might be stressing your computer out. If you have multiple browser windows open, other programmes working away in the background, and also Netflix streaming back-to-back shows minimised in the corner of your screen, your computer’s RAM is going to be feeling it.

Fortunately this is the easiest problem to fix as it takes a few mere clicks. Close all those browser windows and try to make sure only the most essential of programmes are running. Be sure that there is nothing open that is also accessing the same media you’ve imported into PowerPoint, e.g. the likes of Photoshop still open with a photo that you’ve just added to your slideshow.

Give your computer a rest and it should reward you by working smoother and faster. However, if your issue is still there with only PowerPoint ticking away, follow us…

• Is your machine…erm… old?

This one might sting a bit, but are you trying to run the latest version of PowerPoint on an old computer? If your hardware isn’t up to task, you might have problems, even with presentations that have smaller-sized files embedded within. Check to see if the version of PowerPoint you are running has certain minimum requirements such as operating system, RAM, and available storage.

If your machine does seem to be a bit long in the tooth, well… look on the bright side. You finally have a great excuse to buy a brand spanking new laptop, one that can easily handle all the latest software. Spoil yourself, you deserve it.

But if your computer should be able to cope with the copy of PowerPoint your using, but the badness is still ruining your day, on we go…

• Check to see if another process is using PowerPoint

If something else on your computer is using PowerPoint when you try to, it will cause conflicts that could lead to crashes. When this is the case, then it might just be an issue of waiting a little while for the other process to end, but depending on your operating system, you can manually find the conflicting issue and end it.

If you’re on a Mac, put down that espresso you’ve been nursing in Starbucks for the past hour and open Activity Monitor in Utilities. Find anything currently using PowerPoint and end it. On a Windows machine, tap the good ol’ Ctrl + Alt + Del , click on Task Manager and see what’s cracking.

If you ended the conflict, or if no other process was found to be using PowerPoint, load up your file once again and see if your problem persists. It does? Read on, friend.

• Check your add-ins

Add-ins can be great to personalise your experience of PowerPoint, and to allow you to create truly original presentations. However, all those separate third-party elements might be causing a problem, so they should be your next point of call.

In Windows you’ll find the Add-ins listed under Options in the File menu, while on Mac OS you should find them under Tools . Try un-checking all the ones you have installed, then restart PowerPoint. Try your presentation again, but first switch back on one of the add-ins. Check everything is fine, then restart and try another. Keep going until you discover which Add-in is causing the issue, or realise it must be something else. If so, onwards we go.

• Update your anti-virus software

Outdated virus protection can also causes issues with the likes of PowerPoint, so check you’re running the latest version of whatever you’re using. This might be as simple as downloading an update or two, but check with the software maker if you have any issues.

As ever, once done restart PowerPoint and work away to see if the original issue is still present. It is? Drat it all to Hell! Read on.

• Repair Office

The issue might not just be with PowerPoint; your other Microsoft Office programmes might also be experiencing problems. To check the issue on a Windows machine, close all currently running Office apps, go to Control Panel and find Programmes and Features . Find Microsoft Office , right click on it, select Change , then click Repair . Restart PowerPoint and see if the problem persists.

For Mac users, check this guide by Microsoft themselves as the process is a little longer.

If there’s no joy regardless of your operating system, move on. To the next step, not with your life.

If you’ve tried everything above and nothing seems to be working, it might be time to ask for some help. Fortunately, Office has some great support, so as long as you have some basic info such as when the issue happens, what’s happening during, and if any error messages are displayed, they should be able to help.

Or, y’know, you could always ask us to build that PowerPoint presentation for you.

Hopefully those nine tips will see you right and solve that annoying issue. PowerPoint is an important tool for many of us, especially in the business world, so be sure to bookmark this page to bring it up quickly if you ever experience problems in the future. In the meantime, now that your presentation is up and running, you should check out these blog posts for handy PowerPoint design tips , and these that offer advice for giving presentations and public speaking .

