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W
Newcomer
Walter Guertin
Newcomer
April 2, 2026
Question

hand held slide advancer

  • April 2, 2026
  • 2 replies
  • 44 views

 

I am sharing an in-house presentation on an Epson overhead projector/screen which is for the dedicated powerpoint slides. I am working off of a laptop PC for accepting invitees and answering chat. The two screens are identified as 1 and 2 (1 is the laptop, my main display, and 2 is the projector for the powerpoint presentation). My issue is when I use my laptop keypad, the presenter is unable to advance the PowerPoint Slides. I have to select or click on powerpoint to give the control back to the remote clicker/slide advancer. How can this be remedied with settiings?

    2 replies

    Tom
    Explorer
    Tom
    Explorer
    April 3, 2026

    Any chance on using two different laptops, one for Zoom, one for the deck? When you are engaged with Zoom, that is the active window, so the clicker won't advance slides.

    W
    Newcomer
    Walter GuertinAuthor
    Newcomer
    April 5, 2026

    Tom,

    Thanks for your reply. We ended up using the main or host computer with a tracking lens camera on the podium. This first computer is the presenter in view. We used a 2nd screen, an overhead Epson projector where we dragged the PowerPoint. We then used a 2nd computer for the Co-Host in Zoom. Once the handout was uploaded into chat and the PowerPoint started, we did not touch the 1st computer during the entire presentation. The Co-Host computer handled all of the invitees and chat discussions. In-house presenters relied on a Lavalier microphone which was connected to the main computer with an amplifier and speakers for the room and an interface for Zoom. The second computer (Co-Host) monitored the sound over Zoom. The in-house Q&A used a hand-held microphone, as did the Moderator manning the 2nd computer. The raise hand feature of Zoom broadcasted over Zoom and the in-house speakers. Some used chat which the Moderator relayed through another Lavalier Microphone. At the end of the session, the Main computer ended the session and finished the converted file, saving it for editing and future loading on our members-only site. We are a non-profit and provide a speaker’s series for our members. So far this method has worked the best. I’m sure someone has a more fool-proof way to do it. Thanks.

    J
    Explorer
    James Smite
    Explorer
    April 5, 2026

    You’re likely running into a focus issue when you use your laptop, it takes control away from PowerPoint, so the remote stops working.

    A simple fix is to run PowerPoint in “Slide Show” mode on the projector (screen 2) and keep it active there. You can also enable “Use Presenter View” so your controls stay separate on the laptop.

    Another helpful setting is:
    Go to PowerPoint → Slide Show → Set Up Slide Show → check “Browsed by an individual (window)” or ensure the correct monitor is selected for the slideshow.

    Also, avoid clicking outside PowerPoint while presenting  or use Alt + Tab to quickly switch back.

    If possible, try plugging the remote directly into the laptop and check if it’s set to control the slideshow specifically.

    W
    Newcomer
    Walter GuertinAuthor
    Newcomer
    April 5, 2026

    Hi James. Using the Host computer and the dedicated overhead screen and projector as the PP worked great. The reason it did is I made the second computer the co-host. Once the PP presentation started the 1st computer was not touched until ending the session. I will try your other suggestions in a future endeavor. Thanks.

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