Keynote User Guide for iPad

  • What’s new in Keynote 14.0
  • Intro to Keynote
  • Intro to images, charts, and other objects
  • Create a presentation
  • Choose how to navigate your presentation
  • Open a presentation
  • Save and name a presentation
  • Find a presentation
  • Print a presentation
  • Prevent accidental editing
  • Undo or redo changes
  • Quick navigation
  • Change the working view
  • Customize the toolbar
  • Copy text and objects between apps
  • Basic touchscreen gestures
  • Use Apple Pencil with Keynote
  • Create a presentation using VoiceOver
  • Add or delete slides
  • Reorder slides
  • Group or ungroup slides
  • Skip or unskip a slide
  • Change the slide size
  • Change a slide background
  • Add a border around a slide
  • Show or hide text placeholders
  • Show or hide slide numbers
  • Apply a slide layout
  • Add and edit slide layouts
  • Change a theme
  • Add an image
  • Add an image gallery
  • Edit an image
  • Add and edit a shape
  • Combine or break apart shapes
  • Save a shape to the shapes library
  • Add and align text inside a shape
  • Add 3D objects
  • Add lines and arrows
  • Add and edit drawings
  • Add video and audio
  • Record video and audio
  • Edit video and audio
  • Add live video
  • Set the movie and image formats
  • Position and align objects
  • Use alignment guides
  • Place objects inside a text box or shape
  • Layer, group, and lock objects
  • Change object transparency
  • Fill shapes and text boxes with color or an image
  • Add a border to an object
  • Add a caption or title
  • Add a reflection or shadow
  • Use object styles
  • Resize, rotate, and flip objects
  • Add linked objects to make your presentation interactive
  • Select text
  • Copy and paste text
  • Format a presentation for another language
  • Use phonetic guides
  • Use bidirectional text
  • Use vertical text
  • Change the look of text
  • Use text styles
  • Change text capitalization
  • Add drop caps
  • Make characters superscript or subscript
  • Format fractions automatically
  • Format dashes and quotation marks
  • Format Chinese, Japanese, or Korean text
  • Set tab stops
  • Format text into columns
  • Adjust line spacing
  • Format lists
  • Add mathematical equations
  • Add borders and rules (lines) to separate text
  • Add or delete a table
  • Select tables, cells, rows, and columns
  • Add or remove rows and columns
  • Move rows and columns
  • Resize rows and columns
  • Merge or unmerge cells
  • Change the look of table text
  • Show, hide, or edit a table title
  • Change table gridlines and colors
  • Use table styles
  • Resize, move, or lock a table
  • Add and edit cell content
  • Format dates, currency, and more
  • Highlight cells conditionally
  • Format tables for bidirectional text
  • Alphabetize or sort table data
  • Add or delete a chart
  • Change a chart from one type to another
  • Modify chart data
  • Move, resize, and rotate a chart
  • Change the look of data series
  • Add a legend, gridlines, and other markings
  • Change the look of chart text and labels
  • Add a chart border and background
  • Use chart styles
  • Animate objects onto and off a slide
  • Animate objects on a slide
  • Change build order and timing
  • Add transitions
  • Present on your iPad

Present on a separate display

  • Present on iPad over the internet
  • Use a remote
  • Make a presentation advance automatically
  • Play a slideshow with multiple presenters
  • Add and view presenter notes
  • Rehearse on your device
  • Play a recorded presentation
  • Check spelling
  • Look up words
  • Find and replace text
  • Replace text automatically
  • Set your author name for comments
  • Highlight text
  • Add and print comments
  • Send a presentation
  • Intro to collaboration
  • Invite others to collaborate
  • Collaborate on a shared presentation
  • See the latest activity in a shared presentation
  • Change a shared presentation’s settings
  • Stop sharing a presentation
  • Shared folders and collaboration
  • Use Box to collaborate
  • Create an animated GIF
  • Post your presentation in a blog
  • Use iCloud Drive with Keynote
  • Export to PowerPoint or another file format
  • Restore an earlier version of a presentation
  • Move a presentation
  • Delete a presentation
  • Password-protect a presentation
  • Create and manage custom themes
  • Transfer files with AirDrop
  • Transfer presentations with Handoff
  • Transfer presentations with the Finder
  • Keyboard shortcuts
  • Keyboard shortcut symbols

how to display a keynote presentation

Play a presentation on a separate display in Keynote on iPad

To show your presentation on a separate screen, connect your device to an external display, a projector, or Apple TV with AirPlay. The presentation plays on the connected screen, and the presenter display shows on your device. You can set the presenter display to show presenter notes, a timer, or a preview of the next slide.

Connect an external display to your device using AirPlay or a video adapter.

If you’re using Apple TV, turn on mirroring.

the Play button

Your presentation begins to play on the connected display, and Keynote on your device switches to show the presenter display.

A green light next to the slide number on the presenter display indicates that the last transition or build effect on the current slide has finished playing, and you can tap the slide to advance to the next build or slide.

A red light next to the slide number indicates that a slide transition or slide build hasn’t finished playing; you can’t advance to the next build effect or the next slide until the current transition or build is completed.

the Close button

Customize the presenter display

You can select which items appear on the presenter display and modify its layout at any time when you’re playing the presentation, and in rehearse slideshow mode .

Do one of the following:

the More button

Do any of the following:

the Layout button

Switch between the clock and the timer: Tap the clock or timer at the top of the presenter display. The timer starts the first time you tap or swipe to advance the presentation after the first slide is displayed.

Note: In a side-by-side layout, when the next slide doesn’t immediately appear, it means a slide transition or build is still playing on the current slide. The next slide appears only when the presentation is ready to advance.

