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It's difficult for two or more people to work on a PowerPoint presentation simultaneously, as Office doesn't have the same collaboration features offered by  Google Slides . One way around this problem is to combine PowerPoint presentations into a single file.

Merging two PowerPoints can be done by either importing the slides using the "Reuse Slides" option or by using the copy-and-paste method instead. These instructions are designed to work for the latest versions of Office , including Office 2016 and 2019, as well as Office 365 and Online. You may find the instructions vary for older versions of PowerPoint.

Related: What's the Latest Version of Microsoft Office?

The "best" method for merging PowerPoint files, or at least the method that PowerPoint officially supports, is to use the "Reuse Slides" option. This feature merges the content of one presentation file into another, matching the theme of the new presentation file in the process.

To do this, open your PowerPoint presentation file---this is the file you're looking to merge into. In the "Home" tab on the ribbon bar, select the "New Slide" button and then click the "Reuse Slides" option at the bottom of the drop-down menu that appears.

A menu will appear on the right. Click the "Browse" button to locate the PowerPoint presentation file that you want to merge into your open file.

Locate your second PowerPoint file and then click the "Open" button to insert it.

A list of slides from your second presentation will appear in the "Reuse Slides" menu on the right.

First, you'll need to decide on the formatting for your inserted slides. If you want to keep the format (including the theme) from the original presentation, make sure that the "Keep Source Formatting" checkbox is enabled at the bottom of the "Reuse Slides" menu. If you don't check this, your inserted slides will have the style of the open presentation applied to them.

To insert individual slides, right-click a slide and then select the "Insert Slide" option. Otherwise, click the "Insert All Slides" to copy all of the slides into your open PowerPoint presentation.

Your slide (or slides) will then be inserted into the open presentation, immediately underneath the currently selected slide. With your PowerPoint files combined, you can then save your merged file by clicking File > Save or Save As.

While the "Reuse Slides" method allows you to change the format of your slides before you insert them, you can also combine PowerPoint files by copying the slides from one open PowerPoint file and inserting them into another.

To do this, open a PowerPoint presentation and select the slides you want to copy from the slide selection menu on the left. From there, right-click on the selected slides and then press "Copy" to copy them to your clipboard.

Switch to the PowerPoint presentation you're looking to paste your slides into and then, in the slide selection menu on the left, right-click at the position you want to stick your slides.

To paste the slides and apply the theme of the open presentation file to them, click the "Use Destination Theme" paste option.

To keep the original theme and formatting, select the "Keep Source Formatting" paste option instead.

The slides you paste will then appear in your new presentation at the position you selected. You can then save the merged file by clicking File > Save or Save As.

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• Office 2016

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How to Combine PowerPoint PPT Presentation Files Quickly

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Ever find yourself working with many slide decks at once? Chances are, you may want to use content from one slide deck in another presentation.

But, you don't want to recreate your work. That's why it helps to learn how to combine multiple PowerPoints into one.

Believe it or not, there are a variety of ways of combining PPT files. Some help you keep your slide styles separate. Other methods of how to combine PowerPoint's merge styles. You learn all these combining PPT techniques in this tutorial!

We also have a helpful complement to this tutorial. Download our FREE eBook:  The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations .  Grab it now before you read on. 

How to Combine Multiple PowerPoints Into One (Quickstart Video)

If you want to learn how to merge PowerPoints with a screencast, we've got you covered. The video below covers how to combine PPT files in a variety of ways. You'll learn that combining PPT files saves you time and avoids re-work.

If you'd prefer to learn how to combine multiple PowerPoints into one with a written guide, read on. You'll see how to combine PPT files with other methods below.

How to Combine PPT Presentation Files

Microsoft PowerPoint offers several ways to merge slides from several decks into one. This saves time and effort, giving you the ability to be creative without getting lost in the details. It lets you share content from across your presentation library. 

When you know how to combine PowerPoints, you can use slides you already have to make new presentations. It’s a powerful way to pull in content from many sources to build a winning slide deck in 2023. 

Let’s dive in and learn how to merge PowerPoints quickly. To show you, we’ll use the premium Aura PowerPoint Template from Envato Elements. It’s a sleek modern template with dozens of slides inside. With two presentations built using the template, we’ll explore many ways to combine them into one.

Here’s how to combine multiple PowerPoints into one, using several of my favorite techniques.

Method 1: Copy and Paste Slides

One of the simplest ways of combining PPT slide decks is to paste slides from one presentation to the other. Let's learn how to combine PowerPoints with copy and paste.

To get started, open both presentations in PowerPoint. If you can, this is a great time to use two displays to streamline the process of merging PowerPoints.

Navigate to the PowerPoint deck that you want to paste slides from. Notice the slide preview sidebar on the left side. In it, you’ll see thumbnails of each slide in the deck. To copy and paste slides, begin by clicking on the first slide that you want to work with.

Now, you've got three options as you learn how to combine PowerPoints:?

• To copy only a single slide, right-click and choose Copy.
• To copy several slides in a row, click on the first slide thumbnail. Then, hold down Shift on your keyboard, and select the last slide that you want to copy. All slides in the range are selected. Right-click and choose Copy.
• If you've got several slides to copy that aren't in a row, click on the first thumbnail. Then, select later slides by holding down Control on your keyboard, and clicking other thumbnails. Again, right-click and choose Copy when you’re done.

With a slide or slides selected, open the destination PPT deck. Return to the sidebar with the slide previews. Scroll until you find the location where you want to paste your selected slides. For example, here we’d like to place them between slides 3 and 4 in the deck.

Click into the open space between the thumbnails for slide 3 and 4. You’ll see an orange line appear, indicating your selection. Right-click here, and you should choose from the first two key combining PPT options in the Paste Options group:

• Use Destination Theme. This converts the slides you're pasting to match the theme of your destination presentation. It’s a good way to ensure slides are stylistically the same, with an identical theme and appearance. 
• Keep Source Formatting. This pastes slides into the deck, but keeps their appearance the way it was in the prior presentation.

Both of these are great choices. I like to choose Use Destination Theme, because it makes my slide deck look the same throughout. 

Scroll through the pasted slides to be sure their layouts converted correctly. You may need to spend a few minutes rearranging some slides to ensure content is in the right place.

Copying and pasting slides offers several key advantages. It’s often your best bet. It’s remarkably easy to pick and choose exactly what slides you want to copy and paste into a new slide deck. Learning how to merge PPT presentation includes these style merge options.

Now, let’s move on and explore other ways of combining PPT decks.

Method 2: Use the Reuse Slides Menu

The Reuse Slides menu in PowerPoint is how to merge PPT presentation decks quickly, without having to open another file. To get started, be sure that you’re working in the presentation where you want to add slides. 

Then, repeat the earlier step of choosing a position for new slides in the sidebar. For example, click between slides 8 and 9 to add slides to that spot. 

Now, navigate to the Home tab on PowerPoint’s ribbon. You’ll find it at the top of your screen, between File and Insert . Click on the Home tab, and then choose the New Slide dropdown arrow.

With the dropdown open, you’ll see a list of options. The one you want here is Reuse Slides. Go ahead and click on it.

PowerPoint opens the Reuse Slides sidebar menu on the right side of your screen. Click on Browse , then navigate to a stored PPT file on your computer. Click on it, then choose Open .

When you click Open , you’ll see thumbnail previews of each slide in the other deck. To add them into your combined PPT, simply click on their thumbnails. Watch as the slide or slides you choose appear in the deck.

By default, their formatting will be merged to match your new design. To change this, check the Keep Source Formatting box at the bottom of the sidebar menu. 

This is how to combine PowerPoints using the Reuse Slides feature. It’s a top choice for 2023 and beyond, but let’s keep moving to explore even more great ways to merge PowerPoint decks.

Method 3: Compare and Combine PowerPoint Presentations

A third way of merging PowerPoint decks is the Compare and Combine feature in PowerPoint. This is a powerful tool that allows you to merge two presentations into one slide deck. 

It stands out because it also highlights the differences between the original presentations. This is very useful when working with presentations created by multiple authors.

To use Compare and Combine , open the presentation that you want to merge slides into. Then, find the Review tab on PowerPoint’s ribbon and open it up. In the Compare group, find and click on the Compare button.

When you click Compare , the Choose File to Merge with Current Presentation browser opens. Find the PPT deck that you want to merge into your current presentation, click on it, and then choose Open. 

PowerPoint merges the two presentations. You’ll see a new sidebar launch on the right, labeled Revisions .

This shows you any changes made by PowerPoint when the presentations were merged. These are grouped into the Slide Changes and Presentation Changes groups.

You can work through these, clicking Accept on the ribbon to approve changes made. You can also reject changes. When you’re finished, choose End Review. Just like that, you’ve merged two PowerPoint slide decks into one - fast.

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You may find free PowerPoint templates online. But these simply can't match the features and styling that you’ll enjoy with Envato Elements templates.

When you choose Envato Elements, you’ll enjoy:

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As you can see, Envato Elements is the best choice for creatives today. What are you waiting for? Join today and start downloading from the vast library of premium creative assets! 

Learn More About Microsoft PowerPoint

Now that you know how to combine PowerPoints, you might be hungry for more knowledge. PowerPoint is a powerful app. That means you need resources that show you how to use it.

We've built a guide to help you do just that. Our resources will help you build on your new combining PPT skills. Check out a few favorite tutorials below from How to Use PowerPoint (Ultimate Tutorial Guide.)

More Top Templates For Microsoft PowerPoint

In this tutorial, we featured a PowerPoint template. It illustrates that great designs save you time and give you great results. And best of all, now you know how to merge PowerPoints. That means you can use the best elements from more than one template.

We feature top PowerPoint templates on Envato Elements. Check out some of our favorites in articles below. You can use the best of all these templates now that you've learned how to combine PPT files!

