How do I use the Tell Me feature in PowerPoint 2016 to find commands?

Select the Tell Me search box, type the command or task you need, and choose an option from the results.

How can I insert a picture in PowerPoint without using a content placeholder?

Go to the Insert tab, select Pictures, then choose an image from your computer or an online source.

What is the best way to add more than one animation to the same PowerPoint object?

Use Add Animation on the Animations tab so existing effects are retained instead of replaced.

Free online course PowerPoint

Duration of the online course: 2 hours and 15 minutes

4.8

(80)

Build standout presentations fast with this free PowerPoint course—learn layouts, themes, transitions, images, video, and delivery skills to present with confidence.

In this free course, learn about

Navigate PowerPoint 2016, ribbon basics, and using the Tell Me search to find commands fast
Create, open, and save presentations; use OneDrive for sharing and set reliable saving practices
Work with slides: layouts, themes, and slide design; modify structure and manage slide order
Add and format text; use shortcuts (e.g., Ctrl+A), Find & Replace, and set indents/line spacing
Apply themes and professional transitions appropriately to improve look and flow
Use notes per slide for speaker support and presentation prep
Print effectively in PowerPoint, including handouts and slide-specific print options
Run slide shows and access websites/files via hyperlinks during a presentation
Create numbered/bulleted lists, including restarting numbering from a custom number
Insert pictures with or without placeholders and adjust/format images for better visuals
Create and style shapes quickly using Shape Styles and formatting tools
Align, order, group, and distribute objects to space multiple items evenly
Animate text/objects; add multiple animations using the Animation Pane/Add Animation
Insert and play videos; add video content directly onto slides for presenting

About the free online course

Create presentations that look polished, communicate clearly, and keep your audience engaged. This free online PowerPoint course guides you from the first click to delivering a smooth slide show, so you can turn ideas into visual stories for school, business, or personal projects. You will learn how to work efficiently in the PowerPoint 2016 environment, find the right commands quickly, and set up a workflow that helps you avoid common formatting headaches.

Instead of relying on generic templates, you will practice building slides with clean structure and strong readability. You will gain confidence editing text, organizing content, and applying consistent design choices that make a deck feel cohesive. You will also explore how themes and layouts can instantly elevate the look of a presentation, helping you maintain visual consistency even as the project grows.

Saving and sharing matter as much as design, especially when multiple devices or collaborators are involved. You will see practical ways to store presentations safely and share them through online services, reducing the risk of version confusion or lost work. As your deck expands, you will learn to manage slides efficiently, refine wording with search tools, and prepare print-friendly outputs when a handout is required.

Modern presentations depend on visuals. You will work with pictures, shapes, alignment tools, and formatting options that keep your slides balanced and professional. You will also learn to control spacing and grouping so objects move and scale cleanly together, giving your layouts a refined, intentional feel.

To bring ideas to life, you will explore transitions and animations in a way that supports the message instead of distracting from it. You will learn how to add and manage multiple effects, then finish with practical presentation skills for running a slide show, navigating smoothly, and even accessing supporting files or websites while presenting. By the end, you will be ready to build effective decks faster and present them with clarity and confidence.

Course content

Video class: New Course: PowerPoint 2016 01m
Exercise: What is a key aspect of making a presentation stand out according to the tutorial?
Video class: PowerPoint: Getting Started 05m
Exercise: What feature in PowerPoint allows you to quickly find the right tool or command without searching the ribbon?
Video class: PowerPoint: Creating and Opening Presentations 03m
Exercise: What online service can be used to save and share PowerPoint files?
Video class: PowerPoint 2016: Saving Presentations 04m
Exercise: What is a recommended method to ensure your PowerPoint presentations are saved properly?

Video class: PowerPoint: Slide Basics 05m
Exercise: Which feature allows you to modify slide layouts and design?
Video class: PowerPoint: Text Basics 04m
Exercise: What keyboard shortcut selects all text in a PowerPoint slide?
Video class: PowerPoint: Applying Themes 03m
Exercise: What feature in PowerPoint allows you to quickly change the design of your presentation?
Video class: PowerPoint: Applying Transitions 04m
Exercise: Which transition category is recommended for a professional presentation?
Video class: PowerPoint: Managing Slides 04m
Exercise: What is a feature of the external notes field you can add to each slide?
Video class: PowerPoint: Using Find & Replace 01m
Exercise: What is a key feature to quickly locate and edit specific words in a PowerPoint presentation?
Video class: PowerPoint: Printing 02m
Exercise: What is a unique feature of printing in PowerPoint?
Video class: PowerPoint: Presenting Your Slide Show 05m
Exercise: How can you access a website or file during a PowerPoint presentation?

Video class: PowerPoint: Lists 02m
Exercise: What is the correct way to start a numbered list from a different number in PowerPoint?
Video class: PowerPoint: Indents and Line Spacing 03m
Exercise: Changing the indent can also affect which of these items?

Video class: PowerPoint 2016: Inserting Pictures 04m
Exercise: How can you insert an image into a PowerPoint slide without a placeholder?
Video class: PowerPoint: Formatting Pictures 04m
Exercise: What is one way to adjust the images in your presentation?
Video class: PowerPoint: Shapes 04m
Exercise: What is the quickest way to change the look of a shape in PowerPoint?
Video class: PowerPoint: Aligning, Ordering, and Grouping Objects 05m
Exercise: What is the best way to space multiple images equally?
Video class: PowerPoint: Animating Text and Objects 05m
Exercise: What is the recommended method to add multiple animations to the same object in PowerPoint?

Video class: PowerPoint: Inserting Videos 04m
Exercise: How can you add a video directly to a PowerPoint slide during a presentation?
Video class: PowerPoint: Inserting Audio 05m
Video class: PowerPoint: Tables 04m
Video class: PowerPoint: Charts 04m
Video class: PowerPoint: SmartArt Graphics 03m

Video class: PowerPoint: Checking Spelling and Grammar 02m
Exercise: When spell checking, what is the function of the “Add” button?
Video class: PowerPoint: Reviewing Presentations 03m
Video class: PowerPoint: Inspecting and Protecting Presentations 03m
Video class: PowerPoint: Modifying Themes 02m
Video class: PowerPoint: Slide Master View 08m

Video class: PowerPoint: Hyperlinks 03m
Video class: PowerPoint: Action Buttons 03m
Exercise: In PowerPoint, can you create a hyperlink that jumps to a specific slide?
Video class: PowerPoint: Rehearsing and Recording Your Presentation 03m
Video class: PowerPoint: Sharing Your Presentation Online 04m

Learn aboutPowerPoint

Explore free online PowerPoint courses designed to help you create professional presentations, master slide design, animations, charts, templates, and confident delivery. Learn at your own pace with beginner-friendly and advanced lessons, build practical Microsoft PowerPoint skills, and earn a certificate to showcase your achievement.