Where to find the notes section in PowerPoint

PowerPoint has a built-in notes area below each slide where you can type reminders, talking points, or full scripts. The notes section is hidden by default, so you need to turn it on to see it.

On Windows, go to the View tab at the top and click Notes Page. On Mac, click View, then Notes. The slide shrinks to the top half of your screen, and a large text box appears below where you can type. This is where your notes live — they won't show to your audience during the presentation, only to you.

Key Takeaways

  • Notes appear only on your screen during a presentation, not on the projector or audience display.
  • You can type notes in the View tab's Notes Page mode, or use the Notes pane in Normal view without switching screens.
  • Notes sync across devices if you save your file to OneDrive or SharePoint, so you can access them on a phone or tablet during the talk.
  • You can print notes with your slides by choosing the Notes layout in the Print dialog, which is useful for handouts or personal reference.

Adding notes while staying in normal editing mode

If you don't want to switch to Notes Page view, you can add notes without leaving your slide editing screen. In Normal view (the default), look for a small section at the bottom of the screen labeled Notes. Click in that area and type directly. The notes pane is small, but it works fine for short reminders.

If you don't see the Notes pane at the bottom, drag the divider between your slide and the notes area upward to expand it. You can make the notes section as large as you need, then shrink it again when you're done typing.

What kind of notes work best

Notes are personal — your audience never sees them. You can use them for a full word-for-word script if you're reading from notes, or just bullet points of key ideas you want to remember. Some people write the exact timing for each slide, reminders to pause for questions, or cues to show a video at a certain point.

If you're presenting to a large group and need to stay on track, a detailed script in the notes section keeps you from rambling. If you know your material well, a few keywords per slide is often enough. There's no right way — use notes the way that helps you present better.

Viewing notes on a second screen during your presentation

When you start the slideshow, PowerPoint can show your notes on your laptop or tablet while the audience sees only the slides on the projector. This is called Presenter View.

On Windows, start the slideshow and Presenter View turns on automatically if you're using a second display. On Mac, click the Slide Show tab, then From Beginning or From Current Slide, and Presenter View appears if an external display is connected. You'll see your current slide, your notes, a preview of the next slide, and a timer — all on your screen only.

If Presenter View doesn't start automatically, check that your second display is actually connected. If you're using a projector, make sure it's recognized as a separate display in your system settings. On a Mac, go to System Preferences > Displays to confirm the projector is listed.

Printing slides with notes included

You can print your slides with notes on the same page, which is useful for a personal reference copy or to share with colleagues. Open the File menu and click Print. In the Print dialog, find the dropdown that says Full Page Slides (or Slides on Mac). Change it to Notes Pages. This prints each slide at the top with your notes below it on the same page.

You can also choose Outline view to print just the text from your slides and notes without the slide images, which saves ink and paper if you only need the words. Before you print, preview the output to make sure the layout looks right.

Syncing notes across devices

If you save your PowerPoint file to OneDrive or SharePoint instead of your local computer, you can open the same presentation on your phone, tablet, or another computer and see the same notes everywhere. This is helpful if you want to review your notes on your phone before the presentation, or if you present from a different device than the one you used to write them.

Open the file on any device signed in to the same Microsoft account, and the notes appear in the same place. Changes you make on one device sync to the others, so if you add a note on your phone, it shows up in the desktop version too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my audience see my notes during the presentation?

No. Notes appear only on your screen in Presenter View or on your personal device. The projector and audience display show only the slides themselves. Even if you accidentally leave the Notes pane open on your editing screen, it won't project.

What if I'm presenting from a phone or tablet?

Open PowerPoint on your mobile device and open your presentation. Tap the three dots menu and select Present. Your notes appear on your phone screen while the slides project to the audience. You'll need to be signed in to your Microsoft account and have the file saved to OneDrive or SharePoint for this to work smoothly.

Can I add notes to a presentation someone else created?

Yes. Open the file, add your notes in the Notes section, and save it. Your notes stay in that file. If you share the file back with the original creator, they'll see your notes too, so be clear about what you've added if you're collaborating.

Do notes take up extra file size?

Notes add a small amount to your file size, but not much. A presentation with hundreds of slides and detailed notes on each one might be slightly larger than the same presentation without notes, but the difference is usually less than a megabyte.