Running for the First Time - PowerPoint for iOS – iPad

After you install PowerPoint for iPad, the next thing you want to do is run it! However, running the program for the first time is a little different and requires that you understand about creating an account, signing in, etc. And yes, you can still use the program without signing in. But in the long run, if you want to use PowerPoint to its optimum, then you must make yourself familiar with these tasks.

Follow these steps to learn more:

1. To launch PowerPoint, tap on its icon in your iPad's screen as shown in Figure 1, below.
2. 
   Figure 1: Tap to launch PowerPoint
2. When you run PowerPoint on the iPad for the first time, Microsoft displays a small show. Now the contents of this show may change dynamically and you may not see the same screens that we saw (look at Figures 2, 3, and 4 below).
3. 
   Figure 2: Using Office 365
4. 
   Figure 3: Changes are saved automatically
5. 
   Figure 4: Work together and co-author
3. The final screen of this show is the Office 365 screen, as shown in Figure 5, below.
4. 
   Figure 5: How do you want to proceed?
4. To proceed further you have three options:

Sign In

5. If you already have a Microsoft account and/or an Office 365 subscription, you can sign in using your credentials. Learn more about Office 365 subscriptions in our Office 365 Versions article.

Create an Account

6. This option lets you create a new Microsoft account. Note that a Microsoft account is not necessarily the same as an Office 365 subscription (see the box How is a Microsoft Account different than an Office 365 Subscription? below).

Sign in Later

7. This option lets you use the limited editing options in PowerPoint for iPad and you need not sign in or create an account.

How is a Microsoft Account different than an Office 365 Subscription?

Many times when you use Microsoft Office programs online, or even on a tablet, a phone, or a desktop machine you may be asked to sign in. So what does sign in actually mean? At the most basic level, you can sign in with your free Microsoft Account and get access to a basic level of viewing and editing within the program. Most desktop versions of Office programs such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint will only provide viewing access at this level but tablet and phone versions do provide quite exhaustive editing abilities. If you have an account with OneDrive, Hotmail, Xbox Live, Windows Phone, Outlook.com, Skype (the new, migrated accounts), or even a Windows 8 (not the local Windows 8 account) – then those are already Microsoft Accounts!

However if you have an Office 365 subscription, then things change! Now your Office 365 subscription can be accessed using your Microsoft Account's email address and password for the basic Office 365 subscription levels. Or you may have a greater level @on.microsoft.com email address that provides access to the higher level subscriptions for Office 365. Whichever Office 365 level you may be at, using those credentials unlocks the entire program on desktops, tablets, and phones.

So really speaking, all Office 365 subscriptions are Microsoft Accounts, but not all Microsoft Accounts are Office 365 subscriptions!

5. Choose one these three options to proceed further, and use PowerPoint on the iPad.