Make Your PowerPoint Slides Interactive

Make Your PowerPoint Slides Interactive

PowerPoint presentations don't have to be a parade of static slides anymore. Interactive Slides uses Copilot to create visual experiences that you and your audience can explore during a presentation.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

October 26, 2026

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You have probably sat through a presentation where a complicated chart or crowded timeline appeared on screen and everyone was expected to understand it instantly.

Microsoft is giving PowerPoint presenters another option.

Interactive Slides uses Copilot to create slides with visual elements you can explore during a presentation. 

Depending on what Copilot creates, you might expand a step, filter a chart, or move through a timeline instead of simply looking at a finished graphic.

The feature is particularly interesting for dashboards, project timelines, comparisons, business processes, and other subjects where revealing information progressively can help an audience follow the story.

There is one important catch. Interactive Slides are still rolling out. 

The rollout for PowerPoint on Windows and Mac in Current Channel and Monthly Enterprise Channel began in mid-October 2026 and is expected to finish by the end of October. 

The web rollout follows the same schedule.

Here's a Cool Tip: Ask Copilot to turn complicated information into a slide your audience can explore.

Feature Explanation

Write Like a Renaissance Master With Michelangelus

Write Like a Renaissance Master With Michelangelus

A little Renaissance history just arrived for your font collection. Michelangelus is a new serif typeface inspired by Michelangelo’s handwriting and works, giving documents, presentations, invitations, and creative projects a distinctive connection to the Renaissance.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

October 21, 2026

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Imagine putting a little Michelangelo into your next Word document or PowerPoint presentation.

Michelangelus is a new serif typeface inspired by the work and handwritten manuscripts of Renaissance master Michelangelo Buonarroti. 

The font was commissioned by the Fabbrica di San Pietro, the organization responsible for St. Peter’s Basilica, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the basilica’s consecration. 

It was created by Studiogusto, an independent creative agency from Italy and Germany.

This is not simply Michelangelo’s handwriting scanned and converted into a computer font. 

The designers deliberately chose not to imitate his handwriting exactly. 

Instead, they studied his manuscripts and translated aspects of his writing into a contemporary typeface.

Even better, you can download and install Michelangelus right now. 

Microsoft Design also plans to distribute the font through Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, at the end of 2026.

Here’s a Cool Tip: Download Michelangelus now and give your next project some Renaissance personality.

One Copilot to Rule Them All: Microsoft Combines Its Apps

One Copilot to Rule Them All: Microsoft Combines Its Apps

Confused by Microsoft's collection of similarly named Copilot apps? Microsoft is consolidating its Copilot experiences into one updated app that can handle personal, work, and school accounts and, for eligible users, create Word documents, Excel workbooks, and PowerPoint presentations.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

October 19, 2026

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If you've ever looked at Microsoft's assortment of Copilot apps and wondered which one you were supposed to open, Microsoft has apparently heard you.

The company is consolidating existing Microsoft Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot app installations into a single Microsoft Copilot application experience. 

The updated app can support personal, work, and school accounts while connecting Copilot with Microsoft 365 apps, files, and content.

One clarification is important. Microsoft isn't renaming the entire Microsoft 365 service. 

The Microsoft 365 (Office) app and the standalone Copilot app are now being brought together under the unified name Microsoft Copilot.

There's another benefit hiding behind that name change. 

Eligible users can use Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agents inside Microsoft Copilot to create actual documents, workbooks, and presentations simply by describing what they need.

For most existing users, the transition should not require much work. 

Most updates happen automatically, and web users are automatically redirected to the updated Copilot experience.

Here’s a Cool Tip: Use the new unified Copilot as your starting point for chat, files, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

PowerPoint’s New Design Tools Make Better Slides Easier

PowerPoint’s New Design Tools Make Better Slides Easier

Microsoft PowerPoint is getting new design options aimed at making attractive presentations easier to build. Fresh SmartArt choices, themes and design improvements give you more ways to turn ordinary information into polished slides while spending less time arranging everything yourself.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

October 12, 2026

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You know what you want to say. 

The hard part is figuring out how to make the slide look good.

Microsoft is tackling that familiar problem with a collection of improvements to the PowerPoint creation experience. 

The company's PowerPoint Craft initiative includes new SmartArt layouts, themes and changes intended to make creating and working with presentations easier.

These additions complement PowerPoint Designer, the established feature that can automatically suggest professionally arranged slide layouts. 

