How to create an automatic slideshow using PowerPoint

Nowadays, with smartphones and user-friendly photo-taking apps, capturing moments has become incredibly simple. We can take hundreds of photos in just a few days. However, organizing and storing them neatly for easy viewing isn't always easy.

A great way to preserve precious memories and easily review them anytime is to create an auto-running photo slideshow using PowerPoint . By incorporating photos into PowerPoint, you can not only organize your photo collection systematically but also create a lively and engaging presentation to share with family and friends.

In this article, you'll be guided step-by-step to create an automatic photo slideshow in PowerPoint – a simple, quick, yet impressive way to tell your own story through images.

Part 1: How to create a photo slideshow using PowerPoint on a Windows computer

Step 1: How to create a simple and quick PowerPoint presentation

Are you a beginner and want to create a presentation using PowerPoint? Here's a short, easy-to-understand guide to get you started:

• Open PowerPoint : Click the PowerPoint icon on your browser or computer.

• To create a new presentation : Once PowerPoint is open, click on the "File" tab in the upper left corner.

• Select "New Presentation" : In the menu that appears, select "New," then select "New Presentation" to begin creating your first slide.

• Ready to add images and content : Once the presentation is created, you can easily add images, text, or charts to the slides.

Note : PowerPoint can be used online or via a desktop application. Please ensure you are logged into your Microsoft account if using the online version.

Step 2: How to save your PowerPoint presentation correctly and easily.

After creating your presentation, saving it is crucial to avoid data loss. Here's a simple guide for beginners:

• Save immediately after starting : Click the drive icon (USB icon) in the upper right corner of the PowerPoint screen.

• Name the file : Choose a name that is memorable for the content – ​​for example, “travel-images” or “scientific-presentation-slides”.

• Choose a storage location : You can save the file to your computer, a USB drive, or OneDrive if you're using PowerPoint online.

Tip : Naming your files with images or content related to the article will help you find them faster later.

Step 3: How to create an impressive and memorable PowerPoint title page

The header page is the first thing viewers see, so you should design it to be clear and eye-catching. Here's a simple way to do it:

• Name your title page : Come up with a title that suits the content of your presentation, then click on the title box on the slide to enter the text.

• Additional information : You can add the presenter's name , date , or illustrative images to enhance the professionalism and personalization of your slides.

• Tip : Titles should be concise, clear, and accurately reflect the main topic – for example, “Business Plan 2025” or “Japan Travelogue”.

Step 4: How to add a new slide and choose a suitable layout in PowerPoint

To make your presentation more engaging, you need to add more slides with layouts appropriate for each topic. Here's an easy-to-understand guide for beginners:

• Add a new slide :

  • Click on the "Home" or "Insert" tab, then select "New Slide" .

  • Alternatively, right-click on any slide in the left pane and select "New Slide" .

• Choose a suitable layout :
  PowerPoint offers many different layout styles, such as:

  • Slides with titles and image frames

  • Slides with only images

  • Blank slides – ideal if you want the freedom to design them however you like.

• Tip : Choose a layout based on the content you intend to add – for example, if you want to include an image with a caption, choose a layout that includes a title and image.

Step 5: How to easily insert and edit images in PowerPoint

Images can make presentations more engaging and easier to understand. Here's how to add and adjust images to your slides for beginners:

• Insert images into slides :

  • You can add one or more images to each slide – depending on your needs.

  • Double-click the image frame on the slide (if one is already present), or:

  • Go to the "Insert" tab > Picture > From File

  • Find the image you want to use and select "Insert" or "OK" to add it to the slide.

• Edit or replace the image :

  • If you are not satisfied with the selected image, click on the image and select "Picture" to change it.

  • Alternatively, press the Delete key to remove the image from the slide.

• Tip : Ensure the images are clear and relevant to the slide content. Avoid using blurry or irrelevant images.

Step 6: How to quickly rearrange the order of images in PowerPoint

If you want to change the order of images in your presentation, use the Slide Sorter feature for easier and more intuitive manipulation:

• Open Slide Sorter view :
  Look at the toolbar at the bottom of the PowerPoint screen, find and click the "Slide Sorter" button — this icon is usually located near the bottom-right corner.

• Drag and drop to arrange :
  Here, you'll see all the slides displayed in thumbnails. Click and drag a slide to your desired position, then release the mouse to change the order.

• Tip : Preview the entire layout to ensure the content is coherent and the images are presented in the correct, logical order.

Step 7: How to add slide transition effects to make your presentation smoother and more professional.

Transition effects make presentations more seamless and dynamic when moving from one slide to another. Here's a simple way to apply the effect:

• Open the "Transitions" tab :
  Click on the "Transitions" tab in the toolbar at the top of the PowerPoint interface.

• Choose the effect you like :
  PowerPoint offers various transition effects such as: Fade , Push , Wipe , etc.
  You can click on each effect to preview it immediately .

