powerpoint presentation has frozen

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

Pankil is a Civil Engineer turned freelance writer. Since his arrival at Guiding Tech in 2021, he delves into the world of how-tos, and troubleshooting guides for Android, iOS, and Windows. Besides his new-found love for mechanical keyboards, he's a disciplined footfall fan and loves international travel with his wife.

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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PowerPoint Is Not Responding, Freezing, Or Hanging: Solved

PowerPoint is an important component of Microsoft Office; it is used frequently to show other people both word information and pictures in slideshows. However, sometimes people will find their PowerPoint not responding/freezing/hanging, so they need to find ways to repair it.

Please go to the home page and get the corresponding software to help you.

PowerPoint Is Not Responding on Your Device

As a presentation program, the Microsoft PowerPoint is popular with the public. Undeniably, PowerPoint (PPT) is used frequently by people to create presentations for school/work. However, there are many users reported that their PowerPoint not responding suddenly. In view of this, I think it’s necessary to introduce some powerful solutions.

Learn How To Recover Deleted Or Lost PowerPoint File Efficiently.

Error Messages Indicating PowerPoint Not Working

Your PowerPoint keeps crashing and gives you the following error messages.

Microsoft PowerPoint is not responding.

If you restart or close the program, it will try to recover your information.

-> Restart the program

-> Close the program

-> Wait for the program to respond

Windows is checking for a solution to the problem…

Microsoft PowerPoint has stopped working.

Windows can check online for a solution. If you close the program, it will try to recover your information.

-> Check for a solution and close the program

These are only some of the common error message you will see when finding PPT not responding.

[2020 Update] Fixes For Microsoft Word Has Stopped Working On PC.

Causes of PowerPoint Not Responding Problem

You may find your PowerPoint not responding, freezing, or hanging due to one or more of the following reasons:

• The PowerPoint version you are using is not the latest one.
• The PowerPoint may be currently used by another process.
• A previously installed add-ins is interfering with PowerPoint.
• Antivirus or other software installed on the device has conflict with the PowerPoint.
• The computer is out of memory or the system resources are not available for PowerPoint.
• The installation of PowerPoint is corrupted/damaged and needs to be repaired in time.

How to Fix When PowerPoint Freezes, Hangs, or Not Responding

One: check whether powerpoint is used by another process.

Please take a look at the horizontal status bar, which is located at the bottom of your PC screen. Corresponding information will be displayed here if your PowerPoint is actually used by another process. If you start to perform any actions when PowerPoint is in use, it will stop responding. What you should do at this time is wait the task in another process to finish and then perform actions.

Two: Check the Antivirus Software

Open the antivirus software you have installed on your computer to check whether it is updated to the latest version. If not, please update it; if yes, please move on to the next step.

Then, you should go to check whether there is any integration with PowerPoint in the antivirus software you installed. If there is, please disable them all. If there isn’t, please keep on reading.

Three: Update to the Latest Version

Step one: update Microsoft Office.

• Create a new Microsoft PowerPoint file and open it. (You can also create a Word/Excel file.)
• Click on the File option from menu bar and then choose Account .
• Look for the Product Information  section.
• Click Update Options under it and then click Update Now from the drop-down list.

Step two: update Windows operating system.

• Press Start + I on the keyboard.
• Select Update & Security .
• Keep Windows Update selected in the left pane.
• Click on the Check for updates button in the right pane.
• Wait and follow the instructions to finish updating the OS.

Four: Check Add-ins for Conflict

• Click on the Start  button.
• Type PowerPoint /safe and press OK .
• Open a PowerPoint and select File  menu.
• Choose Options and click Add-Ins .
• Choose COM Add-ins and click on the Go  button.
• Uncheck all the boxes in the list and click OK .
• Restart your PowerPoint program.

In addition, you can try to fix PowerPoint not responding or PowerPoint not opening by repairing Microsoft Office as a whole.

About The Author

Position: Columnist

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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How To Freeze Powerpoint Slide In 3 Easy Steps! (with Pictures)

• Freezing a slide in PowerPoint allows you to temporarily lock the slide so it remains visible while you scroll through other slides.
• You can choose to freeze the slide, the slide and all slides following it, or the slide and all slides above it.
• By locking a specific slide, you can ensure that your audience has time to absorb the information before moving on to the next slide.

