During a presentation, you might need to pause audience attention or hide your current slide without closing the slideshow. The Black Out and White Out features let you instantly show a blank black or white screen using the B and W keys on your keyboard. This article explains how these shortcuts work, what they do, and how to use them effectively during a live presentation.
Key Takeaways: Black Out and White Out Shortcuts in PowerPoint
- B key or period key (.): Toggles a black screen to hide the current slide during a slideshow.
- W key or comma key (,): Toggles a white screen to hide the current slide during a slideshow.
- Right-click > Screen > Black Screen or White Screen: Alternative mouse-based method to activate the same blank screen.
How the Black Out and White Out Features Work
When you present a slideshow in PowerPoint, pressing B or W does not end the presentation. Instead, the screen turns completely black or white, hiding the current slide from view. The slide itself remains active in the background. Pressing the same key again or any other key returns you to the exact slide you were on. This is useful for moments when you want the audience to focus on you rather than the screen, or when you need to pause for a discussion without showing the next slide prematurely.
The feature works in Slide Show mode in all modern versions of PowerPoint for Windows and Mac. It does not require any setup or special configuration. The black screen is the default blank screen; the white screen is available as an alternative for situations where a black screen might be too dark, such as in a brightly lit room.
Prerequisites
You need a presentation open in PowerPoint and you must be in Slide Show mode. Press F5 to start the slideshow from the first slide, or Shift+F5 to start from the current slide. Once the slideshow is running, the keyboard shortcuts become active.
Using the B and W Keyboard Shortcuts During a Slideshow
These steps work identically in PowerPoint for Microsoft 365, PowerPoint 2021, PowerPoint 2019, and PowerPoint 2016.
- Start your slideshow
Open your presentation and press F5 to begin the slideshow from the first slide. Alternatively, press Shift+F5 to start from the slide currently selected in Normal view. - Press B or period (.) to show a black screen
Press the B key (uppercase or lowercase does not matter) or the period key. The screen instantly turns black. A small icon in the top-left corner indicates the presentation is paused on a black screen. - Press W or comma (,) to show a white screen
Press the W key or the comma key. The screen turns white. This is useful for rooms where a black screen would cause glare or make text on the screen unreadable. - Return to the slide
Press the same key again (B, period, W, or comma) or press any other key such as Escape or the spacebar. The blank screen disappears, and your presentation resumes from the exact slide you were on.
Mouse-Based Alternative
If you prefer using a mouse or are presenting on a device without a keyboard, right-click anywhere on the screen during the slideshow. From the context menu, select Screen and then choose Black Screen or White Screen. To exit the blank screen, right-click again and select Screen > Unblack Screen Show or Screen > Unwhite Screen Show.
Common Issues With Black Out and White Out Shortcuts
Pressing B or W Does Nothing During the Slideshow
This usually happens when the slideshow is not in full-screen Slide Show mode. The shortcuts only work when you are in Slide Show view, not in Reading view or Normal view. Press F5 to enter full-screen mode. If you are using Presenter View, the shortcuts still work on the presentation screen that the audience sees. Check that your keyboard is functioning correctly and that no other application is intercepting the keystrokes.
The Screen Turns Black but Does Not Return to the Slide
If pressing B or any key does not bring back the slide, the presentation might have ended or crashed. Try pressing Escape to exit the slideshow and then restart it. If the issue persists, close PowerPoint and reopen the presentation. This is rare and usually caused by a temporary software glitch.
Shortcut Works Only Once During the Presentation
The B and W shortcuts toggle the blank screen on and off. If you press B, the screen goes black. Press B again to return to the slide. You can toggle back and forth as many times as needed. If you press W after pressing B, the screen switches from black to white. Each key acts independently. There is no limit on the number of times you can use the shortcuts.
| Item | Black Screen (B key) | White Screen (W key) |
|---|---|---|
| Keyboard shortcut | B or period (.) | W or comma (,) |
| Screen color | Solid black | Solid white |
| Best use case | Dark room, pausing for discussion | Bright room, reducing glare |
| Exit method | Press B, period, or any other key | Press W, comma, or any other key |
| Mouse alternative | Right-click > Screen > Black Screen | Right-click > Screen > White Screen |
You can now use the B and W keyboard shortcuts to blank your screen during any PowerPoint presentation. Try combining these shortcuts with the slideshow timer or the pen tool for more control. An advanced tip: press B and then immediately press H to show a hidden slide while the audience sees a black screen, allowing you to switch slides without displaying the transition.