make powerpoint presentation not editable

How-To Geek

How to make a microsoft powerpoint presentation read-only.

You can set your PowerPoint presentation to "read-only" to discourage others from making edits to your content. Here's how.

If you want to discourage others from making edits to your Microsoft PowerPoint presentation or let them know the file you sent is the final version, you can do so by making it read-only. Here's how it's done.

While making your PowerPoint presentation read-only is a good deterrent from having others edit your content, it's easy to unlock a read-only presentation . It's by no means un-editable.

Open the presentation  that you want to make read-only, then click the "File" tab.

Next, in the left-hand pane, select "Info."

You'll now see a "Protect Presentation" section, which lets you (to an extent) protect against any editing of your presentation. Click "Protect Presentation."

Once selected, a drop-down menu will appear with these four options:

• Always Open Read-Only:  This asks the reader to opt-in to edit the presentation. This prevents accidental edits.
• Encrypt with Password:  This  password protects your presentation.
• Add a Digital Signature:  This adds an invisible digital signature to your presentation.
• Mark as Final:  This lets the reader know that this is the final version of the presentation.

All of these options are good for protecting the integrity of your Microsoft PowerPoint, but the two we'll need here to make the presentation read-only are (1) Always Open Read-Only and (2) Mark as Final.

Selecting either option will prevent the reader from editing the presentation--unless they opt-in to do so.

If you chose the Always Open Read-Only option, the reader will see this message when opening the presentation:

"To prevent accidental changes, the author has set this file to open as read-only."

If you chose the Mark as Final option, the reader will see this message:

"An author has marked this presentation as final to discourage editing."

In either case, your Microsoft PowerPoint presentation is now set to read-only. However, in both cases, all the reader has to do to edit the presentation is click the "Edit Anyway" button.

How to Make a PowerPoint Not Editable? (Simple Steps to Follow)

PowerPoint presentations are a powerful and versatile tool for creating compelling and interactive presentations.

But what if you want to make sure your PowerPoint presentation is not editable? Fortunately, it is easy to do just that.

In this article, we’ll explore the simple steps you can take to make a PowerPoint not editable, as well as the benefits of setting the security settings to read only.

We’ll also cover other options to make a PowerPoint not editable, and provide troubleshooting tips if you encounter any issues.

So if you’re ready to learn how to make your PowerPoint presentation secure, read on!

Table of Contents

Short Answer

To make a PowerPoint presentation not editable, you can save it as a PDF file.

This will lock the presentation and prevent any changes from being made to it.

You can also convert the presentation to a video format, which will make it uneditable.

Additionally, you can password protect the presentation so only you have access to the editable version.

What is a PowerPoint Presentation?

A PowerPoint presentation is a collection of slides that are used to visually communicate ideas or information to an audience.

It is typically used for presentations in the business world, but can also be used for educational, creative, or personal purposes.

PowerPoint presentations are made up of a series of slides, each containing text, images, or other elements to help explain the main point of the presentation.

PowerPoint slides can be edited and customized, allowing the presenter to tailor the presentation to their audience.

Additionally, PowerPoint slides can be easily shared, making them a great medium for collaboration.

With all these features, PowerPoint presentations are a great tool for getting your message across in a clear and engaging way.

How to Save a PowerPoint Presentation as a PDF

Saving a PowerPoint presentation as a PDF is a great way to protect your work from unwanted changes.

This process is simple and easy to do, and can be done in a few steps.

First, open the PowerPoint presentation you want to save as a PDF.

Then, go to the File tab in the upper left-hand corner and select Export.

From there, select Create PDF/XPS Document and click Create.

Next, choose a filename and select the location you want to save the file to.

Lastly, click Publish to save the PowerPoint presentation as a PDF.

Once your PowerPoint presentation is saved as a PDF, you can choose to password protect the file.

This will ensure that only you have access to the file and make it uneditable.

Additionally, you can set the security settings to Read Only to prevent any changes to the file.

Doing this will guarantee that your PowerPoint presentation remains intact and uneditable.

By following these simple steps, you can easily make your PowerPoint presentation uneditable and protect your work from unwanted changes.

How to Password Protect a PDF File

When it comes to protecting your PowerPoint presentation from unwanted changes, the best option is to save it as a PDF.