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Why Does My Microsoft PowerPoint Keeps Crashing? (Here’s What You Need To Know)

Have you ever been in the middle of an important presentation and suddenly, your Microsoft PowerPoint crashes without warning? It’s an incredibly frustrating and anxiety-inducing experience, especially when you’re in front of a large audience.

Don’t worry, though we’ll help you get to the bottom of why your PowerPoint keeps crashing and provide some useful tips and tricks on how to prevent it from happening again.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the causes of Microsoft PowerPoint crashing, the importance of keeping your system up-to-date, repairing and checking files for errors, avoiding large files, switching to a different presentation software, and troubleshooting tips.

We’ll also discuss how to get help if you need it.

Keep reading to learn more about why your PowerPoint keeps crashing.

Table of Contents

Short Answer

It is difficult to answer this question without more information about your specific setup.

Generally, PowerPoint crashing can be caused by a variety of factors, such as corrupted files, incompatible add-ins, insufficient RAM, or outdated graphics drivers.

If you are experiencing frequent PowerPoint crashes, it is recommended to check if any of these factors are causing the problem and take the necessary steps to fix them.

What Causes Microsoft PowerPoint To Crash?

When it comes to Microsoft PowerPoint crashing, there are a few possible causes.

One of the most common causes is corrupted files, meaning that the PowerPoint file is somehow damaged or corrupted.

This can happen when the user saves the PowerPoint file in a format other than the default .ppt file type, or when the file is transferred from one computer to another.

Outdated hardware or software is another possible cause of PowerPoint crashing.

If you are using an older version of Windows, or an older version of PowerPoint, the application may not be able to keep up with the demands of the presentation.

In addition, compatibility issues between the presentation software and the operating system can cause PowerPoint to crash.

Finally, using large files can also cause PowerPoint to crash, as the application may not be able to handle the amount of data being processed.

Keeping Your System Up-To-Date

Keeping your system up-to-date is the best way to prevent your Microsoft PowerPoint from crashing.

This means ensuring that your software and hardware are always running the latest versions.

This can be done by regularly checking for updates or setting your device to automatically download updates as soon as they become available.

Additionally, if you have any programs or plugins that you use with PowerPoint, you should make sure to keep those up to date as well, as they may be causing the crashing.

It is also important to regularly repair and check your files for errors.

This can be done by running a diagnostic scan on your computer or using a third-party tool to check for any potential problems.

Additionally, it is recommended to delete any unnecessary files or programs that may be taking up memory and causing PowerPoint to crash.

Finally, it is also a good idea to avoid large files or switch to a different presentation software.

PowerPoint can only process so much information at once, so if you are dealing with a huge presentation, it may crash more often than usual.

To prevent this, try to keep your presentations smaller or opt for an alternate software like Prezi or SlideDog.

Repairing and Checking Files for Errors

When Microsoft PowerPoint keeps crashing, it can be incredibly frustrating.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent the issue from reoccurring.

One of the best ways to prevent your PowerPoint from crashing is to repair and check your files for errors.

When dealing with corrupted files, it is important to check for errors in the files before opening them with PowerPoint.

If you see any potential errors, it is best to repair the file as soon as possible.

This can be done by running a diagnostic tool or using a third-party file repair program.

It is also important to regularly repair and check your PowerPoint files for errors.

These errors can range from corrupted slides to incorrect formatting and more.

By running regular diagnostic checks, you can catch any errors before they become an issue.

Additionally, you can use a third-party program to repair damaged or corrupted files.

This can be a great option for those who do not have the time or expertise to repair the files on their own.

There are many third-party programs available, such as Stellar Repair for PowerPoint, which can quickly and easily repair corrupted PowerPoint files.

Finally, it is important to keep your system up to date with the latest software and hardware.

This includes making sure that your version of PowerPoint is up to date, as well as any other programs and hardware that you may be using.

This will ensure that your PowerPoint is compatible with the latest technology and is less likely to crash.

