PowerPoint Designer is missing

Question

I have PowerPoint 2016 (Office 365 ProPlus version 1705 build 8201.2213) installed but I do not seem to have PowerPoint Designer.

The Designer pane dosn't pop up automatically when I insert images (I am not using a presentation with a default theme and I am using the Title Slide layout.

If I go to File->Options->General, I also do not see the Designer or Intelligent Services options.

I suspect that the issue may be a setting on our Group Policy but that's just a suspicion and if that is the case, I can't work out which setting is the problem.

Could anyone shed any light on what is required to enable PowerPoint Designer?

Thanks

Julie

Answer 1

I have now worked out what was causing this issue so thought I would post the solution in case it helps anyone else.

The issue was caused by the Office 2016\Privacy\Trust Center\Send personal information Group Policy setting.

Not configuring this GPO setting enables both PowerPoint Designer and Smart Lookup.

Thanks to all those who responded to this question.

Julie

Answer 2

Hi Julie,

On my end, I checked on the same version which you have Version 1705 (Build 8201.2213) and I do see Office intelligent services and PowerPoint Designer option in General tab under File>Options.

Your suspicion could be right. There are ways to disable Office intelligent services and PowerPoint Designer using group policy.

If you have the rights, please check the following registry if they are set to disable:

1. Right click Start menu, click Run.
2. Type regedit to open registry editor.
3. In Registry Editor, locate and then click the following subkey:
   • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\common\internet
   • Locate Useonlinecontent and {0c5d3462-986c-48c2-8ab7-7c643d1368a9} check if the Value is set 0
4. Locate the following subkey:
   • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Internet
   • Locate UseOnlineContent, check if the value is set to 0

Additionally, you can double-check with your admin to confirm if there’s any other group policy set.

Moreover, if you have Office 365 ProPlus installed on your personal PC, you can check if you can use PowerPoint designer.

Thanks,

Neha

Answer 3

Group policy options for PowerPoint Designer can be looked up using the available administrative templates for it: 

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/DeployOffice/best-practices/best-practices-group-policy-and-office-365-proplus?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US

Answer 4

Good catch. If the theme is not one that comes with PowerPoint, the designer won’t work.

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/About-PowerPoint-Designer-53c77d7b-dc40-45c2-b684-81415eac0617

Answer 5

*"*I am not using a presentation with a default theme"

You might want to explain what you mean by this.

Also are you SURE you have a 365 Subscription version?