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Demo videos, FAQs, installation guides, and troubleshooting — for all Ninja Tools products. Can’t find it here? Get in touch →
See it working.
Six videos covering the tools in action. Watch before you buy, or come back when you need a refresher.
Common questions.
What are the system requirements?
Windows 10 or later (64-bit). PowerPoint 2013 or later — Microsoft 365 is recommended. .NET Framework 4.8 is required; Windows 10 version 1903 and later include it by default.
FFmpeg is bundled with the installer — no separate download or configuration needed. For Presenter Notes Ninja’s notes display, a second connected monitor is required.
How do I install Ninja Tools?
Close PowerPoint, then run the installer — NinjaToolsSetup_1.0.0.34.exe — and follow the prompts. The installer registers the add-in with PowerPoint automatically. Open PowerPoint and you’ll see the Ninja Tools tab in the ribbon.
Do I need to install anything separately for the video export tools?
No. FFmpeg is bundled inside the Ninja Tools installer (~96 MB total). You don’t need to download FFmpeg separately, run any command-line setup, or configure paths. It’s there when you need it.
Can I install it on more than one machine?
Yes. One licence covers the machines you work on — your build machine and your show machine. Activate with the same key on each. If you hit a machine limit, you can deactivate a machine via your LemonSqueezy customer portal.
The Ninja Tools tab isn’t showing in the ribbon
Go to File → Options → Add-ins in PowerPoint. In the Manage dropdown, select COM Add-ins and click Go. Check that Ninja Tools is listed and ticked. If it’s there but unticked, tick it and click OK. If it’s not listed, try reinstalling.
How do I activate my licence?
Click any button in the Ninja Tools ribbon tab. If the licence hasn’t been activated on this machine, the activation dialog appears automatically. Paste your key and click Activate. The tool connects to LemonSqueezy to validate — this requires internet access once.
After activation, the licence caches locally. You don’t need internet again for 7 days.
Does it need internet on show day?
No. Once activated, the licence caches locally with a 7-day offline grace period. Show machines that go dark between events stay covered — the tool keeps working for 7 days from the last successful check. When the machine comes back online, the licence renews silently in the background.
My key says it unlocks Optimise Ninja but I want the full suite
The same installer works for all products — your key determines what unlocks. To upgrade, cancel your current subscription via the LemonSqueezy customer portal, then purchase the product you want and activate with the new key. No reinstall needed.
What happens when my subscription renews?
LemonSqueezy emails you before the renewal date. If payment succeeds, the licence renews automatically and nothing changes. If payment fails, you’ll get a follow-up email with a link to update your payment details — the grace period covers the gap while that’s sorted.
How do I cancel?
Log into your LemonSqueezy customer portal and cancel before the renewal date. The licence stays active until the end of your current billing period — you keep access until it expires, not immediately.
Do you offer studio or team pricing?
Not as a formal tier yet. If you’re outfitting a production house or a large conference team, get in touch and we’ll talk through what makes sense. Referral codes for graphics operators who send paid work are available on request — given personally, not automatically.
What does Optimise Ninja actually check?
Deck checks: missing and unembedded fonts, broken or linked media files, linked images, hidden slides, and oversized images that may cause sluggish playback.
Machine checks: GPU type and VRAM, available RAM, free disk space, connected displays, and whether the output resolution matches the deck.
Results are returned as a red / amber / green verdict. Red = show-stopping issue. Amber = worth fixing if you have time. Green = good to go.
What is the Show Package and what does it contain?
When Optimise Ninja returns a green pass, it can build a Show Package — a single folder containing the optimised deck, all embedded fonts, and all linked media files, ready to move to the show machine. Everything in one place, nothing missing.
How does the 14-day free trial work?
Start the trial via the checkout — no payment is charged for the first 14 days. You get full access to Optimise Ninja during the trial period. After 14 days, the annual subscription begins and LemonSqueezy charges the card you provided at checkout.
If you decide it’s not for you, cancel before day 14 via your LemonSqueezy portal and nothing is charged.
Does Optimise Ninja include the Backstage Suite tools?
No — Optimise Ninja is the preflight scanner only. The Backstage Suite (Shape Ninja, Fade Image, video export, etc.) is a separate product at £49/year. Ninja Tools Complete (£79/year) includes both, plus Presenter Notes Ninja.
What tools are included in the Backstage Suite?
