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Windows users - Create a narrated video using PowerPoint

Find out how to add narration to your PowerPoint presentations.

What you’ll need

  • A microphone to record your voice.
  • Headphones or speakers to listen back to your audio.
  • A built-in camera or webcam if you need to appear on screen.
  • The desktop version of PowerPoint (the web version can’t record narration).
    • You can download Microsoft 365 desktop apps for free on up to five devices using your University account. .

Before you start recording

  • Read your assessment brief carefully so that you understand the requirements and can ensure your video meets them.
  • Test your setup early. Do a quick recording on your title slide (with your camera on if needed). Play it back to check that the sound and video quality are good.
  • Confirm that you can save your recording as an .mp4 file and play it back.

Recording tips

PowerPoint records narration one slide at a time, which helps you:

  • Rerecord only the slide you want if you make a mistake.
  • Reorder your slides without losing any narration.
  • Pause between slides and take breaks while recording.
  • When recording each slide, pause for a second before you start speaking and for another second when you finish. This makes slide transitions smoother in the final video.

Saving and uploading your video

  • When you export your video, choose HD 720p.
  • Make sure your final file is under 1 GB.
  • Uploading large files to Blackboard can be slow. If your home internet struggles, try uploading on campus for faster speeds.
  • Plan ahead—give yourself plenty of time to record, export, and upload before the deadline.

How to record your narration

Screenshot of Microsoft PowerPoint showing the ribbon menu, with the “Slide Show†tab and the “Record†button highlighted to indicate where to record a narrated presentation.
Figure 1. Open your PowerPoint presentation and find the Record button.

 

  1. Open your presentation file in PowerPoint and choose the Record button in the top right of the screen. Recording narration is also available via the Record tab and the Slide Show tab.

Screenshot of PowerPoint’s recording view with a slide titled “Using PowerPoint to create narrated presentations,†recording controls at the top (including a red record button), slide thumbnails and annotation tools, and a small webcam video preview in the corner.
Figure 2. The PowerPoint recording screen.

  1. Make sure your microphone is switched on. Switch on your camera if required. You can change your camera or microphone via the Select more options <…> button.
  1. Select the Views button to switch between Autocue/Teleprompter, Presenter View, or Slide View. Any information you have added to the Notes area of PowerPoint will appear on screen as you record.
  1. If switching on your camera, choose between Show Background or Blur Background using the Select the camera mode option.
  1. Use the central Start recording button and start speaking after the countdown.
  1. If you use the onscreen laser, coloured pens, or highlighters to markup slides, this will be captured in the recording.
  1. Select the Stop button to finishing adding narration for the slide. You can use the Pause button to take a quick break and select Resume recording to continue.
  1. Select the Play button to review the recording for the slide. A speaker icon will appear on the slide. 
  1. Repeat this process for each slide in your presentation, using the Advance and Return buttons to navigate between your slides. 
  1. Use the Retake button to re-record narration for an individual slide, or choose Clear recordings on… Current Slide / All Slides via the Select more options dots (…)
  1. The Timestamps area shows the narration timing for the slide on display and for the overall recordings for the whole presentation. It will update as you add narration to your slides.
  1. Select the Edit button, or press the Escape key, to return to PowerPoint’s ‘Normal’ view.

Export/Save your presentation as a video file

Screenshot of PowerPoint’s recording interface showing the “Export†option highlighted at the top and the “Customise Export†button highlighted in the export panel, with options to export the presentation as a video.
Figure 3. After selecting the Export button on the recording screen, choose Customise Export.
  1. From the Recording screen click on the Export button.
  1. Choose the Customize Export option to give you access to additional settings.

Screenshot of Microsoft PowerPoint’s Export screen with “Create a Video†selected. The HD (720p) quality option and the “Create Video†button are highlighted with red boxes.
Figure 4. Choose video resolution HD (720p).
  1. Reduce the size of the video file by selecting the University recommended option of Video resolution HD (720p).
  1. Your Recorded timings and narrations will be automatically set by PowerPoint.
  1. Click on the Create Video button.
  1. Save the file to your device as an mp4 file type. You will see a progress bar in the bottom of the PowerPoint window as the file is generated.
  2. Check that your exported video can be played back and is in mp4 file format.

Need more help?

Watch our step-by-step video, .