Make Great Presentations ( Free PDF eBook Download )

We also have the perfect complement to this tutorial, which walks you through the complete presentation process. Learn how to write your presentation, design it like a pro, and prepare it to present powerfully.

Download our eBook: The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations . It's available for free with a subscription to the Tuts+ Business Newsletter.

Now You Know How to Combine PowerPoints Like a Pro

Learning how to combine multiple PowerPoints into one is a time saver. Combining PPT files gives you a new presentation without building it from the bottom up. You learned how to merge PowerPoints in a variety of ways in this tutorial, and each method has its place.

Here's my challenge to you: practice how to combine multiple PowerPoints into one. Take two presentations you've developed about similar topics. Then, merge together the best of both files. You're sure to create your most informative presentation yet.

• Slidesgo School
• PowerPoint Tutorials

How to Combine Multiple PowerPoints into One

PowerPoint is one of the most widespread and widely used Microsoft tools in the world, allowing you to make high quality presentations in a simple, fast and super visual way. Maybe that's why presentations have triumphed in the world of business and education! 

Whether you're a professional or a student, you surely must have had to make more than one presentation throughout your career. That's a piece of cake when you have Slidesgo and its templates! In this post we want to lend you a hand and help you become a true master of this program: today you will learn how to combine different PowerPoint presentations .

How to merge PowerPoint presentations

If you want to join two or more different presentations in the same file, you want to add some extra slides or you need to merge the collaborative work of different teams, all you have to do is follow these steps: 

• Open the first presentation. For this example we are going to use the template Minimalist Grayscale Pitch Deck .
• Go to the Start menu > New Slide. Click on the drop-down, not on the button. A menu will open with different options, select "Reuse slides".
• A menu will open on the right with recommended presentations. To add yours, click on Browse. We are going to add slides from the presentation Investment Business Plan .
• Go to the place in the presentation where you want the new content to appear.
• Choose which slides you want to add and add them one by one by clicking Insert Slide. You can also add the whole presentation by clicking on Insert All.

Pro tip : We recommend that you keep the "Use source formatting" checkbox checked. This feature makes the presentation you are adding keep its original style instead of adapting to the layout of the new one. 

Simple, isn't it? There is also another method, just as quick and easy, using the ancient technique known as "copy and paste". It consists of the following:

• Open the presentation where you want the new slides to appear.
• Open the other presentation and choose the slides you want to add. You can select more than one by pressing Control and clicking on them or you can select all of them by pressing Control + E. For this example we are going to add three slides from the Business Plan with Elegant Backgrounds template.
• Right click and press copy or press Control + C.
• Now go to the first presentation, choose the location and right click > Paste or press Control + V. Remember to select "Keep source formatting", this will keep the slides from losing their layout.

Now that you know how to put together your favorite presentations and slides, take a look at our website and download the ones that best suit your needs. You can choose resources from different designs and put them together to create the perfect presentation. 

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How to Combine PowerPoints: A Step-by-Step Guide

Table of Contents

If you’re in sales, customer service, or work independently, you probably use similar slides in different presentations. But redoing them every time can be a hassle. That’s why learning to merge PowerPoint slides can be super useful.

When you merge slides in PowerPoint, you can take slides from other presentations and put them into one new presentation. This helps you update content, reinforce ideas, or include important information from previous presentations.

It’s pretty easy to do. Let us show you how to merge multiple PowerPoint presentations into one.

How to Combine Powerpoints ?

Here are five ways to combine PowerPoint slides:

• Copy and Paste Slides
• Reuse PowerPoint Slides
• Use Insert Object to Merge PowerPoint Files (Limited Functionality)
• Drag and Drop Slides
• Merge with Compare Function

Method 1: Copy and Paste Slides

The easiest way to put together multiple PowerPoint slides is by copying and pasting. Here’s how you can merge two PowerPoint presentations using this method:

1. Open both presentations:  Launch Microsoft PowerPoint and open the two presentations you want to merge.

2. Navigate to the slides to copy:  In the presentation containing the slides you want to transfer, go to the slide thumbnail pane on the left side of the window.

3. Select slides:  Click on the desired slide(s) to copy. You can hold down the Ctrl key to choose multiple non-consecutive slides or Shift for consecutive slides.

4. Copy slides:  Right-click on the selected slides and choose “Copy” from the context menu. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+C.

5. Navigate to the destination presentation:  Switch to the other presentation where you want to insert the copied slides.

6. Choose insertion location:  Click on the slide thumbnail where you want the copied slides to appear after. This will determine their order in the final presentation.

7. Paste slides:  Right-click on the chosen location and select “Paste” from the context menu. You can also use Ctrl+V.

8. Adjust formatting (optional):  If the pasted slides don’t match the formatting of your destination presentation, you can manually adjust them using the options in the “Home” and “Format” tabs.

Method 2: Reuse PowerPoint Slides

You can also combine PowerPoint slides using the “Reuse” option. It’s straightforward and lets you choose which slides you want to add and where you want them. Here’s how you do it:

1. Open the target presentation:  Launch PowerPoint and open the presentation where you want to include slides from another presentation.

2. Access the “Reuse Slides” pane:  Go to the “Home” tab in the ribbon. Click on the “New Slide” button and select “Reuse Slides” from the dropdown menu.

3. Browse for the source presentation:  In the “Reuse Slides” pane on the right, click on “Browse” and locate the presentation containing the slides you want to reuse. Select the file and click “Open.”

4. Choose slides to reuse:  In the “Reuse Slides” pane, you’ll see thumbnails of all slides from the source presentation. Click on the checkbox(es) next to the slides you want to include.

5. Insert the slides:  Click on the “Insert” button at the bottom of the “Reuse Slides” pane. The selected slides will be inserted at the current location in your target presentation.

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Method 3: Use Insert Object to Merge PowerPoint Files

Note:  This method has limitations. It inserts the entire source presentation as an object within the target presentation. You cannot edit the content of the inserted slides directly, only their position and size.

2. Go to the “Insert” tab:  Click on the “Insert” tab in the ribbon.

3. Navigate to “Object”:  In the “Insert” tab, click on the “Object” button.

4. Select “Create from File”:  In the “Insert Object” window, choose the “Create from File” option.

5. Browse for the source presentation:  Click on “Browse” and navigate to the presentation containing the slides you want to insert. Select the file and click “Open.”

6. Insert the presentation (as an object):  Click “OK” in the “Insert Object” window. The entire source presentation will be inserted as an object on the current slide of your target presentation.

Method 4: Drag and Drop Slides

Another simple way to merge PowerPoint presentations is by dragging and dropping slides. This is handy if you’re working on different presentations or collaborating on a project. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Both Presentations:  Launch the presentations containing the slides you want to merge.

2. Arrange Side-by-Side:  Resize and position the presentation windows so you can view both presentations simultaneously.

3. Select and Drag:  In the presentation you’re copying from, click and hold the thumbnail of the desired slide in the left-side navigation pane.

4. Drop into New Location:  Drag the selected slide thumbnail and release it onto the preferred position within the other presentation’s navigation pane. The slide will be copied to the new location.

5. Repeat for Additional Slides:  Continue dragging and dropping any other slides you want to transfer between presentations.

Method 5: Merge with Compare Function

This feature helps you merge your slides while keeping the formatting consistent. Here’s how to use it:

1. Open Destination Presentation:  Open the presentation where you want to merge all the slides from another presentation.

2. Access Compare Function:  Click on the “Review” tab from the top menu bar. Locate the “Compare” button within the “Compare” section and click on it.

3. Browse for Source Presentation:  A new window will appear. Click the “Browse” button and navigate to select the presentation containing the slides you want to merge.

4. Choose Merge Option:  From the “Compare” dropdown menu, select the “Merge” option.

5. Review and Select Slides (Optional):  A new pane will appear on the right, displaying slides from both presentations. You can choose to include or exclude specific slides from the merge process using the checkboxes beside each slide.

6. Complete the Merge:  Click the “Merge” button at the bottom of the pane. This will combine all selected slides from the second presentation into the first presentation.

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Closing Thoughts

Learning to merge PowerPoint slides is a useful skill that can save you time and effort. With the different methods we covered, you can easily combine content from various presentations, keep formatting consistent, and create strong presentations that get your point across. So, the next time you’re putting together a presentation, remember that merging slides can be a valuable tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the overall look change if i put ppt slides together.

Usually, the look stays the same. But you can choose to keep the style or not when you merge them.

How can I put many locked PowerPoints into one?

To do this, you need to unlock the PowerPoints first. Then, open each one and go to File > Info > Protect Presentation > Encrypt with Password. Delete the password, click OK, and now you can mix the slides into one presentation.

Can I make one PDF from several PowerPoints?

Yes! Just copy and paste the slides from each PowerPoint into one big presentation or use the Reuse Slide option. After that, save it as a PDF by going to File > Save as > PDF or File > Save & Send > Create PDF/XPS Document > Publish .

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How to Merge PowerPoints

It’s easy to merge your PowerPoint presentations

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Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA-certified technologist with more than 10 years of experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek.

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What to Know

• In your primary PowerPoint: Home > New Slide > Reuse Slides > Browse .
• In your secondary PowerPoint: Open . Right-click individual slides and choose Insert Slide , or select Insert All Slides .

This article explains how to combine two or more PowerPoint presentations into one presentation. Whether you’re using Mac or PC versions of PowerPoint, it’s easy to combine PowerPoint presentations.

Method 1: Reuse Slides

Microsoft PowerPoint provides the option to Reuse Slides . This method doesn’t require you to open all of your PowerPoint presentations, so it’s the fastest and easiest way to combine presentations.

Open your main PowerPoint presentation. You can choose the largest presentation, or whichever one has formatting you want to keep.

When you insert slides, they’ll be inserted after the slide you have currently selected. Keep this in mind before inserting slides.