Microsoft now refers to Designer as Design Suggestions for Copilot users.

The result is more choice before you start manually dragging text boxes, pictures and shapes around the screen.

Here’s a Cool Tip: Check PowerPoint’s design tools before building that next slide by hand.

Don’t Lose Access to Your Publisher Files

Don’t Lose Access to Your Publisher Files

Your Publisher newsletters, flyers, and brochures deserve to remain accessible after support ends. Learn how to identify the files you need and save important projects in formats you can use later.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

September 24, 2026

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If you still use Microsoft Publisher, now is the time to start planning for the future.

Microsoft has announced that Publisher will no longer be supported starting October 1, 2026, which means it will stop receiving security updates and technical support.

Many users have relied on Publisher for newsletters, flyers, brochures, and other desktop publishing projects, so it is important to review any files you may need in the future.

Consider converting important Publisher documents to more widely supported formats such as PDF so they remain accessible.

You may also want to explore alternatives like Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, or other publishing tools depending on your needs.

Taking a little time now to organize and preserve your files can help you avoid headaches later.

The best backup plan is one you create before support ends.

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See Spreadsheet Trends at a Glance with Excel Sparklines

See Spreadsheet Trends at a Glance with Excel Sparklines

Need a faster way to spot trends in your spreadsheet without creating a full chart? Excel Sparklines place miniature charts directly inside cells, helping you see patterns, highs, and lows in seconds.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

September 21, 2026

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Large spreadsheets often hide valuable insights in plain sight. 

You may have months of sales figures, budgets, grades, or project metrics sitting in rows and columns, but spotting patterns can still take time.

Here's a Cool Tip: Add mini charts that make trends jump off the page.

Excel Sparklines turn data into tiny charts that fit inside individual cells. 

Instead of scanning dozens of numbers, you can quickly see whether values are rising, falling, or staying consistent.

Microsoft describes Sparklines as small charts that visually represent data trends within worksheet cells, making it easier to identify changes, seasonal patterns, and high or low values.

Add Citations in Microsoft Word Without the Headaches

Add Citations in Microsoft Word Without the Headaches

Microsoft Word can format citations, save source details, and create a bibliography while you write. This guide shows you how to use those tools so you can spend less time managing references and more time improving your document.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

September 14, 2026

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Formatting citations by hand can turn a straightforward writing project into a tedious hunt for punctuation, italics, dates, and author names.

Whether you are writing a school paper, preparing a business report, documenting research, or creating source-based content, consistency matters. 

A missing field or incorrectly formatted reference can make an otherwise polished document look unfinished.

Here’s a Cool Tip: Let Word handle the bibliography while you focus on writing.

Microsoft Word includes citation tools that let you add sources, insert citations, reuse references, and generate a bibliography. 

Word supports several citation formats, including APA, Chicago, GOST, IEEE, ISO 690, and MLA. 

The styles shown can vary depending on your version of Word. 

Stop Losing Your Place in Large Excel Spreadsheets

Stop Losing Your Place in Large Excel Spreadsheets

Microsoft Excel's Focus Cell feature highlights your active row and column, making large spreadsheets easier to read and navigate. If you regularly enter data, review reports, or analyze tables, this simple tool can help reduce mistakes and improve accuracy.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

July 13, 2026

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If you've ever worked in a spreadsheet with hundreds or thousands of rows, you've probably lost track of where you are. 

One misplaced click can leave you reading the wrong row, updating the wrong record, or comparing the wrong numbers.

Here's a Cool Tip: Turn on Focus Cell Before Working with Large Spreadsheets.

Instead of forcing your eyes to trace across a busy worksheet, Excel highlights both the active row and the active column, making your current position much easier to follow.

It is a small addition, but for anyone who spends time in large spreadsheets, it can make everyday work noticeably easier.

Make Word Finish Your Sentences Faster

Make Word Finish Your Sentences Faster

Microsoft Word can anticipate what you’re about to type and suggest text in real time. Used well, it helps you write faster, cut repetition, and keep your momentum.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

June 29, 2026

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You begin typing a familiar phrase like “Please let me know if you have any…” and pause. 

Word quietly suggests “questions” before you finish the sentence.

That small assist adds up. 

Over the course of a long document or a day full of emails, predictive text reduces friction and keeps you moving. 

Here’s a Cool Tip: Let Word suggest the rest of your sentence.

The feature is built into Microsoft Editor, yet many users overlook it or leave it turned off.

