Remove Audio Icon from PowerPoint Slides

When you add audio to a PowerPoint slide, a small speaker icon appears. You can hide this icon so it doesn’t distract your audience during a presentation. This guide shows you how to hide the audio icon while keeping the audio playable, and what to do if the audio doesn’t work as expected.

What You’ll Need

PowerPoint for Microsoft 365, PowerPoint 2019, 2016, or 2013 (Windows or Mac).
A presentation that already contains an audio file (inserted via Insert > Audio).
Access to the slide where the audio icon is located.

Step-by-Step

Open your presentation in PowerPoint and navigate to the slide that contains the audio icon you want to hide.
Click on the audio icon to select it. You’ll see a small toolbar appear below the icon with playback controls (play/pause, volume, etc.).
Go to the Playback tab on the ribbon. This tab appears only when the audio icon is selected. On a Mac, it might be labeled “Audio Format” or “Playback” depending on your version.
Look for the “Audio Options” group on the Playback tab. In this group, find the checkbox labeled “Hide During Show”.
Check the box next to “Hide During Show.” The audio icon will disappear from the slide in the normal editing view, but it will still be there—just invisible during the slideshow.
Test your presentation by pressing F5 (Windows) or Shift+Command+Return (Mac) to start the slideshow from the beginning. The audio icon should not be visible, but the audio will still play according to your settings.

Common Mistakes

Selecting the wrong object: If you click on the slide background instead of the audio icon, the Playback tab won’t appear. Make sure the icon is selected (you’ll see a border around it).
Deleting the audio instead of hiding it: Pressing the Delete key while the icon is selected removes the audio entirely. Use the checkbox, not the Delete key.
Expecting the icon to hide in editing view: The “Hide During Show” option only hides the icon during the actual slideshow. In the editing view, the icon remains visible so you can still select and manage it.
Not setting the audio to play automatically: If you hide the icon, you must also set the audio to play automatically (or trigger it with a click on another object), otherwise you won’t be able to start the audio during the show.

Tips

Set audio to play automatically: On the Playback tab, in the “Audio Options” group, change the “Start” dropdown to “Automatically” if you want the audio to begin when the slide appears. This way, you don’t need to click the hidden icon.
Use a trigger for more control: If you want the audio to play only when you click a specific object (like a button or an image), select the audio icon, go to the Animations tab, click “Trigger,” then “On Click of,” and choose the object. This lets you hide the icon and still control playback.
Loop the audio if needed: On the Playback tab, check “Loop until Stopped” to repeat the audio continuously while the slide is displayed.
Adjust the audio volume: While the icon is selected, use the volume slider on the Playback tab to set a comfortable level. This is especially important when the icon is hidden, as you can’t adjust it during the show.
For Mac users: The “Hide During Show” checkbox is on the Playback tab under “Audio Options.” If you don’t see it, make sure the audio icon is selected.

Troubleshooting

The audio icon still appears during the slideshow. This usually means the “Hide During Show” checkbox is not checked. Go back to the slide, select the icon, and verify the checkbox is ticked. If it is, try unchecking and rechecking it, then test again.

The audio doesn’t play when the icon is hidden. If the audio is set to “On Click” and you hide the icon, there is no way to click it. Change the Start setting to “Automatically” or use a trigger on another object. Also, make sure the audio file is not corrupted—try playing it in another program.

I can’t select the audio icon because it’s behind other objects. Use the Selection Pane: go to the Home tab, click “Select” (or “Arrange” on Mac), then “Selection Pane.” In the pane, click the audio item to select it, then you can access the Playback tab.

The Playback tab doesn’t appear. This tab only shows when the audio icon is selected. Click directly on the speaker icon. If you still don’t see it, try double-clicking the icon—that often opens the Audio Tools tabs.

I hid the icon but the audio plays on every slide. Check the audio settings: if you set “Play Across Slides” on the Playback tab, the audio continues across slides. If you only want it on one slide, uncheck that option. Also, ensure the audio is not set to loop indefinitely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hide the audio icon in PowerPoint Online?

Yes. In PowerPoint for the web, select the audio icon, go to the Playback tab, and check “Hide During Show.” The option is available in most modern browsers.

Will hiding the icon affect the audio quality?

No. Hiding the icon only changes its visibility; it does not affect the audio file or its playback quality.

Can I hide the icon but still show a custom image instead?

Yes. Insert an image, then set the audio to play when the image is clicked. Use the Trigger feature under the Animations tab to link the audio to the image click.

How do I unhide the audio icon later?

Select the slide, open the Selection Pane (Home > Select > Selection Pane), click the audio item to select it, then uncheck “Hide During Show” on the Playback tab.

Does the audio icon show when printing the presentation?

No. The audio icon is not printed. It only appears on the slide in editing view and during the slideshow if not hidden.

Can I hide the icon for only some slides?

Yes. The “Hide During Show” setting is per audio clip. If you have the same audio on multiple slides, you need to hide the icon on each slide individually.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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