The “freezing” feature on PowerPoint allows you to lock the position of a slide’s elements so they don’t move when you present. This can be useful for things like keeping a logo or image in a fixed position, or keeping text from shifting around. Here’s how to freeze a slide in PowerPoint.

How To Freeze Powerpoint Slide

Freezing a slide in PowerPoint allows you to temporarily lock the slide so it remains visible while you scroll through other slides. This can be useful when you want to focus on a specific slide or section during a presentation.

Here’s how to freeze a slide in PowerPoint:

1. Open your presentation and select the slide you want to freeze.

2. Click on the “Slide Show” tab in the ribbon at the top of the window.

3. Click on the “Freeze” button in the “Slide Show” group.

4. A drop-down menu will appear with several options. You can choose to freeze the slide, the slide and all slides following it, or the slide and all slides above it.

5. Once you have selected the freeze option you want, the slide will be locked and will no longer advance automatically.

To unfreeze the slide, simply repeat the steps above and click on the “Unfreeze” button in the “Slide Show” group.

You can also freeze and unfreeze slides using the “F5” key on your keyboard. To do this, simply press “F5” to freeze the slide, and “Shift + F5” to unfreeze it.

Freezing a slide is a great way to keep your presentation organized and focused. By locking a specific slide, you can ensure that your audience has time to absorb the information before moving on to the next slide.

What Is The Best Way To Freeze A Powerpoint Slide?

• 1. Select the slide you want to freeze.
• 2. Right-click on the slide and select “ Format Background .”
• 3. In the Format Background pane, select “Picture or Texture Fill .”
• 4. In the Picture or Texture Fill section, select “Tile.”
• 5. In the Tile Preview section , adjust the tile size and position as needed.
• 6. Click the “Apply to All” button to apply the freeze effect to all slides in the presentation.
• 7. Click the “OK” button to close the Format Background pane.
• 8. Save the presentation.

How Can I Prevent My Powerpoint Slide From Freezing During Presentation?

To prevent your PowerPoint presentation from freezing during your presentation, here are some tips you can follow:

1. Optimize your slides: Ensure that your slides are well-designed and optimized for performance. Use fewer images, avoid large file sizes, and limit the number of animations and transitions.

2. Use high-quality images: Use high-resolution images that are optimized for PowerPoint. Avoid using images that are too large or have low resolution, as this can cause the presentation to freeze.

3. Use embedded fonts: Avoid using custom fonts that are not included in the PowerPoint font library. Instead, use embedded fonts that are available in PowerPoint.

4. Limit the number of slides: Try to limit the number of slides in your presentation. Too many slides can cause the presentation to lag and freeze.

5. Use slide masters: Use slide masters to create consistent slides throughout your presentation. This can help to reduce file size and improve performance.

6. Test your presentation: Before your presentation, test the presentation to ensure that it runs smoothly. Check for broken links, missing images , and other issues that may cause problems.

7. Use presenter view : Use presenter view during your presentation to ensure that you can see your slides and notes, even if the presentation is frozen.

8. Restart your computer: If all else fails, try restarting your computer before you start your presentation. This can help to clear any system issues and improve the performance of your computer.

By following these tips, you can help to prevent your PowerPoint presentation from freezing during your presentation and ensure that your presentation runs smoothly.

Are There Any Limitations To Freezing A Powerpoint Slide?

Yes, there are some limitations to freezing a PowerPoint slide.

First, when you freeze a slide, you cannot edit it in any way. This means you cannot add, delete, or move any objects on the slide, including any text, images, or shapes. You also cannot change any formatting options such as font, color, or size.

Second, when you freeze a slide, it is displayed as is, including any animations or transitions. This means that if the slide has any animations or transitions, they will play automatically when the slide is displayed, even if you did not intend to show them.

Third, when you freeze a slide, it is displayed as is, including any audio or video. This means that if the slide has any audio or video, it will play automatically when the slide is displayed, even if you did not intend to show it.

Fourth, when you freeze a slide, it is displayed as is, including any embedded content . This means that if the slide has any embedded content such as a YouTube video, it will play automatically when the slide is displayed, even if you did not intend to show it.