Turn Copilot Into Your Personal Quiz Builder in Minutes

Turn Copilot Into Your Personal Quiz Builder in Minutes

Need to create a quiz quickly without starting from scratch? Microsoft Copilot can generate complete quizzes with answer keys in seconds, saving time and effort.

 

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

June 24, 2026

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You need to create a quiz. 

Maybe it is for a training session, a classroom lesson, or a quick way to test your own knowledge. 

The problem is that writing good questions takes time, and staring at a blank page rarely helps.

Here’s a Cool Tip: Generate Complete Quizzes Instantly with Copilot.

With a simple prompt, Copilot can generate a complete quiz, including questions and answer keys, in seconds.

This is more than a time-saver. It can change how you prepare lessons, onboard employees, or study for exams.

Make Excel Copilot Work Your Way Every Time

Make Excel Copilot Work Your Way Every Time

Stop repeating the same formatting instructions in Excel. Copilot personalization lets you define your preferences once and get consistent results every time.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

June 22, 2026

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If you use Copilot in Excel often, you have likely run into this. 

You ask for a report, then spend time correcting formatting, adjusting formulas, or rewriting outputs to match your usual style. 

The work still gets done, but it rarely looks the same twice.

Here’s a Cool Tip: Teach Copilot Your Style Once and Reuse It Automatically.

Microsoft is starting to close that gap with personalization. 

Instead of retyping the same instructions, you can define how you want results to look and let Copilot follow those preferences automatically.

AI Image Editing in PowerPoint

AI Image Editing in PowerPoint

PowerPoint now includes a full AI image editor that can clean up photos, remove objects, and enhance slides without leaving the app. It’s one of the most useful upgrades Microsoft has shipped in years.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor  

April 20, 2026

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Every presenter knows the pain of scrambling to fix a photo minutes before a meeting. 

Maybe the lighting is off. Maybe there’s a stranger in the background. Maybe the image looks fuzzy on a big screen. 

Until now, you had to jump into a separate app to fix it. 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Edit PowerPoint Images with AI.

PowerPoint’s new AI image editing tools turn the app into a capable photo editor that handles the most common fixes with surprising accuracy.

New Copilot Connectors in Edge: The Hidden Upgrade That Makes Your Browser Smarter Intro Summary

New Copilot Connectors in Edge: The Hidden Upgrade That Makes Your Browser Smarter

Microsoft Edge now includes new Copilot connectors that link directly to your Outlook, OneDrive, Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Calendar accounts. These connectors help Copilot understand your real content so it can deliver grounded answers, smarter drafts, and faster results.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor  

April 8, 2026

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Most people open Edge to search the web, check email, or grab a file from the cloud. 

But something new is happening behind the scenes. 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use Copilot Connectors.

Copilot in Edge now understands your Microsoft 365 and Google accounts through a set of built‑in connectors that quietly unlock a smarter browsing experience.

Ask Copilot to summarize your latest email, find a file in OneDrive or Google Drive, or pull decisions from a Teams chat. 

It can do all of that without opening another app. 

These connectors turn Edge into a productivity hub that understands your work and personal life in a way that feels surprisingly natural.

How To Create QR Codes In Microsoft Word (So People Actually Scan Them)

How To Create QR Codes In Microsoft Word (So People Actually Scan Them)

Turn any Word document into a scannable, mobile-friendly experience with built-in QR codes. No add ins, no sketchy websites, just a smart field code hiding in plain sight.  Creating QR codes directly in Microsoft Word lets you turn reports, handouts, and invoices into interactive documents. 

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

March 23, 2026

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You have probably seen QR codes slapped on posters, menus, and invoices that no one actually scans. 

Often they are too small, too blurry, or point to a link that is already out of date.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Create QR Codes in Microsoft Word.

Microsoft Word has a built in way to generate QR codes that update with your document, without uploading anything to a third party site. 

Once you know the trick, you can drop a QR code into a template in seconds and keep it in sync with your latest URL, form, or contact info.

Query your local Excel files with Copilot Chat

Query your local Excel files with Copilot Chat

Copilot in Excel is finally learning a new trick: it can now answer questions about workbooks stored right on your device. If you primarily work in local folders, this update quietly changes how you work with data every day.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

March 2, 2026

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You know that one folder on your desktop where all the “final_v3_really_final.xlsx” files live. 

Until now, those local workbooks were invisible to Copilot Chat unless you moved them into the cloud. 

