How to Do Slideshow in Windows 11: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

By / August 31, 2025

Want to turn a folder full of photos into a smooth, full-screen slideshow on Windows 11—without wrestling with complicated software? You’re in the right place. This guide walks you through every practical way to run a slideshow on Windows 11, from the built-in Photos app to PowerPoint, desktop background slideshows, and even Lock screen slideshows. We’ll cover quick methods, pro tips for control and quality, and troubleshooting when things don’t behave.

Table of Contents

What Counts as a “Slideshow” in Windows 11?

A slideshow can mean a few different things depending on your goal:

  • Full-screen photo playback (great for parties or kiosks).
  • Auto-advancing presentation with timing and transitions (PowerPoint style).
  • Background wallpaper slideshow that rotates on your desktop.
  • Lock screen slideshow that rotates photos when your PC is locked.
  • Casting a slideshow to a TV or projector wirelessly.

We’ll hit them all—step by step.

Before You Start: Prep Your Photos for a Smoother Experience

Organize Your Pictures

  • Put the photos you want into one folder (or a few subfolders).
  • If you care about order, rename files with numbers (e.g., 001 Beach.jpg, 002 Sunset.jpg).

Use High-Resolution Images

  • For big screens, aim for at least 1920×1080 (Full HD). For 4K TVs, higher is better.

Consider Duplication

  • Copy your favorites to a new folder so you’re not cycling through thousands of random shots.

Method 1: Run a Full-Screen Slideshow with the Photos App (Fast & Simple)

The Windows 11 Photos app is the easiest path to a clean, full-screen slideshow.

Step-by-Step (Photos App)

  1. Open Photos: Press Windows + S, type Photos, open it.
  2. Browse to Your Folder:
    • Click Folders or Collection, or simply double-click an image from File Explorer to open it in Photos.
  3. Start Slideshow:
    • With any image open, click the Slideshow (Play) button in the toolbar.
    • Photos will run a full-screen slideshow through images in that folder/album.

Customize Your Flow

  • Pause/Resume: Move the mouse to reveal controls; click Pause or Play.
  • Next/Previous: Use arrow keys.
  • Exit: Press Esc.

Pros

  • Zero setup, full-screen, smooth transitions.

Cons

  • Limited control over duration, transition styles, and shuffle within the native slideshow (use PowerPoint for precision).

Method 2: Quick Slideshow Straight from File Explorer

If you’re already in a folder with photos, you can kick off a slideshow quickly.

Step-by-Step (File Explorer)

  1. Open the Folder with your photos.
  2. Select a Photo (or multiple).
  3. Open in Photos (double-click), then hit Slideshow—or right-click → Open with → Photos and start the slideshow there.

Tip: In some builds, right-clicking an image (then Show more options) reveals a classic Slide show entry. If you see it, use it for a quick launch.

Method 3: Create a Polished, Timed Slideshow in PowerPoint (Full Control)

Need control over timing, transitions, captions, music, and looping? Use PowerPoint.

Step-by-Step (PowerPoint Photo Album)

  1. Open PowerPoint → Insert tab → Photo Album → New Photo Album.
  2. File/Disk… → Select your images (you can select entire folders).
  3. Arrange Order using Up/Down arrows; tick Captions below ALL pictures if you want filenames as captions.
  4. Create to build your deck.

Add Transitions & Timing

  1. Go to the Transitions tab → choose a transition.
  2. Set Duration (e.g., 03.00 seconds).
  3. Tick After (under Timing) and set the advance time (e.g., 5–7 seconds).
  4. Click Apply To All.

Loop and Present

  1. Slide Show tab → Set Up Slide Show → check Loop continuously until ‘Esc’ (perfect for exhibits).
  2. Click From Beginning (or press F5) to start.

Add Background Music (Optional)

  1. Insert → Audio → Audio on My PC…
  2. On the Playback tab, choose Start: Automatically and Play in Background (which also loops and hides the icon).