MacMost

Using the Keynote Presenter Display

how to display a keynote presentation

Check out Using the Keynote Presenter Display at YouTube for closed captioning and more options.

No related posts.

Comments: 18 Responses to “Using the Keynote Presenter Display”

Thanks for the tutorial. Is it possible to have the presenter display in a window so it doesn't take up the entire screen on the presenter computer?

There's no function for that, as far as I know.

I'd be thrilled if Keynote didn't take up the entire screen, it's beyond a pain, especially if you need to do some work in the background, in my case do some recording with Garageband and keep the slides going.

I am a presenter and switch between video and slides. Therefore, I have to use mirroring. If I use Powerpoint, I still see the presenter display on MY screen. But with Keynote, I do not. Is there any way to use the presenter screen when using mirroring (since it works with Powerpoint)? Apple geniuses are befuddled by this...something Powerpoint does on a Mac that Keynote doesn't and don't know of a solution.

You can drag and drop the *videos* into your slideshow, so you will not have to drop out of Keynote in mid-presentation. If you don't know when in your presentation you will need to see them, you can jump to your "video slides" out of sequence. (See Gary's tip)

Thanks Kerry. I do use videos in different orders depending on the audience. The problem is video controls in Keynote are more limiting than Quicktime. I appreciate the thought but am still wondering if there might be some hidden setting to make Keynote as good as Powerpoint when it comes to the presenter display.

Is there a way to see this presenter view without currently having a second screen connected?

Yes, Choose Play, Rehearse Slideshow.

Is there a way to add on text while in presentation mode such that what I am typing in the presenter display is shown immediately onto the presenter's screen.

No, I don't think so. You edit in edit mode and present in presentation mode. You could always switch to another app, like a text editor or whiteboard app, and then switch back.

Gary, do you know of a way to disable advancing to the next screen using the mouseclick? I want to only advance by using the hyperlinks I've built into the presentation. Thank you!

Click on Setup a d go to Presentation setup. Look for Presentation Type. Set it to Links Only.

In presenter display mode, when you ESC to fix something or to work on something else, a default screen comes on (Galaxy pic). How can one change this background?

Do you mean the desktop background? You change that in System Preferences, Desktop & Background.

I need a way (today!) to see my slide thumbnails on the presenter display and then show them in a non linear order based on audience need. Any Mac OS application for that or ipad app?

Look for the "Show Navigator" button in the upper left when presenting. You can also have it appear by using the preference (Show slideshow navigator when scrolling).

When I hit Show Navigator it also shows the Navigator on the screen. How do I set it so that only I see it?

Not sure if you can. Play around with the settings and try different things. But you may just have to use it as it is.

Welcome to MacMost

Free weekly newsletter.

  • MacMost Online Courses

how to display a keynote presentation

  • macOS Sonoma
  • Mac Shortcuts
  • Mac Numbers
  • Mac Keynote
  • Final Cut Pro

Keyboard Shortcuts PDF

how to display a keynote presentation

Connect with MacMost

  • Free Email Newsletter
  • YouTube Channel
  • Follow Gary on Threads
  • Follow Gary on Mastodon
  • Follow Gary On Bluesky
  • MacMost @ Apple News
  • iPhone/iPad App

MacMost Sections

  • The Practical Guide To Mac Security
  • Videos by Category
  • Video Archive
  • Virus and Malware Information Center
  • Protect Yourself From Online Scams
  • A Graphical Guide To iCloud
  • Free iPhone Ringtones
  • Recommended Products
  • Printable Mac Keyboard Shortcuts PDF
  • macOS System Requirements List

Popular Tutorials

  • Shortcuts To Help You Organize Your Files
  • 13 Tips For Getting the Most From the Safari Sidebar
  • How To Merge PDF Files On Your Mac
  • Common Misconceptions About the Desktop
  • Using a Green Screen With Your Mac
  • 21 Things You Can Do With Images In Preview
  • How To Share Files and Folders With Anyone Using iCloud Drive
  • How To Use Mac Desktop Stacks

Information

  • About MacMost
  • Support MacMost
  • Contact MacMost
  • MacMost Video List
  • MacMost Site Map
  • MacMost Site Policies

Copyright © 2006-2024 CleverMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

How to customize the presenter display in Keynote

In this tutorial, we will help you customize the presenter display feature in the Keynote app on your Mac, iPad, and iPhone so you’re ready for your next presentation.

Customizing Presenter display in Keynote on iPhone

Do you present a lot of slideshows using Keynote or at least enough that you’d like to make things a bit easier? One way to do this is by taking advantage of the presenter notes feature, but another is customizing the presenter display.

When you show a presentation in Keynote, you can configure the screen you see as the presenter. Whether for comfort or easy access to items, setting up that view for what works best for you can lead to a successful presentation.

Related: How to work with Keynote Presenter Notes on Mac and iOS

Customize the Keynote presenter display on Mac

Open your slideshow in Keynote. You can either play your presentation, use the Rehearse Slideshow mode, or jump right into customizing the display.

  • #1 Click the Play button in the toolbar.
  • #2 Click Play in the menu bar and select Play Slideshow or Rehearse Slideshow .
  • #3 Click Play in the menu bar and select Customize Presenter Display .

If you choose #3, you’ll go directly to the customization options and skip the first group of settings you can adjust. For this tutorial, we’ll customize the display using #1 or #2 above so that you can see the first group of settings.

1) On the presenter screen (Play > Rehearse Slideshow), click the Layout Options button at the top. This is the square icon to the right of the Help button (question mark).

2) Here, you can check or uncheck the items available. This includes the current slide, next slide, presenter notes, ready indicator, clock, and timer.

If you check the Timer setting, you can then pick from displaying elapsed or remaining time. This is a terrific way to stay on track with longer presentations.