Doing this will allow you to password protect the file and ensure that only you have access to the file.

To do this, simply open your presentation in PowerPoint and click on the File tab.

From there, select Save As and choose the PDF option.

Once youve saved your presentation as a PDF, you can password protect it by clicking on the Security tab in the Save As menu.

From there, you can enter a password and set the security settings to Read Only.

Benefits of Setting the Security Settings to Read Only

When setting the security settings to Read Only, the PowerPoint presentation is completely protected from any unwanted changes.

Regardless of who opens the file, they will not be able to make any modifications to it.

This will ensure that the presentation remains exactly as you intended it to be.

Furthermore, if someone else opens the presentation, they wont be able to save it with any of their own changes.

This means that you wont have to worry about someone else making unauthorized changes to your work.

Additionally, by setting the security settings to Read Only, you can rest assured that your presentation will be safe from any malicious intent.

If someone were to open the presentation in an attempt to steal or modify your work, they would be unable to do so.

This will help to protect you and your work from potential theft or copyright violations.

Finally, setting the security settings to Read Only will make your presentation easier to share.

By doing this, you can easily share your presentation with multiple people without having to worry about the file being modified.

Furthermore, you can be sure that the presentation will always be the same when it is viewed by different people.

This feature can be especially useful when sharing your presentation with potential employers or clients.

Other Options to Make a PowerPoint Not Editable

In addition to saving the PowerPoint as a PDF and setting the security settings to Read Only, there are a few other options to make a PowerPoint presentation uneditable.

One way is to use a presentation software that does not allow for editing.

There are several such programs available online, such as Prezi and SlideDog.

These programs are designed to be used as presentation tools and do not allow for any changes to be made to the original document.

Another way to make a PowerPoint uneditable is to convert the presentation to a video format.

This prevents any changes from being made, as the video is a static representation of the presentation.

There are several video formats to choose from, such as MP4, AVI, and MPEG.

Depending on the video format you choose, you may also be able to password protect the video.

Finally, you can also use a third-party service to make your PowerPoint presentation uneditable.

There are several services available, such as SlideRocket and SlideShare, that allow you to upload your presentation and set permissions to prevent editing.

You can then share the presentation with others, knowing that the document will remain secure and uneditable.

Simple Steps to Follow to Make a PowerPoint Not Editable

Making a PowerPoint not editable is an important and useful task for many people.

Whether youre a student needing to protect your hard work, a business professional wanting to ensure that your presentation is only seen in its intended form, or a creative wanting to protect your intellectual property, the steps to make a PowerPoint not editable are simple and easy to follow.

The first step to make a PowerPoint not editable is to save the presentation as a PDF.

This will ensure that the document is only viewable, not editable.

Once the presentation is saved as a PDF, you can then password protect the file to ensure that only you have access to it.

Additionally, you can set the security settings to Read Only, preventing anyone from making changes to the file.

The second step is to open the PDF document in Adobe Reader or another PDF reader.

Once youve opened the document, navigate to the Security tab.

Here, you can select the Read Only option, which will prevent any changes from being made to the file.

Additionally, you can also select the Password Protect option, which will require a password to be entered in order to view the file.

The third step is to save the document with the security settings in place.

Once the document has been saved with the security settings applied, it will remain intact and uneditable, guaranteed.

Making a PowerPoint not editable is a simple and straightforward process.

With these three easy steps, you can ensure that your presentation remains intact and uneditable.

Protect your work from unwanted changes and ensure that only you have access to the file.

Create a secure and uneditable PowerPoint presentation today!

Troubleshooting Tips

When it comes to creating an uneditable PowerPoint presentation, there are a few troubleshooting tips you should keep in mind.

First, make sure that your presentation is saved in PDF format before you start making any changes.

This will ensure that all the formatting remains intact when you make changes.

Additionally, when setting the security settings to Read Only, make sure to select the Do Not Allow Changes option.

This will ensure that the presentation remains uneditable.

Its also a good idea to password protect the file.

This will prevent anyone from accessing the file without the correct password.

You can also use a digital signature to certify that the file is coming from you.

This will prove that you are the author of the file and will guarantee that it remains uneditable.

Finally, if youre having trouble getting your presentation to stay uneditable, try using a third-party tool.

