File Menu and Backstage View in PowerPoint 2019 for Mac

Backstage view is not akin to other PowerPoint views, such as Slide Sorter view or Normal view that relate to working with slides. In fact, Backstage view is not a view in those terms, because you can be using Normal view (to work with slides) and Backstage view (to work with options) at the same time. Consider Backstage view as an over-sized menu that gives you access to many options.

In PowerPoint 2019 for Mac, Backstage view and Presentation Gallery are one and the same for most purposes, except the way they are accessed. Let us explore existing features within Backstage view.

To access Backstage view, select File | New from Template menu option, as shown in Figure 1, below.

Figure 1: New from Template option

Doing so brings up Backstage view, as shown in Figure 2, below. Backstage view is mainly used for creating, opening, and saving files, and connecting and removing services.

Figure 2: PowerPoint 2019 for Mac Backstage view

Options within the Backstage view are explained below, as marked in Figure 2, above:

A. Account

Clicking this option launches a flyout menu, as shown in Figure 3, below. This menu provides details of services connected to PowerPoint. These services show up as Places to open and save files, as explained in our Add Places in PowerPoint tutorial. You can learn more about options in the Account tab in our Account Options in Backstage View in PowerPoint tutorial.

Figure 3: Account flyout with connected services

B. New

This section provides quick access to the templates, as shown in Figure 2, previously on this page. You can learn more about options in the New tab in our New Tab of Backstage View in PowerPoint tutorial.

C. Recent

Here, you will see the list of recent presentations. Learn more in our Recent Tab of Backstage View in PowerPoint tutorial.

D. Open

This option, when selected brings up the Open pane. Here, you have to select a location from where you can open files. You can learn more about options in the Open tab in our Open and Close Tabs of Backstage View in PowerPoint tutorial.