MacOS 26.2 Powerpoint Video Looping Artifacts Continue

Anonymous

I recently got a MacBook Pro 14 M4 and updated it to the latest release of MacOS (MacOS 26.2 (25C56)). I then tried presenting a slideshow in powerpoint that has many looping videos and noticed artifacts on the looping videos after the first or second loop. I am using Powerpoint version Version 16.104 (25121423). I have noticed in other Microsoft and apple forums similar complaints and seeing that MacOS 15.1-15.4 seem to work but not resolution after that. Just wanted to see if there were any updates or work arounds for this. I have also contacted Microsoft support but they were not much help. Just wanted to repost this issue here to get the discussion started again on best paths forward.

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Kai-H 26,760 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-12-21T10:18:00.24+00:00
Hi, Murawski, Steven

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum.

Sorry for this frustrating experience that you're facing. Here are some possible workarounds you can try to resolve this issue:

Avoid looping, extend the media duration
- Replace short looped clips with a longer, pre‑stitched video that repeats internally. You can do this quickly in QuickTime Player: open the clip, Command + A, copy, then paste the clip to the end several times, export a single long MP4, and insert that in PowerPoint. Multiple users reported this eliminated artifacts at the cost of larger slide files.
Re‑encode the video for stable looping
- Re‑encode your source videos to H.264 MP4 with Constant Frame Rate (CFR), a modest bitrate, and no variable frame‑rate behavior. If you currently use HEVC, convert to H.264. This has historically reduced macOS AVFoundation edge‑frame issues near loop boundaries, which can present as “pixelation” or dropped frames on repeat.
- Suggested export settings in HandBrake or similar:
  
  Container: MP4
  
  Video codec: H.264 (x264)
  
  Frame rate: Same as source, Constant
  
  Keyframe interval: 2 × frame rate, no “open GOP”
  
  Audio: AAC, 48 kHz
Standardize clip dimensions and frame rate
- Ensure every looping clip on a slide shares identical resolution and frame rate. Mixing 30 fps and 60 fps, or 1080p and 4K in the same slide, increases chances of timeline resync at loop boundaries in AVFoundation.
Disable “Optimize media compatibility” for already‑stable clips
- In PowerPoint for Mac, after inserting the re‑encoded videos, avoid triggering additional optimization unless a clip fails to start. In some builds, re‑optimizing can change GOP structure and reintroduce loop edge artifacts.
Run the show from Keynote or QuickTime when stakes are high
- If the deck is mission‑critical, consider exporting the looping slide segment as a single video and play that video inside PowerPoint, or temporarily move the affected slide to Keynote. Several organizations recommended Keynote as a stopgap specifically for loop stability while waiting on macOS updates.
Test on macOS point releases
- Historically, Apple has addressed media playback regressions in Sequoia point releases. Some users reported a fix in 15.1 for earlier loop issues, then regressions in 15.5–15.6, and fresh reports in 26.x. It is worth testing your deck on any newer Tahoe maintenance update when available, because these changes land in AVFoundation rather than in PowerPoint alone.
Hope this helps. Feel free to get back if you need further assistance.

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Anonymous

2025-12-21T15:38:46.65+00:00

Hi Kai,

Thanks for the quick response with suggested fixes let me just address some of the fixes suggested.

Extend Media Duration

This is definitely a solution that will help avoid having to lop and therefore reduce the chances of artifacting. However, even if I extend my media to be 1 minute long, once it loops it still seems to artifact. In addition, I have many previous slide decks built upon using this looping feature with short media and I can't just go back and extend that media.

Re-Encode Media

Re-Encoding the media to the exact specifications you gave seems to have helped a little bit, however the moment I either resize or crop my media the visual glitching continues.

Standardize Frame rate

I see this issue even with just one looping video on the slide by itself.

Run Powerpoint in Keynote

As a workaround I understand this being the option, but it is ridiculous that I would need to build a slide in PowerPoint, then convert it to Keynote and refix alll the bugs associated with converting the file every time I want to give a presentation.

Test MacOS Point Releases

Yes I will continue to try this and hope its fixed. However, the mentality from Apple's side (both from support and their forum) seem to be that it is Microsoft's responsibility to build an app that is compatible with current and updating MacOS versions.

I understand there are many workarounds but at the end of the day, it seems at some point the PowerPoint app worked well with MacOS and now, in recent updates, seems to have broken. Given the PowerPoint app seems to update in the MacOS app store almost weekly, it would be nice if this would be given high priority as a bug by the Powerpoint dev team. This bug essentially makes Powerpoint unusable for many working professionals on MacOS at the current moment. Is there anyway to know if Microsoft is working on a Powerpoint version that will address this bug or are we just supposed to wait and hope an new version of MacOS fixes this bug?

Best,

Steven

Kai-H 26,760 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-12-22T14:19:36.95+00:00

Hi, Murawski, Steven

Thanks for getting back.

In case the troubleshooting steps didn't work out, you can follow this path to contact Microsoft Support for direct assistance:

Visit this website: Contact - Microsoft Support

Type Contact in the search box.

Now click Get help, and Select Contact Support or Sign in to contact support below.

Go to the Products and services tab, and choose either Microsoft 365 and Office category.

On the Category tab, choose Technical Support.

Go to Confirm.

You can now choose the option of Chat with a support agent on your web browser.

Important Note*: The Chat support team only works at certain work times, (Monday to Friday: 9am to 6pm. Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) so if the last window says you are not available, try to open it again the next day. If you prefer phone support, you can leave a phone number. That way, they can call you and help you. *
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MacOS 26.2 Powerpoint Video Looping Artifacts Continue

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