Go to the Home tab in the upper-left corner.

Click New Slide . A drop-down menu will open.

Newer versions of PowerPoint have a dedicated Reuse Slides button.

Select Reuse Slides , located at the bottom of the menu.

Click Browse .

Find your second PowerPoint file and click Open . The slides from your second presentation will appear in the Reuse Slides menu.

Make sure Keep source formatting is checked if you want your slides to keep their formatting. If it isn’t checked, the formatting of your main PowerPoint will be applied to the slides when you insert them.

If you want to insert individual slides, select them and click Insert Slide .

If you want to reuse all slides in the PowerPoint presentation, click Insert All . If you don't see this, right-click one slide and choose Insert All Slides .

After your slides are merged into your presentation, Save your work.

Method 2: Copy slides

If you need to combine slides from several different PowerPoint presentations, copying PowerPoint Sides is another quick method. It’s easy to choose where each batch of slides ends up in your final presentation.

Open the PowerPoint presentation with slides you want to move.

Select the slides you want to copy from the slide viewer on the left.

Right-click the selected slides and copy them.

Open your main PowerPoint presentation.

Right-click where you want your slides to be inserted. The Paste Options menu will appear.

You can also use CTRL + V to paste the slides. On Mac, use command + V . The Paste Options menu will still appear.

If you want your inserted slides to match your main PowerPoint, click Use Destination Theme on the left. This will adapt the copied slides to your main presentation.

If you want your inserted slides to maintain their theme, click Keep Source Formatting . Your slides will keep their original appearance.

After moving all of your slides, save your project.

First, combine PowerPoint presentations by copying and pasting slides into the primary presentation or using the  Reuse Slide  option. After combining slides into one merged document,  save your PowerPoint as a PDF . Go to  File  >  Save as  >  PDF  or  File  >  Save & Send  >  Create PDF/XPS Document  >  Publish .

To merge multiple locked PowerPoints, you need to know the passwords to unlock them. Once you have password access, open the PowerPoints and select  File  >  Info  >  Protect Presentation  >  Encrypt with Password  > delete the content in the  Password  field > and select  OK . Now you can reuse or copy slides into one main presentation.

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How to Combine Multiple PowerPoint Presentations

Do you have multiple PowerPoint presentations that you need to combine or merge into one presentation? I’ve had to do this myself a couple of times and one of the most important aspects when merging presentations is whether you want to maintain the format and theme of the inserted presentation or have it match the theme of the main presentation. The second most important factor is whether you need to maintain any animations and transitions that might be included in the inserted presentation.

Depending on how you want the inserted slides to appear in the main presentation, you will need to choose between two different methods for joining the presentations. In this article, I’ll mention both methods along with the advantages and disadvantages for each method.

The first method uses the Reuse Slides option in PowerPoint and the second method uses the Insert Object option.

Reuse Slides Method

If you want the inserted slides to match the theme of your main presentation, then you have to use the Reuse Slides option. The inserted slides will simply take the slides exactly as they are in the external presentation and add them to the main presentation.

However, there is one big caveat: none of the animations or transitions will be carried over. Whatever you see on the slide in the normal viewing mode is what will get imported into the main presentation.

If you need to maintain all the animations or transitions, then skip down to the Insert Object method.

To get started with this method, open the main presentation and then click between the two slides you want to import the slides into. It’s worth nothing that this method also lets you pick and choose which slides you want to insert from an external presentation, whereas the Insert Object method will insert the entire presentation.

Now click on the Insert menu and then click on the words New Slide  and you’ll see a menu appear. At the very bottom of that menu is an option called Reuse Slides .

When you click on that, a tab will appear on the right hand side. Click on the Browse button and then select Browse File . Check the Keep source formatting  box if you want keep the theme and text formatting of the external presentation.

If you uncheck that box, then when you go to insert the slides into the main presentation, the original formatting will not be kept. Instead the slides will use the theme and formatting of the main presentation.

Select the PowerPoint Presentation you want to insert and then click OK. Immediately, you should see a small thumbnail and the title of each slide displayed.

As you can see above, the second presentation has a different theme than my first presentation. There are a number of things you can do at this point. Firstly, if you just want to insert one slide or a couple of slides from your external presentation, simply click on the slide and it will be inserted!

The formatting will depend on whether you checked the Keep source formatting box like I explained above. As shown below, I inserted just one slide from the external presentation and kept the source formatting.

It will be inserted wherever you had clicked earlier with the red line. If you want to insert all the slides, just select the Insert All Slide s option that comes up when you right-click on any of the slides.

Lastly, you can apply the theme used in the external presentation to your main presentation by right-clicking and choosing Apply Theme to All Slides . This will apply the external presentation theme to the main presentation.

As mentioned earlier, you lose all animations, effects, transitions, etc when using this method. Now let’s talk about the other way to merge two presentations.

Insert Object Method

The second method will insert the entire external presentation into one slide as an object. You then have to configure some settings so that when you run your slideshow, it also runs through all the slides in the external presentation.

There are a couple of things that need to be mentioned before we get into how to use this method:

1. When you insert the presentation as an object, it is not a link to the presentation, but an actual full copy into the main presentation. This means that if you open the external presentation later after inserting it into the main presentation and make changes to it, those changes will not be reflected in the imported version inside the main presentation.

2. If you do want to make changes to an already inserted presentation, you can edit it inside the main presentation. Again, those changes are only made to the version inside the main presentation.

In my opinion, this method is better than the Reuse Slides method because it lets you keep all your animations and transitions and it allows you to change or keep the theme of the inserted presentation.

To get started, open the main presentation and then insert a new slide. Make sure to delete any default text boxes or anything else on the new slide so that it is completely blank.

Now click on the Insert tab and then click on Object .

Select the Create from file radio button and click the Browse button. Select the external presentation you want to insert into your main presentation.

You’ll now see the first slide of the presentation inserted as a selectable object. All of the other slides are there, but you just can’t see them.

The next step is to move your cursor to the upper left corner of the inserted object until it turns into a double sided arrow. Click and then drag the corner to the upper left corner of the main slide. Now do the same thing with the bottom right corner of the object and drag it to the bottom right corner on the main slide.

Now the inserted object should be the exact same size as the slide that it was inserted onto. You want to do this so that there won’t be any change in the size of the slides when you are playing the presentation.

Once that is setup, we have to configure the second presentation to play when we hit that slide that we inserted the presentation into. To do this, select the object, click on the Animations ribbon, click on Add Animation and then scroll all the way to the bottom where it says OLE Action Verbs .

Another dialog will pop up and you want to choose Show . If you were to play the presentation at this point, you would notice that when you reach the slide with the inserted presentation, it will show all the slides in the inserted presentation, but it will also include a still slide of the first slide at the front and back of the inserted presentation.

This was kind of annoying to me and luckily you can almost get rid of it. First, click on Animations again and then click on Animation Pane , which will show up at the right.

In the Animation Pane, you will see the inserted object listed as Object 1 or Object 2, etc. and when you select it, there will be a small black arrow you can click on. This will bring up a few options and then first one you want to select is Start With Previous .

Now when you play the presentation, it won’t show you that still image of the first slide but will actually play the first slide from the external presentation. To get rid of the still image at the end of the presentation, you have to select Effect Options from the menu above and then select Hide After Animation from the After animation dropdown box.

It’s not perfect because it still shows you the empty slide that the inserted presentation was put once before the presentation ends. Luckily, I found a simple hack for this too that works really well. Simply add something to the slide that has the external presentation object like a text box or whatever you like and then right-click on the object and choose Send to Back .

This will effectively hide the object behind the presentation object. Now when you play your presentation, it will hide the presentation object after the last slide because that is what we chose in the After animation option. When the presentation object is hidden, you’ll see any content that was hidden under it. It’s a great way to avoid having that blank slide show up during the presentation.

One last thing I wanted to mention was about editing the inserted presentation. You can right-click anywhere on the object and choose Presentation Object – Edit to edit any slide in the inserted presentation directly within the main presentation.

Hopefully, this was a detailed enough tutorial for anyone wanting to merge, combine or insert one PowerPoint presentation into another. If you have any questions, feel free to comment. Enjoy!

Founder of Help Desk Geek and managing editor. He began blogging in 2007 and quit his job in 2010 to blog full-time. He has over 15 years of industry experience in IT and holds several technical certifications. Read Aseem's Full Bio

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How to combine and merge PowerPoint-presentations

In my work as an AV-technician on conference and events, I receive Powerpoint presentations from speakers that represents different companies. My job is to make sure that these are displayed on the projector/screen at the right moment exactly as they were made. To simplify this task, we made Auto Presentation Switcher (APS) which lets you open and display new presentations using keyboard-shortcuts and network-commands. But you may ask, isn’t this something that can be done from within PowerPoint? How can we merge and switch PowerPoint presentations without using third-party software?

And yes, as it turns out, Powerpoint has methods for combining slides and linking presentations. Today we will show different ways to work with multiple PowerPoint presentations for live events, and focus on 3 methods:

• Paste and reuse slides
• Switch presentations with APS
• Use hyperlinks

After reading this blogpost, you should be a master of combining and merging PowerPoint-presentations. This can solve a lot of problems if you work as an event-producer or AV-technician on live events.

1. Paste and reuse Powerpoint slides

Some event-organizers want to have all the slides from the different speakers in one master-presentation. Then they can control everything from one presentation-clicker, and never exit the presentation during the show.