Export as Video (Optional)

  • File → Export → Create a Video (choose 1080p/4K).
  • Now you can play your slideshow as a video on any device or TV.

Method 4: Desktop Background Slideshow (Auto-Rotate Wallpapers)

Want your desktop wallpaper to change every few minutes?

Step-by-Step (Background Slideshow)

  1. Settings → Personalization → Background.
  2. Personalize your background: choose Slideshow.
  3. Choose a folder with your photos.
  4. Set Change picture every (1 minute to 1 day).
  5. Toggle Shuffle if you want randomness.
  6. Choose Fit (Fill/Fit/Stretch/Tile/Center/Span).

Best For

  • Daily variety and passive photo rotation while you work.

Method 5: Lock Screen Slideshow (Photos While Your PC is Locked)

Your PC can show a rotating album when locked—nice for a digital picture frame effect.

Step-by-Step (Lock Screen Slideshow)

  1. Settings → Personalization → Lock screen.
  2. Under Personalize your lock screen, pick Slideshow.
  3. Add an album/folder of pictures.
  4. Optional toggles:
    • Only use pictures that fit my screen
    • Play a slideshow when using battery power
    • Turn off screen after the slideshow has played for…

Method 6: Cast Your Slideshow to a TV or Projector (Wireless)

Showing photos to a room? Cast the slideshow.

Step-by-Step (Wireless Display)

  1. Connect PC and TV to the same Wi-Fi.
  2. Open Quick Settings (click Wi-Fi/Volume icons) → Cast (or press Windows + K).
  3. Choose your display → Duplicate or Second screen only.
  4. Start your slideshow in Photos or PowerPoint.

If Cast isn’t visible, open Settings → System → Projecting to this PC and ensure Wireless Display is installed (optional feature).

Method 7: Make a Video Slideshow with Music (Clipchamp)

If you want a shareable video with music, text, and transitions, Windows 11 includes Clipchamp.

Step-by-Step (Clipchamp)

  1. Open Clipchamp (search from Start).
  2. Create a New video → Import media → select your images (and music).
  3. Drag photos to the timeline; set duration for each.
  4. Add transitions, text overlays, and music.
  5. Click Export (choose 1080p).

You’ll get a single MP4 that plays back anywhere—no app needed.

Power Tips for Better Slideshows

Control the Order

  • Rename files with numbers (001–999) to force your desired sequence.
  • In PowerPoint, shuffle and refine in the Photo Album dialog or reorder slides in the thumbnail pane.

Size Images Smartly

  • Huge RAW files can slow down playback. Consider exporting optimized JPG/PNG versions.

Aspect Ratio Matters

  • For big TVs, use 16:9 aspect. PowerPoint defaults to Widescreen (16:9)—keep it unless you’re targeting an older projector.

Use Albums in Photos

  • Create an Album in Photos to group shots, then start a slideshow from that album for a curated set.

Keyboard Shortcuts You’ll Use

  • Esc: Exit slideshow
  • ← / →: Previous/Next image (Photos/PowerPoint)
  • F5 (PowerPoint): Start from first slide
  • Shift + F5 (PowerPoint): Start from current slide

Troubleshooting: When Slideshows Don’t Cooperate

Photos App Won’t Start Slideshow

  • Make sure images are supported formats (JPG, PNG, BMP).
  • If images live on a network drive, try copying locally first.
  • Update the Photos app from the Microsoft Store.

Slideshow Skips Some Images

  • Check for corrupted files—open them individually.
  • Remove exotic characters in filenames.
  • Ensure all images share accessible permissions (especially from OneDrive/SharePoint).

Performance is Choppy

  • Close heavy apps (video editors, games).
  • Use wired HDMI instead of wireless casting for ultra-smooth playback.
  • Scale down extremely large images (e.g., 12-40MB DSLR shots) to 4K or 1080p copies.

Wrong Monitor Goes Full Screen

  • Press Windows + P → choose Duplicate or Extend and set the main display in Settings → System → Display.
  • Drag the slideshow window to the screen you want and start Full screen.

