PowerPoint’s Developer tab gives you access to macros, the Visual Basic editor, ActiveX controls (like buttons and text boxes you can program), and add-ins. It’s hidden by default in PowerPoint 2013 and every newer version, but turning it on takes about ten seconds. This guide shows how on Windows and Mac, and what you can do with it.
Quick Answer
Click File > Options > Customize Ribbon. In the Main Tabs list on the right, check Developer, then click OK. The Developer tab appears on the ribbon.
Add the Developer Tab in PowerPoint for Windows
- Open PowerPoint and click File.
- Click Options at the bottom of the left pane.
- Select Customize Ribbon.
- Make sure the right-hand dropdown shows Main Tabs, then check Developer.
- Click OK.
Shortcut: right-click any ribbon tab and choose Customize the Ribbon to jump straight to step 4. The setting stays on until you turn it off.
Add the Developer Tab in PowerPoint for Mac
- Choose PowerPoint > Preferences (or Settings) from the menu bar.
- Click Ribbon & Toolbar.
- In the Customize the Ribbon list, check Developer and click Save.
What’s on the Developer Tab
- Visual Basic (Alt + F11): write and edit VBA code.
- Macros (Alt + F8): run or manage macros in the presentation.
- Macro Security: control whether macros are allowed.
- Add-ins and PowerPoint Add-ins: manage installed add-ins.
- Controls: insert ActiveX controls such as command buttons, check boxes, text boxes, and combo boxes for interactive slides.
Save Presentations with Macros
Standard .pptx files can’t store macros. Choose File > Save As and pick PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Presentation (*.pptm). People opening it may need to click Enable Content in the security bar.
Security Tip
Macros can contain harmful code. Only enable macros in files from people you trust, and keep Macro Security at Disable all macros with notification (the default) so PowerPoint asks before running them.
Troubleshooting
- Developer option missing: make sure the right dropdown says Main Tabs, not Tool Tabs.
- Macros grayed out: the file may be a .pptx, or macros may be blocked by your organization’s policy or because the file came from the internet (right-click the file > Properties > Unblock).
- PowerPoint for the web: the Developer tab and VBA aren’t available in the web version.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning on the Developer tab change my presentations?
No. It only adds a tab to the ribbon.
How do I remove it?
Uncheck Developer in File > Options > Customize Ribbon.
Summary
- Go to File > Options > Customize Ribbon.
- Check Developer under Main Tabs.
- Click OK.
- Save macro presentations as .pptm.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.