To create this presentation, you can paste the slides you need into one master-presentation. Or you can use the Reuse Slides method, which is an option in Powerpoint to import multiple slides. When pasting and reusing slides, there is one pitfall that you should be aware of, which can easily be overlooked: By default, if you bring slides from one presentation into another, PowerPoint can automatically make those slides look like the new presentation, by applying the destination theme to them. If you want the pasted slides to look identical to the original, you need to apply the option “Keep Source Formatting”

Pasting and reusing slides on Mac

This video shows how to paste slides and keep source formatting when using Mac:

There is an easier way to import multiple slides: using the “Reuse Slides” method. However, when I tested this for Mac, I couldn’t find a way to keep the source formatting. Notice in the video below that the popup-square for the theme-options doesn’t appear after reusing the slides. So, unless I did something fundamentally wrong here, the “reuse slides” method on Mac can´t be used in my workflow. The reused slides wont be identical to the originals.

Paste and reuse slides on PC

It seems that these things work better on Windows: When I paste slides, the formatting-options appear as an option before the slide is inserted, making it harder to miss: 

And when re-using slides, the “keep original formatting” is chosen as the default option: 

This is one example where the PC version of PowerPoint is more developed than the Mac counterpart. If your workflow relies heavily on combining slides from different presentations, I recommend using the Windows version.

2. Use APS to switch between different PowerPoint presentations

The method of pasting and reusing slides takes time, and it’s easy to screw up the formatting. And, if the presentations have different aspect-ratio of let’s say 16:9 and 4:3, then combining the slides becomes more difficult. For these reasons, I think its a good idea to have alternative solutions for working with multiple Powerpoint presentations. One of the reasons we made APS was to solve this problem of quickly and seamlessly displaying content from different presentations. With APS, you don’t need to edit the presentations at all, instead you get shortcuts and network-commands to open and display new presentations. And with the seamless switching method , the audience wont notice the switch: The transitions will look the same as if you progress to the next slide.

3. Link PowerPoint presentations with internal hyperlinks

If you don’t want to use a third-party program like APS to switch presentations, you can try the internal solution presented by Powerpoint: Hyperlinks. This lets you create buttons in a slide that jumps to another presentation. This video shows how it’s done: 

The Hyperlink-button switches seamlessly to the next presentation. When pushing “escape”, you go back to the presentation with the hyperlink. I recently had a discussion on Reddit where the user u/SteveRindsberg explained how he used Hyperlinks to display different Powerpoint presentations: He has one presentation which only consists of one slide with hyperlinks to all the other speaker-presentations. The hyperlink-slide acts as a remote control. To exit the speaker-presentations and return to the hyperlink-slide, he push “escape”. In this setup, the presentation with the hyperlink is always in slideshow-mode but hidden behind the speaker-presentations started from the hyperlink. I think this is a sound method, and a viable alternative to APS. However, in my biased opinion, being the founder of APS, I do want to point out some advantages of using APS compared to using hyperlinks:

• Easier preparation. With APS you just need to sort the presentations in a folder. Creating a master-slide with the hyperlinks can be more intimidating if you don’t know Powerpoint very well.
• You get more ways to trigger the command to switch presentations. The commands can be controlled from Companion and Stream Deck, making APS compatible with professional A/V networks. With Hyperlinks you can only start the presentations by pushing the links with the mouse
• Switching presentations with APS are seamless, whereas with the Hyperlink-method there is no way to avoid displaying the slide with all the hyperlinks. Arguably, you can use a video-switcher to smooth out the transitions, but with APS these things are taken care of within the computer.

Summary: The best way to combine and merge Powerpoint presentations for professional live A/V

In this blogtext we have shown different ways you can merge slides and switch presentations, and if you are a professional A/V technician working with presentations, I think its useful to know all of them:

• Pasting and reusing slides can be a good solution if you have time to prepare this, and the organizer wants to have all the slides in one presentation
• APS works great to quickly and seamlessly switch between different presentations with a minimum of preparation
• Hyperlinks works well if you are experienced with Powerpoint, you like to have a page with links to all your presentations, and you don’t need the seamless transitions between the presentations.

As always, bring different tools to your arsenal, and be prepared for any request the client might have. But before we finish this text I want to repeat one thing: If you decide to paste slides or reuse slides, remember to turn on the setting for Keep Source Formatting. Otherwise the speakers can be in for a surprise when they see the presentation on the projector. 

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Merge PowerPoints: A Comprehensive Guide to Combining Presentations

Merging powerpoints.

How To Merge Powerpoints – Merging PowerPoint presentations can be a valuable technique for combining content from multiple sources into a single, cohesive presentation. Whether you’re working with colleagues on a collaborative project or simply want to consolidate your own materials, there are several methods you can use to merge PowerPoints effectively.

Methods for Merging PowerPoints

There are two primary methods for merging PowerPoint presentations:

• Insert slides: This method involves copying and pasting individual slides from one presentation into another. It’s a straightforward approach that allows you to maintain the original formatting and design of each slide.
• Combine presentations: This method merges the entire content of one presentation into another, creating a new presentation that includes all the slides from both sources. This approach is more comprehensive but may require some additional formatting and editing to ensure a smooth transition between slides.

Merging PowerPoint Slides: Combining Content

Combining PowerPoint slides from different presentations allows you to consolidate information and create a comprehensive presentation. Here’s how to merge slides effectively:

Selecting Slides

Choose slides that align with the theme and purpose of the merged presentation. Ensure they provide relevant and complementary content.

If you’re working on a presentation that requires merging multiple PowerPoint files, you might also need to insert PDF documents into your slides. Fortunately, it’s easy to do with the help of a guide like How To Insert Pdf Into Powerpoint . Once you’ve mastered that, you can continue merging your PowerPoint files to create a cohesive and comprehensive presentation.

Inserting Slides

Open the destination presentation and go to the “Home” tab. Click “New Slide” and select “Reuse Slides.” Browse and select the desired slides from the source presentation.

When you’re merging multiple PowerPoint presentations, it’s important to ensure that the slides are organized and easy to follow. One way to do this is to insert slide numbers into your presentation. This will help your audience keep track of their place and make it easier for them to refer back to specific slides later on.

For a step-by-step guide on how to insert slide numbers in PowerPoint, check out this helpful article . Once you’ve added slide numbers to your presentation, you can continue merging your PowerPoint files and create a cohesive and well-organized final product.

Maintaining Consistency

To maintain consistency, consider the following:

• Use a consistent design theme and color scheme throughout the presentation.
• Ensure font sizes and styles are uniform across slides.
• Adjust slide transitions and animations to match the overall flow of the presentation.

Best Practices

• Preview the merged slides to ensure they flow seamlessly.
• Check for any formatting or content errors.
• Consider using a slide sorter view to visualize the overall structure of the presentation.

Inserting PowerPoint Objects

Enhancing your PowerPoint presentations with content from other sources is a breeze. You can seamlessly import or link objects from other PowerPoint presentations, expanding the capabilities of your slides.

When importing an object, it becomes embedded within your presentation, making it an integral part of the file. On the other hand, linking an object establishes a connection to the source file, allowing you to maintain a dynamic relationship between the two presentations.

Importing Objects

• Navigate to the “Insert” tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
• Select “Object” from the “Text” group.
• In the “Insert Object” dialog box, choose the “Create from File” tab.
• Browse and select the PowerPoint presentation containing the object you wish to import.
• Click “Insert” to embed the object into your presentation.

Linking Objects

• Follow steps 1-3 of the “Importing Objects” process.
• In the “Insert Object” dialog box, choose the “Link to File” tab.
• Select the “Link to file” option and browse to select the PowerPoint presentation containing the object.
• Click “Insert” to establish a link between the two presentations.

By understanding the nuances between importing and linking objects, you can effectively leverage content from multiple sources, enhancing the richness and impact of your PowerPoint presentations.

Merging PowerPoint Templates: How To Merge Powerpoints

Customizing and merging PowerPoint templates can elevate your presentations to new heights. By combining the design elements and content from multiple templates, you can create presentations that are both visually appealing and informative.

However, merging templates effectively requires careful consideration and a structured approach. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you merge PowerPoint templates seamlessly.

Choosing Compatible Templates

The first step in merging PowerPoint templates is to choose templates that are compatible with each other. This means they should have similar design elements, such as fonts, colors, and layouts. If the templates have vastly different styles, merging them can result in a disjointed and unprofessional-looking presentation.

Merging Templates, How To Merge Powerpoints

Once you have chosen compatible templates, you can start merging them. To do this, open the first template in PowerPoint and then insert the second template as a new slide. You can do this by going to the “Insert” tab and clicking on “Slides from Other Presentation.” In the dialog box that appears, select the second template and click on “Insert.”

Customizing the Merged Presentation

Once you have merged the templates, you can customize the presentation to your liking. This may involve changing the fonts, colors, or layouts to create a cohesive and visually appealing design. You can also add or remove slides, and rearrange the order of the slides to create a logical flow.

Troubleshooting Merge Issues

Merging PowerPoints can occasionally encounter errors. Identifying and resolving these issues is crucial for a seamless merge. This section will explore common errors and provide solutions to ensure a successful merge.

Preventive Measures

To minimize merge issues, it’s essential to adhere to the following preventive measures:

• Ensure PowerPoint versions are compatible. Compatibility issues can lead to merge errors.
• Verify file formats. PowerPoint files should be in PPTX or PPT format for successful merging.
• Check for corrupted files. Corrupted PowerPoint files can hinder the merge process.

Common Errors and Solutions

Despite preventive measures, merge errors can still occur. Here are some common errors and their solutions:

Error: “The file is corrupted and cannot be opened”

This error indicates a corrupted PowerPoint file. Resolve this by:

• Recovering the file using PowerPoint’s “Recover Unsaved Presentations” feature.
• Repairing the file using a third-party repair tool.

Error: “The file is too large to merge”

PowerPoint has a file size limit. To resolve this:

• Reduce the file size by compressing images, removing unnecessary slides, or splitting the file into smaller parts.
• Consider using a third-party tool that supports merging larger files.

Error: “The file is password-protected”

If the PowerPoint file is password-protected, you’ll need to provide the password to merge it.

