Understanding Windows Slide Show

Written by Barry Dysert (last updated May 13, 2019)

2

If you have pictures in a folder, you can have Windows present those pictures in a full-screen slide show. To do this, navigate to the folder containing the pictures, select what pictures you want for your slide show (if you don't select any, all of the pictures in the folder will be used), and click the Slide Show option near the top of the Windows Explorer window (Windows 7). If you are using a Windows 10 system, after selecting the pictures you wish to have in your slide show, click the Slide Show option on the Picture Tools tab near the top of the File Explorer window. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. Running a slide show.

You can terminate the slide show by pressing the Esc key or by right-clicking the screen and choosing the Exit command from the resulting Context menu. Bringing up the Context menu also reveals some other controls you have over how your slide show operates. (See Figure 2.)

Figure 2. Controlling a slide show.

The Context menu includes the following options for controlling the slide show:

  • Play. Resumes playing the slide show if it's paused.
  • Pause. Pauses the slide show until you click on Play.
  • Next. Display the next slide immediately.
  • Back. Display the previous slide immediately.
  • Shuffle. Play the pictures in a random order.
  • Loop. Automatically restart the slide show after the last picture has been displayed. This is a default setting.
  • Slide Show Speed - Slow. Slow down the speed of the slide show.
  • Slide Show Speed - Medium. Set the speed of the slide show to medium. This is a default setting.
  • Slide Show Speed - Fast. Speed up the speed of the slide show.
  • Exit. Exit the slide show.

 This tip (12555) applies to Windows 7 and 10.

Author Bio

Barry Dysert

Barry has been a computer professional for over 35 years, working in different positions such as technical team leader, project manager, and software developer. He is currently a software engineer with an emphasis on developing custom applications under Microsoft Windows. When not working with Windows or writing Tips, Barry is an amateur writer. His first non-fiction book is titled "A Chronological Commentary of Revelation." ...

MORE FROM BARRY

Locking and Unlocking the Taskbar

You'll usually want your Taskbar locked, but there are times when it must be unlocked. This tip explains how to lock and ...

Discover More

Recovering a Forgotten Administrator Password

Forgetting your administrator password may be cause for panic because there is no supported way to discover it. Before ...

Discover More

Disabling System Restore

Restore points are good to have in case a problem occurs while trying to make changes to your system. If for some reason ...

Discover More
More WindowsTips

Understanding ISO Images

ISO images are great for archival and portability. An ISO image is a file on your hard drive that represents an optical ...

Discover More

Using Windows DVD Maker

You can use the built-in DVD Maker to create slide shows and views of your own photographs and videos. This tip tells you ...

Discover More

Transferring Pictures from a Memory Card

Transferring pictures from a memory card to your computer may be simpler than you think. This tip describes the process.

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is four more than 4?

2020-05-01 15:11:53

Allan

" navigate to the folder containing the pictures, select what pictures you want for your slide show (if you don't select any, all of the pictures in the folder will be used), and click the Slide Show option near the top of the Windows Explorer window (Windows 7). "
Barry,
Think you need to rework this one. When I open the folder and select all of the pictures, there is no Slide Show option showing anywhere on the screen.

2020-04-30 09:09:03

James S

Very helpful. Thanks.

Newest Tips
Links and Sharing
OUR COMPANY
OUR PRODUCTS
OUR SITES
 

Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.