Avoiding Large Files

When it comes to avoiding crashing in Microsoft PowerPoint, one of the best things you can do is avoid creating large files.

PowerPoint files can become very large and complex, especially if they are full of images and multimedia elements.

These large files can take up a lot of memory and processing power, which can lead to crashing.

To prevent this, try to limit the number of elements in your presentation, and use smaller images and videos where possible.

Additionally, try to limit the number of slides, as each slide will take up memory and can lead to crashing.

Finally, it’s a good idea to save your file frequently while you’re working on it, so that you don’t lose all your work if PowerPoint crashes.

Switching to a Different Presentation Software

When it comes to avoiding crashing issues with Microsoft PowerPoint, switching to a different presentation software can be an effective solution.

There are many alternatives to PowerPoint that provide a more reliable and stable experience, such as Google Slides and Apple Keynote.

Both of these applications are cloud-based, meaning that files are stored online and can be accessed anywhere, anytime.

This is incredibly useful for those who work remotely or travel often.

Google Slides is free and supports collaboration, allowing multiple people to work on the same file at the same time.

It is also highly compatible with other Google products, so the integration is seamless.

Furthermore, users have access to a wide range of templates and themes, making it easy to create stunning presentations in no time.

Apple Keynote is also a great alternative to PowerPoint and is exclusive to Apple devices.

The interface is intuitive and user-friendly, and it comes with many features that make creating slideshows simple and enjoyable.

It also has a wide selection of templates and effects, allowing users to create presentations that are visually appealing.

In conclusion, switching to a different presentation software can be an effective way to prevent Microsoft PowerPoint from crashing.

Both Google Slides and Apple Keynote provide a reliable and stable experience, allowing users to create stunning presentations without the risk of crashing.

Troubleshooting Tips

It can be incredibly frustrating when Microsoft PowerPoint keeps crashing.

Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and the cause of the issue can vary greatly.

However, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to help prevent the issue from occurring.

The first thing you should do is make sure your system is up to date with the latest software and hardware.

Outdated versions of PowerPoint may be more prone to crashing, so it is best to ensure you are running the most recent version.

Additionally, if you are running older hardware, it may be worth investing in an upgrade to prevent further issues.

Another important step is to regularly repair and check your files for errors.

PowerPoint can be prone to file corruption, especially if you are working on large presentations.

If you notice any signs of file corruption, you may need to repair the file or delete it and start again.

It is also a good idea to avoid large files.

PowerPoint has a limit on the file size it can handle, so if your presentation is too large, it can cause the program to crash.

Instead, try breaking down your presentation into smaller files.

Finally, you may want to consider switching to a different presentation software.

Microsoft PowerPoint is not the only program available, and some users have reported fewer issues with other programs.

How To Get Help

When it comes to getting help with a crashing Microsoft PowerPoint, there are a few options available.

The first step is to check if the issue is being caused by outdated hardware or software.

To do this, you can use the Windows Update feature to check for available updates.

Additionally, you can also try repairing or reinstalling Microsoft Office.

If the issue persists, you can also reach out to the Microsoft Support team.

They can provide assistance for any questions or issues you may have with your Microsoft PowerPoint.

You can chat, email, or call the Microsoft Support team directly and they will be able to provide personalized help or provide you with solutions.

You can also look for help online.

There are numerous online forums, such as Reddit, where users can find help with their Microsoft PowerPoint issues.

You can also search for specific topics related to your issue and you may find helpful answers from other users who have faced similar problems.

Finally, you can also consider switching to a different presentation software.

There are many free options available such as Google Slides, Prezi, and Slidebean.

These services may offer a better user experience and more features than Microsoft PowerPoint.

Final Thoughts

Microsoft PowerPoint crashes can be very frustrating, but they can easily be prevented with a few simple steps.

To keep your PowerPoint from crashing, make sure your hardware and software are up to date, repair and check your files for errors, avoid large files, and consider switching to a different presentation software.

