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Designer not working in PowerPoint

I have an issue with the designer button not working on one of my PCs. I do not have this issue on any other device. This issue only occurs when using the PowerPoint app. The designer button is there but when clicked it does nothing, not greyed out. I have "automatically suggest" turned on. I have signed out of all Microsoft accounts. I have turned off and restarted computer. Nothing seems to work. When I use the HTML version (not sure if using the correct terminology) of PowerPoint, the designer works. I do not prefer to use the HTML version as I like the app much better. Please advise. Thank you.

Microsoft PowerPoint version 2502 Build 16.018526.20168) 64-bit

Matt D.

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Hi Matt,

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

 

There are two key conditions for enabling PowerPoint Designer:

  1. Internet Connection Requirement: Designer is an online service, so your device must be connected to Microsoft servers. Since you're able to post and seek help online, this likely isn't the issue. However, you can verify whether PowerPoint has actively disconnected from Microsoft servers: Open PowerPoint, go to File > Account > Manage Settings, and ensure "Turn on optional connected experiences" is checked.

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  2. Theme Compatibility: You must use PowerPoint's built-in themes—not externally downloaded themes—for Designer to function properly.

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If you've confirmed both conditions but still can't enable Designer, the issue may be due to corrupted Designer component files. In this case, try reinstalling Office to see if that resolves the problem.

Uninstall Office from a PC - Microsoft Support

Download, install, or reinstall Microsoft 365, Office 2024, or Office 2021 on a PC or Mac - Microsoft Support

 

Please share the preliminary troubleshooting results with me. Since I cannot directly access your device for investigation, we can only gradually resolve the issue by working together.

 

Best Regards,

Thomas C - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist 

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Question Info

Last updated April 16, 2025 Views 162 Applies to: