How to Turn Off Design Ideas in PowerPoint

If you're using PowerPoint and find that the "Design Ideas" feature isn't quite what you need or if it becomes distracting, you can easily turn it off. Here’s a step-by-step guide to disabling this feature across different versions of PowerPoint. Whether you're using PowerPoint 365, PowerPoint 2019, or earlier versions, the process is straightforward.

1. Open PowerPoint: Launch the PowerPoint application on your computer.

2. Access Options:

   • PowerPoint 365 / PowerPoint 2019:
     • Go to the File tab in the top-left corner.
     • Select Options from the menu on the left.
   • PowerPoint 2016:
     • Click on File.
     • Choose Options from the list.
   • PowerPoint 2013:
     • Click on File.
     • Select Options from the dropdown.

3. Navigate to the "General" Section:

   • In the PowerPoint Options window, go to the General category on the left sidebar.

4. Find the Design Ideas Setting:

   • Look for a section labeled PowerPoint Designer or Design Ideas.
   • The exact wording may vary depending on your version.

5. Disable Design Ideas:

   • Uncheck the box that says Automatically show me design ideas or Automatically show me design ideas when I add a new slide.
   • If you want to completely disable the feature, you may also find an option to Turn off PowerPoint Designer. Make sure this option is unchecked.

6. Confirm and Close:

   • Click OK to save your changes and close the Options window.

7. Restart PowerPoint (if necessary): Some settings may require you to restart PowerPoint for changes to take effect.

Additional Notes:

• If you're using PowerPoint on a Mac, the steps are similar but the interface may look slightly different.
• Disabling Design Ideas will prevent PowerPoint from suggesting design layouts and formatting options, which can help streamline your workflow if you prefer to design slides manually.

By following these steps, you can turn off the Design Ideas feature in PowerPoint, allowing you to focus on creating presentations without the automatic design suggestions. This can be particularly useful for users who prefer a more traditional approach to slide design or who are working in environments where design suggestions are not needed.