• Customize further if desired :
  You can adjust the speed , sound , or choose to apply it to all slides using the "Apply To All" button.

• Tip : Use subtle, synchronized effects to avoid overwhelming the viewer.

Step 8: How to add a background to your PowerPoint slides to make your presentation more visually appealing and professional.

If you find the white background around the images monotonous or unappealing, customize the slide background to make your presentation look more dynamic and cohesive.

• Right-click on the slide you want to edit :
  Right-click on any slide, then select “Format Background” .

• Choose a suitable background style :
  PowerPoint offers many options:

  • Solid fill

  • Gradient fill

  • Picture or texture fill
    You can customize the color , the color gradient direction , and the level of transparency .

• This applies to the entire presentation :
  After you've finished making the adjustments, if you want all slides to have the same background, click the "Apply to All" button.

• Tip : Choose a background that harmonizes with the image and content to enhance professionalism without overwhelming the viewer.

Step 9: How to insert background music into PowerPoint to make your presentation more lively and engaging.

Background music makes presentations more engaging, creates emotion, and keeps the audience captivated, especially when using slideshows. Here's how to easily add music to your slides:

• Prepare the music file :
  Make sure you have the music file (MP3, WAV, etc.) ready on your computer.

• Add music to PowerPoint :

  • Go to the "Insert" tab.

  • Select the "Movies and Audio" icon.

  • Click on "Audio from File"

  • Find the song you want to insert, select it, click "Link to File," and then click "Insert."

• Set music playback mode :

  • Select the inserted audio file.

  • On the toolbar, go to the "Format Audio" tab near the "Home" button.

  • In the "Audio Options" section, select "Play Across Slides" if you want the music to play continuously from the beginning to the end of the presentation.

  • Or choose to play on a single slide , depending on your purpose.

• Tip : Choose soft, instrumental, or non-distracting music to help maintain focus on the presentation.

Step 10: Don't forget to save your PowerPoint presentation before exiting.

After you've finished adding images, music, and effects to your presentation, the final and most important step is to save the file to avoid losing data.

• If you have already named and saved it :
  Simply tap the USB drive icon in the upper left corner of the screen to save the latest update.

• If you haven't saved it before :
  PowerPoint will ask you to name the file and choose a save location (on your computer, USB drive, or OneDrive).

• Tip : Frequently press "Save" (Ctrl + S) during work to avoid data loss if the computer encounters unexpected problems.

Part 2: How to create a photo slideshow using PowerPoint for Mac users (MacBook, iMac)

Step 1: How to open PowerPoint and choose an eye-catching slide design template right from the start.

When starting to create a new presentation, you can choose a beautiful design template (theme) right away to save time and create a professional impression:

• Open PowerPoint :
  Double-click the PowerPoint icon on your computer screen or in the menu.

• Choose a design template (theme) :
  When the PowerPoint interface appears, you will see many pre-designed templates available .
  Click on your favorite template , then press the "Choose" button to apply it.

• Tip : Choose a template that suits the content – ​​for example, an elegant template for a work presentation, a creative template for a lesson or personal event.

Step 2: How to save your PowerPoint presentation from the beginning to avoid data loss

As soon as you start creating slides, you should save the file to ensure the safety of the content, especially when inserting many important images.

• Save your presentation instantly :
  Click on the drive icon (USB icon) located in the upper right corner of the PowerPoint screen.

• Give your files easy-to-remember names :
  Choose a name that relates to the content or image you're using — for example, travel-photo-2025 or family-memories . This will make it easier to find the file later.

• Choose a storage location :
  You can save it to your computer , USB drive , or OneDrive if you want to access the file on multiple devices.

• Tip : Press Ctrl + S frequently while working to update with the latest changes.

Step 3: How to create a simple and professional title for the first page in PowerPoint

The title page is the opening section of a presentation, helping the audience understand the main topic at first glance.

• Enter the main title :
  Click on the large text box in the middle of the page and type a title that matches the content – ​​for example: Da Lat Trip 2025 or Q2 Results Report .

• Additional information :
  In the small box below , you can add the presenter's name , the date , or the group/member's name .

• Add images (if desired) :
  You can also insert a logo or illustration to enhance the visual appeal of the header page.

• Tip : Titles should be concise, clear, and memorable. Avoid using too many words or fonts that are difficult to read.

Step 4: How to add a new slide and choose a suitable layout in PowerPoint

To create a complete presentation, you'll need to add as many slides as possible depending on the content. Here's a quick and easy guide:

• Add a new slide :

  • Go to the "Home" or "Insert" tab, then select "New Slide".

  • Alternatively, double-click a slide in the left sidebar, then select "New Slide" to add another one.

