PresentSyncApps and computers
| App | Computer | Start the slideshow | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Windows | Slide Show > From Beginning (F5) | PowerPoint on Windows |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Mac | Slide Show > Play from Start | PowerPoint on a Mac |
| Google Slides | Windows, Mac (in the browser) | Slideshow (Present) | Google Slides remote |
| Keynote | Mac only | Play > Play Slideshow | Keynote on a Mac |
| WPS Presentation | Windows, Mac | Slide Show > From Beginning (放映 > 从头开始) | WPS Presentation remote |
| PDF presentations | Windows, Mac | Full screen in a viewer that turns pages with the arrow keys | PDF presentation remote |
Keynote does not run on Windows. On a Windows PC, PowerPoint, WPS and Google Slides work.
What every combination has in common
- The PresentSync desktop app runs on the Windows PC or Mac that shows the slides; the phone app on an iPhone or Android phone is the remote.
- The phone and the computer are on the same local network (same Wi-Fi or same wired network); mobile data does not work.
- Next and Prev act like the arrow keys, so the slideshow has to be playing and in front.
- The phone shows no speaker notes or slide previews.
- The pointer, highlight and lines are drawn on one display of the computer.
How Next and Prev reach each app
PresentSync sends two slide commands, and only these two: Next and Prev. What the app receives depends on the computer:
| Computer | App | Next / Prev |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Any app | Right / Left arrow, to the window in front |
| Mac | PowerPoint, WPS Presentation | The app's own next / previous slide menu command when PresentSync finds it; otherwise Page Down / Page Up |
| Mac | Keynote | Keynote's next / previous menu command when PresentSync finds it; otherwise Right / Left arrow |
| Mac | Preview, Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge and other apps | Right / Left arrow |
So an app that is not in the apps table works when its slideshow moves one slide with these keys. PresentSync does not click or move the mouse, so a slideshow that only advances with a click does not respond.
On the phone during the talk
- If the connection drops: the iPhone and iPad app shows Reconnecting and tries again on its own a few times, and reconnects when you return to the app. The Android and HarmonyOS apps show why the connection ended, with a Reconnect button that rejoins the same meeting without scanning again.
- Vibration: the phone vibrates briefly when a long-press line starts, so you know you are drawing without looking. On iPhone, Next and Prev also give a light tap.
- What it does not have: no timer, notes, Bluetooth or volume-button paging; see features PresentSync does not have.
Windows and Mac differences
| Windows | Mac | |
|---|---|---|
| System | Windows 10 (64-bit) or later | macOS 13 or later, Apple silicon or Intel |
| Download | Installer or portable ZIP | DMG (notarized by Apple) or ZIP |
| Prompt to allow | Firewall prompt when PresentSync starts: allow it, at least on private networks | Accessibility (System Settings > Privacy & Security) and, if asked, incoming connections |
Common questions
Which presentation software works with PresentSync?
PowerPoint, Google Slides and WPS Presentation on Windows and Mac, Keynote on a Mac, and PDF presentations in a viewer that turns pages with the arrow keys.
Does Keynote work on Windows?
No. Keynote runs on the Mac. On a Windows PC, PowerPoint, WPS and Google Slides work with PresentSync.
Does an app that is not on this list work?
Only if its slideshow moves one slide per key press: PresentSync sends the right and left arrow keys (on a Mac, Page Down and Page Up to PowerPoint and WPS). It does not click, so software that needs a click to advance does not work. Test with the keyboard first.
Do I need the desktop app for Google Slides?
Yes. Google Slides runs in the browser, but the PresentSync desktop app on the same computer sends the slide keys and draws the pointer. No browser extension is needed.
Last updated 2026-11-15