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How to Use the Laser Pointer in a PowerPoint Presentation

Tap through each step in order.

  1. Start the slide show

    Press "F5" or start the presentation from the "Slide Show" tab.

  2. Right-click and choose Pointer Options β†’ Laser Pointer

    Right-click anywhere on the presentation screen and select "Laser Pointer" under "Pointer Options."

  3. Pick a laser pointer color

    Choose red, green, or blue, whichever stands out most clearly against your slide background.

  4. Move the mouse to point at content

    Your cursor turns into a laser dot, and it follows your mouse to point at whatever part of the slide you're discussing.

  5. Why it is worth using

    Without needing an actual laser pointer device, you can use just the mouse to point at specific parts of a slide, which helps keep an audience's attention focused during a talk.

No physical laser pointer device on hand?

There are times during a talk when you need to point at a specific part of the screen but don't have real laser pointer hardware available. PowerPoint's built-in laser pointer feature lets you point at any part of the slide using nothing but your mouse.

A faster shortcut: hold Ctrl and drag with the left mouse button

Instead of right-clicking through the menu every time, holding down "Ctrl" and dragging with the left mouse button during the slide show temporarily turns your cursor into a laser pointer for as long as you hold the button β€” a quicker way to point at something mid-sentence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still advance slides while the laser pointer is on?

Yes β€” you can still move to the next or previous slide with the arrow keys or a click while the laser pointer mode is active.

Does this work in Presenter View as well?

Yes β€” the same right-click menu is available in Presenter View, so you can activate the laser pointer there too.