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How To Merge Two PowerPoint Presentations? Detailed Guide On How To Combine PowerPoints

If you work in sales, customer service, or as an independent consultant, you may need to utilize the same templates in many of your presentations. Of course, you don’t want to keep making the same slides for different presentations. That’s why you should consider learning how to combine PowerPoints slides.

That’s where merging slides in PowerPoint comes in handy when creating presentations from previously generated slideshows. In your current presentation, you can reuse slides from prior presentations to modify content, strengthen concepts, debunk ideas, or reference facts.

It’s all quite simple. Allow us to demonstrate how to combine multiple powerpoints into one.

How To Merge PowerPoints?

Consider the following five approaches and their associated stages to know how to combine powerpoints:

• Copy and Paste slides
• Reuse PowerPoint Slides
• Use Insert Object to Merge PowerPoint Files
• Drag and Drop PowerPoint Slides
• Merge with Compare Function

1. Copy and Paste Slides

The easiest option to combine multiple slides is the copy-and-paste option. Follow the below steps to learn how to merge two PowerPoint presentations:

• Open both the slides that you want to combine.
• Right-click on a slide and select “copy.” You can also copy it by using the Ctrl+C command.
• Now, open the slide on which you want to combine this slide.
• Choose a location in between your slides where you want to add the slide. You can do this from the left-side navigation pane. 
• Right-click and choose “Paste”. Or you can use the “Ctrl+V” command. You can select “Use Destination Theme” or “Keep Source Formatting” to meet your needs.
• Repeat this step for multiple slides.

2. Reuse PowerPoint Slides

Let’s learn how to combine powerpoints using the Reuse option. Reusing slides is the simplest technique for incorporating slides from one presentation into another. This strategy allows you to manage what slides you add and where you place them. The reuse slides approach appears in this example. Follow the below steps to understand how to merge powerpoints:

• Open PowerPoint, then open the document to which you wish to add slides.
• Select where you wish to add a slide or slides. Then, click between two existing slides.
• In the ‘Main Menu,’ click the ‘Insert’ tab.
• Then, on the left side of the menu, click the ‘New Slide’ option.
• Then choose ‘Reuse Slides.’
• Click the ‘Browse’ button to access the ‘Reuse Slides’ dialog box. If you click the option next to ‘Keep source formatting,’ the newly added slides will keep their original formatting. When you uncheck the box, their formatting will match the main presentation.
• Insert your slide here. Browse the presentations, choose the one from which you wish to add the slides, and then click ‘Open.’
• You will see the thumbnails of the available slides. Browse and pick the ones you want to include in your main document. You can import all slides from the external presentation by clicking ‘Insert All Slides.’
• When choosing the slides to include, click the ‘Apply Theme to All Slides’ option to replace the theme of the primary presentation with that of the secondary presentation.

This strategy is perfect if you want to merge ppt slides. Use it for adding a slide or two to your PowerPoint presentation. It is also the best approach for including bits and pieces from other presentations in your primary presentation. Although you can use this approach to insert all slides from an external presentation, using the ‘Insert Object’ option is preferable.

3. how to combine powerpoints using Insert Object Methods?

The insert object method is best if you wish to insert all slides from an external presentation while keeping the animations and transitions between them.

Remember that after you include the slides in your new presentation, they will no longer be connected to the original file. As a result, any modifications you make to the original file will not affect the slides you include in your primary presentation.

Now that we’ve addressed that let’s examine how to merge powerpoints using the insert object technique. Follow the below steps to learn how to combine multiple powerpoints into one:

• Open MS PowerPoint and the main presentation.
• Go to the slide where you want to add another slide
• In the Main Menu, choose the ‘Insert’ tab.
• In the “Text” group, Select the ‘Object’ option.
• The ‘Insert Object’ dialog box will appear. Choose the ‘Create from file’ option there.
• Click “Browse” and select the slide you want to add.
• Following that, you will only view the first slide of the imported presentation. The remaining slides are below, though you can’t see them now.
• To prevent changes in the size of the slides after the presentation is played, stretch the added object to suit the size of the slide of your main presentation. After inserting the complete item into your main presentation, you can alter and tweak it to ensure its good performance.

4. Drag And Drop PowerPoint Slides

Let’s understand how to combine powerpoints using the drag & drop method. A drag-and-drop approach is one of the simplest methods of integrating two presentations. This feature is useful if you have two different presentations that you want to combine with PowerPoint or are working on a collective project. Follow the below steps to learn how to combine two powerpoints into one:

• Open both presentations on your PC or Mac, and minimize the PowerPoint software so that you can view both simultaneously.
• Long-press the slide you want to relocate and drag it to its new location with your mouse. You should do this for each slide; luckily, you can select all of them by clicking on the first slide, holding down the ‘Shift’ key, and then clicking on the final slide.
• The slide’s position will be highlighted with a red line. Your final presentation will be updated to match the design of the receiving document. Of course, you can always change the document’s overall look by clicking the ‘Design’ button at the top of your presentation.

5. how to combine powerpoints with compare function

This compare function combines your multiple slides with uniform formatting. Follow the below steps to learn how to merge PowerPoint presentations:

• Open the presentation in which you want to add another slide.
• Select the “Review” Tab from the Top Menu.
• Click on the “Compare” function.
• Browse the presentation you want to combine and select “Merge.” It will combine all the slides from both presentations.

It’s great to learn how to combine powerpoints into one slide to increase the usability of slides and save time in creating new slides from scratch. The techniques described in this blog will assist you in taking your PowerPoint abilities to the next level. In minutes, you can combine and merge PowerPoint presentations like an expert.

Does the formatting change if I combine ppt slides?

The formatting isn’t usually affected. However, you can choose to keep formatting or not while merging.

What are some tips for effectively merging slides?

Organize your slides beforehand, ensure consistent formatting and styling across all slides, remove duplicate content, and thoroughly review the merged presentation to ensure accuracy and coherence.

Is there a limit to the number of presentations I can merge?

Usually, there is no limit to the number of presentations to merge.

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How to Merge Files in Powerpoint: A Step-by-Step Guide

Merging files in PowerPoint is a handy skill to have when you’re looking to combine information from different presentations or when you’re collaborating with others on a project. It might sound like a tricky task, but it’s actually pretty straightforward. In just a few simple steps, you can have all your slides together in one impressive presentation.

Step by Step Tutorial: How to Merge Files in PowerPoint

Before we dive into the steps, let’s understand what we’re about to do. Merging files in PowerPoint is all about bringing slides from different presentations into one. This can be very useful when you’re working on a group project or need to consolidate information. So, let’s get started!

Step 1: Open Your Main PowerPoint Presentation

Open the PowerPoint presentation where you want to add slides from another presentation.

When you’ve opened your main PowerPoint file, make sure it’s the one where you want all the merged slides to end up. Think of it as the ‘mother ship’ that’s about to welcome all the ‘little ship’ slides into its deck.

Step 2: Select the Slides You Want to Merge

Go to the “Home” tab, click on “New Slide,” and then choose “Reuse Slides” from the drop-down menu.

A pane will appear on the right side of the PowerPoint window. This is where you’ll be able to browse and select the slides you want to add to your main presentation.

Step 3: Browse and Choose the Presentation File

Click on “Browse” and then “Browse File” to select the PowerPoint file you want to merge with your main presentation.

You’ll need to navigate to the location of the PowerPoint file you want to merge. Once you find it, click on it and then click “Open” to bring up the slides in the Reuse Slides pane.

Step 4: Insert the Slides

Click on each slide you want to insert into your main presentation or check “Keep source formatting” and click “Insert All.”

You can select individual slides by clicking on them or insert all the slides from the secondary presentation. If you want to maintain the original design and formatting of the inserted slides, make sure to check “Keep source formatting.”

Step 5: Save Your Merged PowerPoint

Save your newly merged PowerPoint presentation by clicking on “File” and then “Save As.”

After you’ve merged all the slides you need, don’t forget to save your presentation. You can choose to overwrite the original file or save it as a new file with a different name.

After completing these steps, you’ll have a single PowerPoint presentation with slides from different files merged together. Now, you’ll be able to present all your information seamlessly without having to switch between different files.

Tips: Making the Most of Merging Files in PowerPoint

• Ensure that the presentation you’re adding slides to is saved before you start merging, just in case something goes awry.
• Use the “Keep source formatting” option if you want to retain the original design of the slides you’re merging. This is especially helpful if they come from a presentation with a different theme or layout.
• Consider the sequence of the slides. Make sure they are in the order that best supports your presentation’s flow.
• If you’re merging files from multiple team members, check for consistency in font, size, and color to maintain a professional look.
• It’s a good idea to review the final presentation to check for any formatting issues or duplications that may have occurred during the merge.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i merge powerpoint presentations with different themes.

To merge presentations with different themes, use the “Keep source formatting” checkbox when inserting the slides. This will preserve the original theme and formatting of the slides being merged.

Can I merge multiple PowerPoint files at once?

While you can’t select multiple files to merge simultaneously, you can repeat the process of merging for each file you want to add to your main presentation.

What happens if I don’t select “Keep source formatting”?

If you don’t select “Keep source formatting,” the inserted slides will adopt the theme and formatting of your main presentation, which might change their original look.

Can I merge specific slides from a presentation?

Yes, you can choose individual slides to merge by clicking on them in the “Reuse Slides” pane instead of selecting “Insert All.”

Will animations and transitions be preserved when merging slides?

Yes, if you check “Keep source formatting,” animations and transitions should be preserved. However, it’s always good to double-check the final presentation.

• Open your main PowerPoint presentation.
• Select “Reuse Slides” from the “New Slide” drop-down menu.
• Browse and choose the PowerPoint file you want to merge.
• Click on individual slides or “Insert All” to merge.
• Save your newly merged presentation.

