How to add audio to PowerPoint on Windows and Mac

Enhance your PowerPoint presentations with audio. In this guide, we'll show you how to add audio on Windows and Mac, along with what tools you can use to create custom audio files.

PowerPoint presentations are an excellent tool for conveying information and engaging an audience. One way to enhance your presentations is by adding audio, whether it's background music, narration, or transition sound effects. In this article, we will guide you through the process of adding audio to PowerPoint on both Windows and Mac operating systems. When creating a PowerPoint presentation, adding audio enhances the audience's experience. In Microsoft PowerPoint, click the record button to start recording audio. Insert the audio file by selecting the "Insert" tab and the "Audio" icon. Choose the format and playback options, such as automatic or on click, loop until stopped, and play across slides. To preview, click the "Play" button in the "Slide Show" tab. PowerPoint offers templates and transition effects for visual enhancement. With user-friendly tools, tutorials, and an intuitive toolbar, adding audio becomes seamless, effectively conveying your message.

Adding Audio on Windows

1. Launch Microsoft PowerPoint: Open PowerPoint on your Windows computer and open the entire presentation you want to edit or create a new one.
2. Insert an Audio File: Navigate to the slide where you want to add audio. Click on the "Insert" tab in the top toolbar, and then click on the "Audio" icon in the "Media" group. A drop-down menu will appear.
3. Choose Audio from Audio Browser: Select "Audio from File" from the drop-down menu. A dialog box will open, allowing you to browse your computer for the audio file you wish to insert. PowerPoint supports various audio file formats like WAV, MP3, and WMA.
4. Select the Audio File: Locate the audio file on your computer to insert audio. Click "Insert" to add it to the slide. You will see an audio icon appear on the slide.
5. Customize Audio Playback: With the audio icon selected, a new "Playback" tab will appear in the top toolbar. Click on it to access playback options. Here, you can set the audio to play automatically or when clicked, adjust the volume, and choose to play across slides or only on the current slide.
6. Preview and Adjust: To ensure your audio is working correctly, enter the "Slide Show" tab and click on the "Play" button to preview the audio on the current slide or across all slides.

Adding Audio on Mac

1. Launch Microsoft PowerPoint: Open PowerPoint on your Mac and open the desired presentation or create a new one.
2. Insert an Audio File: Navigate to the slide where you want to add audio. Click on the "Insert" tab in the top toolbar and select "Audio" from the drop-down menu. You'll find it under the "Media" section.
3. Choose Audio from File: A dialog box will open, allowing you to browse your computer for the audio file you wish to insert. PowerPoint for Mac supports various audio file formats like WAV, MP3, and AIFF.
4. Customize Audio Playback: Once you've added the audio file, the "Playback" tab will appear in the top toolbar. Click on it to access playback options. You can choose to play the audio automatically or when clicked, adjust the volume, and set it to loop until stopped.
5. Preview and Adjust: To ensure your audio is working correctly, go to the "Slide Show" tab and click on the "Play" button to preview the audio on the current slide or across all slides.

Tips and Tricks:

• If you want to record audio directly within PowerPoint, both Windows and Mac versions offer the option. On the "Insert" tab, click on the "Audio" icon, and select "Record Audio." A recording toolbar will appear, allowing you to start recording your voice or any other audio input.
• If you want to play audio across multiple slides, select the audio icon, go to the "Playback" tab, and choose "Play Across Slides" in the "Audio Options" section. This feature is particularly useful when you want background music or narration to continue seamlessly throughout your presentation after the first slide.
• If you want to sync your audio with specific slide timings, go to the "Slide Show" tab and select "Record Slide Show." This allows you to narrate your presentation slide by slide, ensuring precise timing between audio and visuals.
• You can also add audio to PowerPoint slides by inserting a video file that contains audio to play in background. The process is similar to adding audio files. Just select the video file instead, and PowerPoint will extract the audio from it when you click insert.

By following these steps, you can easily add audio to your PowerPoint presentations on both Windows and Mac platforms. Experiment with different audio formats, playback options, and slide timings to create captivating and interactive slide shows that engage your audience effectively. Remember to save your PowerPoint file after adding audio to preserve all the modifications made to your presentation. Now, go ahead and enhance your PowerPoint slides with audio to deliver impactful and engaging presentations.

Use Speechify to Generate Audio

Speechify is a powerful tool that can greatly assist in generating audio for PowerPoint presentations on both Mac and Windows operating systems. With Speechify, you can easily convert text into high-quality audio that can be seamlessly integrated into your PowerPoint slideshows. By utilizing the record audio feature, you can start recording your voice or any other desired audio directly within the Speechify app. Once the audio is recorded, you can simply click on the audio icon in Microsoft PowerPoint and select the audio file from Speechify. The playback options allow you to customize the audio's behavior, such as looping until stopped or playing across slides. With Speechify's user-friendly interface and tutorials, you can effortlessly synchronize the audio with slide timings, ensuring a smooth and engaging presentation. Supported file formats include WAV, MP3, and WMA, providing flexibility in choosing the desired audio format. Whether you're creating a single-slide presentation or an entire slideshow, Speechify empowers you to add audio easily by simply selecting the audio file and inserting it into your PowerPoint presentation. By incorporating audio into your presentations, you can captivate your audience and deliver a more dynamic and immersive experience.