Customize Presenter Display Layout Options Keynote Mac

3) To change the layout of the display, click Customize Presenter Display in that small window.

4) You’ll then see those same checkboxes, and you can adjust them here if you like.

In addition, you can move, resize, and position items, as well as change the appearance of your presenter notes.

Customize Presenter Display Keynote Mac

Move items : Click and drag elements to different locations on the screen. By default, slide labels move with the slides, but you can drag a label separately if you like. To move multiple items at once, hold the Command key and click each one. You can then move the selected group.

Resize items : Drag a corner or edge of an element to resize it. To retain an item’s proportions when you resize it, hold the Shift key as you drag. To proportionally resize from the center of an item, hold the Shift and Option keys as you drag.

Automatically position items : Click the Use Auto Layout button.

5) When you finish customizing your display, click OK .

Customize the Keynote presenter display on iPhone and iPad

While it’s easier to present a Keynote slideshow on Mac, in my opinion, that might not be an option for you. So here are the steps to access the customization settings for your presenter display on iPhone and iPad.

1) If your external display is connected, tap Play . If not, select tap the More button (three dots) on the top right and select Rehearse Slideshow .

2) On the top right, tap the rectangle that displays your Layout Options. This is to the left of the X to stop the slideshow.

Tap the layout view you want to use from options like current or next slide, slides with notes, or notes only.

Customize Presenter Display Layout Options Keynote iPad

3) Below Presenter Notes , you can increase or decrease the font size of your notes or invert those colors.

By default, the clock displays at the top. If you tap it, it will switch to the timer with elapsed time.

Customize Presenter Display Timer Keynote iPad

You don’t have as many customization options for the presenter display on iPhone and iPad as you do on Mac. But those you do have should help to get your display in a way that works for you.

With some small adjustments, you can create the perfect presenter display to move through your Keynote slideshow. Are you going to keep these options in mind for your next presentation?

For more, check out:

  • How to add backgrounds and borders to Keynote slides
  • How to gain more workspace around your slides

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

How to use Keynote's hidden presentation features to hold your audience's attention

William Gallagher's Avatar

Apple's Keynote application isn't only for creating slideshow presentations, it's for showing them too. That's quite unusual for software: nobody writes a book in Word and then holds their iPad up for people to read from. Yet the two sides of Keynote are complementary and what you set up while you were creating your presentation will help you now with showing it.

Keynote has a lot more to offer when you're getting ready to put this show on the road. There are tools to make your presentation work the way you expect — and there are tips to help ensure it does.

You've made that non-linear presentation using Master Slides, Outline View and Light Table . You've also included video even though we warned you about that.

how to display a keynote presentation

The warning about video isn't only because you're relying on your venue to have loudspeakers. It's also because video files are big, and it makes your presentation file that much larger, and that much more difficult to transport.

Don't include any more video that you absolutely must. We mean that literally. If you have to have a 35-second clip, make it 35 seconds and not 36.

You can drag in a three-hour movie and then trim it down to 35 seconds in Keynote but you're not actually cutting the size of the video file. You're just determining how much of the whole file your audience will see. Keynote keeps the entire clip in your presentation so that you can later change your mind and adjust the clip you want.

For that reason, do your basic trimming in QuickTime Player on your Mac or use something like Final Cut Pro X to do more elaborate work. Only drag in the finished segment you need. Otherwise, your presentation could be so bloated that it takes longer to sync over iCloud from your Mac to your iPad.

It could also be so weighed down with the video file size that the presentation will run slower, too.

Watch your size

If your Mac's storage is not yet using APFS, the Apple File System, then after your presentation goes over about 500MB on your Mac, Keynote will step in. When you go to save it, you'll be prompted to choose between saving as a Single File or as a Package.

how to display a keynote presentation

You get the choice but you only get it once: whatever you pick now is set for the life of this presentation. This is a problem that goes away when you're using APFS so over time it will be seen less and less. For now, though, your best bet is to choose Single File — so long as your presentation isn't already creakingly slow when you're editing it.

The reason is that a package lets Keynote split your presentation data out into separate files and folders so that it can then choose what to load and when. Rather than your video sitting there throughout 200 slides, it can be loaded when you reach the one slide it's on.

Plus a package with lots of little files suits the way that iCloud syncs data. So if you're the only person who's going to use this presentation and that's how you want to sync, choosing package could help you.

However, if you need to share it over Dropbox or really any other cloud service then packages aren't as robust as a single file is.

Even if you don't need to share the presentation with anybody else, though, save copies on different cloud services — and in different formats.

Belt and braces

Save your shiny new Keynote presentation to the Mac and/or iPad you're going to be presenting it from. Preferably save in iCloud Drive where all your devices can get it. Then save it to Dropbox too. Email yourself a copy. Pop one onto a USB stick.

And when you've done all that, do it all again but with the presentation saved in the old Keynote '09 format.

And then when you've done even that, do it all again but saving the presentation as a Microsoft PowerPoint file .

Sometimes your venue will have a Mac in place and it's better to use their equipment instead of yours because it's already tried and tested. Only, the Mac is using the older Keynote format.

how to display a keynote presentation

Or perhaps the venue neglected to tell you that every speaker has to hand over their entire presentation at the start of the conference. There are companies that will insist on joining every speaker's presentation together so that a single file runs for the entire day. When that happens, you can bet it'll be a PowerPoint file.

Better you give them a PowerPoint file that Keynote has created than to trust that their PowerPoint will open Keynote okay.

Then there are the acts of God that will leave you without any copy of the presentation at all. Dropbox or iCloud should get it back but there is one further option.

Go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID. There's a fully-functioning copy of Keynote on that site and we've used it for three-day-long residential workshops when necessary.

