page numbers not showing on slides

Anonymous
2010-02-04T18:16:13+00:00

the page numbers i try to place using footer and slide numbers boxes will not show.  background appears to be blocking it.

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Anonymous
2010-02-04T22:19:23+00:00

the page numbers i try to place using footer and slide numbers boxes will not show.  background appears to be blocking it.

Hi

Did you use Insert -> Header & Footer? Check to see if the page number placeholder is truned on on the Master - View -> Slide Master -> Slide Master tab -> Master Layout -> check 'Slide Number' is ticked. If it is and you still can't see it it may be behind another element on the slide master - select the 'mother' master (the big one at the top) then Home -> Select drop down -> Selection Pane -> select 'Slide Number Placeholder' -> click the re-order up button (at the bottom of the taskpane) until the slide number placeholder is at the top.

If none of that works, let us know exactly what you have tried and exactly what is happening. Also, if the file was created in a previous version or has been edited in a previous version.

Lucy


Lucy Thomson

PowerPoint MVP

an easier tomorrow

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42 additional answers

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-07-27T00:56:56+00:00

    I was having the same trouble where page #s were showing up only on certain pages even after I had selected the insert "Slide Number" and "Page Number" from the Slide Master view.

    I decided close the Slide Master view and to copy one of the page numbers from the bottom right of a slide and simply paste into into another slide in the same presentation. It worked, the pasted slide number changed by itself to match the actual slide # position in the presentation.  I pasted those same slide numbers into all of the slides one by one and they properly displayed the correct page #s.

    Even after slides were deleted or moved into different positions, the page numbers remained in order!

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-05-11T06:51:31+00:00

    Assuming the transition slides have a different Custom Layout (If not create one) Then try going to that layout and deleting the number placeholder. You my have to go to Insert Headers & Footers - Untick > Apply to all and then go back and tick it > apply to all to get it to update.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-05-27T22:38:25+00:00

    Nothing works.

    1. When I try to insert header/footer, as others have reported, I will click "page number" and then go out. No page numbers. When I go back in "page number" box has been unclicked. Doesn't matter if I click "don't show on first slide"or not.
    2. Tried the slide master. There, "insert page number' was already checked yet no page numbers. I added the <#> manually and that is what showed--literally <#>. WTF is going on? In past versions of PPt it was no big deal to add page numbers.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-03-25T06:12:36+00:00

    Thank you so much TomSwanson! This was the only solution that worked for me.

    Nothing else would make the page numbers display.

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