To turn off all animations in a PowerPoint presentation without deleting them, go to Slide Show > Set Up Slide Show, check Show without animation, and click OK. Your slideshow will play with no animations, but they stay in the file in case you want them back. To also remove slide transitions, go to the Transitions tab, choose None, and click Apply To All. To delete animations permanently, open the Animation Pane on each slide, select all effects, and press Delete.
Here’s how each option works in PowerPoint for Microsoft 365, 2021, 2019, 2016, and 2013, plus Mac and web differences.
Which option should you use?
| Goal | What to do | Reversible? |
|---|---|---|
| Play the slideshow without animations | Set Up Slide Show > Show without animation | Yes, just uncheck it |
| Remove slide transitions | Transitions > None > Apply To All | Only with Undo |
| Delete animations from slides | Animation Pane > select all > Delete | Only with Undo |
| Delete one animation | Select its number on the slide > Delete | Only with Undo |
Method 1: Show without animation (keeps them in the file)
- Click the Slide Show tab.
- Click Set Up Slide Show.
- Under Show options, check Show without animation.
- Click OK.
This setting is saved with the presentation, so it applies wherever you open the file. It doesn’t affect slide transitions.
Method 2: Remove all slide transitions
- Click the Transitions tab.
- Click None in the transition gallery.
- Click Apply To All.
Also check the Timing group. If After has a time set, slides advance automatically. Uncheck it if you want to advance manually.
Method 3: Delete animations permanently
- Go to a slide and click Animations > Animation Pane.
- Click inside the Animation Pane and press Ctrl + A to select all effects on that slide.
- Press Delete.
- Repeat for each slide that has animations. Slides with animations show a small star icon in the thumbnail pane.
A shortcut on each slide: select everything with Ctrl + A (click an empty area of the slide first), then click None in the Animations gallery.
PowerPoint for Mac and the web
- Mac: Slide Show > Set Up Slide Show > Show without animation works the same way.
- Web: PowerPoint for the web doesn’t have the Show without animation option. Remove animations from the Animations pane on each slide, or use the desktop app.
Why turn off animations?
- They can slow down presentations, especially on older computers or remote meetings.
- Some viewers find motion distracting or uncomfortable.
- When exporting to PDF or printing, animations don’t carry over anyway.
To open every file in the same view, see changing the default view in PowerPoint.
Frequently asked questions
Does Show without animation remove animations from the file?
No. They’re still there. Uncheck the option to play them again.
Can I remove all animations from every slide at once?
PowerPoint doesn’t have a one-click option for all slides. Use Show without animation, or delete them slide by slide. Some add-ins and macros can do it in bulk.
Why do animations still play in Presenter View?
Check that you set the option in the presentation you’re actually presenting, and that Set Up Slide Show was saved with the file.
How do I stop Google Slides from animating?
Click Slide > Transition, set each transition and animation to None. See how to make Google Slides play automatically for timing options.
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.