## Installing PowerTools on Windows without the Installer (i.e., Manual Installation) Users sometimes run into issues running the PowerTools installer due to IT or enterprise security requirements. As a result, the following instructions allow users to install PowerTools on Windows without having to run the PowerTools Windows Installer with just a few extra steps which require you to put files in a certain location on your computer. ### What You'll Need After purchasing your PowerTools license, you will receive a purchase confirmation email which contains: - The PowerTools add-in (PowerTools.zip) - Your own personal license key ### Video Tutorial Follow the simple steps in the installation video below to install and activate the add-in. You can also find detailed written instructions below the installation video. <iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GXgoBAT9F4s" title="PowerPoint PowerTools Add-In | Windows Installation Instructions" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe> ## Instructions 1. **Download** the `PowerTools.zip` file included with your purchase 2. **Extract** the files (i.e., the top level parent folder named PowerTools inside the ZIP file) into the following **folder location**: `%APPDATA%\Microsoft\AddIns` (you can find this folder by copy-pasting its path into your Windows search) ![[SearchWindows (1).png]] **The most common installation error is not extracting the entire PowerTools folder structure. Verify that your folder path is the following:** …\Microsoft\AddIns\PowerTools ![[Pasted image 20250304145902.png]] 3. **Open PowerPoint**, click the **File** tab, and then click **Options** ![[ManagePowerPointAddins (1).png]] 4. Select **PowerPoint Add-ins** from the **Manage** dropdown, and click **Go** ![[FileOptionsAddins (1).png]] 5. Click **Add New** ![[AddNew (1).png]] 6. Navigate into the **PowerTools** folder 7. Select **PowerTools.ppam** (NOT "PowerTools Helper.ppam") 8. You should now see a PowerTools tab in your PowerPoint ribbon 9. Click on the "Activate Add-In" button in the ribbon, and enter the license key provide in your purchase confirmation email ## Troubleshooting If you encounter any issues: - Ensure all files were extracted correctly to the AddIns folder - Verify PowerPoint is fully closed and reopened after adding the add-in - Check that you selected PowerTools.ppam (not PowerTools Helper.ppam) - Contact our support team if you need assistance ### Window protected your PC (Microsoft Defender) If you see the following security warning when running the PowerTools Installer for Windows (as shown in the screenshot below), click “More Info” then “Run Anyway”. ![[Pasted image 20250330165958.png]] ![[Pasted image 20250330165938.png]] ### Microsoft Office has identified a potential security concern If you are receiving the following error pop-up message when trying to add the PowerTools add-in to PowerPoint:  - "_Microsoft Office has identified a potential security concern." - "_Microsoft has blocked macros from running because the source of this file is untrusted._" ![[Pasted image 20250304151123.png]] Follow the steps below: 1. Remove the PowerTools add-in from your PowerPoint add-ins 2. Find the PowerTools.ppam file in your file explorer 3. Right click on the file and go to properties 4. Click on ‘unblock’ ![[Pasted image 20250304151204.png]]5. Add the PowerTools add-in back to PowerPoint ### Missing Thumbnails in Slide Library and Icons When the PowerTools add-in resource files are not installed in the correct location, thumbnails fail to load in two key features: 1. Slide Library: Empty white squares appear instead of slide previews in the dropdown menu ![[Pasted image 20250110164835.png]] 2. Icon Gallery: Blank white boxes show instead of icon previews in the icon selection window ![[Pasted image 20250110164840.png]] **How to Fix:** 1. Verify Installation Location - Press Windows + R to open Run - Type `%APPDATA%\Microsoft\AddIns` and press Enter - Confirm you see a PowerTools folder 2. Check Resource Files Structure - Navigate into the PowerTools folder - You should see a Resources folder containing: - SlideGallery folder - Icons folder 3. Check SlideGallery Files - Navigate to `%APPDATA%\Microsoft\AddIns\PowerTools\Resources\SlideGallery` - Verify the following PowerPoint files are present: - Advanced.pptx - Africa.pptx - Americas.pptx - Asia.pptx - Europe.pptx - Flows.pptx - Frameworks.pptx - Graphics.pptx - Icons.pptx - Infographics.pptx - Text_Layouts.pptx - Timelines.pptx (and other template files as shown in Image 3) 4. Check Icon Files - Navigate to `%APPDATA%\Microsoft\AddIns\PowerTools\Resources\Icons` - Verify the presence of icon .gif files: 5. If Files Are Missing - Download a fresh copy of PowerTools.zip - Extract the contents to a temporary location - Copy the missing Resources folder and its contents to: `%APPDATA%\Microsoft\AddIns\PowerTools\` - Restart PowerPoint 6. If Files Are Present But Still Not Working - Right-click the Resources folder - Select Properties - Click Advanced - Make sure "Compress contents to save disk space" is unchecked - Click OK - Click Apply to all subfolders - Check if any files are marked as "blocked": - Right-click each .pptx and .gif file - Select Properties - Look for an "Unblock" checkbox at the bottom - If present, check it and click Apply If the issue persists after following these steps, contact our support team for additional assistance.