Merging files in PowerPoint is a straightforward process that can save you a ton of time and hassle. Whether you’re pulling together a group project or consolidating your work, knowing how to merge presentations effectively can make you the PowerPoint guru among your peers. Remember to save your work frequently, check for consistency, and review your final presentation for any mishaps that might have occurred during the merging process. With this new skill in your back pocket, you’re ready to tackle any presentation challenge that comes your way. Happy merging!

Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.

His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.

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3 Ways to Combine Multiple PowerPoint Presentation Files

So you made two different PowerPoint presentations and are stuck with merging them together? Don’t worry. You want to match their themes or keep them original? Covered. You want to drop/keep transitions? Cool.PowerPoint got it all covered for you. However you want to merge slides, you can do it all in PowerPoint itself. This article will take you through different methods and options that will let you combine multiple PowerPoint Presentation files the way you please.

Table of Contents

Method 1: Reuse Slides

When to use:

• If you do not want to keep the transitions and animations of the inserted presentation after merging it into the main presentation.
• If you want to merge only a few slides of inserted presentation and not the whole presentation.

How to use:

1.Open the main presentation in which you want to insert another presentation.

2.Decide the two slides between which you want to insert the new slides and click between them.

3. A red line will appear.

4.Click on the ‘ Insert ’ menu.

5.Open the drop-down menu by clicking on ‘ New Slide ’.

6.At the bottom of the menu, click on ‘ Reuse Slides ’.

7.On the right-hand side, the Reuse Slides tab will appear.

8.If you want to keep the theme of the inserted presentation, check the ‘ Keep source formatting ’ checkbox at the bottom of the tab. Else, if you want it to take the theme of the main presentation, uncheck the box.

9.Now, browse the file you want to insert and click on OK.

10.You can now see all the slides of the presentation to be inserted.

11.If you want a few particular slides from this presentation to appear in the main presentation, simply click on the thumbnail . Else, right-click on any thumbnail and click on ‘ Insert all slides ’.

12.Adding a slide while having ‘ Keep source formatting ’ checked you will get something like this.

And unchecking ‘Keep source formatting’ will give you.

13.If you want the whole presentation with the theme of the inserted presentation, right-click on any thumbnail in the ‘ Reuse Slides ’ tab and click on ‘ Apply theme to all slides ’ and you will then get:

14.If you want to insert the new slides at different positions in the main presentation, then before clicking on any particular slide to be inserted in the ‘Reuse Slides’ tab, just click on that main slide thumbnail (on the left-hand side of the window), below which you want your inserted slide. You can do this for every inserted slide to get this:

Method 2: Insert Object

• If you want to keep the transitions and animations of the inserted presentation after merging it into the main presentation.
• If you want to merge the whole presentation into the main presentation.

2. Add a blank slide at the position you want your inserted slide to be. You can do this by clicking on ‘ New Slide ’ in the insert menu and then clicking on ‘ Blank ’.

3.Click on ‘ Object ’ in the insert menu.

4.Select ‘ Create from file ’ radio button and browse the presentation you want to be inserted and click on OK.

5.You will see the first slide of the inserted presentation in the center of the blank slide you had inserted.

6. Resize the inserted slide to fit the main slide completely by dragging the corners of the inserted slide.

7.Click on the Object.

8.Go to the Animations menu and click on ‘ Add Animation ’.

9.Click on ‘ OLE action verbs ’ at the bottom of the drop-down menu.

11.In the dialog box, select ‘ Show ’ and click on OK.

13.Go to the ‘ Animations ’ menu and click on ‘ Animation Pane ’.

14.On the right-hand side, a tab will open. You can see the inserted object in the tab.

15.Click on the downward pointer beside the object name and a list will open.

16.Select ‘ Start With Previous ’.

17.Now, s elect the object in the tab and click on the downward pointer again.

18.Select ‘ Effect Options ’. A dialog box will open.

19.In the ‘After Animation’ drop-down list, click on ‘ Hide After Animation ’.

20.Now insert some object like a text box or an image on the main slide containing the inserted presentation object.

21.Right-click on it and select ‘ Send to Back ’.

22. You now have your presentations merged.

Method 3: Copy-Paste

If you want to keep animations of the inserted presentation and want to keep/change the theme and transitions.

1.Open the presentation you want to insert and select the slides that you want to insert into the main presentation.

2.Press ‘ Ctrl+C ’ to copy them.

3.Open the main presentation.

4.Right-click in the left pane wherever you want to insert the slides.

5.Here you get two paste options:

1.USE DESTINATION THEME:

Selecting this will cause the inserted slides to adopt the theme and transitions of the main presentation while keeping the animations of inserted slides intact.

2.KEEP SOURCE FORMATTING:

Selecting this will keep the theme, transitions, and animations of inserted file itself.

6. Select the option you want and you are done.

There you go! You can now merge your presentations with any possible combinations.

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I hope the above steps were helpful and now you can easily Combine Multiple PowerPoint Presentation Files, but if you still have any questions regarding this tutorial then feel free to ask them in the comment section.

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How to combine multiple PowerPoint Presentations

How to merge multiple powerpoint presentations, 1] reuse slides method, 2] vba code method, 3] copy paste slides, how do you link two powerpoint presentations together, how do i combine multiple powerpoints into one pdf, ashishmohta@twc.

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How to Merge Two PowerPoint Presentations Together and Maintain the Format

By Anni Martin

Awkward transitions between Microsoft PowerPoint presentations can be a deal breaker. After your own presentation finishes and you sit down, your client can lose interest in what your company has to offer while your colleague’s presentation loads. By combining two presentations into one seamless whole, the transition is smooth and you both look professional. In PowerPoint, you pull together individual presentations using the Reuse Slides feature and maintain original formatting for each presentation. You can also use the Merge feature to compare two presentations and choose what to keep or discard.

Reuse Slides

Open PowerPoint and one of the presentations. In the Slides pane, scroll through your slides and then click where to add the slides from the second presentation.

Click the “Home” tab, click the “New Slide" down arrow and then click “Reuse Slides” to open the Reuse Slides pane.

Click “Open a PowerPoint File” in the Reuse Slides pane.

Browse and select the presentation you want to add to the first presentation and then click “Open.” The slides from the presentation open in the Reuse Slides pane.

Select the “Keep Source Formatting” check box at the bottom of the Reuse Slides pane. Right-click on any of the slides in the Reuse Slides pane. Click “Insert All Slides” to combine slides from the second presentation with the first and maintain the formatting from each presentation. You can also add individual slides by clicking on the slide to add it to the presentation.

Save the combined slides by clicking the “File” tab and then “Save.” If you want to give the combined presentations a different name, click the “File” tab and “Save As.” Type a new filename in the File Name box and click “Save.”

Merge the Documents

Open PowerPoint and one of the presentations. Click the “Review” tab.

Click the “Compare” button in the Compare group. Browse and select the second presentation to combine. Click “Merge.” The presentations merge and the Revisions pane opens to the right of the merged presentations. The Revisions pane shows the differences between the two documents and allows you to accept or reject changes.

Scroll through the Presentation Changes section in the Revisions pane. This area shows slides from the second presentation to add to the first presentation. Click a slide title to display a revision check box. Select the revision check box to accept the proposed revision.

Scroll through the Slide Changes section in the Revisions pane. This area shows the differences between the two slide presentations. Click a slide change in the Slide Changes section to display a revision check box. Select the revision check box to accept the proposed revision.

Click “File” and then click “Save As” to save the presentation once you are done with changes to the two documents. Type a filename and then click “Save” to save the merged documents.

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Translating technical jargon into everyday English is one of Anni Martin’s specialties. She is an educator and writer who spent over 13 years teaching and creating documentation at the University of Missouri. She holds a Master’s Degree in educational technology as well as Bachelor’s degrees in journalism and political science from the University of Missouri.

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How to Merge PowerPoint Files into a Single File

Lee Stanton Lee Stanton is a versatile writer with a concentration on the software landscape, covering both mobile and desktop applications as well as online technologies. Read more July 21, 2023

PowerPoint presentations are commonplace for many lines of work, and often times there’s a need to combine slides and files. If you need to use slides from two or more PowerPoint presentations for your school assignment or an office presentation, there are several ways to go about it. You can insert individual slides, import whole presentations, or simply merge two presentations.

We’ll cover everything you need to know about merging PowerPoint files in this article.

Reuse PowerPoint Slides

Reusing slides is the easiest way to include slides from one presentation in another presentation. With this method, you can control what slides you are adding and choose where to insert them. Here is how the reuse slides method works.

• If you want to discard the theme of your main presentation in favor of the theme in the external presentation, you should select the Apply Theme to All Slides option when selecting the slides you want to insert.

This method is great if you want to add a slide or two to your main presentation. Also, if you want to add bits and pieces from various presentations to your main presentation, this is the way to go. Though you can insert all slides from an external presentation via this method, it is better to take the Insert Object route for that.

Use Insert Object to Merge PowerPoint Files

The insert object method is your best option if you want to insert all slides from an external presentation and keep the animations and transitions between them.

Keep in mind that once you insert the slides into your new presentation, they won’t be linked to the original file. As such, any changes you make to the original file will not affect the slides you inserted into your main presentation. Conversely, if you edit the slides in your main presentation, the external file from which you copied those slides will remain unchanged.

With that out of the way, let us see how the insert object method works.

 After you have successfully inserted the entire object into your main presentation, you can adjust and tweak it to make sure it runs smoothly.

Merge PowerPoint Documents

Finally, you can opt to completely merge two PowerPoint presentations into one. Here’s how this method works:

• Once the merging is complete, you will see the Revisions pane right of the merged presentations.

• The Slide Changes portion displays the differences between the individual slides of the two presentations. Choose the settings you want to keep for the final version.

Drag and Drop PowerPoint Slides

One of the simpler ways to merge two presentations is using a drag-and-drop method. If you have two separate presentations and would like to make them into one, or if you are working on a group project, you can merge them using this function.