There are a number of options available, such as Adobe Acrobat or Nitro PDF Creator.

These tools will allow you to create a secure, uneditable document that cant be changed without your permission.

With these troubleshooting tips in mind, you can rest assured that your PowerPoint presentation will remain uneditable.

Protecting your work is essential, so following these steps will ensure that you can keep your presentation safe from any unwanted changes.

Final Thoughts

By following these simple steps, you can easily create an uneditable PowerPoint presentation and protect your work from unwanted changes.

Not only is this a great way to ensure your work remains intact, but it also offers the added security of password-protecting your file and setting the security settings to Read Only.

So, if you want to make sure your PowerPoint presentation remains uneditable, take the time to save it as a PDF and set the security settings accordingly.

James Wilson

James Wilson has extensive knowledge in the information technology industry.His second love, besides dealing with computers, is smart home technology. He is continually updating information to better comprehend this problem and has a deep understanding of the apartment’s support system.

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How to Make PowerPoint Uneditable

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When PowerPoint marks a document as “Final,” it becomes impossible for anyone to type anything in it or use editing commands to change it. Although you may usually want others to have the ability to update your presentations, you may wish to protect your documents occasionally. PowerPoint’s main ribbon doesn’t have a button that makes a document uneditable, but you can find one that does when you know where to look.

Launch PowerPoint and open a presentation you’d like to make uneditable.

Click “File,” then “Info” to view information about the presentation.

Click the “Protect Presentation” to view a menu containing options. Click the “Mark as Final” option. PowerPoint displays a pop-up box warning you that it will mark the presentation as “Final.”

Click “OK” to close the pop-up and type a name for the file in the “File Name” text box that appears.

Click “Save” to save the file.

• Microsoft: Protect Your Document, Workbook, or Presentation With Passwords, Permission, and Other Restrictions - PowerPoint - Office.com
• Give the saved file a new name if you do not want to overwrite the existing file.
• A “Mark as Final” icon appears in the status bar of any PowerPoint application viewing a document whose status is “Final.”

After majoring in physics, Kevin Lee began writing professionally in 1989 when, as a software developer, he also created technical articles for the Johnson Space Center. Today this urban Texas cowboy continues to crank out high-quality software as well as non-technical articles covering a multitude of diverse topics ranging from gaming to current affairs.

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Is Your PowerPoint Read-Only? Here’s How to Edit and Save it!

By: Author Shrot Katewa

Are you trying to open a PowerPoint presentation that sadly opens up as a read-only file? If the answer is yes, then you are not alone! This isn’t a pleasant situation for anyone, however, there are many complications and reasons behind why this happens. On a larger note, the solution to this problem is fairly simple.

To edit your PowerPoint read-only file, simply click on the “Edit Anyway” button on the horizontal yellow bar under the ribbon. You can also click on the “File” tab. Then, click on “Info”. Next, locate and click on “Protect Presentation”, and finally click on “Mark as Final”.

Interestingly, one of the reasons why your presentation shows as read-only is because of an in-built feature within PowerPoint! (We’ll get to the details of that in a bit). So, this is not something that you need to fear. We just need to be a bit more informed on how to fix it!

So, in this article, I will be sharing with you the details of why a PowerPoint file shows “Read-only”, and what can you do to save the file and make it editable. Let’s get started!

A Quick Note Before We Begin – if you want to make jaw-dropping presentations, I would recommend using one of these Presentation Designs . The best part is – it is only $16.5 a month, but you get to download and use as many presentation designs as you like! I personally use it from time-to-time, and it makes my task of making beautiful presentations really quick and easy!

Why is My PowerPoint Read-Only?

One of the most common reasons for PowerPoint to become a read-only file as when it has been done so intentionally. Why would anyone want to do this intentionally?

1. “Mark as Final” Feature is Enabled

Well, it turns out, PowerPoint actually provides a built-in feature known as “Mark as Final”. This feature turns the PowerPoint file into “Read-Only” mode . The “Mark as Final” feature of PowerPoint is designed to let the readers know that the version of the presentation that they are viewing is the final version and no changes are to be made to that version!

Thus, even though such a presentation can be opened by viewers, they will see a “Read-Only” prompt both at the top of the PowerPoint application where the title appears (otherwise known as the title bar), and a yellow strip just below the ribbons with a button that says “Edit Anyway”.

