This article explains two ways to change the speed of a PowerPoint animation. Instructions apply to PowerPoint for Microsoft 365, PowerPoint 2019, PowerPoint 2016, PowerPoint 2013, and PowerPoint 2010.

What to Know

  • Quickest: select animation > Animation > Duration > use up or down arrows to change speed or enter number manually in Duration box.Alternatively, select animation > Show Additional Effect Options > Timing > Duration > select time > OK.

Use a Quick Method to Change Animation Speed

The speed of any animation is set in seconds and parts of seconds, up to hundredths of seconds.

  • Select the object in the slide that has been assigned an animation—a text box, a picture, or a chart to name a few examples.
  • Select Animation.
  • In the Duration box, select the up or down arrows beside the speed that is currently set to increase or decrease the speed. The speed changes in increments of quarters of a second.
  • Alternatively, enter the speed you want in the Duration text box. The animation speed is changed to this new setting.

Use the Show Additional Effect Options Dialog

Another way to access these settings is in the Effect Options dialog box.

Select the object in the slide that has been assigned an animation—a text box, a picture, or a chart to name a few examples.

Select Animation.

In the Duration box, select the up or down arrows beside the speed that is currently set to increase or decrease the speed. The speed changes in increments of quarters of a second.

Alternatively, enter the speed you want in the Duration text box. The animation speed is changed to this new setting.

  • Select the object in the slide that has been assigned an animation.
  • Select Show Additional Effect Options (it’s the launcher in the lower-right corner of the Animation group).
  • Select the Timing tab.
  • Select the Duration down arrow and choose a speed.
  • Select OK to apply the changes.

Add Effect Options

Before you close the Effect Options dialog box, switch to the Effect tab to add effect options such as altering the entrance direction of the text as it appears on the slide.

Select the object in the slide that has been assigned an animation.

Select Show Additional Effect Options (it’s the launcher in the lower-right corner of the Animation group).

Select the Timing tab.

Select the Duration down arrow and choose a speed.

Select OK to apply the changes.

If the dialog box is closed, there’s another way to add an effect to an animation. Select the animation and select Animations > Effect Options to display a list of possible effects for the type of animation used.

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