• Choose a suitable slide layout :
  PowerPoint offers many layout styles, such as:

  • Slides with title blocks and images are suitable for presenting content with illustrations.

  • Image-only slide – suitable for image slideshows

  • Blank slides – for those who want to design them freely.

• Tip : Choose a layout that makes the content easy to read and prevents clutter. Maintaining a consistent layout will make your presentation look more professional.

Step 5: How to quickly and accurately add images to PowerPoint slides

Adding images to slides makes presentations more engaging and easier to understand. Here's a simple way to start adding images from your computer or USB drive:

• Start from the "Home" tab :
  Make sure you are on the “Home” tab, then switch to the image insertion section.

• Insert images from your computer or USB drive :

  • Click on the "Insert" tab.

  • Select "Picture" , then select "Picture from File".

  • A window will appear, where you can:

    • Click on the "Pictures" folder in the left sidebar if you have saved the images on your computer.

    • Or choose USB if the photos are saved on a flash drive.

• Choose an image to add to the slide :
  Scroll through the photos in the folder, then double-click the photo you want to insert directly into the slide.

• Tip : Choose clear, relevant images. If you need more images, you can create a new slide for each image for a better presentation.

Step 6: How to rearrange the order of images in PowerPoint using Slide Sorter

To make your presentation more coherent and easier to follow, you can change the order of the slides containing images as you wish. PowerPoint provides a Slide Sorter tool that makes this easy:

• Enable Slide Sorter mode :
  Find the Slide Sorter button in the bottom right corner of the PowerPoint window (the small square icon with multiple slides).

• Rearrange the order of the slides :

  • In this mode, all slides will be displayed as thumbnails.

  • Click and drag the slide to the desired position, then release the mouse to change the order.

• Tip : Use Slide Sorter to check the story flow or image sequence before the official presentation.

Step 7: How to add slide transition effects in PowerPoint to make your presentation smoother and more engaging.

Slide transitions help make presentations look more professional and seamless, especially when you're showing photos or telling a story across multiple slides.

• Open the "Transitions" tab :
  On the toolbar at the top, click the "Transitions" tab.

• Choose a slide transition effect :
  You will see many options such as:

  • Fade

  • Push

  • Wipe

  • And many other creative effects.
    Click on each effect to see an instant preview .

• Customize the effects if needed .
  You can adjust the transition speed , the accompanying sound , or select "Apply to All" to maintain consistency.

• Tip : Use subtle, gentle effects so as not to distract from the main content.

Step 8: How to add a background to PowerPoint slides to remove blank spaces and make your presentation more attractive.

If you find the white background around the image monotonous or unattractive, customize the background to make the slide more lively and harmonious.

• Open the background adjustment tool :
  Double-click any slide , then select "Format Background" .

• Choose a suitable background style :
  You can choose:

  • Solid fill

  • Gradient fill

  • Picture or Texture fill
    Then adjust the color , color gradient , or transparency to your liking.

• Apply to the entire slide :
  Click "Apply to All" if you want all slides to have the same background, making the presentation more consistent and professional.

• Tip : Choose a soft, not overly bright background so as not to overshadow the image and main content.

Step 9: How to insert background music into PowerPoint to make your presentation more lively and engaging.

Adding background music to a presentation helps create emotion, increase engagement, and keep viewers interested longer—especially when you're presenting with images or a personal slideshow.

• Prepare your music file :
  Make sure the song you want to use is already saved on your computer .

• Add music to your slides :

  • On the toolbar, click the "Movies and Audio" icon located at the top of the PowerPoint screen.

  • Select the "Music" option – all music files on your computer will be displayed.

  • Drag and drop the music track you want to use onto any slide in your presentation.

• Set music playback mode :

  • Click to select the audio file you just inserted.

  • Go to the “Format Audio” tab near the “Home” button.

  • In the “Audio Options” section, select:

    • Choose "Play Across Slides" if you want the music to play continuously throughout your presentation.

    • Or leave it as default if you only want the music to play during one slide.

• Tip :
  Choose soft, instrumental music to create a relaxing atmosphere without distracting from the main content.

Step 10: Save your PowerPoint presentation before finishing to avoid losing data.

After you've finished adding images, music, and effects, don't forget to save your presentation before exiting PowerPoint to ensure all changes are saved.

• If previously saved :
  Simply click the drive icon (USB symbol) in the upper left corner of the screen again to update to the latest save.

• If you haven't saved it before :
  PowerPoint will prompt you to name the file and choose a save location (on your computer, USB drive, or OneDrive).

• Tip :
  Name the file in a way that relates to the content or images in the article – for example, ky-niem-gia-dinh.pptx or du-lich-da-nang-2025.pptx – to make it easier to find later.

• Useful keyboard shortcuts :
  Press Ctrl + S frequently during your work to automatically save, preventing content loss due to unexpected events.

Translated by: Sidney Bailey Hoang .