Add page numbers through the Insert menu

The fastest way to add page numbers to PowerPoint is through the Insert menu at the top of your screen. Click Insert, then look for Header & Footer (in older versions of PowerPoint, this may say Header and Footer). A dialog box will open with options for adding page numbers, dates, and footers to your slides.

Once the Header & Footer dialog opens, check the box next to Page Number. You'll see a preview on the right side of the dialog showing where the number will appear — usually in the bottom right corner of your slides. Click Apply to All to add numbers to every slide in your presentation, or click Apply if you want numbers only on the current slide and slides after it.

PowerPoint will automatically number your slides in order. The first slide gets 1, the second gets 2, and so on. If you want to start numbering from a different number — for example, if this presentation is part of a larger series — you can change the starting number in the same dialog box before clicking Apply.

Key Takeaways

  • Page numbers are added through Insert > Header & Footer, then checking the Page Number box and clicking Apply to All.
  • By default, page numbers appear in the bottom right corner of each slide, but you can change their position by editing the slide master.
  • You can exclude the title slide from numbering by checking "Don't show on title slide" in the Header & Footer dialog.
  • If you want to change where page numbers appear or how they look, you need to edit the slide master rather than individual slides.

Hide page numbers from your title slide

Most presentations don't show a page number on the title slide. To skip numbering on just the first slide, open the Header & Footer dialog again (Insert > Header & Footer), and check the box that says Don't show on title slide. This removes the page number from your opening slide while keeping it on all the others.

If you've already applied page numbers to all slides and only now want to hide them from the title slide, you don't need to start over. Just go back to Insert > Header & Footer, check that box, and click Apply to All. PowerPoint will update your presentation automatically.

Change where page numbers appear on your slides

Page numbers normally sit in the bottom right corner, but you can move them to a different location by editing the slide master. The slide master is a template that controls the layout of all your slides at once. To access it, click View at the top, then Slide Master.

In Slide Master view, you'll see the page number placeholder — it usually looks like a small box with a # symbol inside. Click and drag this box to move it wherever you want: bottom left, top right, or anywhere else on the slide. You can also resize it or change its font and size. When you're done, click Close Master View to return to your normal slides. Your changes will apply to all slides in the presentation.

If you can't find the page number placeholder in the slide master, it may not be there yet. In that case, click Insert while in Slide Master view, then Header & Footer, and add the page number from there. Once it's placed, you can move and format it as described above.

Add page numbers only to specific slides

PowerPoint doesn't have a built-in way to number only certain slides — for example, numbering slides 5 through 10 but skipping slides 1 through 4. If you need this, you'll have to add page numbers manually to each slide instead of using the automatic feature.

To add a manual page number, click on the slide where you want it, then go to Insert > Text Box. Draw a text box where you want the number to appear, then type the number directly. Repeat this for each slide that needs a number. This method takes longer but gives you complete control over which slides get numbered and what number appears on each one.

Troubleshoot page numbers that won't appear

If you've added page numbers but they're not showing up, the most common reason is that your slide layout doesn't have a footer area. Some custom slide layouts don't include a space for page numbers. To fix this, go to View > Slide Master, find the layout being used by your slides, and make sure it has a footer placeholder (the small box with a # symbol).

Another reason page numbers might not show is if you're in Slide Sorter view or Outline view instead of Normal view. Switch back to View > Normal to see your slides as they actually look. Page numbers also won't print if your printer settings are set to print handouts instead of slides — check your print settings before you print.

If page numbers appear on some slides but not others, check whether you accidentally applied them to only certain slides. Go back to Insert > Header & Footer and click Apply to All instead of just Apply.

Format page numbers to match your design

Once page numbers are in place, you can change how they look by editing the slide master. Go to View > Slide Master, click on the page number placeholder, and use the formatting tools to change the font, size, and color. You can make the numbers bold, italic, or any other style that fits your presentation design.

If you want page numbers to say something other than just the number — for example, "Slide 1 of 10" — you'll need to use the slide master. In Slide Master view, click on the page number placeholder and look at the formula bar at the top. You can edit the code there to add text before or after the number. For most users, the simple automatic numbering is enough, but this option exists if you need something custom.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I start numbering from a number other than 1?

Yes. Open Insert > Header & Footer, and in the dialog box you'll see a field that says "Start with" or "Number slides from". Enter the number you want to start with, then click Apply to All. This is useful if your presentation is part of a longer series and you want the numbering to continue from a previous set of slides.

What if I want different page numbers on different slides?

The automatic page numbering feature numbers slides sequentially and can't skip numbers. If you need custom numbering on specific slides, insert text boxes manually on those slides and type the numbers yourself. This takes more time but gives you complete control.

Do page numbers show up when I present in slideshow mode?

Yes, page numbers appear during a slideshow unless you've hidden them. If you want to see the slide number while presenting but don't want the audience to see it, use Presenter View instead — it shows you the current slide number and notes on your screen while the audience sees only the slide content.

Can I remove page numbers from just one or two slides?

The automatic page numbering applies to all slides at once. To remove numbers from specific slides, you'll need to edit the slide master and remove the page number placeholder from those particular slide layouts, or manually delete the page number from individual slides after applying it to all.

Will page numbers print on my handouts?

Page numbers on slides will print with your slides, but handout printing is controlled separately. When you print, choose "Slides" as your print layout to see page numbers. If you print "Handouts" instead, PowerPoint adds its own page numbers to the handout pages, which are different from the slide numbers.