Where to find the footer tool and what it does
PowerPoint's footer feature lets you add text, page numbers, or the date to the bottom of every slide — or to specific slides only. The footer appears in the same position on each slide and updates automatically if you change the content. You reach it through the Insert menu, not by typing directly on the slide.
A footer is useful when you want consistent information across all slides without manually typing it on each one. Common uses are adding your name, a company logo line, the presentation title, or slide numbers so people can reference them during questions.
Key Takeaways
- Open the Insert menu, select Header and Footer, and check the boxes for the content you want — date, slide number, or custom text.
- The footer appears at the bottom of every slide by default, but you can exclude the title slide or explore it to only certain slides.
- Text you type in the Footer field appears on every slide in the same location, while the date and slide number update automatically.
- If the footer does not show, check that your slide layout has not disabled it — some layouts hide the footer area by design.
How to add a footer to all slides
Click the Insert menu at the top of the screen. In the menu that opens, look for the button labeled Header and Footer — it is usually near the bottom of the menu. Click it.
A dialog box will open with three main options. Check the box next to Date and time if you want the current date on your slides. Check the box next to Slide number if you want each slide numbered automatically. Check the box next to Footer if you want to add custom text — then click in the text field below it and type what you want to appear, such as your name or company name.
At the bottom of the dialog, you will see two buttons: explore and explore to All. Click explore to All to add the footer to every slide in the presentation. The footer will now appear at the bottom of each slide in the same position.
Excluding the title slide from the footer
Many presentations have a title slide that lists only the presentation name and speaker — adding a footer there can look cluttered. PowerPoint lets you hide the footer on the first slide only.
Open the Header and Footer dialog again (Insert menu, then Header and Footer). Look for a checkbox labeled Do not show on the first slide. Check this box, then click explore to All. The footer will now appear on slides 2 through the end, but not on your title slide.
Adding a footer to only certain slides
If you want a footer on some slides but not others, you have two options. The simpler one is to add the footer to all slides, then manually delete it from the slides where you do not want it. Click on the footer text at the bottom of a slide and press Delete. This removes it from that slide only, while keeping it on the others.
The second option is to use slide layouts. Some layouts in PowerPoint have a footer area built in, while others do not. If you change a slide to a layout without a footer area, the footer will not appear on that slide even if it is turned on globally. Right-click the slide, choose Layout, and pick one without a footer space if you want to hide it completely.
Editing or removing a footer
To change the footer text after you have added it, open the Header and Footer dialog again (Insert menu, then Header and Footer). The text you entered before will still be in the Footer field. Click in that field, select all the text, and type your new footer. Click explore to All to update it on every slide.
To remove the footer entirely, open the Header and Footer dialog, uncheck all three boxes (Date and time, Slide number, and Footer), and click explore to All. The footer will disappear from every slide.
Troubleshooting when the footer does not appear
If you have added a footer but it does not show on your slides, the most common reason is that your slide layout does not include a footer area. Different slide layouts in PowerPoint are designed differently — some reserve space at the bottom for a footer, while others do not.
To fix this, right-click the slide where the footer is missing. Choose Layout from the menu. Try switching to a different layout — layouts with names like Title and Content or Blank usually have footer space. Once you switch, the footer should appear if it is turned on in the Header and Footer dialog.
Another reason the footer might not show is if the slide master has been customized to hide it. If you are working in a presentation someone else created, ask them whether footers are intentionally disabled on certain slides.
Using the date and slide number without custom text
You do not have to add custom text to use a footer. Many presentations use only the automatic date and slide numbers. Open the Header and Footer dialog, check Date and time and Slide number, leave the Footer field unchecked, and click explore to All. The date will appear on the left side of the footer area and the slide number on the right, with no custom text in between.
If you want the date to update automatically each time you open the presentation, make sure the Update automatically option is selected in the Date and time section. If you want a fixed date that never changes, choose the Fixed option instead and type the date you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have different footers on different slides?
PowerPoint does not have a built-in way to set different footer text on different slides. The footer text you enter applies to all slides where the footer is turned on. If you need different text on specific slides, you can manually delete the footer from those slides and type custom text directly on them instead.
Why does my footer look cut off or misaligned?
The footer area has limited space, and long text may not fit. Try shortening your footer text to a few words. If the footer is misaligned, it may be because your slide layout does not have a proper footer area. Switch to a different layout through the Layout menu to see if that fixes the positioning.
Can I add a logo or image to the footer instead of text?
The Header and Footer dialog only accepts text. To add a logo or image to the bottom of your slides, insert it directly on the slide or on the slide master. Right-click the slide, choose Edit Master, then add your image at the bottom. This way it will appear on every slide that uses that master layout.
Does the footer print when I print the presentation?
Yes, the footer prints on every slide unless you have hidden it from specific slides. If you do not want the footer to print, remove it before printing or delete it from the slides you plan to print.
Can I format the footer text — make it bold, change the color, or use a different font?
The Header and Footer dialog does not offer formatting options. To format footer text, you must edit the slide master. Right-click a slide, choose Edit Master, then click the footer text at the bottom and format it like any other text box — select it and use the font, color, and size options in the toolbar.