Obviously, there are other ways to prevent your viewers from editing your PowerPoint file which is more fool-proof. More on that later in the article.

2. PowerPoint has just Recovered from a Crash

Another common reason for PowerPoint to get into “Read-Only” mode is when your PowerPoint may have recovered from a crash . Irrespective of whether the PowerPoint application was abruptly closed intentionally or unintentionally when a presentation file was open, PowerPoint may open the file in “Read-Only” mode when restarted.

PowerPoint automatically marks the previous saved version as the final version of the file and opens it up in the read-only mode.

3. Same PPT file is Opened Twice at the Same time!

Lastly, PowerPoint may also convert a presentation into “Read-Only” mode when two presentations that have the same name are opened at the same time. Alternatively, the file may also become read-only when the same file has been opened twice by mistake.

This can happen especially when PowerPoint takes some time to respond to the user’s first request to open a presentation file leading to the user double-clicking on the same file twice. Although there are checks and balances in place to avoid this issue, nevertheless, such issues can still take place.

Furthermore, if you have perhaps saved a presentation file that has the same name in two different locations on your computer, and you open both of them together, PowerPoint can sometimes open the file that has been opened later in read-only mode.

How to Unlock Read-Only in PowerPoint?

As annoying as it may seem, it is quite easy to unlock the read-only mode from PowerPoint!

Here’s how to exit from the “Read-Only” mode in PowerPoint –

• Open the “Read-Only” PowerPoint (PPT) file.
• At the top part just below the ribbon options, you’ll see a long yellow banner.
• Hover your mouse towards the banner and click on the option “Edit Anyway”.

You will now be able to edit the PowerPoint file as you usually would.

Furthermore, make sure that you haven’t opened the same file twice by chance. If so, try to close one or both the files and re-open the presentation once again.

Why Does Read-Only Keep Coming Back in PowerPoint?

One of the key reasons why your PowerPoint file may become read-only every time you open it is because the “Mark as Final” feature has been enabled in the settings. As long as this feature has been enabled, your PowerPoint file may keep reopening as a read-only file from time to time.

Let us understand how to turn off read-only mode in PowerPoint so that you don’t have to deal with this issue.

How to Turn Off Read-Only Mode in PowerPoint?

Even though clicking on “Edit Anyway” as described above will fix the issue, however, if the presentation has been marked as final by the original author, it may continue to show the read-only mode sometimes.

In order to fix that issue, you will need to take a slightly longer route. Here’s a step-by-step process to turn off read-only mode in PowerPoint.

1. Start by opening your “read-only” PowerPoint presentation.

2. Hover to the top menu and then click on the tab named ‘File’. Then click on Info.

3. There will be a ‘Protect Presentation’ option in clear yellow.

4. You might come across a dialog box telling you “The presentation has been marked as final to discourage any editing.”

5. To undo this feature, simply click on Protect Presentation. A menu will appear, click on the ‘Mark as Final’ to fully unlock the desired presentation.

After doing this you will see that the Read-Only suffix from your PPT file’s name will be gone and you would be able to freely edit further.

How to Edit a Read-Only PowerPoint File?

After you have done removing the read-only feature from your PowerPoint, you can simply edit texts, add animations, images and use features with absolute free will. Just getting through the read-only barrier is the only thing that you need to know to get started with editing.

Interestingly, you can also get out of the read-only mode in PowerPoint by saving the file with a different name. This will not only allow you to get rid of the read-only mode but also allow you to save a copy of the edits that you may have made while the file was in the read-only mode.

Let’s learn how to save a read-only presentation file.

How to Save a Read-Only PowerPoint File?

Saving a PowerPoint file that is in a read-only mode is rather quite simple. Although you don’t need to enable “Edit Anyway”, doing so would be recommended. The next step is really saving a file in a different location on your computer with either the same name or under a different name.

Here’s how you can save a read-only PowerPoint presentation –

• Click on the “File” tab.
• Click on “Save As” from the option provided on the left part of your screen.
• Navigate to a folder location where you want to save the file. Feel free to change the name of the file if needed.
• Click “Save”.
• Lastly, browse to the specific folder where you saved the PowerPoint file. Open it and check to see if the “Read-Only” mode has been removed.

