How to Add a Watermark in PowerPoint

How to add a watermark to all slides in PowerPoint

1. Open the Slide Master

   Click View → Slide Master. In the left panel, select the top, larger thumbnail — that’s the parent master, and anything you add there appears on all layouts.

2. Insert text or a logo

   For text use Insert → Text Box and type e.g. DRAFT or CONFIDENTIAL. For a logo use Insert → Pictures and choose your file.

3. Size, position and rotate

   Resize and drag it into place. To rotate, drag the circular arrow handle, or set an exact angle in Format → Rotate → More Rotation Options (e.g. 315° for a diagonal).

4. Make it transparent

   For text: select the text, right-click → Format Shape → Text Options → Text Fill → choose a light color and raise Transparency to 60–80%. For a picture: Picture Format → Transparency (or Format Picture → Picture Transparency).

5. Send it to the back

   Right-click the watermark → Send to Back so it sits behind slide titles and content placeholders.

6. Close Master View

   Click Close Master View. The watermark now appears on every slide and can’t be selected in normal editing view.

Watermark not showing on some slides?

• Some layouts have Hide Background Graphics enabled. In Slide Master view select that layout and untick the option in the ribbon.
• A slide with a full-size picture or a solid background shape will cover the watermark; send that object back or reduce its opacity.
• If you added the watermark to a single layout instead of the parent master, it only appears on slides using that layout.

How to watermark a single slide

Just insert the text box or picture directly on the slide in Normal view, make it transparent and use Send to Back. Keep in mind anyone editing the deck can move or delete it.

Sharing your deck? Watermark the PDF

A watermark inside the .pptx can be removed by anyone who opens Slide Master. For decks you send to clients or investors, export to PDF (File → Export → Create PDF/XPS) and watermark the PDF — for example with the recipient’s name — using WatermarkOn. You can tile the watermark over every page so it can’t be cropped, and process several decks at once.

The faster way: watermark without PowerPoint

PowerPoint gets the job done, but it was not built for watermarking. If you just need your name or logo on your files, WatermarkOn does it in your browser in under a minute:

1. Open WatermarkOn and drop in your images or PDFs (as many as you want).
2. Type your text or upload your logo (transparent PNG works best).
3. Pick a position — a preset like centred or bottom-right, an exact percentage, or a pixel distance from any corner — then set opacity and rotation.
4. Click “Add watermark” and download each file or everything as a ZIP.

PowerPoint vs WatermarkOn

Frequently asked questions

Does PowerPoint have a watermark feature?

No, there is no dedicated watermark button. You add the watermark to the Slide Master so it appears on every slide.

How do I make text transparent in PowerPoint?

Select the text, right-click → Format Shape → Text Options → Text Fill, then increase the Transparency slider.

How do I remove a watermark from PowerPoint?

Open View → Slide Master, select the parent master (and any layouts), click the watermark and press Delete.

Can I add a watermark to a PowerPoint saved as PDF?

Yes. Drop the PDF into our free PDF watermark tool and apply text or a logo to all pages or a page range.