PowerPoint Designer Not Working (Design Ideas Greyed Out)

How to fix it

// try these in order, the most common fix is first

1. FIX 1Sign in with your Microsoft 365 account

   Copy steps
   1. 01Go to File > Account and check the signed-in account
   2. 02Sign out of other accounts, sign in with the subscribed one, restart PowerPoint
   Did this fix it? Yes No

2. FIX 2Turn on connected experiences

   Copy steps
   1. 01Go to File > Account > Account Privacy > Manage Settings
   2. 02Turn on Experiences that analyze your content and All connected experiences
   3. 03Restart PowerPoint
   Did this fix it? Yes No

3. FIX 3Use a supported slide and file

   Copy steps
   1. 01Save the file as .pptx
   2. 02Use a built-in theme and select just one slide
   3. 03Remove ink, lines or extra shapes and try again
   Did this fix it? Yes No

4. FIX 4Re-enable Designer

   Copy steps
   1. 01Go to File > Options > General
   2. 02Tick Automatically show me design ideas
   Did this fix it? Yes No

Symptoms

The Designer / Design Ideas button is greyed out, or the pane shows no suggestions.

Why it happens

• C-01Not signed in with a Microsoft 365 account
• C-02Connected experiences turned off
• C-03No internet connection
• C-04Multiple slides or extra objects selected
• C-05Custom theme or old .ppt format

// this guide also covers

• powerpoint designer not working
• design ideas greyed out
• powerpoint designer missing

Other Microsoft PowerPoint errors

• PowerPoint Not Responding or Freezing
• PowerPoint Won't Open or Crashes on Startup
• PowerPoint Found a Problem With Content
• An Error Occurred While PowerPoint Was Saving the File
• PowerPoint Cannot Play Media (Video Not Playing)
• PowerPoint Presenter View Not Working
• How to Recover an Unsaved PowerPoint
• Copilot Not Showing in PowerPoint