Prezi can drive you nuts!
Prezi issues can be frustrating. There are a number of different reasons why your prezi won’t work. If you’re not using the correct hardware or Internet browser, Prezi won’t work. Your system security settings can prevent it from working correctly. If your browser settings are incorrect, Prezi won’t work. Your pop-up blocker might be preventing part of Prezi from loading.
You might experience one or more of the issues shown below. Prezi might give you an error message, or a black screen. Or the sync between your desktop app and the online Prezi won’t work. Or maybe the templates won’t display. You might get stuck watching an ever-spinning cursor. The symptoms you experience might give you clues as to why your Prezi won’t work. Check the following presentation to find out what is wrong with your Prezi.
Help! Prezi won’t work on my machine
Solution: You might need a different computer
Prezi will run on a PC or Mac (but not in Linux). You can view your prezis, but the Editor will not run on a smartphone, tablet, or Chromebook. The minimum system requirements are shown below. Without them, you might be able to sign up for an account, but your Prezi won’t work on your machine.
Windows
- OS: Windows 7 SP1 (64 bit) or newer with updated drivers and DirectX 9 or higher
- Processor: Intel Core i3 2.00 GHz or AMD equivalent
- Memory: Minimum of 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 405 / AMD Radeon 5000 or higher with 512 MB memory (or comparable)
Mac
- OS: OS X 10.11 or higher
- Processor: Intel Core i3 or better
- Memory: Minimum of 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: Nvidia or AMD GPU with 512 MB memory
Help! Prezi won’t work on my Prezi desktop app
Solution: Check your hardware and Internet connection
If you prefer to work offline, you can install the Prezi Desktop App —. There are Mac and Windows versions, but you must have a Prezi Plus (or higher) license in order to use them. Here are the minimum requirements for using the Prezi desktop app:
Windows: Windows 7 SP1 or newer with updated drivers, DirectX 9 or higher, and a minimum of 4 GB RAM
Mac: OS X 10.11 or higher with a minimum of 4 GB RAM
The first time you run the desktop app, you will need to be connected to the Internet. That’s because it must connect your online Prezi account with the local software. You’ll only have to do this once. After the initial connection, you can use the desktop app completely offline. However, you should be aware that your desktop prezis sync with your online account every time you open the app, as long as you are connected to the Internet. So the only way to keep all your prezis offline is to disconnect from the Internet every time you run the desktop app. Note: this automatic sync feature only applied to Prezi Next. In Prezi Classic you can choose to sync your prezi or keep it offline.
Help! Prezi won’t work on my Prezi App!
Solution: You can only view – not edit – a mobile prezi
Prezi used to offer a Prezi app with limited editing capabilities for Prezi Classic. It is no longer supported. However, you can view and display your prezis on your Android or iOS device with the Prezi Mobile Viewer. You’ll need iOS 9 or higher to use it on an iPhone or iPad. Android devices need KitKat or newer.
Help! My Prezi won’t load
Solution: You need to change your browser
Prezi Classic and Prezi Next both run in a browser. Even if you do all your work in the local desktop app, it still needs to connect to your online Prezi account in a browser at least once. Chrome is the best browser to use for Windows. Safari is the best for Mac. Firefox (64 bit) and Microsoft Edge are also supported. Prezi recommends using Chrome regardless of your operating system.
Help! I’m using Chrome but still, Prezi won’t work
Solution: You need to change your settings
Check your Chrome settings to see if hardware acceleration is enabled. By default, this is disabled but you can enable it by doing the following:
- Open Google Chrome.
- Click Customize and Control Google Chrome > Settings.
- Click on “Show advanced settings” and scroll to the “System” section.
- Check “Use hardware acceleration when available” and restart Google Chrome.