Remember your place

All of this so far has been about the visual side of presentations, of about making sure your audience has something to look at. They also need to hear you, though, and Keynote has tools to help you make sure you stay on track.

how to display a keynote presentation

Every time you create a slide, you can write your own notes at the bottom. These Presenter Notes won't be seen by your audience, they will only show on your Mac or iPad screen in front of you.

That's even when you're presenting from that screen: Keynote is excellent at by default routing only the slides to an external screen.

On the Mac, choose the View menu and then Show Presenter Notes . You get a small text box at the foot of the screen and it's tied to each individual slide. Write something in it, then move to the next slide and write in that one's empty text box.

When you duplicate slides, by the way, you also duplicate the notes. So if you've done a slide you really like and want to base the next few on it, select-and-cut the note before you duplicate the slide. Otherwise you'll have the same note in every one.

That's an issue if you've gone back to the View menu and chosen the Hide Presenter Notes option for any reason. When you later come to present and switch on the notes, you'll lose track of what you meant to write where.

On the iPad, tap on the three-dot ellipses icon at top right and then toggle on Show Presenter Notes .

What you see

It's years since we presented from our Macs because the iPad version of Keynote is so very good, especially when used with an Apple TV . Except for one thing.

On the Mac, you can have your screen be showing you all sorts of things that the audience isn't supposed to see. You can have your presenter notes, for instance, but also both the current and the next slides showing.

how to display a keynote presentation

Then you can choose to have a clock showing you the current time or a countdown of how long you've been speaking — or both.

On the iPad, you're more limited. You can have the clock or the timer and many presenters don't even know you've got that option. By default Keynote shows you the clock but you can tap on it to swap to the timer.

Then you can have presenter notes and the current slide. You can have presenter notes and the next slide. You can have the current and next slides on your screen.

Only, you can't have current and next slides plus presenter notes and that's the one we want the most.

However, there is a way around it. Previously we recommended planning your Keynote presentation in another app such as OmniOutliner. If you've done that, and not strayed too far from the original plan, then you can re-use that outline now.

Open your Keynote presentation on the iPad, press Play to start the slideshow. Then swipe up from the bottom of the screen to show the dock and then choose OmniOutliner from there. Drag it up and to one side of the presentation.

how to display a keynote presentation

So long as Keynote is playing the slideshow, your audience will see the current slide. And you'll see current and next plus an entirely separate outline.

What the audience gets

The audience or the venue will always ask you for a copy of your slides. You can tell them as often as you like that the slides make little sense without you standing there talking in front of them, but it doesn't matter.

Don't bother arguing and also don't bother doing any fiddling with the slides. Just choose File , Print and then in that print dialog click on Show Details .

There are options in these details to determine whether your printed version includes the presenter notes and slide numbers, whether it includes any skipped slides. Make sure those are all turned off and then click on the PDF button and choose Save as PDF .

Keep up with AppleInsider by downloading the AppleInsider app for iOS, and follow us on YouTube , Twitter @appleinsider and Facebook for live, late-breaking coverage. You can also check out our official Instagram account for exclusive photos.

Sponsored Content

article thumbnail

How to remove personal information from the internet — and why you should

Top stories.

article thumbnail

Apple TV with a camera is the rumor that will never die

article thumbnail

Apple now allows classic game emulators on the App Store

article thumbnail

Astoundingly unsafe iMessage bridge Sunbird is back, and you still shouldn't use it

article thumbnail

EU questions whether Apple has changed anything after its $1.95 billion fine

article thumbnail

What to expect from Apple's Q2 2024 earnings on May 2

Featured deals.

article thumbnail

Save up to $350 on every Apple M3 MacBook Pro, plus get up to $80 off AppleCare

Latest comparisons.

article thumbnail

M3 15-inch MacBook Air vs M3 14-inch MacBook Pro — Ultimate buyer's guide

article thumbnail

M3 MacBook Air vs M1 MacBook Air — Compared

article thumbnail

M3 MacBook Air vs M2 MacBook Air — Compared

Latest news.

article thumbnail

How to fix Universal Clipboard problems on macOS

While generally quite reliable, Apple's Universal Clipboard can sometimes stop working for no apparent reason. Here's how to fix it and get back your cross-device productivity.

author image

Tesla reaches settlement in autopilot death case of Apple engineer

Tesla was prepared to contest claims of wrongful death related to its Autopilot system in court but has chosen to settle the case instead.

author image

X launches passkey support for iOS app users worldwide

Passkeys have launched for X uses globally, bringing a new level of account security to users of the social platform.

article thumbnail

Retro's back: the best wrap-around game controllers for your iPhone

Apple is finally allowing emulators in the App Store. Here are some of the best wrap-around controllers for your iPhone that lets you play them on the go.

article thumbnail

Apple's privacy rules are stifling Apple Vision Pro apps, for now

Apple does not allow third-party apps to use the cameras on Apple Vision Pro, and developers are complaining about it.

author image

Amateur performers embrace VR porn on Apple Vision Pro

The Apple Vision Pro is still in its early days, but a married couple found that the headset can play a role in the adult entertainment industry.

article thumbnail

Lots of new robovacs, bright LifX bulbs, & Mophie Qi2 car charger on HomeKit Insider

On this episode of the HomeKit Insider Podcast, new robot vacuum cleaners come to market, hands on with a Qi2 charger, bright smart bulbs, and more!

author image

Best Buy hops on $849 M2 MacBook Air bandwagon with latest deal

After B&H initially offered the M2 MacBook Air for $849, Best Buy is now offering the same deal, matching the lowest price on record.

author image

Apple has a new Swift tutorials webpage for budding developers

Apple has launched a new tutorial webpage featuring beginner resources for programming using Swift, Swift UI, and Xcode.

article thumbnail

macOS Sonoma update fixes USB hubs, Java crashes, and more

Following iOS and iPadOS updates late last week, Apple has released a complementary update to macOS Sonoma with security updates and some big bug fixes.

article thumbnail

How to use Apple's Time Capsule for backups on a modern wireless network

Time Capsule was Apple's discontinued line of network backup products. This is how you could use one on a modern network.

