How to control your PowerPoint presentations using a Surface Pen

2 min. read

Published onMay 9, 2017

published onMay 9, 2017

Share this article

Improve this guide

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more

Surface Penis one of the highlights ofSurfaceand with the improved inking capabilities of Windows 10, it offers a natural and intuitive way to write, draw, and interact with apps.

There are also handy pen shortcuts via the top button available on a click, double-click, or a long press – although the default set of actions was quite limited. Till the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, that is. Now, Windows 10 allows users to assign custom pen shortcuts to any installed UWP or classic app.

KeyPenX makes use of this new capability to allow users to assignPowerPointnavigation controls to the top button, so that your Surface Pen doubles up as a PowerPoint remote. The app supports PowerPoint actions like next slide, previous slide, and start slideshow from the beginning.

Unlike other such solutions, KeyPenX can also assign secondary actions when PowerPoint is not running – like opening OneNote, Cortana, Command Prompt, or any classic app with *.exe, *.bat, and *.lnk files. This capability is a nifty addition since you don’t have to go back to Pen settings each time and change Pen shortcuts to their default behavior after you’re done with presenting a slideshow.

Granted KeyPenX is not very straightforward, and there are no direct toggles or drop-down menus to configure Pen shortcuts. Yet, it’s quite easy to set things up and the app guides you well to configure default Pen settings.

While the app isn’t on UWP, the developer has used Desktop Bridge to publish it on theWindows Store. If you are an active Surface Pen user and present slides in school or at work frequently, KeyPenX is a pretty neat way to navigate a PowerPoint slide-deck using the Surface Pen as a remote. Also, for most presenters, it eliminates the need to buy expensive presenter remotes.

Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time).

For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web.

Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they’re looking for.

User forum

0 messages

Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes

Comment*

Name*

Email*

Commenting as.Not you?

Save information for future comments

Comment

Radu Tyrsina

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low#

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app#

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities#

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount#

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier#

How to control your PowerPoint presentations using a Surface Pen#

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier

How to control your PowerPoint presentations using a Surface Pen