Why Does Every PowerPoint File Open in Read-Only Mode?

As we have learned so far, one of the key reasons for PowerPoint to open a presentation file in read-only mode is when it has been “Marked as Final” by the author of the file. By now, you’ve also learned how to get rid of this problem.

However, the “Mark as Final” feature should only restrict the specific file shared by a particular author . It typically shouldn’t make all your PowerPoint files “Read-Only”.

If this is the case for you, the problem may be slightly different. Let’s understand this a bit further.

Sometimes, t he file or the folder in which the PowerPoint presentation has been saved itself becomes read-only due to a glitch in the operating system . There are several reasons why this could happen. I won’t go into details of each of those reasons. However, it is important for us to understand how to make this file or folder editable.

Here’s what you could do to remove the read-only from a particular presentation file –

• Navigate to the folder in which the file has been saved, and locate the file.
• Right-click on the file and select “Properties” from the window the just opens up.
• A new window will open up. Click on the “General” tab. Next, clear the check-box from the “Read-Only” attribute option.
• Finally, click “OK” and save your changes.

This should solve the problem. If it still doesn’t fix the issue, you may want to check whether the folder in which the PowerPoint file has been saved has the editable rights to it and is not marked as read-only.

If the folder is also being marked as read-only, you will need to remove the “Read-Only” attributes from the folder first. Here’s an article that can help you remove the read-only attribute from a folder in Windows.

How to Prevent PowerPoint from Being Edited?

There are quite a few different ways in which you can lock a PowerPoint file or prevent it from being edited. Here are some of the options that you can choose from –

• Save a PowerPoint File as Read-Only
• Password protect your PowerPoint file.
• Convert a PowerPoint file into a PowerPoint Show File (PPSX)
• Convert a PowerPoint file into a PDF file
• Convert a PowerPoint file into a Video

Let’s look at some of these methods in detail –

Method 1 – Save a PowerPoint File as Read-Only

To get this done, simply do the opposite of turning off the read-only mode. Here’s a step-by-step process to save a PowerPoint file as Read-Only:

• Open the desired PowerPoint presentation, and click on the “ File ” tab.
• Next, click on the “ Info ” tab from the options presented on the left part of the screen.
• Select the “ Protect Presentation ” option.
• From the dropdown, select “ Always Open Read-Only “.
• Finally, save the file by pressing Ctrl+S.

Your presentation file will now be opened as a read-only file.

Method 2 – Password Protect your PowerPoint presentation

If your colleagues or students haven’t been very familiar with your polite way of discouraging any edits on your final PowerPoint file, then the best option for you is to simply encrypt your presentation file using a password protection feature.

Here’s what you need to do to password protect your PowerPoint presentation –

• Open your desired presentation and select the File tab and then click on “ Save As ”.
• At the bottom of the “Save As” dialogue box, a “ Tools ” option will appear.
• Click on “ General Options ”.
• The box marked as “ Password to Modify ” can be used to type in the desired password you wish to set.
• After setting up your password and re-entering it for further verification, simply click “ OK ”

Similarly, you can also enable password protection from the “ Info ” tab. To do that, click on the “ File ” tab first. Then, click the “ Info ” tab. Next, click on “ Protect Presentation “, and finally from the dropdown, click on “ Encrypt with Password “. You will then be asked to set a password. Simply re-enter the same password and click “ OK “.

While encrypting the PowerPoint file with a password, you will be presented with 2 options – either to restrict access to the PowerPoint file or to restrict modifying the presentation file. Choose the latter as this will allow your audience to at least view the presentation file without editing it.

Method 3 – Convert PowerPoint presentation as a PPSX file

Another method of preventing a PowerPoint presentation from being editing is to convert it into a PowerPoint show file or a PPSX file format. Doing so will directly open the presentation file in a PowerPoint Slide Show mode thereby restricting the editing capabilities of an individual for such a file.

Here’s how to convert a PowerPoint presentation to a PowerPoint Show file (PPSX file)

• Click on the “ File ” tab.
• Then, click on “ Save As ” from the panel on the left part of your screen.
• On the new window that pops-up, click on the “ Save As Type ” option.
• From the dropdown, scroll down and locate the “ PowerPoint Show ” file type option.
• Navigate to the desired location and rename the file if needed.
• Click on “ Save “.

