Why can't I get my slide numbers to show?

Anonymous
2010-07-09T22:52:05+00:00

I have tried other answers to similar questions, but it still will not work.  I am using PowerPoint 2010, and have loaded a template that was created in a previous (not sure which) version.

I finished and saved my presentation.  I have gone to the master slide viewer and added slide numbers in the "Insert" menu.

I then do the same from the regular view of the presentation.  Each time I go in, the option is again unchecked, even after I apply to all.  I have changed this in the print page as well, only to have the "Print Slides" checkbox clear itself once I click Apply To All. 

I have repeatedly tried to remove the data and page numbers as well, but they also magically reappear...

Microsoft 365 and Office | PowerPoint | For home | Windows

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2010-07-10T13:22:26+00:00

Edited November 18, 2015, to add this information:

Microsoft has started using powerpoint.uservoice.com for feature and bug fix requests from the PowerPoint community. Have an issue that's not getting the attention you want? Post it on uservoice and then talk to your friends about throwing some votes at it! I added the slide number/header-footer issue; now let's vote it up!

http://powerpoint.uservoice.com/forums/288949-powerpoint-for-windows-desktop-application/suggestions/10609608-make-it-easier-to-get-my-slide-numbers-and-date-a

For now, here's what we're stuck with:

You need two things for a slide number -- a placeholder, and to populate the placeholder.

PowerPoint messes up the whole structure -- or seems to -- when you open 2003 and prior files in 2007 and 2010 (and 2013 and 2016). They really mucked stuff up! It's partly because the whole masters paradigm is different now, but they still blew it. (Trust me, I've complained mightily to the PPT developers about it. I will continue to do so.)

Here's the most straightforward way to fix them that I know.

Go to the slide master (the big thumbnail), select any footer / slide number boxes and delete them. Now look at the slide layouts (little thumbnails). Delete any footers / date / slide number boxes on each layout.

You shouldn't have to do this part, I know. But because it's all messed up, this is the most surefire way I know to correct the issues.

Now go back to the Slide Master (big thumbnail), click Master Layout on the Ribbon and tick the boxes for date, slide number, and footer. Format and position the placeholders as desired.

Now select each slide layout and tick the Footers box on the Ribbon.

Then close Master View.

Now go to Insert | Header and Footer (or Insert | Slide Number is fine, too) and tick the box there for slide number. The slide number placeholder you created should be populated with the slide number.

The key here is having the placeholder on all the slide layouts. When you add the placeholders to the slide master (big thumbnail), the associated slide layouts (little thumbnail) should inherit them. But part of the problem is that any "leftover" layouts from PPT 2003 don't always inherit the footer (and date and slide number) placeholders properly.

And there's other weird stuff that goes on.

The other thing is, if you paste or insert other existing slides, you may need to do this all over again. That's because you may end up with additional slide masters or layouts after pasting in slides. So I recommend you do it after you've added all the slides you're going to add.

Hopefully this will get you going.

-- Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com

Was this answer helpful?

200+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

55 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2016-02-23T13:23:43+00:00

    Thanks!   This fix worked.   Somehow another user overlaid the footer with an empty box.   After deleting it, the original footer is now visible.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2015-11-18T21:58:53+00:00

    Thanks for the info, Claudio. I'm surprised that after you added the placeholders to the master, turning them off and then on again on the individual layouts didn't work. I'm glad you found something that did the trick for you.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2015-11-18T09:19:20+00:00

    Dear Echo S,

    the method suggested by you worked for me, with a final modification: I needed to copy and paste all placeholders created (for slide number, date and text) on each layout, and not only on Master Layout. Inserting just on Master Layout did not provide automatically a copy on all other layouts.

    It is a mistery, for me, about why a user should do a similar procedure... thanks Microsoft developers!!!

    Anyway thanks, I saved a long time!!!

    Claudio

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2015-11-02T21:08:23+00:00

    Using PPT 2013 I was unable to get this technique to work.

    What DID work was from PowerPoint Ninja article  PowerPoint Templates: Beware of the Footers!. 

    The article explains how to remove the footers from the Master Slide and insert a text box with whatever text you're going to add to the page number, then use the Insert tab to insert the page number placeholder into the text box. Check to make sure it's showing on the the slide masters, then back to Normal View and, voila!, page numbers at last!!!!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments