If you are not happy with the default settings in PowerPoint, this article will help you get more out of this slideshow maker app. Here are some of the default PowerPoint settings that you should change in order to enrich your user experience and improve productivity.
Default PowerPoint settings you should change
Some of the default PowerPoint settings you should change are as follows; this will enrich your user experience and improve productivity:
- Change default view
- Enable Ruler, Gridlines, and Guides
- Change default save location
- Use pen to interact with content
- Always print in high quality
- Require Applications Add-ins to be signed by Trusted Publisher
- Stop sending Optional diagnostic data
To learn more about these steps, continue reading.
1] Change default view
The default View format of PowerPoint is Normal. However, there are more other options that you can opt for. For example, you can switch to Outline View, Slide Sorter, Notes Page, and Reading View. If you want to change the default view format, you need to open the PowerPoint Options wizard and switch to the Advanced tab first. Then, find the Open all documents using this view menu, and choose the format you like.
2] Enable Ruler, Gridlines, and Guides
At times, you might need to use the ruler, gridlines, etc., to align objects in your slides. However, PowerPoint doesn’t enable them by default. Therefore, follow these steps to turn them on:
- Open the PowerPoint app on your PC.
- Switch to the View tab.
- Head to the Show section.
- Tick the corresponding checkboxes.
TIP: Change these default Outlook settings to boost productivity
3] Change default save location
By default, PowerPoint saves all files in the Documents folder. Many times, you might need to have a different location for storing your files. That is why you can follow these steps to change the default save location:
- Open PowerPoint Options.
- Go to the Save tab.
- Head to the Default local file location section.
- Enter the new location.
- Click the OK button.
4] Use pen to interact with content
If you use a pen to access various things on your computer, this setting is for you. By default, your pen doesn’t interact with the content in PowerPoint. However, you can enable this setting to get it working with PowerPoint content:
- Open the PowerPoint Options panel.
- Go to the Advanced tab.
- Find the Pen section.
- Tick the Use pen to select and interact with content by default checkbox.
- Click the OK button.
5] Always print in high quality
Even if your slides have HD images, they get printed in normal quality as the text. If you want to print in high quality, you need to enable this setting:
- Open PowerPoint Options wizard.
- Switch to the Advanced tab.
- Head to the Print section.
- Tick the High quality checkbox.
- Click the OK button.
6] Require Applications Add-ins to be signed by Trusted Publisher
Like Word and Excel, PowerPoint also allows users to install and use add-ins to enrich the features and options. However, these add-ins could get you into trouble at times. That is why you should always use an add-in signed by Trusted Publisher. However, this feature is not enabled by default. If you want to turn this setting on, you can follow these steps:
- Open PowerPoint Options.
- Click on the Trust Center > Trust Center Settings.
- Switch to the Add-ins tab.
- Tick the Require Application Add-ins to be signed by Trusted Publisher checkbox.
- Click the OK button.
7] Stop sending Optional diagnostic data
Like most of the other Office apps, PowerPoint also sends Optional diagnostic data to the company to make your user experience and app better. This part includes your name, information about apps unrelated to Office, etc. However, if you do not want to do that, you can follow these apps to stop sending Optional diagnostic data:
- Open the PowerPoint Options panel.
- Switch to the Trust Center tab.
- Click on the Trust Center Settings button.
- Go to Privacy Options > Privacy Settings.
- Find the Optional diagnostic data menu.
- Tick the corresponding checkbox.
- Click the OK button.
Read: Default Microsoft Word settings you need to change
Is standard or widescreen better for PowerPoint?
Both monitors have their own advantages and disadvantages. However, in most cases, having a standard screen size performs better than a widescreen monitor. As most people use a standard-size monitor, it becomes quite difficult for the slides to adjust on a widescreen monitor. However, if you have a slideshow presentation for the widescreen monitor, you might find the same problem on a standard monitor as well.
Read: Change these default settings in Excel for better experience.