If these steps still don’t help, there are plenty of troubleshooting tips and help forums available online to assist you.

Now, you can make sure your presentation goes smoothly and avoid any unnecessary crashes!

James Wilson

James Wilson has extensive knowledge in the information technology industry.His second love, besides dealing with computers, is smart home technology. He is continually updating information to better comprehend this problem and has a deep understanding of the apartment’s support system.

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PowerPoint memory leak - Application becomes slower while editing

For the last 6 months I have been experiencing PowerPoint getting slower and slower while editing (complex) presentations. I work in the live events industry and this happens on all PC's. - All of my self employed colleagues that create advanced PowerPoint presentations are experiencing EXACTLY the same. - We all have very high end machines with Nvidia RTX3080 graphics cards if not quicker, i9 processors, 32gb+ of RAM, SSD drives etc.

PowerPoint on startup is as quick as you would expect it to be on these powerful machines. Then after a period of editing (nothing paticular) - from inserting videos, editing SVGS, editing in the animation pane, PowerPoint becomes more and more unresponsive and slow until you get to the point of it crashing - the application fades, the circle of death cursor appears and it has to restart (recovering your work if you're lucky)

The only way to rectify this problem if you want to be productive is to continuously restart PowerPoint and then it's back to a fast performance before it happens again.

This what I suspect to be a memory leak also happens to us all when in show mode. - If there is a looping video in the background of multiple slides for example (however big it is - i.e a 5mb looping WMV or MP4) it eventually stops playing when in slide show which is the first sign of PowerPoint crashing imminently. This being during a live show, We have to swap machines to the backup PC onto the same slide with nobody noticing and then exit the slideshow and start it again to get the videos to play again. If you don't do this and don't take the videos stopping as a warning, PowerPoint eventually becomes irresponsive in the middle of a live show.

Please sort this out Microsoft. These machines are capable of playing the latest advanced computer games and rendering videos in After Effects etc. Yet PowerPoint is apparently using up all system resources (and apparently not releasing them until you restart it) - and crippling our machines with even simple slides that have under 10mb of content on them.

PowerPoint A family of Microsoft presentation graphics products that offer tools for creating presentations and adding graphic effects like multimedia objects and special effects with text. 215 questions Sign in to follow

*Edit: I am reliably informed by fellow PowerPoint designers this is also occurring on the mac version of PowerPoint.

Hi @ Gunderz

Please make sure Intel Graphics driver is updated to version 31.0.101.3889 or newer.

I've had the same issue with my hi-spec laptop (32gb Ram Nvidia RTX 3070) :(

@Emily Hua-MSFT my machine is updated with all the latest drivers. This is not a graphic driver problem. This is a genuine problem with PowerPoint that needs to be addressed and we need more help than just the suggestion of an Intel driver update. We pay a lot of money for Office 365 and PowerPoint is our livelihood. As you can see from the amount of people that have clicked / said they have the same question and having the same issues this is clearly a very recognised and frustrating problem. My colleagues have all different types of high-spec machines from Apple and different manufacturer PCs - this problem is very real and needs to be properly resolved.

Hi @Gunderz

Thanks for your details and sorry for the inconvenience.

For this issue, I suggest you open a support ticket with Microsoft Support to help review your problem and help you test remotely, they may collect some dump files or logs for better anaylsis.

Powerpoint is becoming almost unusable for be because of this issue. ALL my presentations are large complex ones and this happens every time I edit one of them. If only Microsoft had the resources of a large professional oranisation to draw on they could doubtless fix this in a moment...

It is not just in presentation mode. It happens when editing. Eventually if you type a character, it can take a second for the charater to appear. I'm using a workstation with a Ryzen 9 12 core processor, 128GB RAM and a high spec Nvidea graphics card. My presentations do not have any looping videos, but they are relatively large and complex graphics-wise.

