Selecting the Blank presentation option allows you to start a presentation from

PowerPoint for the web comes with themes—sets of professionally designed layouts, fonts, and colors. After you select a theme, all your slides will follow that look.

Choose a theme when you create a new presentation

You can quickly apply a theme when you're starting a new presentation:

1. On the File tab, click New.

2. Select a theme.

   

Change the theme design or color of an existing presentation

1. On the Design tab, pick a theme.

   

2. Select from one of the four color variations for that theme.

   

Start with a blank presentation

If you want a blank white presentation to start with, create a Blank Presentation.

1. On the File tab, click New.

2. Select Blank Presentation.

   A new presentation opens with a white background.

Change a colorful theme to a blank one

Every presentation has a theme, but you can make yours blank by selecting the Office Theme.

1. On the Design tab, in the Themes group, select the first theme at the top left of the gallery, Office Theme.

   

Custom themes

PowerPoint for the web doesn't offer the ability to save a custom theme. If you'd like to see this feature added to PowerPoint for the web, let us know by providing us feedback. See How do I give feedback on Microsoft Office? for more information.

Change the background of your slides

You can simply change your slide background without using a theme. For more information, see Change the background of your slides.

Apply a theme to one slide?

Themes apply to all slides in a presentation. But if you are an Microsoft 365 business subscriber, you can use Designer to get design ideas for individual slides while working with a blank presentation. For more information, see Create professional slide layouts with PowerPoint Designer.

See Also

Change the background of your slides in PowerPoint for the web

With PowerPoint on your PC, Mac, or mobile device:

• Create presentations from scratch or a template.

• Add text, images, art, and videos.

• Select a professional design with PowerPoint Designer.

• Add transitions, animations, and motion.

• Save to OneDrive, to get to your presentations from your computer, tablet, or phone.

• Share and work with others, wherever they are.

Create a presentation

1. Open PowerPoint.

2. In the left pane, select New.

3. Select an option:

   • To create a presentation from scratch, select Blank Presentation.

   • To use a prepared design, select one of the templates.

   • To see tips for using PowerPoint, select Take a Tour, and then select Create, .

Add a slide

1. In the thumbnails on the left pane, select the slide you want your new slide to follow.

2. In the Home tab, in the Slides section, select New Slide.

3. In the Slides section, select Layout, and then select the layout you want from the menu.

Add and format text

1. Place the cursor inside a text box, and then type something.

2. Select the text, and then select one or more options from the Font section of the Home tab, such as Font, Increase Font Size, Decrease Font Size, Bold, Italic, Underline, etc.

3. To create bulleted or numbered lists, select the text, and then select Bullets or Numbering.

Add a picture, shape, and more

1. Go to the Insert tab.

2. To add a picture:

   • In the Images section, select Pictures.

   • In the Insert Picture From menu, select the source you want.

   • Browse for the picture you want, select it, and then select Insert.

3. To add illustrations:

   • In the Illustrations section, select Shapes, Icons, 3D Models, SmartArt, or Chart.

   • In the dialog box that opens when you click one of the illustration types, select the item you want and follow the prompts to insert it.