Fifth, when you freeze a slide, it is displayed as is, including any embedded content. This means that if the slide has any embedded content such as a YouTube video, it will play automatically when the slide is displayed, even if you did not intend to show it.

Overall, freezing a PowerPoint slide can be useful for preserving the layout or appearance of a slide, but it is important to be aware of these limitations before doing so.

What Are The Benefits Of Freezing A Powerpoint Slide?

Freezing a PowerPoint slide can be a useful feature for a variety of reasons. Here are some of the main benefits of freezing a slide:

1. Consistency: By freezing a slide, you can ensure that it stays in the same position on the screen throughout your presentation. This can be especially useful if you want to maintain a consistent layout or design throughout your presentation.

2. Ease of use: Freezing a slide can make it much easier to navigate your presentation. Instead of constantly having to scroll through your slides to find the one you want, you can simply click on the frozen slide to jump to it.

3. Improved focus: Freezing a slide can help you stay focused on your presentation and avoid distractions. By removing the temptation to click on other slides, you can ensure that your presentation stays on track.

4. Better communication: Freezing a slide can help you communicate more effectively with your audience. By keeping the slide visible for an extended period of time, you can provide your audience with more time to absorb the information and ask questions.

5. Customization: Freezing a slide gives you the flexibility to customize it to fit the needs of your presentation. For example, you can add annotations, shapes, or other visual elements to the slide to help emphasize key points.

6. Time-saving: Freezing a slide can save you time during your presentation. Instead of constantly scrolling through your slides to find the one you want, you can simply click on the frozen slide to jump to it.

7. Enhanced audience engagement: Freezing a slide can help keep your audience engaged by allowing them to focus on one slide for an extended period of time. This can be especially useful if you are using visual aids or other interactive elements in your presentation.

Overall, freezing a PowerPoint slide can be a useful tool for a variety of presentation scenarios. It can help you maintain a consistent layout, communicate more effectively, and keep your audience engaged.

What Are Some Common Mistakes People Make When Freezing A Powerpoint Slide?

Freezing a PowerPoint presentation slide is a common technique to keep the slide visible while the audience is viewing it. However, there are a few common mistakes that people make when freezing a slide.

One common mistake is forgetting to unfreeze the slide before moving on to the next one. This can cause confusion for the audience, as they may not understand why the slide is not advancing. To avoid this, be sure to unfreeze the slide before advancing to the next slide.

Another common mistake is accidentally moving the slide while it is still frozen. This can cause the slide to become misaligned or distorted, which can be distracting for the audience. To avoid this, be sure to keep your hands away from the slide while it is frozen.

Another common mistake is forgetting to unfreeze the slide when presenting in person. This can cause the slide to be difficult to see or interact with, which can be distracting for the audience. To avoid this, be sure to unfreeze the slide when presenting in person.

Finally, another common mistake is forgetting to unfreeze the slide when presenting online. This can cause the slide to be difficult to see or interact with, which can be distracting for the audience. To avoid this, be sure to unfreeze the slide when presenting online.

Overall, freezing a PowerPoint presentation slide can be a useful technique, but it is important to be aware of common mistakes to avoid confusion or distractions for the audience.

In conclusion, freezing a PowerPoint slide is a simple and effective way to ensure that your presentation runs smoothly. By following these easy steps, you can create a professional and polished presentation that will impress your audience.

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PowerPoint stops responding (spinning wheel)

• 5 contributors
• Applies to: Microsoft PowerPoint for Mac

When you try to open a PowerPoint for Mac presentation or application, it either hangs with spinning wheel or does not open at all.

To resolve this issue, follow steps in this article.

Step 1: Check Hard Disc name

Check to ensure the Hard Drive icon has a name to it. The name should not be all numbers but can have numbers in it as along as the name starts with a text character(s). There should be no special characters like, periods, commas, semi-colons, quotes, etc.

Quit all applications.

• On the Go menu, click Computer. Your hard drive should be listed. The common name of the hard drive is "Macintosh HD". E.g. "Mac HD 1" <without quotes is appropriate> "1 Mac HD" <this is not an appropriate name as the number 1 appears at the start of the name>.

To rename your hard disk:

• Click to select the hard disk.
• On the File menu, click Get Info.
• In the Name & Extension type or edit the name. For example, type Macintosh HD.
• When done, click the red circle button on top.

