Why Doesn't PowerPoint Designer Work?

PowerPoint Designer is a feature that can produce professional layouts when you add an image (or more than one) to a slide. Sometimes though people complain it does not work.

Here are some of the reasons that may stop it working.

Version of Office

Designer is only included with subscription versions of 2016 (365). It is also  NOT included in version 2019.

If you have a version before 2016 or a non subscription version of 2016/2019 you will not have it. For some reason it seems to appear sometimes "by accident" in these versions.

Your Template

At the time of posting Designer only works with the Microsoft templates supplied with PowerPoint. This may change but for now if you use a non-standard templete - NO DESIGNER.

PPT or PPTX?

Designer only works in pptx files.

Layout

Not all layouts are supported this will probably change but at the time of writing, Two Content, Comparison and Content & Caption failed.

Internet

Designer is an online tool. No Intenet - No Designer!

Number of Pictures

If you have more than 6 pictures Designer is likely to fail.

Shapes

If you mix shapes with images currently Designer may fail.

Charts and Tables

Designer can work with this but only if there is only one (and no pictures).

Macros

If you have a macro enabled presentation Designer is likely to fail.

Small Images

If the image is tiny Designer did not work originally. This seems to be fixed but worth bearing in mind as a possible reason.