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

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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

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-06-29T15:27:03+00:00

    I followed this and it "worked" but my slide numbers need to be white and centered.  Using this method I have numbers that are gray and right justified in their text box.  And I can't see any way to reformat them without selecting them on every slide???

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-03-05T15:29:18+00:00

    Many thanks to Echo S. for pointing me in the right direction.  This is what worked for me:

    1. In View > Slide Master, go to each slide (starting with the 1st one) and delete all the Date/Footer/Slide Number placeholders.  Close out of Slide Master View.
    2. Click on Arrange > Selection Pane.  For each corrupt slide, click on the Slide Number Placeholder and delete it.
    3. Go to the first slide, Insert > Header and Footer > Uncheck Slide Number > Apply to all.
    4. Go back to Slide Master > Master Layout > make sure Date/Footer/Slide Number are checked.
    5. For each sub slide, make sure Footer is checked in the Master Layout ribbon area.  Close out of Slide Master View.
    6. Click on the first slide > Insert > Slide Number > Check Slide Number > Apply to all.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-12-20T17:45:26+00:00

    Two more ideas:  I found it useful to delete unused formats in the master and combine remaining so I have only a few to deal with.  Then do the steps to add page numbers.  If still not showing, try changing the layout slide by slide to these new layouts.

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-10-04T08:49:38+00:00

    Thank you, had spent hours on this ridiculous problem, but you fixed it.

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