Step 2: Move AutoRecovery files

The location of certain files are different if you have Service Pack 2 (SP2) installed. To check if it is installed, open PowerPoint, and then click About PowerPoint from the PowerPoint menu. If the version number is 14.2.0 or above, you have Service Pack 2 and you should follow the Service Pack 2 steps when provided in this article.

If there are too many PowerPoint items in this folder user\Documents\Microsoft User Data\Office 2008 AutoRecovery or Office 2011 AutoRecovery these files will load into memory when Powerpoint launches and can cause memory issues as well as file save issues.

Move AutoRecovery files to the Desktop or another folder to see if they are causing the problem.

To empty the AutoRecovery folder, follow these steps if you have version 14.2.0 (also known as Service Pack 2) installed:

One the File menu, click New Folder. A new folder is created on the desktop. The folder will be called "New Folder."

On the Go menu, click Home.

Open Library.

The Library folder is hidden in Mac OS X Lion. To display this folder, hold down the OPTION key while you click the Go menu.

Open Application Support, and then open Microsoft.

Open Office 2011 AutoRecovery.

On the Edit menu, click Select All.

Drag all files into "New Folder" on the desktop.

The AutoRecovery folder should be empty.

Open Excel for Mac 2011 and try to save a file.

If you can save a file, review the contents of "New Folder" to decide which files that you want to keep.

If the problem continues to occur, go to the next method.

To empty the AutoRecovery folder, follow these steps if you do not have Service Pack 2 installed:

On the File menu, click New Folder. A new folder is created on the desktop. The folder will be called "New Folder."

On the Go menu, click Documents.

Open Microsoft User Data, and then open Office 2011 AutoRecovery.

Step 3: Remove PowerPoint Preferences

If you have used the software at all on this computer then removing the preferences may reset any customizations that you have made. These customizations include changes made to toolbars, custom dictionaries and keyboard shortcuts that have been created.

Quit all Microsoft Office for Mac programs.

The Library folder is hidden in MAC OS X Lion. To display this folder, hold down the OPTION key while you click the Go menu.

Open the Preferences folder.

Look for a file that is named com.microsoft.powerpoint.plist.

If you locate the file, move it to the desktop. If you do not locate the file, the program is using the default preferences.

If you locate the file and move it to the desktop, start PowerPoint, and check whether the problem still occurs. If the problem still occurs, quit PowerPoint, and restore the file to its original location. Then, go to the next step. If the problem seems to be resolved, you can move the com.microsoft.powerpoint.plist file to the trash.

Quit all Microsoft for Mac programs.

Open the Microsoft folder.

Look for a file that is named com.microsoft.powerpoint.prefs.plist.

If you locate the file, move it to the destop. If you do not locate the file, the program is using the default preferences.

If you locate the file and move it to the destop, start PowerPoint, and check whether the problem still occurs. If the problem still occurs, quit PowerPoint, and restore the file to its original location. Then, go to the next step. If the problem seems to be resolved, you can move the com.microsoft.powerpoint.prefs.plist file to the trash.

Open the Office 2008 or Office 2011 folder.

Look for a file named PowerPoint Toolbars (12) or Microsoft PowerPoint Toolbars.

If you locate the file, move it the desktop. If you do not locate the file, the program is using the default preferences.

If you locate the file and move it to the desktop, start PowerPoint, and check whether the problem still occurs. If the problem still occurs, quit PowerPoint, and restore the file to its original location. Then, go to the next step. If the problem seems to be resolved, you can move the PowerPoint Toolbars (12) file to the trash.

If the issue continues to occur, proceed to the next step.

Step 4: Create a New User Account

Sometimes, a user's specific information may be corrupted. To determine if this is the case, you can log on as a new user or create a new user account, and then test an application.

If the issue occurs even in new user account, proceed to the next step.

Step 5: Test saving the file in Safe Mode

For information on how to enter Safe Boot in Mac OS, see Perform a clean startup (Safe boot) to determine whether background programs are interfering with Office for Mac .

If you are able to save in Safe Mode, then the problem most likely related to programs that are running in the background.

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Additional resources

PowerPoint is not responding, keeps crashing, freezing, hanging or has stopped working

Powerpoint is not responding, keeps crashing, freezing or hanging.

