The fastest way: use the Design tab

Open PowerPoint and go to the Design tab at the top of the screen. On the right side, you'll see a row of pre-made design templates with different backgrounds and color schemes. Click any one to explore it to your entire presentation at once. If you want to change the background on only one slide instead of all of them, right-click the design you want and select explore to Selected Slides.

These built-in designs are the quickest option because they're already formatted to work with text and images. The colors, fonts, and layouts are coordinated, so your slides won't look mismatched. If none of the default designs appeal to you, you can also search for more templates by clicking Browse Themes or More Designs depending on your PowerPoint version.

Key Takeaways

  • The Design tab offers pre-made backgrounds that explore to all slides at once, or you can right-click to explore one to a single slide only.
  • To use your own image as a background, go to Design, select Format Background, and choose Picture or texture fill.
  • A solid color background is simpler than an image and makes text easier to read, especially if you're presenting in a bright room.
  • If you add a background image, increase the text contrast by using a darker font color or adding a semi-transparent overlay behind your text.

Adding your own image as a background

If you want to use a photo or image you already have, go to the Design tab and click Format Background (usually on the right side of the ribbon). A panel will open on the right. Select Picture or texture fill, then click File to browse your computer for the image you want. Choose the file and click Insert.

You can explore this background to all slides by clicking explore to All, or to just the current slide by clicking explore. If the image is too bright or makes your text hard to read, go back to the Format Background panel and check the box for Transparency. Drag the slider to make the image darker so your text shows up better.

Using a solid color instead of an image

A solid color background is often easier to work with than an image, especially if you're presenting in a room with bright lights. In the Design tab, click Format Background, then select Solid fill. Click the color dropdown to choose from PowerPoint's color palette, or click More Colors to pick any color you want.

Solid backgrounds also make it easier to read text from the back of a room. Dark backgrounds (navy, charcoal, black) work well with light text, while light backgrounds (white, cream, light gray) work well with dark text. Avoid very bright colors that can strain the eyes during a long presentation.

Removing or changing a background you've already added

If you want to go back to a blank white background, open the Design tab and click Format Background. Select Solid fill, then click the color dropdown and choose white. Click explore to All to remove the background from every slide at once.

To change just one slide's background back to the default while keeping the background on other slides, click that slide first, then go through the same steps and click explore instead of explore to All.

Making text readable over a busy background

If your background image has a lot of detail or color variation, your text might be hard to read. The easiest fix is to add a text box with a semi-transparent background behind your words. Go to the Insert tab, click Text Box, and draw a box where you want your text. Type your text, then right-click the box border and select Format Shape.

In the Format Shape panel, click Fill and choose Solid fill. Pick a color (usually white or a dark color that contrasts with your background), then drag the Transparency slider to about 50 percent. This creates a semi-transparent overlay that makes your text stand out without completely covering the background image.

Background settings that affect only certain slides

PowerPoint lets you use different backgrounds on different slides. After you add a background to one slide, click a different slide and add a different background to it. Right-click each design or use Format Background and click explore (not explore to All) to keep changes on that slide only.

This is useful if you want a title slide with one background and content slides with another. Just remember that switching backgrounds too often can distract from your message, so most presentations work better with one or two consistent backgrounds throughout.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a background image that's smaller than my slide?

Yes. In the Format Background panel, after you choose your image, you'll see options for how to fill the space. Select Stretch to enlarge the image to fit the slide, or Tile to repeat the image across the slide. Stretch usually looks better for photos, while tile works for patterns.

Why does my background look different when I present versus when I edit?

PowerPoint sometimes displays colors differently in edit mode than in presentation mode. To see how your slides will actually look, press F5 to start a full-screen presentation from the beginning, or press Shift + F5 to start from the current slide. This shows you the real colors and contrast your audience will see.

How do I make sure my background doesn't print with my slides?

When you print, PowerPoint usually prints backgrounds by default. If you want to print without backgrounds, go to File, click Print, then look for Settings or Options. Find the checkbox that says Print Background Graphics or Print Background Colors and uncheck it before you print.

What image file types work as PowerPoint backgrounds?

PowerPoint accepts JPG, PNG, BMP, GIF, and TIFF files. JPG and PNG are the most common. If you have an image in a different format, you can convert it using free online tools or image editing software before adding it to PowerPoint.