Presenting in Presentation mode and switching to different application to demo

Question

I need to be able to present my PowerPoint presentation from a laptop with no option for a dual monitor to a projector in presentation mode.  This part is easy and I can do no problem, the issue is when I need to switch to different application without leaving the presentation mode as I will be going back to it I can not display the other application.  It will only show an empty desktop with the taskbar at the bottom and the application I am trying to demo highlighted.

If I chose to present the PowerPoint not in presentation mode I do not have this issue at all and can switch back and forth with ease. How can I do this in presentation mode???

Answer 1

This is VERY typical of what you see when the app you're switching to was last open on a second monitor, or somehow got moved entirely off-screen; it happens sometimes.

Alt+Tab until you've chosen the missing app, then press Alt+Spacebar M

Then use the (probably) left arrow key to move the app back onto your screen.

Answer 2

Your description isn't entirely clear, but I wonder if you've tried presenting your slide show in a window.

Choose Slide Show>Set Up Slide Show, then choose Browsed by an individual (window). This setting will present without taking up the whole screen, which makes it easier to open other applications and files.

As an alternative, you can create links in your presentation that will open the other applications from within the show. This approach make create other warning dialogs asking if this is safe, do you want to do this, etc.