3] Check the installed add-ins. This is a very common cause. Although add-ins add extra features and functions to an application they can also be a cause from improper functioning of the apps. For instance, they can occasionally interfere with PowerPoint. To avoid this situation,

HemantS@TWC

How to Fix PowerPoint is Not Responding

Last updated on June 10th, 2024

PowerPoint not responding is a situation that can get the willies for anyone who is hurry to finish the PowerPoint presentation before an important meeting. And while there are new ways to make presentations, even with AI , PowerPoint users can be frustrated if they want to finish a presentation and they can’t due to this reason. Fortunately, there are ways to fix this.

One possible reason why PowerPoint is not responding in our computer or is not working could be due to system resources, the computer is out of memory , or even problems with the Internet access.

This is more common than people imagine especially if we have lot of windows opened in our computer for example when we are designing the slides, researching content to put into our slides, editing a Word document plus an Excel spreadsheet with lot of charts, and why not using Photoshop to design the master slide or PowerPoint template.

How To Fix PowerPoint? (PowerPoint Does Not Respond)

To fix a PowerPoint not responding problem, we can try the following:

• Close unused software windows or even unused File Explorer windows.
• Save all your work and restart your computer to free the resources
• Make sure to avoid using big images in your presentation. Copying and pasting from large images can reduce the overall performance.
• Avoid linking to external resources, for example if your presentation uses resources available on the Internet. Sometimes  network connections and data transferred in/out the Internet from PowerPoint or VBA can reduce your overall performance.
• Check what 3rd party plugins and addons you are using in PowerPoint and remove any unused addins .
• Install latest updates (Office updates, and Windows updates)
• If installing latest updates doesn’t fix it, consider reversing to a previous update.
• Repair Microsoft Office installation
• Check the Internet connection (ensure your computer is connected to Internet)

If PowerPoint is not working when you try opening a .pptx file, a possible workaround would be to start PowerPoint from the Start menu (without opening the presentation file), and then go to File -> Open to choose the file from your computer.

At least, using this approach you can understand if PowerPoint is getting stuck when opening the program, or when opening the file. Understanding this could help to troubleshoot the issue more effectively. Finally, if PowerPoint does not respond, you can also try opening PowerPoint in safe mode .

We assumed you are using PowerPoint on Windows but if Microsoft PowerPoint is not responding on Mac then it worth to take a look at this discussion .

Accordingly to this post here , a Microsoft’s Update might be the problem if PowerPoint is not responding on Save As.

We did a quick research, and discovered that the day before Microsoft had pushed a PowerPoint “security update”, and reports were starting to trickle in of the mysterious error.  The update is called “Microsoft Windows Security Update for Powerpoint (KB2464588)”, and the problem can be reversed by uninstalling the update.

Of course, don’t forget to save your document and presentation time to time to avoid losing the data.

We will send you our curated collections to your email weekly. No spam, promise!

Fix PowerPoint not responding , hangs or freezes

Many of the PowerPoint users have reported that the PowerPoint application is struck or freezes when you try to open the application. Potential causes for this issue are:

• Third-party Add-ons interfering with the application
• If the printer drivers are corrupt
• The application is corrupt.

In case you are seeing this issue,

• Check if the PowerPoint Application is in use by some other process.
• Check if your Antivirus is up to date.

If this is not the case and yet you are seeing that Powerpoint is not responding, then try out the below fixes.

Table of Contents

Fix 1: Open PowerPoint in Safe Mode

Step 1: Double-click on the PowerPoint file you want to open. At the same time, press the Ctrl  key.

Step 2: Click on Yes , in the appearing dialog.

Step 3: Powerpoint opens in Safe Mode. All the Add-ins are disabled. In case you are not seeing the error, this means one of the Add-ons has caused this issue.

Step 4: To identify the culprit, open PowerPoint and click on the File  tab

Step 5: Click on  More and then choose Options

Step 6: From the PowerPoint Options window that opens, from the left-hand side, click on Add-ins

Step 7: From the Manage  drop-down, choose  COM Add-ins 

Step 8: Click on Go button

Step 9: In the COM Add-ins window, Untick all the Add-ins listed and press on OK

Step 10: Enable one Add-on at a time and check if you are seeing the error. This way you will be able to find the Add-on that is causing the problem.