Latest Videos

article thumbnail

How to turn off Apple's Journal 'Discoverable by Others' setting that's enabled by default

article thumbnail

The best Thunderbolt 4 docks and hubs you can buy for your Mac

article thumbnail

Apple Ring rumors & research - what you need to know about Apple's next wearable

Latest reviews.

article thumbnail

Journey Loc8 MagSafe Finder Wallet review: an all-in-one Find My wallet

article thumbnail

TP-Link Tapo Indoor cameras review: affordable HomeKit options with in-app AI tools

article thumbnail

ShiftCam LensUltra Deluxe Kit review: Upgrade your iPhone photo shooting game

article thumbnail

{{ title }}

{{ summary }}

author image

👀 Turn any prompt into captivating visuals in seconds with our AI-powered visual tool ✨ Try Piktochart AI!

  • Piktochart Visual
  • Video Editor
  • Infographic Maker
  • Banner Maker
  • Brochure Maker
  • Diagram Maker
  • Flowchart Maker
  • Flyer Maker
  • Graph Maker
  • Invitation Maker
  • Pitch Deck Creator
  • Poster Maker
  • Presentation Maker
  • Report Maker
  • Resume Maker
  • Social Media Graphic Maker
  • Timeline Maker
  • Venn Diagram Maker
  • Screen Recorder
  • Social Media Video Maker
  • Video Cropper
  • Video to Text Converter
  • Video Views Calculator
  • AI Flyer Generator
  • AI Infographic
  • AI Instagram Post Generator
  • AI Newsletter Generator
  • AI Report Generator
  • AI Timeline Generator
  • For Communications
  • For Education
  • For eLearning
  • For Financial Services
  • For Healthcare
  • For Human Resources
  • For Marketing
  • For Nonprofits
  • Brochure Templates
  • Flyer Templates
  • Infographic Templates
  • Newsletter Templates
  • Presentation Templates
  • Resume Templates
  • Business Infographics
  • Business Proposals
  • Education Templates
  • Health Posters
  • HR Templates
  • Sales Presentations
  • Community Template
  • Explore all free templates on Piktochart
  • The Business Storyteller Podcast
  • User Stories
  • Video Tutorials
  • Visual Academy
  • Need help? Check out our Help Center
  • Earn money as a Piktochart Affiliate Partner
  • Compare prices and features across Free, Pro, and Enterprise plans.
  • For professionals and small teams looking for better brand management.
  • For organizations seeking enterprise-grade onboarding, support, and SSO.
  • Discounted plan for students, teachers, and education staff.
  • Great causes deserve great pricing. Registered nonprofits pay less.

10 Expert Tips to Create and Deliver a Killer Keynote Presentation

So you’ve got a keynote presentation coming up, and you’re hitting the books to make sure you’re armed with the best plan possible. Besides taking notes from all the greats on TED, you’re reading up about a message structure that works, and looking for the perfect template.

While it seems like you’ve got your bases covered, like all things in life, there’s always a way to streamline the planning process.

According to Aaron Weyenberg , the UX Lead for TED and a self-professed “master of slide decks,” and the wizards behind Apple’s presentation slides , there are a number of tricks of the trade that you can rely on to create a rocking keynote presentation .

Below are some of our favorites. And to easily create a professional-looking presentation , sign up for Piktochart . It’s free and it allows you to make beautiful visuals without being a graphic designer.

1. Do your slides last

While most keynote speakers will typically build their presentation around the structure of a template, Weyenberg says that “building your slides should be the tail end of developing your presentation.” Before working on your slides, you should put together your main message, structure, supporting points – then practice and time your presentation. The reason for this, he says, is that the presentation needs to be strong enough to stand on its own. Approaching a keynote like this requires a shift in thinking.

While a beautiful set of slides is imperative to your presentation, it should not be central to it.

Weyenberg said it best: “The slides are just something you layer over [the presentation] to enhance the listener experience.”

Observe these 2017 Google I/O keynotes, especially CEO Sundar Pichai’s – the role of the slides are to support what the speaker is saying – not the other way around.

2. Get creative with photos

Often times, presenters will be far too literal or cheesy with their image choice. Weyenberg suggests to use images that are simple, yet punchy – and pairs nicely with your spoken words. He says to look for photos that are:

  • Related to your keynote’s concept
  • Are not complex in terms of composition

how to make inspiring keynote presentations

3. Simplify charts and graphs

While most presenters will simply drop an image of their charts and graphs into their deck, Weyenberg points out that it might be a bit “unsightly.” If you need to use data to back a point that you’re making, you should make the extra effort to make it more attractive – and this can be done by recreating it in your presentation maker .

There are a couple benefits to doing this:

  • It will make your presentation seem consistent and well-thought out
  • You’ll have control over colors, typography, and more.

weyenberg graph, typography in charts examples

4. One theme per slide

According to the designers of Apple presentation slides, less is certainly more. Trying to cram too many ideas on one slide can only work to your detriment. Beyond ideas, the same goes for statistics.

Let’s play a little game: For the following idea, how many slides would you use? “The developer program is incredibly vibrant. We have over six million registered developers. Demand for this show has never been greater. We sold out in just over a minute [71 seconds].”