I, too, work with PowerPoint (Mac, latest versions of everything), and this makes me crazy. I constantly have to close and re-open my files so that I can edit and especially so the animations during the presentation are smooth. Otherwise, they are very jerky and editing can be difficult. It would be great if PowerPoint would at least flush whatever cache or other reason for this problem automatically before starting a presentation each time (and maybe periodically during editing).

I'm seeing that the memory usage in task manager consistently increases specifically when the animation pane is in use. I can run slides with 100 animations without an increase --until I open the animation pane. At that point, the memory usage constantly increases and every animation during a show is bogged down and laggy. The only recourse is to restart PowerPoint. HELP! The program is literally our livelihood!

Has this been resolved?

I am currently experiencing the same issue with my AMD Ryzen system. Whenever I'm working on a lot of animations within a slide, PowerPoint starts to slow down, regardless of CPU and memory usage. In some cases, it would crash leading to loss of progress.

It does not yet appear to be fixed.

Same issue, unfortunately. Powerpoint has become slower and slower with no specific trigger :(

Still slow, I am running on a Macbook with AMD Radeon Pro 5300M graphics, and a i7 processor. Everything else is running fine, but Powerpoint slows down to a crawl and its terrible.

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PowerPoint may freeze or hang when playing embedded videos

Last Updated: January 6, 2023

There is an issue impacting PowerPoint when playing embedded videos that may lead to app unresponsiveness.

Our investigations show that the issue is happening on systems with Intel graphics drivers older than 31.0.101.3889 installed.

This occurs in PowerPoint (Win32).

STATUS: FIXED

Intel has addressed the problem and released an updated driver version that contains this fix that is currently available to the public. 

Please update your graphics driver to 31.0.101.3889 or later if you are seeing this problem via Windows Update -> Advanced options -> View optional updates or via Intel's website at Intel® Driver & Support Assistant (Intel® DSA) .

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MS PowerPoint (Office 365) keeps crashing (not responding)

I'm seeking help on how I can fix the frequent crashing of MS PowerPoint (from Office 365) in my laptop. in particular, I can open a PPT file and do changes for ~5 mins. After this time frame, the laptop gets laggy or crashes. Same trend has been happening for 3 days now. I'm using an ASUS laptop with 12.0 GB RAM, Intel i5-8265U. I've already tried all the commonly suggested steps including:

1. Repairing Office (quick and online repair)

2. Starting PowerPoint in safe mode and disabling add-ons

3. Changing default printer

4. Toggling hardware acceleration

One thing to note is that even when I used PowerPoint in SAFE MODE, it still crashed after several minutes of use. I'm not even sure if this only applies to PowerPoint SINCE I also experienced crashes with Office and Excel this week--never happened before.

Hoping to hear solutions from you as I hope to stop myself from buying a new MacBook instead.

Report abuse

Replies (3) .

• Microsoft Agent |

Dear ra.paeng~,

Thanks for posting in Microsoft Community.

I understand that you have an issue on PowerPoint keeps crashing. Before moving forward, we need more detailed information about the situation you are experiencing.

Kindly share with us the information below:

Does this issue occur in a specific presentation?

Is this issue also happening with your other Office apps？

Also please check for any updates to Office. You can update your Office applications by opening PowerPoint -> File -> Account -> Update Options -> Update Now.

In addition, you can also try to create a new computer user to see if the problem can be fixed.

We look forward to your response. Thanks for your cooperation.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

Thanks for your feedback.

As for your questions.

1. Yes, this issue happens across different PowerPoint presentations including offline files and slides stored in OneDrive.

2. I noticed that both Word and Excel also crashed (not responding) recently, although the frequency is not comparable with PowerPoint.

For the updates, yes, I already did this.

For creating a new user, I do not see the point of this being an actual solution since I want to use my current account for my PC, but I may try it once things are less hectic.

Hoping to hear from you.

Thanks a lot for your feedback.

You can also try Performing a clean boot in Windows so you can determine if background programs are interfering with your programs.

If the problem still exists, please try to create a new computer user to see if the Office application can be used normally..

Best regards,

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