Step 11: Once found, uninstall and reinstall that add-on

Fix 2: Repair of MS Office Application

Step 1: Hold the keys  Windows+r  together.

Step 2: In the Run window, type  appwiz.cpl,  and hit  Enter 

Step 3: In the Program and Features window that opens, locate  Microsoft Office Suite  or  Microsoft 365. Right-click and select  Change

Step 4:  If the UAC pops up asking for permissions, click on  Yes

Step 5: In the appearing window, check  Quick Repair.

Step 6: Click on the  Repair  button

Step 7: Follow the instructions shown and repair the Office programs.

Step 8: Restart the application and check if the issue has been fixed.

Step 10: If the error is still seen, try choosing  Online Repair  and click on  Repair.  Make sure you have a working internet connection.

Step 11: In the Ready to start an Online Repair  Dialog, click on  Repair

Restart the application and check if the PowerPoint starts responding.

Fix 3: Change the default printer

Step 1: From your keyboard hold the keys, Windows+r  at the same time to open the Run window.

Step 2: Type  ms-settings:printers  and press  OK

Step 3: In the appearing window, under the  Printers & Scanners section, you can see all the Printers listed.

Step 4: The default printer will have Default written underneath its name. Generally, the issue is seen when the default printer is a physical one and has hardware issues.

Step 5: Change the default printer. Click on any other printer( preferably, a virtual one).

Step 6: Choose Manage

Step 7: Click on  Set as default

That’s All

We hope this article has been informative. Thank you for Reading

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PowerPoint not responding? 4 Simple Ways to Solve your problem

When you're functioning with Microsoft PowerPoint, and you're in the process of a slide transition mode, you can notice that the programme has suddenly stopped operating. It takes an exceptionally long time to respond, freeze, or hang. You can even get a message that "Microsoft PowerPoint not operating ". The problem of the Program not responding can be linked to three leading causes.

• Your antivirus programme is interfering with PowerPoint or clashing with it.
• An installed add-in is hampering PowerPoint.
• The PowerPoint installation has been corrupted and requires Repair.

Part1. 4 Simple Fixes to Solve "PowerPoint not responding"

Part2. how to save powerpoint if not responding, part3. how to unlock powerpoint without password, make sure that your powerpoint is updated.

First, make sure you have the most recent update installed. As we all know, updates are required to adopt new and improved security features. This guideline applies to PowerPoint as well. Product updates are notified to you via Action Center at regular intervals. If your PowerPoint program isn't operating as it should, make sure your system is up to date and apply the latest Office updates.

Close multiple background software windows that aren't being used

When your computer is running many apps, the RAM allocated to PowerPoint is insufficient (or even other applications at the same time). To solve PowerPoint not responding , perform the following:

• To figure out which program is causing the problem, use the "Windows Task Manager." Right-click on the "Task Bar" (the bottom bar on your Windows screen that displays the time and icons for all applications) and select "Task Manager" from the box that pops up.

• Sort the applications in the task manager by clicking "Memory." This will display all tasks in descending order depending on how much RAM they use. Select the application process and click "End Task" to terminate it if it is no longer needed.
• If you're not sure which application is causing the problem, close all of your useless programmes. If you can't close them, right-click on them in the Windows Pane at the bottom of your computer screen and pick "End Task" from the pop-up box. This should be done for each application.
• If your PowerPoint still does not reply, press the "Ctrl + Alt + Del" keys on your keyboard several times at the same time. The task manager will be launched as well. Click "End Task" after clicking on PowerPoint.
• This will close the PowerPoint application window, and you will have to open it again.

Disable any antivirus program

Your antivirus software may offer PowerPoint integration at times. You may have functionality issues as a result of this. The best method for resolving this issue is to stop all PowerPoint integration inside the antivirus programme. If you're concerned about your system's security, disable any antivirus software add-ins enabled in PowerPoint.