• Open both presentations on your PC or Mac, and make sure you minimize the PowerPoint program so that you can see both at the same time.

To make things even simpler, your final presentation will automatically update to the design of the receiving document. Of course, you can always update the design of the entire document by using the Design function at the top of your presentation.

Final Thoughts

The methods explained in this article will help you take your PowerPoint skills to the next level. You will be able to combine and merge your presentations like a pro in mere minutes. Now that you know these PowerPoint tricks, you can better spend your time elsewhere.

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How to Combine PowerPoint Presentations With Different Templates

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Microsoft PowerPoint allows you to combine two or more presentations with different theme templates. PowerPoint includes a Keep Source Formatting option that retains the template format for each slide. For example, a presentation with the Ion template showcasing your current products can include some slides with the Organic template promoting your future products to help your clients view the contrast between your timely products.

Open your PowerPoint presentation in Normal view. If the left slide pane and command ribbon do not display, click the “Normal” button on the status bar.

Click the “Home” tab on the ribbon, click the “New Slide” down arrow in the Slides group to open a list and then click “Reuse Slides” to open the Reuse Slides pane.

Click the “Browse” button in the Reuse Slides pane and then click “Browse File” to bring up a list of your files in a dialog box. Click the PowerPoint file that contains the different template and then click “Open” in the dialog box to display the slides in the Reuse Slides pane.

Select the “Keep Source Formatting” check box at the bottom of the Reuse Slides pane.

Click the slide in the left pane where you want to insert the slide from the Reuse Slides pane. For example, click slide "3" if you want to insert a slide after this slide. A color border surrounds the selected slide.

Click the preferred slide in the Reuse Slides pane to copy to the left pane and presentation. Continue scrolling and selecting slides from the left pane and inserting slides from the right pane to expand your first PowerPoint presentation with the combined slides.

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• Open the larger PowerPoint presentation to insert slides quickly from the smaller presentation.
• Edit the slide presentations separately before you combine them.

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How to Merge Two or Multiple PowerPoint Presentations

If there are 2 or even more related PowerPoint presentations, and you want to merge them into one to make the presentation more informative, there’s a simple method to insert the slides from different files.

1. Open PowerPoint and create a new blank presentation.

2. Click Home > New Slide > Reuse Slides…

3. Hit Browse button on the Reuse Slides pane and choose Browse File… in the drop-down menu.

4. Find the PPT presentation you want on the computer and Open it.

5. Check the option of Keep source formatting on the bottom of Reuse Slides .

6. Right-click any of the slides and choose Insert All Slides in the menu. Then all the slides from the selected file will be inserted to the presentation.

7. Now you can click Browse > Browse File… to insert the slides from another presentation in the same way.

8. Similarly, you can insert the slides from more PowerPoint presentations to merge them into one. You just need to save the file after finishing all the settings.

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• August 9, 2023

How to Merge Multiple PowerPoint Presentations

It can prove to be a valuable technique to merge PowerPoint slides for any presentation. Whether you are collaborating on a project with others or simply want to streamline your work, combining multiple slides into one can save time and create a more cohesive presentation. To merge PowerPoint slides, first, you will want to gather all the slides you want to include in your final product. Then, open a new PowerPoint presentation and use the “Insert” option to add the slides one by one. Once all the slides are added, you can rearrange them in the order you prefer, add any necessary transitions or animations, and make any final adjustments. The result will be a polished and professional presentation that effectively communicates your message to your audience. With the ability to merge PowerPoint slides, you can take your presentations to the next level and create a more engaging and impactful experience for your viewers.

Ways to Merge Multiple PowerPoints

There are a few different methods you can use to merge PowerPoints such as:

• Open both Presentations: First, open both presentations you want to merge. Make sure you have both presentations visible on your screen, ideally side by side.
• Select the Slides: Navigate to the presentation you want to copy slides from and select the slides you want to copy. You can select to merge PowerPoint slides at once by holding down the “Ctrl” key and clicking on each slide.
• Copy the Slides: Once you have selected the slides you want to copy, right-click on any of the selected slides and choose “Copy” from the drop-down menu. Alternatively, you can press “Ctrl+C” on your keyboard to copy the slides.
• Paste the Slides: Navigate to the presentation you want to paste the slides into and right-click on the slide where you want to insert the copied slides. Choose “Paste” from the drop-down menu or press “Ctrl+V” on your keyboard. The copied slides will be inserted into the presentation, starting from the slide you selected.
• Repeat as Necessary: If you want to copy more slides from the same presentation or a different one, repeat steps 2 to 4 until you have inserted all the slides you need.
• Use the “Reuse Slides” Feature The “Reuse Slides” feature in PowerPoint is a useful tool that allows you to merge PowerPoints or slides into one. It helps you avoid the hassle of manually copying and pasting content from different presentations, thus saving you time and effort. Here’s how to use the “Reuse Slides” feature in an attempt to merge PowerPoint slides . First, open the presentation you want to add the new slides to and go to the “Home” tab. Click on the “New Slide” dropdown menu, and select “Reuse Slides” from the bottom of the menu. A sidebar will appear on the right side of your screen, displaying options to merge PowerPoint slides from other presentations. Click on the “Browse” button to search for the presentation you want to merge PowerPoints with. Once you’ve found it, select the slides you want to add by checking the boxes next to them and click on the “Insert” button to add them to your presentation. You can also choose to keep the original formatting of the slides or use the formatting of the presentation you’re adding them to. After you’ve inserted the slides, you can rearrange them as needed. To do this, simply click and drag the slide thumbnails to the desired location in your presentation. You can also edit the content of the slides, add new slides, or delete unwanted slides. When you’re finished with your process to merge PowerPoints, save the new presentation as a separate file to avoid overwriting the original files. In summary, the “Reuse Slides” feature is a powerful tool that can save you time and effort when you merge PowerPoints. It allows you to add slides from other presentations, keep the original formatting, and rearrange the slides as needed.
• Merge Presentations Using the “Combine” Feature Attempting to merge PowerPoints using the combine feature is a convenient way to create a single presentation from multiple PowerPoint files. First, open the PowerPoint files that you want to merge. Then, create a new blank presentation to which you will add the slides from the other presentations. Next, select the “Insert” tab from the ribbon menu and click the “Insert Slides” button. A drop-down menu will appear, and you should choose the “Reuse Slides” option. This will open the “Reuse Slides” pane on the right side of the screen. Here, you can browse and select the slides that you want to add to your new presentation. You can also choose to keep the source formatting or use the destination formatting for the slides you are adding. Once you have selected all the slides you want to include in your new presentation, click the “Insert All Slides” button at the bottom of the pane. This will add all the selected slides to your new presentation, finalizing the process to merge PowerPoint slides. In conclusion, merging PowerPoint files using the combine feature is a straightforward process that can save you time and effort when creating a presentation. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily merge PowerPoint slides from multiple presentations into a single file, without having to manually copy and paste each slide. Whether you are creating a new presentation from scratch or want to add additional slides to an existing one, the combine feature in PowerPoint makes it easy to merge PowerPoints and organize your slides for a professional and polished presentation.
• Use a Third-Party Tool Using a third-party tool to merge PowerPoint slides is an alternative approach to combining multiple presentations. One such tool is the “Slide Merge” add-in, which allows you to easily merge PowerPoints into a single presentation. First, you will need to download and install the add-in onto your computer. Once installed, open the PowerPoint files that you want to merge and activate the Slide Merge add-in by selecting it from the “Add-Ins” tab in the ribbon menu. Next, select the “Merge Slides” option from the Slide Merge menu. This will open a new window where you can select to merge PowerPoints. You can add files one by one or select a folder containing multiple PowerPoint files. Once you have added all the files, you can choose whether to merge all the slides or only selected slides from each presentation. You can also select the order in which the slides will appear in the merged presentation. Once you have made your selections, click the “Merge” button to create the new presentation. The Slide Merge add-in will automatically create a new PowerPoint file with all the selected slides merged in the order you specified. The resulting presentation will include a table of contents slide with hyperlinks to each section of the presentation. In summary, using a third-party tool like the Slide Merge add-in can simplify the process to merge PowerPoint slides by automating many of the steps involved. This approach can save time and effort compared to manually copying and pasting slides from multiple presentations. Additionally, the Slide Merge add-in offers additional features like the ability to select specific slides for merging and the automatic creation of a table of contents. Final Word In conclusion, the process to merge PowerPoints can be highly beneficial for individuals and organizations alike. By combining multiple presentations into one cohesive document, users can create a more comprehensive and streamlined presentation. This can save time, reduce redundancy, and improve the overall effectiveness of the presentation. Whether you are creating a presentation for work, school, or personal use, merging PowerPoint slides can help you create a more polished and professional final product. And with the availability of both built-in PowerPoint features and third-party tools, the process to merge PowerPoint slides has never been easier or more accessible.

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Blog / PowerPoint Tips / How to merge multiple PowerPoint presentations.

How to merge multiple PowerPoint presentations.

Turn any jumble of slides into one seamless, beautiful presentation. This is how to merge PowerPoint presentations together in just a few simple steps.

Planning and running an event with multiple speakers requires lengthy checklists, a degree in plate spinning and a lot of caffeine. Between finding a venue that is easily accessible by public transport and within spitting distance of the nearest bar, executing an agenda that the Swiss would be envious of, and ensuring the guest list is more impressive than a royal wedding, you have little energy or time left to reformat and redesign everyone’s slides.

Getting your hands on all the presentations before the deadline is challenging enough and when you come to create your master file, you could do with merging them quickly and easily. So, why does PowerPoint have other ideas? What should be a simple copy and paste leads to previously beautiful slides looking like something even Mary Shelley couldn’t dream up .

Don’t panic: you just need to make a small adjustment, and you’ll be one step closer to perfectly merged PowerPoint presentations and a seamless event in no time at all.

