PowerPoint Not Responding or Freezing

How to fix it

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

1. FIX 1Start PowerPoint in Safe Mode

   Copy steps
   1. 01Close PowerPoint completely
   2. 02Press Windows + R, type powerpoint /safe and press Enter
   3. 03If it works in Safe Mode, an add-in or setting is the cause
   Did this fix it? Yes No

2. FIX 2Disable add-ins

   Copy steps
   1. 01Go to File > Options > Add-ins
   2. 02At the bottom choose COM Add-ins and click Go
   3. 03Untick all add-ins, restart PowerPoint, then re-enable them one by one
   Did this fix it? Yes No

3. FIX 3Update Office and Windows

   Copy steps
   1. 01In PowerPoint go to File > Account > Update Options > Update Now
   2. 02Install pending Windows updates and restart
   Did this fix it? Yes No

4. FIX 4Check the default printer

   Copy steps
   1. 01Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners
   2. 02Set a working printer (or Microsoft Print to PDF) as default
   3. 03Reopen PowerPoint
   Did this fix it? Yes No

5. FIX 5Repair Office

   Copy steps
   1. 01Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps
   2. 02Find Microsoft 365, select Modify
   3. 03Run Quick Repair; if it still freezes, run Online Repair
   Did this fix it? Yes No

6. FIX 6Repair the file

   Copy steps
   1. 01Go to File > Open > Browse
   2. 02Select the file, click the arrow next to Open and choose Open and Repair
   Did this fix it? Yes No

Symptoms

The window shows '(Not Responding)', turns white, or freezes when you open, edit, save or start a slideshow.

Why it happens

• C-01Faulty COM add-in
• C-02Outdated PowerPoint or Windows build
• C-03Broken default printer or driver
• C-04Antivirus scanning the file
• C-05Damaged presentation
• C-06Corrupted Office installation

// this guide also covers

• powerpoint not responding
• powerpoint keeps freezing
• powerpoint frozen
• why does powerpoint keep crashing

The same problem in other apps

All crashes, freezes & blank screens guides →

• Keynote Not Opening or Crashing on Mac (Apple Keynote)
• Pitch App Not Working or Freezing (Pitch)
• LibreOffice Won't Open or Crashes on Startup (LibreOffice)

Other Microsoft PowerPoint errors

• 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
• PowerPoint Designer Not Working (Design Ideas Greyed Out)
• Copilot Not Showing in PowerPoint