Although the mouse pointer can come in handy for navigating through your PowerPoint slideshow, sometimes it detracts from the intended effect of a slide.

You can click on the Pen icon and select Arrow Options | Hidden (Pointer Options | Hidden in some versions) from the shortcut menu at the bottom-left of your slide, but an easier and less obtrusive method is to simply press the [=] key. When you want to the pointer to be visible again, either move the mouse or press the [=] key a second time.

Filed under: Microsoft Office Tutor