While the average person might think that 6 million and 71 seconds would belong on the same slide and be short and sweet enough, let’s compare it with what Apple’s CEO Tim Cook did.

He only leveraged two slides: The first said “6 million,” and the second: “71 seconds. Sold out.”

how to make presentation attractive

5. Create a visual experience with data

Taking a leaf again from Apple’s presentation book, once you’ve gotten the hang of having just one stat per slide – you should also make it as visual as possible.

visual presentations

One data point per slide, combined with it being visually interesting – is sure to be memorable.

6. Practice Really Makes Perfect

Imagine the late Steve Jobs, a legendary keynote presenter, still rehearsed for months before a presentation. According to Brent Schlender , one of the co-authors behind the Steve Jobs biography “Becoming Steve Jobs,” Jobs would rehearse and prepare “exhaustively” for all of his public appearances.

Despite being a natural on the stage, Jobs never would wing it, he came to the show well prepared.

“I once spent an entire day watching him run through multiple rehearsals of a single presentation, tweaking everything from the color and angle of certain spotlights, to editing and rearranging the order of the keynote presentation slides to improve his pacing,” remembers Schlender.

While you may not be a perfectionist like Jobs, you are likely also not nearly as good of a presenter as he is – so practice really makes perfect in this case.

7. Tell A Consistent Story

Circling back to Weyenberg’s tips – he suggests that in a good slide deck, every slide should feel “like part of the same story.” Think of your deck like a story – every slide should feel cohesive to the big picture message you’re trying to communicate – as opposed to random ideas juxtaposed together.

You can do this by:

  • Using the same or similar typography, colors, and imagery across all slides
  • Using presentation templates can help with maintaining the same look and feel

8. Less is more

We explored the less is more concept earlier in the article by suggesting you keep to one idea per slide. The same can be applied to text.

When it comes to creating slides for your next keynote, the cardinal sin is a slide with ample text that is verbatim of your spoken presentation.

What this does is encourage people to keep their eyes on your slides instead of listening to you.

Weyenberg also points out that a text-heavy slide forces the brain to multitask between focusing on what it’s reading and hearing – which is quite difficult and will compromise your presentation.

bad presentation example

9. Consider topic transitions

While you want to make your slides look like a cohesive unit, you want to also keep in mind that making every slide look the same may be boring. Weyenberg suggests to:

  • Create one style for the slides that are the “meat” of the message
  • Then create another style for the slides that are transitioning between topics

For example, if your overall slides have a dark background with light text, you can use transitional slides that have a light background with dark text. This way, they’ll still feel like they’re from the same presentation family without being completely uniform.

10. Tell a captivating story

It is fitting that our final tip comes from likely the greatest keynote presenter of all time. The late and great Steve Jobs had the ability to captivate and inspire his audience with his talks, and that’s because he was a very good storyteller. And that’s the golden leaf that you can take from Jobs’ book today.

Always aim to tell a captivating story.

One example is perhaps when he introduced the iPod: “In 2001, we introduced the first iPod. It didn’t just change the way we all listen to music. It changed the entire music industry.” Listen to Steve Jobs weave a story about the digital music revolution when unveiling the iPod.

Bonus Round: Tips From Piktochart Designers  

keynote slide templates

  • Always remember that your audience is sitting far away . So ensure that your title font size is large enough to be seen from a distance, and that your body text is no smaller than 20px.
  • Use only two colors for your entire presentation – a primary and secondary color. If you must use a large color palette, your maximum choice should be up to five colors.
  • Make sure that there is enough white space throughout your presentation . This will give your content room to breathe. Less is definitely more in this case.
  • Emphasize only one object per slide – whether it’s an image, statistic, quote. This will make sure your audience stays focused.

Time to Make Your Own!

business keynote templates

Create presentations, reports, and infographics in minutes.

Watch this demo to learn about the benefits of Piktochart.

demo Piktochart

Other Posts

green color palette featured image

25 Green Color Palette Combinations (With Hexes and Name Codes)

create professional letterhead featured image

How to Create a Professional Business Letterhead (With Tips, Templates and Examples)

how to make any image background transparent featured image

How to Make Any Image Background Transparent

Do you want to be part of these success stories, join more than 11 million who already use piktochart to craft visual stories that stick..

  • a. Send us an email
  • b. Anonymous form
  • Buyer's Guide
  • Upcoming Products
  • Tips / Contact Us
  • Podcast Instagram Facebook Twitter Mastodon YouTube Notifications RSS Newsletter

Apple Updates iWork Apps With New Features on Mac, iPad, and iPhone

Apple today updated its trio of iWork apps Keynote, Numbers, and Pages for the Mac, iPad, and iPhone with several new features and changes.

iWork macOS Trio Feature

• Add a new look to your slides with the Dynamic Color, Minimalist Light, and Minimalist Dark themes • Streamlined in-app notifications inform you when a person joins a collaborative presentation for the first time • Preserve file format and full quality when adding HEIC photos taken on iPhone or iPad • Press and hold the Command key to select noncontiguous words, sentences, or paragraphs • Improved compatibility for slide transitions when importing and exporting Microsoft PowerPoint files • Additional stability and performance improvements

App Store links: Mac and iPad/iPhone .

• Streamlined in-app notifications inform you when a person joins a collaborative spreadsheet for the first time • Preserve file format and full quality when adding HEIC photos taken on iPhone or iPad • Press and hold the Command key to select noncontiguous words, sentences, or paragraphs • Additional stability and performance improvements
• Press and hold the Command key to select noncontiguous words, sentences, or paragraphs • Streamlined in-app notifications inform you when a person joins a collaborative document for the first time • Preserve file format and full quality when adding HEIC photos taken on iPhone or iPad • Additional stability and performance improvements

Get weekly top MacRumors stories in your inbox.

