Creating a looping slideshow in Office 365 is a great way to display presentations automatically—whether you’re setting up a kiosk display, a trade show presentation, a classroom display, or a repeating portfolio slideshow. PowerPoint for Office 365 includes built-in looping features that make the process simple and effective.
This guide walks you through everything you need to know about how to loop a PowerPoint slideshow in Office 365, including automatic timing, looping options, and tips to keep your presentation running smoothly.
What Is a Looping Slideshow in PowerPoint?
A looping slideshow is a PowerPoint presentation that repeats continuously from the first slide to the last, then automatically starts over again.
It runs on its own without needing you to click or control anything manually—perfect for hands-free display situations.
How to Loop a Slideshow in PowerPoint for Office 365
Follow these simple steps to make your slideshow loop automatically:
Step 1: Open Your PowerPoint Presentation
Launch PowerPoint on Office 365 and open the presentation you want to loop.
Step 2: Go to the “Slide Show” Tab
On the top ribbon, click Slide Show.
This tab contains all settings related to how your slideshow plays.
Step 3: Click “Set Up Slide Show”
In the Slide Show tab, find and click the Set Up Slide Show button.
A new window will appear with customizable options.
Step 4: Enable “Loop Continuously Until ‘Esc’”
In the Set Up Show window:
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Under Show options, check the box that says Loop continuously until ‘Esc’.
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Under Show type, you can choose:
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Presented by a speaker (full screen) – best for normal looping
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Browsed at a kiosk (full screen) – great for public displays because it disables manual navigation
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Step 5: Set Slide Timings (Required for Looping)
A slideshow cannot loop smoothly if timing is not set.
There are two ways to set timing:
Option A: Use Automatic Timings
If you want each slide to move forward automatically:
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Go to the Transitions tab.
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On the right side, find the Advance Slide settings.
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Uncheck On mouse click.
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Check After and set the time (e.g., 5.00 seconds).
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Click Apply to All to use the same timing for every slide.
Option B: Record Timings
If you want custom timing for each slide:
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Go to the Slide Show tab.
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Click Rehearse Timings.
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PowerPoint will run a preview—advance the slides at your preferred pace.
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Save the timings when prompted.
Step 6: Start the Slideshow
To test the loop:
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Press F5 or click From Beginning.
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The slideshow will run automatically and loop continuously.
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To stop it, press Esc on your keyboard.
How to Loop Only Specific Slides
If you only want certain slides to loop:
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Duplicate the slides you want to loop.
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Move them to the end of your presentation.
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Set the loop to start from the first slide or the selected section.
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Use custom slide shows (Slide Show → Custom Slide Show) for more control.
How to Loop a PowerPoint on Office 365 for Kiosk Mode
Kiosk mode is perfect for unattended displays.
Steps:
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Go to Slide Show → Set Up Slide Show.
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Select Browsed at a kiosk (full screen).
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Turn on Loop continuously until ‘Esc’.
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Set all slides to auto-advance.
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Make sure every slide has a timer, or the show will freeze.
Tips for a Smooth Looping Slideshow
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Keep text minimal for readability.
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Use consistent slide timings for smoother flow.
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Reduce high-motion animations to avoid lag.
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Test your loop before the event.
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Save your file in PPSX format (PowerPoint Show) for instant playback.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I loop a slideshow on an uploaded PowerPoint in OneDrive?
Yes, the loop settings work the same, but animations may vary if viewed in the browser.
2. Does looping work on PowerPoint for Mac (Office 365)?
Yes. The steps are almost identical.
3. Do I need to set slide timings for looping to work?
Yes, automatic timings are required unless you’re manually clicking through slides.
Final Thoughts
Looping a slideshow in PowerPoint for Office 365 is incredibly easy once you know where to find the settings. Whether you’re preparing for a business event, a school fair, a trade booth, or a digital display, looping allows your presentation to run smoothly and automatically without your supervision.
Using the steps above, you can create a professional, fully automated slideshow that repeats as long as you need.
