Share via

page numbers not showing on slides

Anonymous
2010-02-04T18:16:13+00:00

the page numbers i try to place using footer and slide numbers boxes will not show.  background appears to be blocking it.

Microsoft 365 and Office | PowerPoint | For home | Windows

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments

Answer accepted by question author

  1. Anonymous
    2010-02-04T22:19:23+00:00

    the page numbers i try to place using footer and slide numbers boxes will not show.  background appears to be blocking it.

    Hi

    Did you use Insert -> Header & Footer? Check to see if the page number placeholder is truned on on the Master - View -> Slide Master -> Slide Master tab -> Master Layout -> check 'Slide Number' is ticked. If it is and you still can't see it it may be behind another element on the slide master - select the 'mother' master (the big one at the top) then Home -> Select drop down -> Selection Pane -> select 'Slide Number Placeholder' -> click the re-order up button (at the bottom of the taskpane) until the slide number placeholder is at the top.

    If none of that works, let us know exactly what you have tried and exactly what is happening. Also, if the file was created in a previous version or has been edited in a previous version.

    Lucy


    Lucy Thomson

    PowerPoint MVP

    an easier tomorrow

    100+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments

42 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
  1. Anonymous
    2012-11-08T20:07:15+00:00

    I had this very same problem and none of the solutions above worked.  However, I think I found a quick fix if you are in a pinch.

    Go to "View" on the ribbon and open the slide master view.  On the top-level master (the big slide that's pinned and starred) add the slide numbers through the usual way.  This should make a text box appear in the lower right with <#> appearing in it.  If this does not work, try making a new text box and just put <#> in it.  Then copy this text box and paste it into all of the child slides below that master.  Repeat for all slides and then try inserting slide numbers again.

    It is a little more manual but if you are in need of a fast fix, this should handle it for you.

    Hope that helps!

    60+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2012-10-18T15:20:58+00:00

    Under: slide master/insert/header&footer

    If I select: "don't show on title slide" then the slide number doesn't show up on any slides.

    I found this was because all of my slides were set up as "Title Slides"

    If I remember right, previous PP had "don't show on first slide"

    Now I have to figure out how to deal with Title vs Non-Title slides.

    For now I just covered up the number on the first slide.

    30+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2011-08-01T17:04:33+00:00

    Problem solved...unfortunately, it requires checking the Slide Number box under Insert --> Header & Footer on each slide.  "Apply to all" isn't working but at least I now have slide numbers on my slides.

    20+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2012-10-15T15:00:52+00:00

    Firstly, thank you to everyone that has contributed answers. Unfortunately none of these things are working for me. A key point: When I click slide numbers in the headers and footers dialog box, they don't show up and when I go back, they're not checked anymore.

    I've been keeping the selection pane open and haven't seen them pop up in there either...Any more ideas?

    20+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments