How to add music to a PowerPoint slideshow to make your presentation more engaging

You can add any MP3, MP4, WAV, or AAC file on your computer to your PowerPoint presentation, and adjust the settings so that it plays across slides if you want to.
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It's true that Microsoft PowerPoint is a business program made for creating official-looking presentations for school or office settings but that doesn't mean you can't use it to make your presentations fun, too.

One way to spice up a presentation is to add music in a business setting, it'll be unexpected, and the fun surprise may just make your colleagues sit up straighter, pay attention, and maybe even enjoy the meeting.

This feature can also give a little extra umph to a school presentation for example, a presentation on America in the '60s could be enhanced by the addition of some Motown music in the background.

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How to add music to a PowerPoint presentation

1. At the top of the PowerPoint screen, on the toolbar, click the "Insert" tab.

2. Under "Insert, on the right side of the screen, click "Audio."

How to add music to PowerPoint 1 Melanie Weir/Business Insider

3. If you're using a PC, click the option for "Audio on My PC." If you're using a Mac, click the option for "Audio from File" or "Audio Browser."

Note: You can also record your own sound if you select "Record Audio."

How to add music to PowerPoint 2 Melanie Weir/Business Insider

4. Locate the file you'd like to use, then click "Insert" in the dialog box. You can use MP3, MP4, WAV, or AAC files.

How to add music to PowerPoint 3 Melanie Weir/Business Insider

5. The file will appear on your PowerPoint as a little playback bar. You can use this to control the song. Move it to a part of your slide where it won't be in the way.

How to add music to PowerPoint 4 Melanie Weir/Business Insider

6. If you want the sound to play throughout the presentation, rather than just on the slide that the audio file is located on, click on the file to bring up the "Playback" tab on the toolbar at the top of your screen, and click on it.

How to add music to PowerPoint 5 Melanie Weir/Business Insider

7. Directly underneath the "Playback" tab, click the option for "Play in Background" to play the sound throughout.

Adjust any other options you want in this tab, like volume, fade in and out, and looping. When you're finished, return to the home tab to continue working on your presentation, or click save to finish.

How to add music to PowerPoint 6 Melanie Weir/Business Insider

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