Help! I’ve got everything right but still, Prezi won’t work
Solution: Get Prezi past your security settings
Prezi will not work correctly if it is blocked by your security settings, an ad-blocker, or your company’s firewall. To allow Prezi through your security measures make sure that JavaScript, cookies, Flash, and pop-ups are allowed for the following:
*prezi.com
*.prezi.com
*.static.prezi.com
*s3.amazonaws.com
*.prezi.com.s3.amazonaws.com
*prezi-a.akamaihd.net
*.cloudfront.net,_
*.preziusercontent.com
The Prezi Classic Editor runs on Adobe Flash. You’ll need to enable Flash in your browser or else your Classic prezi won’t work. Also, be sure you are running the latest version of Flash.
If it’s your company’s firewall that is blocking Prezi, you’ll need to get your IT department to make some of these changes for you.
Other potential Prezi enemies are ad-blocking extensions like Ublock and Adblock. Either disable these extensions while you use Prezi, or go the extension’s settings and whitelist the files listed above.
Help! The screen goes black when I try to edit my Prezi
Solution: Disable GPU support (Use with extreme caution. Only use this solution if you are sure you know what you are doing.)
To disable GPU in the Chrome browser:
- Close Chrome
- Add this flag to the command line “–disable-gpu”
- Open Chrome
To disable the GPU on a Mac:
- Go to the Apple menu and choose “System Preferences” and then go to “Energy” control panel
- Uncheck the box next to “Automatic graphics switching”
- Note the text which states this may decrease battery life on the MacBook Pro “When automatic switching is disabled, your computer will always use high-performance graphics. This may decrease battery life.” – if you are not OK with that do not disable this option
- Closeout of System Preferences
To disable the GPU in Windows:
Option 1:
- Right-Click on the “Prezi Next’ shortcut on the desktop
- Click on “Run with Graphics Processor”
- Select one of your graphics processors
Option 2:
- Update the display driver or disable GPU support
Help! My portable Prezi won’t work
Solution: Change the filename
You can only download a portable prezi if you have a Prezi Plus subscription or higher because it can only be downloaded from the Prezi Desktop app. When you download a portable prezi, it takes its filename from your Prezi’s title. If you’ve got an exceptionally long filename or if it has special characters in it like *, /, or #, Windows will not be able to open the file. After downloading the portable prezi, rename the zip file before attempting to open it.
Another possibility is that the portable prezi contains images and videos that are too large. Large prezis might work fine online but the same presentation downloaded as a portable prezi won’t work if it is too big.
Help! My Prezi won’t work in Presenter View
Solution: Wait for it to load completely
Prezi Plus and Premium users can use the desktop feature called the Presenter View that makes live presenting easier. It displays the current projected view, the upcoming view, and presentation notes. If you see only black screens for the current and next display, give the Presenter View enough time to load completely. It can take several minutes for extremely large presentations. If this does not resolve the issue, check to see that Prezi is not being blocked by a firewall or other settings.
Help! I lost my Prezi
Solution: It depends on how you lost it
Scenario 1 – If you accidentally deleted your prezi, there is no way to get it back. Start a manual back-up habit to prevent losing everything if you accidentally delete your prezi or want to go back to a previous version.
Scenario 2 – If you lost some (or all) of your content but did not actually delete the prezi, the kind folks at Prezi might be able to restore it. Contact them via customer support or, if you have a Basic Prezi account, contact them via the Prezi User Community.
Scenario 3 – If you collaborated with others on the prezi and it has disappeared, the owner of the presentation may have deleted it or removed you as a Prezi collaborator.
Help! I can’t get to Prezi.com
Solution: Prezi might be down
It doesn’t happen often, but on occasion, Prezi stops operating. You can see if it is running and get real-time status reports to see if that is why your Prezi won’t work. Check the section above to make sure it isn’t a firewall or security issue.
Help! I need technical support
Solution: Get the Prezi help you need
Submit a Customer Support help request.
Chat with a customer support specialist
Call the Prezi Help Line: 415-612-1164 (Monday – Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm PT)
Post questions to other Prezi users on the Prezi Next Community Forum or Prezi Classic Community Forum.
Schedule a one-on-one virtual support session with a certified Prezi Expert at TeachMePrezi.
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