Method 4 – Convert PowerPoint Presentation into a PDF File

Another alternative method is to share a PDF version of the presentation instead of the PPT file. All you need to do is convert the file to the PDF file format. To do that, you can follow the below steps –

• Then, click on “ Export ” from the panel on the left part of your screen.
• On the new window that pops-up, click on the “ Create PDF ” option.

You will now notice that there is a PDF file added to the folder in which you saved the file. Make sure that you share this PDF file instead of the PPT presentation.

Method 5 – Convert PowerPoint File into a Video

Last, but not the least, you can also convert your presentation into a video. Although the use of this method is more suited for creating videos using PowerPoint, however, you can also use this method to ensure that you are able to prevent your viewers from editing it.

Here’s how to convert a PowerPoint file into a video –

• On the new window that pops-up, click on the “ MPEG/MP4 ” option.

How to Remove Restricted Access in PowerPoint?

PowerPoint also provides you with an option to remove access restrictions that the original author may have put in place.

To remove the restricted access setting in your file, simply follow the below steps:

• Next, click on the “Info” tab.
• Then, click on “Protect Presentation” and change the permissions which have been applied.

Unselecting the previous options will remove the existing restrictions.

It is important to note that if the file is password-protected, you will need the password to change the permissions of the file. Without the original password, you won’t be able to unlock the permission protections.

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Credit to Cookie_Studio for the featured image of this article.

Home Blog PowerPoint Tutorials How to Enable Editing in PowerPoint

How to Enable Editing in PowerPoint

PowerPoint might disable editing for files downloaded from the web for security reasons, such as presentations received via email or PowerPoint templates downloaded from the web. Similarly, Google Slides templates downloaded with PowerPoint might also open in Protected View. To make such files editable, you can turn off Protected View and enable editing by following a few simple steps.

Why do Some PowerPoint Files Come with Protected View Enabled?

PowerPoint files received via email or downloaded online or from untrusted sources might come with restrictions to prevent the editing of the document. Your computer might apply these to protect your system from potentially malicious files.

How to Turn Off Protected View in PowerPoint

Turn off protected view for downloaded powerpoint files.

If you have just downloaded a file via email or the web, you might see a prompt that the document is restricted. You can disable Protected View in PowerPoint by clicking on Enable Editing .

How to Disable Protected View from Trust Center in PowerPoint

You can disable Protected View for files by going to File -> Options .

From the dialog box that appears, go to the Trust Center tab and click Trust Center Settings .

Go to the Protected View tab to disable Protected View for PowerPoint files downloaded from the web, potentially unsafe locations, and Outlook attachments. Other than Protected View settings, Trust Center Settings also provides options to manage trusted publishers, locations, documents, add-ins, macros, and ActiveX settings.

Final Words

Disabling Protected View can be useful to avoid getting the prompt to enable editing for PowerPoint files. However, doing so can also have repercussions, as Protected View no longer restricts malicious files. If you have frequent issues unlocking files due to ActiveX settings, macros, Protected View, Add-ins, or need to specify trusted sources, editing Trust Center Settings can help you save time circumventing unwanted file restrictions. 

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How to correct unchangeable elements on your slide

Slide Master is the instrument that defines fonts, images (such as logos), and other elements (backgrounds, copyrights, page numbers, etc.) that will be applied to all slides with the same layout.

To edit elements defined in the Slide Master , do the following:

   1.   On the View tab, in the Master Views group, select Slide Master :

PowerPoint will open the Slide Master tab and will show master slide views. For example:

   2.   In the Slide Master view, you'll see that the left pane contains two distinctly different elements:

• A larger thumbnail representing the Slide Master – when you edit it, all slides in your presentation that are based on that Slide Master will contain your changes
• Title layout (comprising placeholders to add a Title and Subtitle for a slide)
• Title and Content layout (comprising a slide title and a multi-purpose Content placeholder)
• Title Only layout (comprising a slide Title placeholder with a blank area)
• Blank layout (comprising no placeholders at all)
• And several other layouts

In the Slide Master view, you can:

• Create your own layouts
• Customize existing layouts by adding any background pictures or different shapes, logos, etc.
• Remove predefined layouts
• Rename layouts for more comfortable use.

