Slide Master is a useful PowerPoint feature . Here's how to use Slide Master in Microsoft PowerPoint .
When you choose a different theme in PowerPoint, it rearranges the content on your slide and adds shapes to the background. That's because each theme has built-in slide layouts and background graphics. You can edit these layouts using the Slide Master View feature. Learn how to use Slide Master, you can customize your entire slide show in just a few clicks.
Slide Master in PowerPoint is a special feature that allows you to quickly edit the slide and its layout in the presentation. Thanks to it, you can edit the entire slide in the presentation. You can also change each slide layout.
For example, you find a theme that you like but don't like some of its layout. You can use Slide Master to change the way the slide is displayed exactly as you want.
In the Slide Master viewer, the Slide Master tab will appear first on the Ribbon, but you can still access commands on the different tabs as usual.
Whether you're making a bunch of changes on your slides or just a few minor tweaks, Slide Master can help you create a professional and consistent presentation without much effort and effort. You can use Slide Master to see any changes in your presentation. Here are some of the most common changes:
Some general changes in the presentation, such as customizing fonts, theme colors - can be made quickly from the Design tab.
If you want to change something on all slides of your presentation, you can edit the Slide Master. In this example, the article will add the logo to each slide.
1. Select View > click Slide Master .
2. The presentation will switch to the Slide Master viewer and its tab will be selected on the Ribbon.
3. In the left panel, scroll up and select the first slide.
4. Make the desired changes. The article inserts the Mongibello logo.
5. Move, resize or delete the objects on the slide you want. The article resizes the logo and moves it to the lower right corner.
6. Once done, click the Close Master View command on the Slide Master tab .
7. This change will appear on the entire slide of the presentation.
Tip: You should review the presentation when using Slide Master to make changes to see how it affects each slide, so you can make the right tweaks more easily.
For example in this article the newly added logo is hidden behind the image in Picture with Caption Layout . We will customize this layout to make room for the logo.
1. Navigate to the Slide Master viewer.
2. Locate and select the desired layout in the left panel. You can hover over each layout to see which slide is using that layout in the presentation.
3. In some layouts, background graphics may be hidden. To show graphics, uncheck the box next to Hide Background Graphics .
4. Add, move or delete any desired object. In this example, the article will remove the gray background image.
5. If you want to change the arrangement of the placeholders, you can move, resize, or select any of them. Here, move the text placeholder and the black bar to the right, the image placeholder to the left.
6. Once done, click the Close Master View command on the Slide Master tab .
7. All slides using this layout will be updated.
You can also move placeholders on the Slide Master. This action will move the placeholders on multiple slide layouts at once. However, some slide layouts can still be adjusted manually.
You can also customize the text format from Slide Master, including font, font size, color, and alignment. For example, if you want to change the font for each title placeholder in your presentation, you can edit the main title style on Slide Master.
Each title field is connected to the main title style on the Slide Master. Take a look at the photo below to see the difference.
Now look at those slides again after changing the title font.
Instead of customizing each placeholder, you can change the font theme for the presentation. From the Slide Master tab , click Font in the Background group , and then select your favorite font.
One of the most powerful features of Slide Master is the option to create new slide layouts. Here's how to add a unique, fun and easy slide layout to an existing theme. You can even use this feature to design a completely new theme as shown below.
To insert a new slide layout
Go to Slide Master tab > click Insert Layout .
A new slide layout will appear.
This layout will include the header and footer placeholders by default. Click the Title and Footer boxes in the Master Layout group to enable/disable placeholders.
You can now add background graphics, shapes, and photos to the slide layout. You can also move, adjust, and delete existing placeholders. This example removes the title placeholder in the lower right corner, and changes the text alignment to the right.
To add a new placeholder, click Insert Placeholder , then select the desired placeholder style. This example uses Picture.
Click & drag the placeholder on that slide.
Once you've finished designing your custom layout, give it a unique name.
From the Slide Master tab, select the desired layout, and then click Rename .
Enter a name in the dialog box that appears, click Rename .
If currently in the Slide Master tab, click Close Master View .
From the Home tab, you can insert a new slide with that custom layout or apply it to the current slide. Here, select Layout , then apply the new style to slide 6. That's it.
Save custom themes to use in other PowerPoint presentations
From the Slide Master tab, click Themes > select Save Current Theme from the drop-down menu.
If you are not already in the Slide Master tab, you can save the theme from the Design tab . Just click the drop-down arrow in the Themes group, and then select Save Current Theme .
Compare realistic side hustles for 2026 by startup cost, fees, flexibility, and income control, with current tax and scam guidance from official sources.
Upgrade your home office ergonomics with current OSHA and NIOSH guidance on chair fit, monitor height, laptop setup, lighting, and movement.
Learn why emotional intelligence matters in leadership, where it helps most, how to strengthen it, and how to tell whether your approach is working.
A practical roadmap for moving into tech without a degree: choose an accessible role, build job-ready skills, prove them with projects, and use hiring feedback to improve.
Build a credible LinkedIn personal brand in 2026 with current profile, content, newsletter, analytics, verification, and visibility guidance from LinkedIn.
Quiet quitting and quiet firing are catchy labels, not diagnoses. Learn what is verified, what depends on context, and what employees and managers can do next.
Fractional executives offer senior leadership without a full-time hire. Learn when the model works, what to ask, and the risks to manage.
Prepare a stronger Q4 raise request with current wage data, timing options, compensation tradeoffs, and scripts for yes, partial, or no outcomes.
Choose a high-income skill you can realistically start before 2026 ends, with current pay data, learning priorities, and a practical self-check.
Build a hybrid work schedule around tasks, team overlap, and measurable outcomes. See sample patterns, warning signs, and when to adjust your plan.
