Powerpoint

Create accessible presentations with Microsoft PowerPoint

Overview

Text in Microsoft PowerPoint presentations is compatible with assistive technologies which allow individuals with visual impairments to access the content.  

To provide an accessible experience in PowerPoint, follow the core guidelines outlined in the General guidelines for accessible documents and use the built-in accessibility checker before you share the file.  

Accessibility resources for PowerPoint  

Microsoft's accessibility documentation provides tips and best practices for creating inclusive content in PowerPoint. It covers accessibility and how it benefits all audience members. For a list of links that cover key accessibility topics in Microsoft's documentation, see below.

• Best practices for making PowerPoint presentations accessible
• Check accessibility while you work
• Create accessible slides
• Avoid using tables
• Add alt text to visuals
• Create accessible hyperlink text and add ScreenTips
• Use accessible font format and color
• Use captions, subtitles, and alternative audio tracks in videos
• Save your presentation in a different format
• Test accessibility with a screen reader

Accessibility tips for PowerPoint

Provide unique and descriptive titles for all slides 

Titles help users of assistive technology understand the general content of a slide and navigate them more effectively. Each slide should feature a unique and descriptive title, even slides that have the same topics or information as a previous slide. In those cases, add "(cont)" or "(continued)" to make the title unique.

For examples of PowerPoint titles, see the following:

• Best Accessibility Practices for PowerPoint
• Best Accessibility Practices for PowerPoint (Continued) 
• Accessibility Best Practices for PowerPoint (Summary)

View projected content to provide the best possible readability

Most PowerPoint presentations are created to be projected onto a screen for an audience. To provide the best possible readability to your audience, follow the rules below.

• The font size should be at least 24 points for optimal readability. 
• If presenting in a large auditorium, the font size may need to be increased beyond 24 points.
• The color contrast of all text should be verified for high contrast levels. The higher the color contrast, the easier it will be to read the screen from farther away. 

Avoid the use of distracting content features 

PowerPoint provides transition and animation features not found in most other document types. While these features can make a presentation more engaging, they can also be distracting. When you use content features, use the following tips:

• Slide transitions should be simple and brief to minimize any distraction. 
• Avoid using automatic slide transitions, so users have time to consume the content at their own pace.
• Offer two versions of a presentation: one with transitions and animations and one without. This helps ensure that the focus remains on the main content and ideas.