Top Rated Comments

randolorian Avatar

These are great apps. A strong alternative to the MS Office suite if you are a light, non-corporate user.

MonkeySpank158 Avatar

The only reason I use Word at all is that most users are in either Google Docs or Word.

Popular Stories

iPhone 16 Side 2 Feature

iPhone 16 Pro Expected Later This Year With These 12 New Features

iPhone 6s MacRumors YouTube

Batterygate: iPhone Users in Canada Can Now Submit Claims for Up to $150 Payout From Apple

Tim Cook MacBook

Tim Cook Sells Nearly 200,000 Apple Shares

iPad Mini 6 YouTubed 2

When to Expect the Next iPad Mini and Low-End iPad Models to Launch

best buy green

Best Buy's Weekend Sale Has Best-Ever Prices on MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, TVs, and More

10th Gen iPad Feature Deals 2

Best Buy Introduces Record Low Prices Across Every 10th Gen iPad

M3 iPad Feature 3

Apple Suppliers Say New iPads Have Been 'Repeatedly Postponed'

Next article.

iOS 18 Camera App Possible Leak 16x9 1

Our comprehensive guide highlighting every major new addition in iOS 17, plus how-tos that walk you through using the new features.

ios 17 4 sidebar square

App Store changes for the EU, new emoji, Podcasts transcripts, and more.

iphone 15 series

Get the most out your iPhone 15 with our complete guide to all the new features.

sonoma icon upcoming square

A deep dive into new features in macOS Sonoma, big and small.

ipad pro 2022 square upcoming

Revamped models with OLED displays, M3 chip, and redesigned Magic Keyboard accessory.

Apple iPad Air hero color lineup 220308

Updated 10.9-inch model and new 12.9-inch model, M2 chip expected.

wwdc 2024 upcoming square

Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference will kick off with a keynote on June 10.

ios 18 upcoming square

Expected to see new AI-focused features and more. Preview coming at WWDC in June with public release in September.

Other Stories

iPhone 16 Side 2 Feature

6 days ago by MacRumors Staff

iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

1 week ago by Tim Hardwick

iphone 15 galaxy s24 ultra corning glass

2 weeks ago by Juli Clover

  • Parents & Families
  • International Students
  • Course Offerings
  • WesternOnline
  • Leatherneck Link
  • Password & Account Self-Service

how to display a keynote presentation

Western Illinois University

  • Your potential. Our purpose.
  • Quad Cities
  • Student Life

how to display a keynote presentation

University News

WIU Home > News

Related Images

[Download Print-Quality Image]

WIU to Host National Minority Health Month Keynote Speaker

April 8, 2024.

Printer friendly version

MACOMB, IL - - In honor of National Minority Health Month the Western Illinois University Minority Health Month Planning Committee will host Keynote Speaker Dr. Frederick Echols for a presentation at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 8 in the University Union Capitol Room. Dr. Echols is a distinguished physician and public health specialist. He is a graduate of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Population Health Training in Place program and he was also selected as a President Obama Leader in the inaugural cohort. The event is open free to the public. Light refreshments will be served to all attendees. For more information on the speaker and other events during the month, visit www.wiu.edu/minorityhealth.

Posted By: University Communications ( [email protected] ) Office of University Communications & Marketing

  • Schedule a Visit
  • Request Information
  • News Releases
  • Search Past Releases
  • Subscribe to Daily News E-mails
  • Campus Crime Reports
  • Dean's & Graduation Lists
  • Alumni Newspaper
  • Employee Newspaper
  • Student Newspaper
  • Submit Your News
  • Timely Warnings & Updates
  • Academic Calendar
  • University Events
  • Commencement/Graduation
  • Strategic Plan
  • Lecture & Speech Archive
  • Search Past News Releases
  • Services for Campus
  • Resources for Media
  • Model Release Form
  • Identity Standards Manual
  • Visual Identity Guidelines
  • Trademark Guidelines
  • Photo Services
  • University Administration

News & Events

  • Events Calendar
  • Ask a Librarian / Get Help
  • Branches & Units

Campus Safety

  • Office of Public Safety
  • Emergency Alert System
  • Timely Warnings
  • Mental Health Resources
  • Campus Crime Stats
  • Risk Management & Emergency Preparedness
  • Environmental Health, Safety and Sustainability

Technology Resources

  • Computer Labs
  • Electronic Classrooms
  • Password Assistance
  • Technology Support Center
  • University Technology

University Communications & Marketing

  • University Printing & Mailing Center
  • Design and Publications
  • University Television
  • Photography & Design Production
  • Higher Education Act

Policies & Procedures

  • University Policies
  • Board of Trustees Regulations
  • Faculty Policy Manual
  • Administrative Procedures Handbook
  • Civil Service Handbook
  • Student Rights & Responsibilities

Finance and Administration

  • Business and Financial Services
  • Equal Opportunity and Access
  • Human Resources

Campus Directory

  • Find an Employee or Student
  • Find an Office
  • Deans & Directors

how to display a keynote presentation

Connect with us:

  • Accessibility
  • Sustainability

Macomb Campus

Sherman Hall 1 University Circle Macomb, IL 61455 USA

(309) 298-1414 [email protected]

© 2024 Western Illinois University. All Rights Reserved.

