How to Create a Pulse Animation That Loops Continuously in PowerPoint

You want to draw attention to a specific object on your slide, such as a call-to-action button, an icon, or a key data point. A continuous pulse animation makes the object gently grow and shrink repeatedly without stopping. PowerPoint does not have a built-in pulse animation preset, but you can create one by combining the Grow/Shrink emphasis effect with a Repeat setting. This article shows you exactly how to set up a looping pulse animation that runs until you advance the slide.

How the Pulse Animation Works in PowerPoint

A pulse animation requires the object to scale up and then scale back down to its original size. The Grow/Shrink emphasis effect in PowerPoint can increase or decrease an object’s size by a percentage you specify. By itself, one Grow/Shrink effect only changes the size in one direction. To make the object return to its original size, you must either add a second Grow/Shrink effect that reverses the scale or use the Auto-reverse option. Auto-reverse plays the effect forward and then immediately plays it backward, returning the object to its starting state. When you combine Auto-reverse with the Repeat setting set to Until End of Slide, the pulse loops continuously.

No additional add-ins or third-party tools are needed. The feature works in PowerPoint 2019, PowerPoint 2021, and Microsoft 365 for Windows and Mac. The same steps apply to any object: shapes, text boxes, pictures, icons, or SmartArt graphics.

Steps to Create a Looping Pulse Animation

Follow these steps to apply a pulse animation that runs continuously on a single object. The example uses a rounded rectangle, but the process works for any object.

1. Select the object you want to animate
   Click the shape, text box, or image on your slide. The object must be selected before you open the animation gallery.
2. Open the Add Animation menu
   Go to the Animations tab on the ribbon. Click the Add Animation button in the Advanced Animation group. Do not click one of the preset thumbnails in the gallery — those replace any existing animation. Use Add Animation to stack effects.
3. Choose Grow/Shrink from the Emphasis section
   In the drop-down menu, locate the Emphasis section and click Grow/Shrink. A small star icon appears next to the object, and the effect appears in the Animation Pane.
4. Set the first Grow/Shrink to scale up
   With the effect selected in the Animation Pane, click Effect Options on the ribbon. Choose a size from the presets, such as 150% or 200%. For a subtle pulse, use 110% or 120%. The object will grow to that size when the effect plays.
5. Add a second Grow/Shrink to scale back down
   With the object still selected, click Add Animation again. Choose Grow/Shrink a second time. In the Animation Pane, select the second effect. Click Effect Options and set the size to a value smaller than 100%, such as 90% or 80%. This second effect will shrink the object back toward its original size after the first effect finishes.
6. Enable Auto-reverse on the first effect
   In the Animation Pane, right-click the first Grow/Shrink effect and choose Effect Options. In the dialog box, go to the Timing tab. Check the box labeled Auto-reverse. Click OK. Auto-reverse makes the effect play forward and then immediately backward. This step eliminates the need for the second Grow/Shrink effect if you want a simple pulse. If you prefer to keep both effects, skip Auto-reverse and proceed to the next step.
7. Set Repeat to Until End of Slide
   With the first effect selected in the Animation Pane, right-click it and choose Effect Options. Go to the Timing tab. In the Repeat drop-down list, select Until End of Slide. Click OK. The animation now loops continuously until you click to the next slide or press Escape to end the slide show.
8. Adjust the duration and delay
   In the Timing group on the Animations tab, set Duration to a value that matches the speed you want. A duration of 0.50 seconds creates a fast pulse. A duration of 1.00 seconds creates a slower, more relaxed pulse. Leave Start set to With Previous so the pulse begins automatically when the slide appears.
9. Test the animation
   Click the Preview button on the Animations tab, or press Shift+F5 to start the slideshow from the current slide. Watch the object pulse. If the pulse is too fast or too slow, adjust the Duration value in the Timing group and preview again.

Common Issues When Creating a Looping Pulse

The object grows but never shrinks back

This happens when only one Grow/Shrink effect is applied and Auto-reverse is not enabled. Open the Animation Pane, right-click the effect, choose Effect Options, and check Auto-reverse. Alternatively, add a second Grow/Shrink effect with a size smaller than 100% and set its Start to After Previous.

The pulse plays only once and then stops

The Repeat setting is missing or set to None. Right-click the effect in the Animation Pane, choose Effect Options, go to the Timing tab, and set Repeat to Until End of Slide. If you want a fixed number of pulses, select a number such as 5 or 10 instead.

The animation starts when the slide appears but then pauses

This occurs if the effect Start is set to On Click instead of With Previous or After Previous. In the Animation Pane, click the drop-down arrow next to the effect and select With Previous. The pulse will begin automatically when the slide loads.

The object appears to jump between sizes

The second Grow/Shrink effect may have an incorrect size value. Make sure the second effect uses a size that returns the object to its original dimensions. For example, if the first effect scales to 150%, the second effect should scale to 66.67% (100 divided by 150). Use the custom size field in Effect Options to enter an exact percentage.

Item	Single Effect with Auto-reverse	Two Effects (Grow then Shrink)
Number of effects needed	One	Two
Auto-reverse	Must be enabled	Not required
Repeat setting	Until End of Slide	Until End of Slide on first effect
Shrink size control	Not available (size is same as grow)	Can set a custom shrink percentage
Best use case	Simple, symmetrical pulse	Asymmetrical pulse where shrink speed differs from grow speed

You can now create a looping pulse animation that draws attention to any object on your slide. Use the Animation Pane to fine-tune the timing and repeat behavior. Try adjusting the Duration to 0.75 seconds and the size increment to 120% for a professional, subtle pulse. For a more dramatic effect, apply the pulse to a large shape and set the size to 150%.