PowerPoint Doesn’t Auto-Advance

  • In Transitions, ensure After is checked and On Mouse Click is disabled (or leave both if you want either behavior).
  • In Set Up Slide Show, confirm Loop continuously if you expect endless playback.

Which Method Should You Use? (Quick Picks)

  • Fast & simple (full screen, no frills): Photos app.
  • Professional or timed show with music: PowerPoint or Clipchamp (video export).
  • Hands-off rotating wallpaper: Desktop Background Slideshow.
  • Digital photo frame while locked: Lock screen slideshow.
  • Room presentation on a TV: Cast or HDMI + Photos/PowerPoint.

Security & Privacy Tips (Worth a Peek)

  • If presenting at work, avoid showing your entire Pictures library—use a clean folder.
  • Disable OneDrive Personal Vault during shows if it prompts for unlocks.
  • For public displays, export a video to eliminate surprises (pop-ups, emails, or hidden images).

Accessibility Tips

  • Use high-contrast images if presenting to a broad audience.
  • Add captions in PowerPoint (Insert → Text Box) for context or accessibility.
  • If reading text on slides, ensure large font and good color contrast.

Workflow Examples (Copy These)

Family Event (TV in Living Room)

  • Copy best photos to a “FamilyShow” folder → Plug in via HDMI → Open first image in Photos → Slideshow → Enjoy.

Trade Booth/Kiosk

  • Build in PowerPoint with timed slides, loop, and no mouse click advance → Export 4K video → Play on loop.

Wedding Reception

  • Use Clipchamp to add music and transitions, export to MP4, and play from a USB stick on venue’s TV.

Frequently Overlooked Settings to Try

Photos App View Options

  • Create a curated album for a tight set of images.
  • Use Next/Previous to quickly skip duds mid-show.

PowerPoint Slide Size

  • Design → Slide Size → Widescreen (16:9) for modern displays.
  • Switch to Custom if you’re targeting LED walls or unusual screens.

Background Fit

  • In desktop Background → Slideshow, try Fill vs Fit to avoid cropping people’s heads or black bars.

Advanced: Automate a Slideshow at Startup (Kiosk-like)

Want your PC to boot and immediately display a slideshow?

  1. Create a PowerPoint with auto-advance and loop.
  2. Put the PPTX (or exported MP4) in your Startup folder:
    • Press Windows + R, type shell:startup, press Enter.
    • Drop a shortcut to your file here.
  3. In PowerPoint’s Set Up Slide Show, choose Browsed at a kiosk (full screen) for no accidental exits.

For maximum reliability, many venues prefer video playback instead of a live PowerPoint.

Conclusion

Running a slideshow in Windows 11 is easier than it looks—once you match the method to your goal. If you want instant full-screen playback, the Photos app is your best friend. If you need control over timing, transitions, captions, and music, PowerPoint (or a video render from Clipchamp) gives you professional polish. For ambient photo rotation, the desktop and Lock screen slideshows keep things fresh all day. Tidy your folder, choose your tool, and you’ll have a great-looking slideshow in minutes.

FAQs

1) What’s the fastest way to start a slideshow on Windows 11?

Open any photo in the Photos app and click the Slideshow (Play) button for an instant, full-screen show.

2) Can I control how long each image shows without PowerPoint?

The native Photos slideshow doesn’t expose timing controls. For precise durations, use PowerPoint or create a Clipchamp video.

3) How do I loop a slideshow forever for an event?

In PowerPoint, go to Slide Show → Set Up Slide Show and enable Loop continuously until ‘Esc’. Or export a video and play it on loop.

4) Why are some images cropped on my TV?

It’s usually an aspect ratio mismatch. Use Fit (desktop background) or set PowerPoint to Widescreen (16:9) and export at the display’s resolution.

5) How can I shuffle the order?

For desktop background slideshows, toggle Shuffle in Settings → Personalization → Background. For full control in a live show, randomize filenames or use PowerPoint and reorder slides manually.

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