IMAGES

  1. How to customize the presenter display in Keynote

    how to display a keynote presentation

  2. How to customize the presenter display in Keynote

    how to display a keynote presentation

  3. How to Use Keynote Presenter Display View in 60 Seconds

    how to display a keynote presentation

  4. Set up your presentation in Keynote

    how to display a keynote presentation

  5. How to Customize a Keynote Presentation Template Design

    how to display a keynote presentation

  6. How to Make a Great Presentation in Keynote With Template Designs

    how to display a keynote presentation

VIDEO

  1. How to make a great Keynote or PowerPoint presentation

  2. Träume ich? Mac Studio & Studio Display (Keynote-Zusammenfassung)

  3. How to EXPORT Your Keynote Presentation & Then RE-IMPORT To the Photos Application Using a Mac

  4. Keynote tips: Creating a drag and drop page in Keynote (iPad tutorial 2020)

  5. How to Make Your Keynote Presentation Interactive and Engaging with Custom Buttons

  6. VIDEO INTERVIEW: Music Frame, AI Screens, Neo QLED 8K TVs, Transparent MicroLEDs and more!

COMMENTS

  1. Play a presentation on a separate display in Keynote on Mac

    Show the presentation on the display: Click Show Slideshow. Stop playing the presentation on the display: Click Show Presenter Display. Change the items that show on a presenter display: Choose any combination of options from the list. For example, you can set your presenter notes to show on the primary display and set the current and next ...

  2. Play a presentation on a separate display in Keynote on iPad

    To show your presentation on a separate screen, connect your device to an external display, a projector, or Apple TV with AirPlay. The presentation plays on the connected screen, and the presenter display shows on your device. You can set the presenter display to show presenter notes, a timer, or a preview of the next slide.

  3. How to Use Keynote Presenter Display View in 60 Seconds

    1. Switch to Presenter View. Start by selecting the Play button. Now on my screen right now, you can see the regular presentation. But we actually want to swap this. On my other screen, I'll click the Swap button and now you can see Presenter View. Use the Swap button to see Keynote Presenter View.

  4. Learn how to Customize the Presenter's Display in a Keynote

    See how to add a Timer, show Notes, and the next slide while presenting your Keynote presentation.When you are giving a presentation on a second monitor or p...

  5. Using the Keynote Presenter Display

    Gary Rosenzweig. When giving a presentation with Keynote you can use the display on your MacBook to show you more than what the rest of the room sees on the main display. You can see the next slide, the time, and use tools to jump to slides and pause the presentation. You can also view your slide notes.

  6. Beginner's Guide to Apple Keynote

    Learn the basics of using Apple's great presentation software, Keynote! Apple Keynote empowers you to create stunning presentations with dramatic transition...

  7. Share slides and see notes in Keynote Presenter View/Display with one

    Play your presentation. Now when you play your presentation, the slides are shown in the Keynote window and in a separate window you see the Presenter View (called Presenter Display in Keynote) that includes your notes, upcoming builds or slides, and the ability to jump to any slide.

  8. Customizing your presenter display in Apple Keynote [TUTORIAL]

    This tutorial shows you how to customize the presenter display which is the second screen that you can use during your presentation to see a timer, clock, pr...

  9. How to customize the presenter display in Keynote

    Open your slideshow in Keynote. You can either play your presentation, use the Rehearse Slideshow mode, or jump right into customizing the display. #1 Click the Play button in the toolbar. #2 Click Play in the menu bar and select Play Slideshow or Rehearse Slideshow. #3 Click Play in the menu bar and select Customize Presenter Display.

  10. How to use Keynote's hidden presentation features to ...

    Open your Keynote presentation on the iPad, press Play to start the slideshow. Then swipe up from the bottom of the screen to show the dock and then choose OmniOutliner from there. Drag it up and ...

  11. 18 Keynote Tips to Deliver an Outstanding Presentation

    17. Collaborate with Others. If you are working in a team, then this would be one of the most useful Apple Keynote tips. Just like most of the other presentation platforms, Keynote also lets us work in a team. If you wish to invite others to work with you, just click on the Collaborate icon at the top of the interface.

  12. How to Use Keynote Presenter Display View in 60 Seconds

    Find beautiful and engaging Keynote templates with Envato Elements: https://elements.envato.com/presentation-templates/compatible-with-keynote?utm_campaign...

  13. 10 Expert Tips to Create and Deliver a Killer Keynote Presentation

    1. Do your slides last. While most keynote speakers will typically build their presentation around the structure of a template, Weyenberg says that "building your slides should be the tail end of developing your presentation.". Before working on your slides, you should put together your main message, structure, supporting points - then ...

  14. How To Create An Engaging Keynote Presentation (2021 Guide)

    2. Your Goal as the Presenter. This may be a combination of professional goals and personal goals, and it's unique to every individual speaker.For instance, you may be speaking to promote a product, to establish your company as an industry leader, or to build your own status as a thought leader in the marketplace. 3.

  15. Apple Updates iWork Apps With New Features on Mac, iPad, and iPhone

    Apple today updated its trio of iWork apps Keynote, Numbers, and Pages for the Mac, iPad, and iPhone with several new features and changes. The release notes for version 14.0 of the Mac apps ...

  16. 4 Ways To Present From Mac Keynote Over Zoom

    https://macmost.com/e-2248 Showing a Keynote presentation over Zoom can easily become a mess with the audience seeing your document window and other things o...

  17. How to Open & View Keynote Presentations on PC (In 60 Seconds)

    Use the drop-down menus to convert Keynote to PowerPoint. 2. Save the Exported Presentation. Let's choose Next and then choose a place and file name to save your exported PowerPoint edition of the slide deck. Choose a location and file name for your exported Keynote presentation file. 3.

  18. WIU to Host National Minority Health Month Keynote Speaker

    MACOMB, IL - - In honor of National Minority Health Month the Western Illinois University Minority Health Month Planning Committee will host Keynote Speaker Dr. Frederick Echols for a presentation at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 8 in the University Union Capitol Room. Dr. Echols is a distinguished physician and public health specialist.