Examine the installed plug-ins

This is a common reason. Although add-ins provide additional features and functions to an application, they can also cause the app to malfunction. They can, for example, occasionally cause PowerPoint to malfunction. To avoid a situation like this,

• In the lower-left corner of the screen, press the Start button (Windows 10 users).
• Then type PowerPoint /safe and press OK. This will launch PowerPoint without any add-ins in Safe Mode.
• If the problem has been rectified, an add-in could be to blame.
• Select Add-Ins from the File menu, then Options, then Add-Ins.
• Select Add-Ins from the File menu, then Options, then Add-Ins. Select COM Add-ins and then press the Go button.

• Disable and enable each one to see if you can find the culprit.

• If all of the previous troubleshooting methods fail, repair Office using the 'Repair' option. Close all Microsoft Office programmes that are currently open.
• Locate 'Programs and Features > Uninstall or modify a programme' in the Control Panel (click Win+X). Right-click Microsoft Office in the list of installed apps, then select Repair.
• Check to see if restarting your computer has helped.

When the PowerPoint software stops functioning, the worry of losing your unsaved projects is entirely accurate. To avoid a situation like this in the future, make sure the "Autosave" feature is turned on before you start working on the project.

• However, if the PowerPoint software freezes before saving the project, you can use the "Auto Recovery" tool in PowerPoint.
• Open the PowerPoint application to see any unsaved PowerPoint files. Select the "File" tab and then "Open." Then select the "Recent" option. To find your File, go to the bottom of the list and choose "Recover Unsaved Presentations."
• After using the preceding steps to open the correct unsaved PowerPoint file, make sure you save it first. To do so, select "File" and then "Save." You can also save your File by using "Ctrl+S."

What is Passper for PowerPoint ?

The ideal solution for this problem is Passper for PowerPoint , specifically developed to remove password security from PowerPoint without a password. It's compelling while also being quite user-friendly. Passper for PowerPoint is one of the most excellent PPT password removal solutions.

Key Features of Passper for PowerPoint

1. Recover Opening PowerPoint Passwords

2. Unlock Read-Only PowerPoint File

User Guide for Passper for PowerPoint

Mode1. Recover Passwords

Step1. Download and install the Passper for PDF; then choose recovery mode. After executing this software, select the 'Recover Passwords' option.

Step 2. Choose a Recovery Method. Add the file and select the best method of password attack based on the password data you have.

Step 3. Begin to Recover. To begin the recovery process, click 'Recover.' The password would be shown.

Mode2. Simple Methods for Removing Restrictions

Step 1: Select a Method to Decrypt the File

For PowerPoint files that include limitations, select the 'Remove Restrictions' mode.

Step 2: Include the Read-Only File

Select 'add' to transfer the PowerPoint document that needs to be restricted.

Step 3: Begin Removing

When you click 'Remove,' the application will begin quickly removing the password.

We hope this article helped you fix your " PowerPoint not responding " issue. Follow the above methods to solve your problem as quickly as possible. If you want to unlock Powerpoint if you lose your password, then be sure to use Passper for Powerpoint.

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Related Articles:

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By Adams Johnson to PowerPoint

Posted on Mar 17, 2023 ( Updated: Mar 17, 2023)

Passper editor since 2015, has over 20 years’ professional technology support experience. He has contributed nearly 100 articles to the site on topics that ranger from password unlocking for MS office/Windows, Windows tips to network security.

5 Ways to Fix PowerPoint is Not Responding Error

A frozen PowerPoint can turn your important office presentation into a disaster. PowerPoint not responding or not working is a common error that has the potential to put all your efforts in preparing the presentation into vain.

Find out the best workarounds mentioned in the below article that can help you fix most of the PowerPoint problems including PPT freezing, hanging and not opening.

We all know, PowerPoint plays an important role to create well defined presentations. What if you have created a presentation and failed to present it because your PowerPoint (file) is not responding or freezes? If you are thinking about what made your PowerPoint not to work, here are the reasons that lead to the error.

What could be the possible reasons for PowerPoint to stop working?

Reasons for PowerPoint is not responding, Hangs or Freezes are

•     Outdated Microsoft Office or Windows can make your PowerPoint hang or freeze
•     Third party add-ins blocking your PowerPoint presentation
•     Corruption in MS Office programs
•     Antivirus conflicting with the application

Above mentioned are some of the few reasons that cause the error PowerPoint not responding. When you encounter any problem with the PowerPoint application, it is recommended to restart the application and see if it’s working fine.

