There’s nothing like a good meeting to keep your business moving forward. But there’s also nothing quite as frustrating as a meeting that gets derailed by something as small as advancing slides.
If your team has ever had to fumble through “next slide, please” over and over, you already know how quickly it kills momentum. Especially when the person speaking isn’t the one running the presentation. It’s awkward. It slows things down. And it definitely doesn’t make your business look sharp in front of clients or partners.
Microsoft must have been listening, because they just rolled out a simple feature that fixes all of that. It’s called Slide Control, and if your team uses Microsoft Teams with PowerPoint Live, it’s going to make your meetings a lot smoother.
What’s Been the Holdup?
Until now, whenever someone shared a PowerPoint deck in Teams, only the person who shared it could control the slides. So if someone else was presenting or speaking to a specific section, they had to keep asking the slide owner to advance things.
You’ve probably heard it (or said it):
- “Can you go back one?”
- “Next slide… wait, not that one.”
- “Sorry, I don’t have control on my end.”
It doesn’t sound like a big deal, but when your team is in front of a prospect or reviewing a time-sensitive update, those moments matter.
Slide Control: What It Is and How It Works
With the new Slide Control feature, Teams now lets any meeting participant take over the slides, as long as the deck is being shared through PowerPoint Live (not screen share). A simple “Take control” button pops up for participants. Click it, and you’re driving.
Even better, the original presenter can still jump back in and take control again at any point.
It’s a small change with a big payoff, and Microsoft has outlined the update here.
Why Business Owners Should Care
You’re not buying software for the bells and whistles. You want it to work well, save time, and help your team look good. This feature does exactly that.
Here’s how Slide Control helps you run better meetings:
No More Awkward Transitions
Each speaker can run their part of the presentation without needing a handoff. That means fewer interruptions and a more natural conversation.
You Look More Put-Together
Whether you’re in a sales call or pitching a partnership, cleaner presentations make your business look more professional.
Internal Collaboration Feels Easier
When you’ve got multiple team members leading different parts of a meeting, like marketing reviewing performance or operations walking through workflows, everyone can stay in sync.
Works Great with Remote and Hybrid Teams
Not everyone’s in the same room anymore. This feature helps remote staff stay engaged and makes cross-team communication smoother.
It Saves Time
Little things like repeating “next slide” may not seem like much, but they add up. Slide Control helps meetings move faster and stay on track.
How to Start Using It
If your team is already using Microsoft Teams and PowerPoint Live, you don’t need to do anything special. The feature is rolling out and will automatically appear when someone shares a deck. Just look for the “Take control” button.
Not using PowerPoint Live yet? It’s worth the switch. Unlike screen sharing, PowerPoint Live uploads the file directly into Teams, giving you better controls, smoother transitions, and now, shared slide access.
The Bottom Line
Slide Control isn’t flashy, but it’s exactly the kind of update that makes your tech work better for your team. It removes friction, improves collaboration, and helps your business show up more confidently in every meeting.
Sometimes, it’s the small tweaks that make the biggest difference. Is your team ready to take control?