20+ tools across several categories: Shape Ninja suite (Stroke, Shadow, Corner, Gap, Size, Position — numeric precision controls), Snap Ninja (arrow/connector endpoint control), Fade Image with custom editor, Background Ninja, image report and collect, export slides as images, reset images, Export as Video (FFmpeg, ProRes 4444 + MP4), media report and collect, font report and collect, Section Ninja, Ungroup Chart, LED Wall Sizer, VT Countdown, Format Notes, and Export Notes.
What video formats does Export as Video support?
ProRes 4444 for broadcast workflows and keying. High-bitrate MP4 for show systems, LED walls, and general broadcast-quality output. Both use FFmpeg, which is bundled — no separate installation needed. You choose the format, set a frame rate, and export.
Does the Backstage Suite include Optimise Ninja or Presenter Notes Ninja?
No — they’re separate products. The Backstage Suite is the specialist toolkit. Ninja Tools Complete (£79/year) includes all three products in one licence.
What does Section Ninja actually do?
Section Ninja exports any PowerPoint section as a standalone .pptx file — one click per section, or batch export all sections at once. Useful when a client or director needs just one part of the deck (the awards section, the exec summary, the run-of-show) as a separate file, usually at short notice.
What does Snap Ninja do differently from PowerPoint’s snap?
PowerPoint snaps connector and arrow endpoints to nearby objects whether you want it to or not. Snap Ninja gives you control over where a line or arrow endpoint actually lands — drag it to exactly where you want it, without the snap fighting you. Particularly useful for diagram and flowchart work where connectors need to be precisely positioned.
How does the notes display sync with the show?
Presenter Notes Ninja inserts hidden animation cues into your PowerPoint slides. When the operator fires a click — to advance a slide or trigger an animation — the notes display responds automatically. Move to the next slide and the notes jump to the first page of that slide’s notes.
The operator can also navigate notes pages independently — forward and backward — without changing the slide. Useful when a presenter needs to revisit a point mid-speech.
What happens to the hidden cues if I share the deck?
The hidden cues are standard PowerPoint animation objects — they exist in the file like any other element. On a machine without the add-in they won’t do anything, and they don’t affect the presentation for the audience. You can also remove them with one click before distributing the deck.
Do I need a second monitor?
Yes — Presenter Notes Ninja puts the notes display on a dedicated monitor. You’ll need at least two connected displays: one for the presentation output, one for the notes. The tool detects all connected monitors and lets you choose which one to use.
Can I use Export Notes without running the notes display?
Yes. Export Notes works independently — you can export the deck’s speaker notes to Word, PDF, or plain text at any time without setting up the notes display. Useful for generating autocue scripts, print-ready run-of-show documents, or sharing notes with the client before the event.
Does it work with Cued Up teleprompting?
Yes — Export Notes produces the text output that autocue operators need. For shows running a separate Cued Up teleprompt screen, the plain text export from Presenter Notes Ninja is the script. The two tools are designed to work alongside each other in the same production chain.
The Ninja Tools tab isn’t showing in the ribbon
Go to File → Options → Add-ins. In the Manage dropdown, select COM Add-ins and click Go. If Ninja Tools is listed but unticked, tick it and click OK. If it’s missing entirely, reinstall — close PowerPoint first, run the installer, then reopen.
Windows SmartScreen blocked the installer
Click “More info” on the SmartScreen dialog, then “Run anyway.” SmartScreen flags executables it hasn’t seen before — this is expected for any installer from a small publisher. The file is from ninjatools.co.uk and is safe to run.
The add-in crashes or stops loading after a Microsoft 365 update
Office updates occasionally break VSTO add-ins. The usual fix is to repair your Office installation: Settings → Apps → Microsoft 365 → Modify → Quick Repair. If Quick Repair doesn’t resolve it, try Online Repair. Once Office is repaired, a fresh install of Ninja Tools should clear it.
My activation key says it’s invalid
Check there are no spaces before or after the key when pasting. Keys are case-insensitive but punctuation must be exact. If you’ve used the key on more machines than your licence allows, you may need to deactivate one via your LemonSqueezy customer portal before activating on a new machine.
.NET Framework 4.8 error on install
Windows 10 version 1903 (May 2019 Update) and later include .NET Framework 4.8 by default. If you’re on an older build, download it directly from Microsoft and install it before running the Ninja Tools installer. The installer will also prompt you if it’s missing.
Something else is wrong
If none of the above covers it, get in touch with as much detail as you can — which tool, what happened, which version of PowerPoint and Windows you’re on. We’ll sort it out.