{"id":73204,"date":"2023-08-22T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-22T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/helpdeskgeek.com\/?p=73204"},"modified":"2025-01-31T15:59:43","modified_gmt":"2025-01-31T20:59:43","slug":"how-to-display-a-black-or-white-slide-in-powerpoint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/helpdeskgeek.com\/how-to-display-a-black-or-white-slide-in-powerpoint\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Display a Black or White Slide in PowerPoint"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When speaking during a presentation, the content of a slide can sometimes distract your audience. Blanking out a slide can help the audience focus on you or your speech\/explanation. You might also need to blank a slide during a break, question-and-answer (Q&A) interaction, or when speaking on something unrelated to what\u2019s on-screen.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this tutorial, we\u2019ll show you how to display a black or white slide in a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation. You\u2019ll also learn to end your PowerPoint slideshow<\/a> with a black screen\/slide.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Display a Black or White Slide Using Keyboard Shortcuts\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

PowerPoint allows you to blank a slide with a single keystroke during a presentation. You have the option to display either a black or white screen using keyboard shortcuts.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pressing the W key<\/span> or Comma (,) key<\/span> on your keyboard displays a white slide on your screen. Press the W key<\/span> or Comma (,) key<\/span> again to return to the slide where you left off. You can also dismiss the white screen by pressing any key on your keyboard.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

If you prefer to display a black screen, press the B key<\/span> or Period (.) key<\/span> on your keyboard instead. Press the B key<\/span> or Period (.) key<\/span> again to resume where you left off. Pressing any key on your keyboard also dismisses the black screen.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Display a Black Slide from the Presentation Menu\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft PowerPoint<\/a> has a black\/white screen option in the presentation menu. Start your presentation and follow the steps below to access the black\/white screen option.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Select the three-dot menu icon<\/span> in the bottom-left corner of the current slide.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Select Screen<\/span> and choose Black Screen<\/span> or White Screen<\/span> to blacken or whiten your presentation screen.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
    \n
    \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    Alternatively, right-click anywhere on the current slide, select Screen<\/span>, and choose Black Screen<\/span> or White Screen<\/span>.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    If your computer has a touchscreen, tap anywhere on the current slide, and tap the Black\/White Screen icon<\/span> in the bottom-left corner.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    That\u2019ll blank the screen with a black slide. Press any key on your keyboard or tap the Black\/White Screen icon<\/span> again to dismiss the black screen.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    Display a Black or White Slide Using Presenter Controls\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    If you\u2019re presenting a slide show in Presenter View<\/a>, you can display a black slide at the click of a button.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Switch to Presenter View if you\u2019re in regular presentation mode. Select the three-dot menu icon<\/span> in the bottom-left corner and choose Show Presenter View<\/span>.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
      \n
      \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
        \n
      1. Select the Black or unblack slideshow icon<\/span> to display a black slide.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
        \n
        \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
          \n
        1. Tap the Black or unblack slideshow icon<\/span> again to dismiss the black screen. You can also tap anywhere on the black screen to return to the slide where you left off.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
          \n
          \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

          End Slide Show with Black Screen\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          PowerPoint also allows you to use a black screen to indicate the end of a slide show or presentation. If you don\u2019t have time to design a closing slide<\/a>, configure PowerPoint to display a black screen after the last slide in your slide show. Open the PowerPoint file and follow the steps below.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          1. Select File<\/span> in the top-left corner.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
            \n
            \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
              \n
            1. Select Options<\/span> at the bottom of the sidebar.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
              \n
              \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
                \n
              1. Open the Advanced<\/span> tab, scroll to the Slide Show<\/span> section, and check the End with black slide<\/span> box.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              2. Select OK<\/span> to close the dialog box.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
                \n
                \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

                PowerPoint will display a black screen with an \u201cEnd of slide show, click to exit\u201d message when you move past the final slide in a presentation.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

                \n
                \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

                Improve Audience Focus and Minimize Distraction\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                Concealing slides using a black or white screen will keep your audience focused and engaged<\/a>, especially during an interactive session. Use any of the methods above to display a white or black slide when presenting a PowerPoint slide show.\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                When speaking during a presentation, the content of a slide can sometimes distract your audience. Blanking out a slide can help the audience focus on you or your speech\/explanation. You […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":73205,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[10442,10489],"class_list":{"0":"post-73204","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-how-to","8":"tag-microsoft-office","9":"tag-microsoft-powerpoint"},"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/helpdeskgeek.com\/wp-content\/pictures\/2023\/08\/powerpoint.jpeg","author_info":{"display_name":"Sodiq Olanrewaju","author_link":"https:\/\/helpdeskgeek.com\/author\/solanrewaju\/"},"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t