That extra step was just enough friction to skip using Copilot at all.

Here's a Cool Tip:  You Can Now Query Your Local Excel Files with Copilot Chat.

Copilot can now analyze modern Excel files stored locally, so you can ask questions, clean data, and build summaries without reshuffling your storage strategy or uploading sensitive files.

Turn Excel Chaos Into Clarity With Copilot’s Summarize And Categorize Superpowers

Turn Excel Chaos Into Clarity With Copilot’s Summarize And Categorize Superpowers

Copilot in Excel can scan thousands of rows, surface the story in your data, and organize it into meaningful categories with just a few natural language prompts. If you work in spreadsheets all day, this feature is like having a data analyst sitting in the ribbon.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor  

February 16, 2026

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You open a workbook with 18,000 rows of sales data, customer comments, and dates, and your manager wants a one-page summary before lunch. 

You know Excel can do it, but building the right formulas, PivotTables, and filters feels like a project, not a quick task.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use Copilot to Summarize and Categorize Your Data.

Instead of hunting for the perfect function, you describe what you want: “Summarize this data by category.” 

Copilot reads the table, proposes a summary, and can even build the supporting PivotTable for you.

Excel stops being a wall of cells and starts acting like a conversation about your data.

Turn Word Into Your AI Writing Partner With Agent Mode

Turn Word Into Your AI Writing Partner With Agent Mode

Agent Mode in Word lets you describe your goal and have Copilot do targeted edits, rewrites, and formatting inside your document. Once you learn where to find it and how to steer it, Word starts to feel less like a blank page and more like a collaborative editor.

Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

February 2, 2026

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How many times have you stared at a messy draft and thought, "I wish someone could just fix this for me"? 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use Agent Mode in Microsoft Word.

Agent Mode in Word is Microsoft’s answer to that feeling: a way to talk to Copilot as if it were a colleague sitting beside you, editing the document in real time.

Instead of copying text into a chat window and pasting results back, you stay in the document while Copilot restructures sections, tightens language, and applies Word styles for you. 

For busy professionals, that shift from "AI on the side" to "AI inside" is a big deal.

Most Popular Microsoft 365 Cool Tips of 2025

Most Popular Microsoft 365 Cool Tips of 2025

Two small Microsoft 365 habits can prevent big mistakes, and one overlooked presentation tool can make your work look far more polished in minutes. If you create slides, collaborate on documents, or live in Excel, this trio will pay you back fast.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

December 29, 2025

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Have you ever sent a deck that looked “fine” but not impressive, restored a file only after hours of rework, or discovered an Excel model was quietly showing old numbers? 

The most popular Microsoft 365 Cool Tips of 2025 are not flashy tricks. 

They are workflow upgrades that reduce rework, improve output quality, and lower the chance of decisions based on stale data. 

PowerPoint’s New Explainer Tool Makes Dense Slides Actually Understandable

PowerPoint’s New Explainer Tool Makes Dense Slides Actually Understandable

PowerPoint’s new Explainer feature uses Microsoft 365 Copilot to translate dense, jargon-heavy slides into clear, quick explanations. If you regularly sit through baffling decks, this might be the quiet little button that saves your next meeting.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor 

December 22, 2025

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You know that moment in a meeting when a slide full of acronyms and chart junk hits the screen and everyone politely nods while silently thinking, “What does this even mean?” 

Now imagine being able to right-click that mess and get a clear, one-paragraph explanation that speaks human.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use Explainer in Microsoft PowerPoint.

Powered by Microsoft 365 Copilot, PowerPoint Explainer quietly sits in your right-click menu, ready to summarize dense content so you spend less time re-reading and more time actually understanding the point.

Copilot Notebooks Arrive for Microsoft 365: Save Smarter Prompts, Get Better Results

Copilot Notebooks Arrive for Microsoft 365: Save Smarter Prompts, Get Better Results

Two new words that change how you use AI: persistent prompts. Copilot Notebooks let you craft, refine, and reuse complex instructions across your Microsoft 365 life.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor 

December 1, 2025

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Have you ever wished you could save that perfect prompt you used to generate a great report, syllabus, or family travel plan and come back to improve it later? 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use Copilot Notebooks in Microsoft 365.

Copilot Notebooks make that a reality for Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, and Premium subscribers. 

It’s a focused workspace for longer, iterative prompts that you can test, tune, and reuse without starting from scratch.