What if your PPT file is not working even after restarting the application? Or you are unable to open the PPT file?

Why can’t I open the PPT file?

When PowerPoint stops responding, you will encounter an error PowerPoint cannot open this file . When it comes to a particular file, if you are having trouble accessing any particular PowerPoint file, then it is the file that is to be blamed not the application. Yes it can be due to any corruption or damage caused to the PowerPoint file.

PPT/PPTX files can get corrupted due to many reasons, but most commonly it’s caused by virus or changing the extension from one format to another.

You can easily fix the corruption in PPT/PPTX files with the help of a PowerPoint Repair Tool. SFWare PowerPoint File Repair software is one of the most recommended software by the professionals to fix the PPT file problems.

SFWare PowerPoint File Repair software is designed with an advanced algorithm to fix the corruption in the PowerPoint files. The software not only fixes the corrupted PPT files, but also recovers the slides of all the files present on PPT with text, formatting, images, animations, sounds, tables, hyperlinks etc. Therefore, it extracts the complete objects of the corrupted file. The software is compatible on all Windows platforms including the latest Windows 10.

How to Fix a PowerPoint File That Is Not Responding?

To fix the PowerPoint file not responding error, download SFWare PowerPoint File Repair software and launch the application and follow the below mentioned steps:

Well, this fixes the problem with the PowerPoint file that is not responding and helps in repairing the corrupt PowerPoint file .

Now let’s move on to fix the PowerPoint application error – PowerPoint is freezing, hanging or not responding .

What to do if PowerPoint is not responding, hanging or freezing?

Follow the below mentioned methods to fix the issues that cause PPT not responding.

Method 1: Install the latest updates

Installing any important and significant updates could make your computer or PowerPoint application less vulnerable to these errors. All you have to do is set the Windows update to automatically get downloaded and installed.

To Update the MS Office

• Create a new Microsoft PowerPoint file and open it. This method can be used to create a Word/Excel file too.
• From the menu bar select the File option and then click on Account .
• Go to Product Information section and click Update Options under it
• Click on Update Now from the drop-down list.

To Update the Windows OS

• Press Start + I on the keyboard, go to Change PC setting
• Select Update & Recovery .
• Keep Windows Update selected in the left pane.
• Click on the Check Now button in the right pane.
• Wait and follow the instructions to finish updating the OS.

If installing the new updates did not solve your problem of PPT not responding, follow the next method.

Method 2: Disable the Add-ins

Even though Add-ins are used to enhance the user experience, at times it can create conflicts with the PowerPoint. Follow the steps mentioned below to disable the Add-ins that are creating trouble on PPT.

• Click on Start → Run → Type PowerPoint /safe → OK .

Note : If PowerPoint doesn’t launch, click Start → point to All Programs → Microsoft Office.

• Open a PowerPoint and select File menu → Options → click Add-Ins .
• Choose COM Add-ins → click on the Go
• Uncheck all boxes on by one in the list and click OK . ( Verify whether PowerPoint is working fine after disabling each Add-ins)
• Restart your PowerPoint program. (Make sure you restart PowerPoint each time you disable an Add-in.)

Method 3: Update the antivirus

Always make sure your Antivirus software is updated. Most of the time, application gets crashed and stops responding due to virus infection to the programs.

If your Antivirus is creating a conflict with the PowerPoint application, disable them by following the previous method 2.

If none of the above mentioned methods worked for you, then it can be a problem with the MS office package. Try to fix the PowerPoint not responding or not opening problems by repairing the whole MS office package.

Method 4: Repair the Microsoft Office Programs

Repairing the Office program can easily fix the issues like PowerPoint hanging, freezing and not responding.

•  Exit all the Microsoft programs that you were using.
•  Open the Control Panel, go to Add or Remove Programs / Programs and Features ( depends on the Windows version you use)
•  From the list of installed programs, select Microsoft office. Right-click on the Microsoft Office and then click Repair

Conclusion:

Try all the methods mentioned above to fix the problem with PowerPoint and you should be able to fix PowerPoint not responding issues. If you still encounter any problems such as PowerPoint not responding, can’t open and stop working error with any particular file, you can run SFWare PowerPoint file repair software to make sure you would not lose your important file.

If you were able to fix the problem successfully with the help of the article, please do share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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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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