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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 the Ninja Notes presenter display, a second connected monitor is required.

Full requirements on the Download page →

Close PowerPoint, then run the latest installer from the Download page 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 — every tool works straight away.

Full installation guide →

No. FFmpeg is bundled inside the Ninja Tools installer. You don’t need to download FFmpeg separately, run any command-line setup, or configure paths. It’s there when you need it.

Yes — on as many machines as you need. The free version has no licence, no activation limit, and no per-machine restriction. Build machine, show machine, the hire-stock laptop that smells of gaffer tape — install it everywhere. You’ll just need permission to install software on machines you don’t own.

The optional Ninja Notes licence key covers up to three machines.

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.

More troubleshooting →

Yes. The download runs through Lemon Squeezy, where you choose what to pay — and zero is a perfectly good answer. Every tool works from first launch. No key needed, no trial timer, no expiry date, no account to create.

The one honest exception: Ninja Notes shows a small “Free Version” label on the presenter screen. Everything else — and everything in Ninja Notes itself — works fully, forever, for free.

If it saves your show, put something in the tip jar. If it doesn’t, don’t.

Ninja Notes — the show-safe presenter notes view — displays a small label at the bottom of the presenter screen. It never appears on the audience output, never animates, and never interrupts a show. All Ninja Notes features work identically with or without it.

A one-off £39 licence key removes it forever — no subscription, no renewal, and the same key covers up to three machines. Paste the key into the licence form (the Ninja Licence button on the ribbon, or the link in the Ninja Notes window) and the label disappears on the spot.

No. The free version works entirely offline — no licence checks, no server contact, no network access at any point. Nothing to fail on a locked-down venue network, nothing to stall PowerPoint on startup.

The single exception: activating a Ninja Notes licence key checks in with Lemon Squeezy once. After that, the licence is cached on the machine permanently — offline forever after, including on show day.

Run the new installer over the top of your existing install. Every tool works without a key — and if your old key was for Presenter Notes Ninja or Ninja Tools Complete, it also removes the Ninja Notes “Free Version” label automatically. You’re covered; nothing to buy.

If an old subscription is still set to renew, cancel it via your Lemon Squeezy customer portal — there’s nothing left to pay for.

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.

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.

Not any more. One installer includes everything — Optimise Ninja, the Backstage tools, and Ninja Notes. Install once and it’s all in the ribbon.

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.

See every tool on the Tools page →

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.

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.

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.

Ninja Notes 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.

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.

Yes — Ninja Notes 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.

That’s the label on the free version — everything still works fully, and it never appears on the audience output. A one-off £39 key removes it forever. Full details in the Free & the label section →

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.

Yes — Export Notes produces the text output that autocue operators need. For shows running a separate Cued Up teleprompt screen, the plain text export is the script. The two tools are designed to work alongside each other in the same production chain.

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.

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.

Check for a stray space at the start or end of the key — copy it fresh from your Lemon Squeezy email. Activation needs an internet connection for that one moment, so make sure the machine is online when you click Activate.

If the key still won’t take, get in touch with the email address you bought with and we’ll sort it.

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.

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.

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.