How to merge PowerPoint presentations

• Start by opening the two (or more) presentations that you need to combine.
• In any one of the decks, select all the slides that you want to transfer across.
• Right click and select Copy .
• Moving across into the other presentation, right-click where the copied slides need to go and select Paste .

So far, this is exactly what you were doing anyway, right?

I’m not here to teach your grandmother how to suck eggs. Here’s the magic ingredient.

The Paste options icon.

It’s small, and it’s really easy to miss, but every time you paste an object in PowerPoint, it appears.

• Now all you need to do is select Keep Source Formatting from the options and voilà! Your slides will magically reformat and look like their old selves again.
• Repeat until you’ve combined all your presentations and all that is left to do is sit back, have a glass of wine and enjoy the event rather than nervously watching the slides.

Sizing up the problem

Hold that thought for just a moment. Are some of your slides still looking more stretched than Mr Fantastic  after a hot yoga class ?

Think back – did you tell the speakers to build their slides in 16:9 ratio? Uh oh.

Even though PowerPoint itself doesn’t recognise this technological evolution and still considers 4:3 to be ‘standard’, the only modern use for this archaic slide size is to present on iPad .

Do you want your speakers to present their slides to a concert hall by holding up an iPad? No? Your slides should probably be 16:9 then.

You can fix the problem, but it’s not going to be easy – unless you have a time machine?

If not, settle back down at your computer. You can still have that glass of wine though.

When PowerPoint scales 4:3 to 16:9, images become stretched to fit, while content remains stuck in the centre of the slide. All in all, not a good look.

The first thing to do is turn on your guides: right click on your slide and tick Guides .

Using the original 4:3 design as a reference, move the guides as to where titles, subtitles, footers, and any other repeated elements should sit on your (now larger) canvas. Now all there is to do is apply a little artistic flair and start rearranging everything.

I said it wasn’t going to be easy.

Anything that holds the same position throughout, such as company logos, can be copied and pasted for ease, but most elements will need to be reformatted manually.

If your speakers have used ‘Format Background’ to add background images, you will need to ask them to send over the original imagery, so that you can reinsert these to no longer look like a reflection in a funhouse mirror.

If this wasn’t the answer you were hoping for, the simple solution is to provide technical specifications to your speakers before they begin. Sorry.

Your slides are now looking good, but there are a few more things to consider to ensure there are no hiccups on the night.

Large PowerPoint files can end up running at a snail’s pace, and potentially even crash. When you’re merging multiple PowerPoint presentations into one file, the MBs can quickly add up. You don’t want to start dictating the type of content people can have in their presentations, but when they use full-length videos for just a short clip or high-resolution imagery but crop it down to a few centimetres, the presentation is still carrying all the weight of the original file.

PowerPoint can trim all this excess for you. There is an easy-to-use compression tool within PowerPoint. You don’t have to pay or learn to use expert software such as Photoshop to achieve this. Simply select Compress Pictures and adjust your compression options based on your specific needs.

Setting the resolution at 150ppi will create the perfect look with none of the excess file size.

As if that wasn’t helpful enough, PowerPoint has another tool for compressing video, which can be found by clicking into File and then Info .

Under Media Size and Performance , select Compress Media .

As with imagery resolution, we find that compressing media to Internet Quality works perfectly for presentations.

If you want to know how to make your PowerPoint files even smaller, you can get more tips from our in-depth post on reducing file size .

If you’re still finding that your file is lagging, it might be time to take a coffee break.

Using scheduled intervals to break up the file, as well as the day, can be a seamless way to separate the presentation into smaller files without anyone noticing you’re making the switch.

If you’ve done everything above and PowerPoint is still crashing, try reading our nine helpful tips to combat this frustration .

Provide a framework

But what if you don’t want a hodgepodge presentation, jumbled with different brands, fonts and colours? After all, you planned this event. It was your late nights and lengthy email chains that went into its creation. Shouldn’t it be your branding on the slides?

Having a template created in advance can put the control back in your hands.

You could set the styling rules so that every slide strictly adheres to your branding, or you could create a loose framework where the speakers can be free to add their branded elements, but your mark is still on every slide.

Adding a placeholder for a composite logo can be an efficient method for creating cohesion between partnering brands, without adding extra work.

By providing all your speakers with a template, you can ensure consistency across all the presentations – no titles jumping around from slide to slide or fonts mysteriously getting bigger as you progress through.

You will also be able to rest easy knowing the template has been built at the correct slide size for the screen, the default text size is big enough to read from the back of the room and you won’t have to merge PowerPoint presentations together at the end.

And if they do manage to get a little ‘creative’ with their formatting?

A quick reset of the slides will put them all perfectly back in place.

As with any aspect of event planning, the smoothest presentations require a little advanced preparation. By adding these few items to your checklist, you’ll reduce last-minute panics and swiftly end up with a full set of slides that look great and run to perfection.

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How to Merge Two PowerPoint Presentations into One with Separate Backgrounds

PowerPoint presentations are effective tools for a number of business applications, such as new employee orientations, interoffice training seminars and potential client marketing meetings. You can incorporate slides from a second show into a first by using the Reuse Slides feature, and they will appear as one unified presentation. If you want to merge two presentations and retain their individual themes, you have a couple of options.

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Copy and Paste

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You can copy slides from one presentation and paste them into the other presentation without changing the backgrounds. Open both presentations and select the one from which you want to copy slides. Press the "Ctrl" key and click on each slide you want to copy in the Slides pane. Right-click any slide and choose "Copy." Click the blank area on the Slides pane of the second presentation. Right-click and choose "Keep Source Formatting" under Paste Options to paste the slides with their original backgrounds.

Reuse Slides Pane

There are two ways to merge presentations while keeping separate backgrounds when you use the Reuse Slides features, but you must first access the Reuse Slides pane. Open the presentation into which you want to insert slides from another show. On the Home tab, click the "New Slide" down arrow in the Slides group and choose "Reuse Slides." The Reuse Slides pane opens with links to recently used presentations and a list of other options.

Accessing a File

Once you have the Reuse Slides pane accessible, you can begin merging presentations. Click on the name of a presentation in the Recent list, if applicable. Otherwise, click the "Open a PowerPoint File" link or click the "Browse" button and choose "Browse File." Navigate to the second slide show from which you want to obtain some or all of the slides. Click on the file name and click "Open" to open thumbnails of all of the slides in the Reuse Slides pane.

Retain Background Formatting

Press the "Ctrl" key and click on each slide you want to copy in the Reuse Slides pane. If you want to merge all of the slides, select the "Keep Source Formatting" check box at the bottom of the pane. Right-click any slide and choose "Insert All Slides." Alternatively, click on the slides you want to insert. Press the "Ctrl" key and click on each slide you inserted in the Slides pane. Right-click any slide in the Reuse Slides pane and choose "Apply Theme to Selected Slides." The slides revert to their original backgrounds.

• Microsoft Office Support: Reuse (Import) Slides from Another Presentation
• Indezine: Reuse Slides in PowerPoint 2010

Microsoft 365 Life Hacks > Presentations > How many slides does your presentation need?

How many slides does your presentation need?

When you’re creating a presentation, it’s important to consider the amount of information you’re sharing with your audience. You don’t want to overwhelm them, but you also want to be comprehensive and ensure that you’re covering all your bases. Whether you’re giving a 10, 15, or 30-minute presentation, see how many slides your presentation needs to get your point across.

Rules and guidance for PowerPoint presentations

PowerPoint is a powerful visual aid for introducing data, statistics, and new concepts to any audience. In PowerPoint, you can create as many slides as you want—which might sound tempting at first. But length doesn’t always guarantee a successful presentation . Most presentations last around 10-15 minutes, and anything longer than that (such as a 30-minute presentation) may have additional visual aids or speakers to enhance your message.

A handy rule to keep in mind is to spend about 1-2 minutes on each slide. This will give you ample time to convey your message, let data sink in, and allow you to memorize your presentation . When you limit each slide to this length of time, you also need to be selective about how much information you put on each slide and avoid overloading your audience.

For 10-minute presentations

Ten minutes is usually considered the shortest amount of time you need for a successful presentation. For a shorter 10-minute presentation, you’ll need to be selective with your content. Limit your slide count to approximately 7 to 10 slides.

For 15-minute presentations

When preparing for a 15-minute presentation, concise and focused content is key. Aim for around 10 to 15 slides to maintain a good pace, which will fit with the 1-2 minute per slide rule.

For 30-minute presentations

A longer presentation gives you more room to delve deeper into your topic. But to maintain audience engagement, you’ll need to add interactivity , audience participation, and elements like animations . Aim for around 20 to 30 slides, allowing for a balanced distribution of content without overwhelming your audience.

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Powerpoint empowers you to develop well-designed content across all your devices

Using the 10-20-30 rule

The 10-20-30 rule is an effective way to structure your presentation. It calls for no more than 10 slides and no longer than 20 minutes (as well as a 30-point font).

Tips for crafting an effective presentation

No matter how long a presentation is, there are guidelines for crafting one to enhance understanding and retention. Keep these tips in mind when creating your PowerPoint masterpiece:

• Avoid overload: Ensure that each slide communicates a single idea clearly, avoiding cluttered layouts or excessive text.
• Pay attention to structure: Think of slides as bullet points with introductions, endings, and deep dives within each subject.
• Add visual appeal: Incorporate images, charts, and graphics to convey information without using too many words to make your audience read.
• Engage with your audience: Encourage interaction through questions, polls, or storytelling techniques to keep your audience actively involved.
• Put in the practice: Familiarize yourself with your slides and practice your delivery to refine your timing and confidence.

Ultimately, the ideal number of slides for your presentation depends on the allocated time frame and how detailed your content is. By striking a balance between informative content and engaging delivery, you can create a compelling presentation that can teach your audience something new.

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