Add sound effects

Add sound effects to your presentation in Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2013. Set them to start and stop when you want them to, and add multiple sounds to animations.

Combine animation effects

When you are working with multiple animation effects to a single object or slide, we recommend using the Animation Pane. Click ANIMATIONS > Advanced Animation > Animation Pane to open it.

1. Click the thing on your slide that you want to animate.

2. On the ANIMATIONS tab, use the Animation gallery or Add Animation to apply an effect to the object that you clicked.

3. Click Add Animation to add another effect. If you don’t use Add Animation, you won’t add a new effect, but instead will change the effect you have already applied.

4. Use the Animation Pane to change the order of the effects, and the Timing group on the ANIMATIONS tab to coordinate when each effect starts and how long it lasts.

   • At Start, choose With Previous to run an effect at the same time as another. Choose After Previous to start an effect when another one finishes.

5. To watch how it all works together, click Preview on the ANIMATIONS tab.

An important tip

Animation is fun, but can become too much of a good thing. Many presentation experts recommend using animations and sound effects sparingly, because too much can be distracting. You don’t want people to ignore you because they are watching things move instead.

Want more?

Animate pictures, clip art, text, and other objects

Trigger an animation effect

Design motion paths