How to Add Music to PowerPoint

September 28, 2026 · Noam R

A music note

PowerPoint can play music in two ways. A music file stored in the presentation plays without an internet connection and can keep playing across slides. To play a song from Spotify or SoundCloud instead, load it on the slide with Web Viewer 2.0.

Add a music file

  1. Select the slide where the music should start.
  2. Click Insert > Audio > Audio on My PC. On Mac, click Insert > Audio > Audio from File. In PowerPoint for the web, click Insert > Audio.
  3. Choose the music file.

PowerPoint supports common formats such as MP3, M4A, WAV, and AAC. An audio icon appears on the slide.

Play music across slides

Select the audio icon, then click Playback > Play in Background. The music starts automatically during Slide Show and keeps playing when you change slides.

To stop the music after a certain number of slides, click Animations > Animation Pane and double-click the audio clip. On the Effects tab, under Stop playing, choose After and enter the number of slides.

Play a song from Spotify or SoundCloud

PowerPoint can't insert songs from streaming services. Web Viewer puts the service's player on your slide instead.

  1. In Spotify or SoundCloud, copy the link to a song, album, or playlist.
  2. Insert Web Viewer 2.0 on the slide, click www, paste the link, and click Load.
  3. If the service doesn't allow its pages inside other apps, Web Viewer offers the service's player. Click Load to use it.
  4. During Slide Show, press play in the player.

Listeners who aren't signed in to Spotify hear a 30-second preview of each song. Use a music file when the full song must play for everyone.

FAQ

How do I make music start automatically?

Select the audio icon, then set Start to Automatically on the Playback tab. Play in Background sets this for you.

Can I add music from YouTube?

PowerPoint can't take the audio from a YouTube link. You can play the YouTube video on the slide instead. See how to embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint.

Can I use any song?

Use music you own or have permission to play, especially in public or recorded presentations.

Need help? Contact Web Viewer support.