Insert Sound in PowerPoint 2007 for Windows

Sound files of various types such as MP3s, WMAs, or WAVs can be used in PowerPoint 2007. As far as possible, work with a presentation that has been saved at least once; then copy any sound/music file you want to insert to the same folder as the presentation -- and then follow these steps:

Open your presentation and navigate to the slide where you want to add a sound. From the Insert tab of Ribbon, click the downward arrow below the Sound button to bring up the menu shown in Figure 1. From this menu, choose the Sound from File option (highlighted in red in Figure 1).

Figure 1: Sound from File option selected
This brings up the Insert Sound dialog box, as shown in Figure 2. Navigate to the folder where your sound clips are saved (ideally the same folder as your presentation), and select the sound file you want to insert, and click the OK button (highlighted in red in Figure 2).

Figure 2: Insert Sound dialog box
This gets you back to your slide along with a message window (see Figure 3) asking how you want the sound to start in the slide show.

Figure 3: Options to start the sound in the slide show

Choose from these options:
- Automatically: PowerPoint will play the sound the instant that the slide containing the sound is shown in slide show view.
- When Clicked: The presenter will have to click on the sound icon that PowerPoint places on the slide to play the sound.
Whichever option you choose (as explained above), PowerPoint will place a sound icon in the center of the slide, as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4: Audio icon placed on the slide
Save your presentation.