So, you can use several Slide Masters in one presentation.

   3.   After making changes in the Slide Master view, on the Slide Master tab, in the Close group, click the Close Master View button:

See also this tip in French: Comment corriger les éléments immuables sur votre diapositive .

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Stay in sync in your slides, with easy sharing and real-time editing. Use comments and assign action items to build your ideas together.

Present slideshows with confidence

With easy-to-use presenter view, speaker notes, and live captions, Slides makes presenting your ideas a breeze. You can even present to Google Meet video calls directly from Slides.

Seamlessly connect to your other Google apps

Slides is thoughtfully connected to other Google apps you love, saving you time. Embed charts from Google Sheets or reply to comments directly from Gmail. You can even search the web and Google Drive for relevant content and images directly from Slides.

Extend collaboration and intelligence to PowerPoint files

Easily edit Microsoft PowerPoint presentations online without converting them, and layer on Slides’ enhanced collaborative and assistive features like comments, action items, and Smart Compose.

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With Slides, everyone’s working on the latest version of a presentation. And with edits automatically saved in version history, it’s easy to track or undo changes.

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We use industry-leading security measures to keep your data safe, including advanced malware protections. Slides is also cloud-native, eliminating the need for local files and minimizing risk to your devices.

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5 Free Alternatives To Microsoft PowerPoint

M icrosoft PowerPoint has always been the default choice for creating professional meeting briefs or fun little project demonstrations in schools. Its inclusion as a free service for students or working professionals makes it a no-brainer to use. However, for the general public, it can get quite expensive to pay for a subscription just to be able to create simple presentation slides. Although you can subscribe to Microsoft's Office Suite and get more bang for your buck, the pricing still doesn't hit the affordable range for most. 

Fortunately, completion has been growing, and a sea of strong contenders offer similar services to PowerPoint. After considering feature sets, here are five of the best free alternatives to Microsoft PowerPoint. At the end of the article, you can find a detailed explanation of why we've chosen the services, alongside useful comparisons that may help you make your decision easier.

Read more: The 20 Best Mac Apps That Will Improve Your Apple Experience

When it comes to productivity apps, Zoho makes some of the better ones in the market. Zoho Sheet, for example, is one of the best Microsoft Excel alternatives out there  —  owing to its extensive product catalog, there is a great way to view and edit presentations. The aptly named Zoho Show lets you design and demonstrate professional-looking slides, all without having to download the program.

Zoho takes a minimal approach to most of its services, and its PowerPoint application is no different. You'll find that most menus are contextually aware of what tasks you're currently performing, which helps keep unnecessary tools out of the way and bring the important ones in focus. There is also a huge library of customizable templates you can choose from, making it easier to kickstart your presentation work. 

Zoho Show is completely free to use for individuals and offers unlimited cloud storage. No features are locked behind a paywall, and rest assured, you can fully rely on this online presentation-making tool for all your needs, be it for school or work. 

Canva is a service that can easily climb up to becoming everyone's favorite once they start using it. While most applaud it for its graphic designing prowess, there are many other things Canva can do that you probably aren't aware of . Among them is the ability to craft beautiful slides for your presentations and projects. 

By creating a free account, you can access thousands of templates on Canva. You can filter these by use case—maybe you need one for a professional business briefing or a casual one explaining why your pet dog is the best canine. There is a whole section of ready-to-use templates dedicated to mobile-friendly viewing as well, which is something you don't usually find to be as accessible with other tools. 

Like most presentation apps, Canva lets you collaborate with your team members and work across devices seamlessly. The Canva app for mobile also lets you control your slides remotely during your presentation. Some menus also feature AI-featured tools to add one-click enhancements to your slides -- unfortunately, these are locked behind premium subscription tiers. However, for the cent percent of the population, Canva can be used without spending a dime to meet a plethora of creative needs. 

Apple takes great pride in developing in-house solutions to meet every user requirement. While most of its products dominate the competition in popularity, the same cannot be said for Keynote , the company's version of Microsoft PowerPoint. The program was first released in 2003 with macOS Big Sur and has largely remained one of those icons you glance over and forget about. 

However, recent versions of Keynote have made it a compelling alternative to PowerPoint. Not only is it pre-installed on every Apple device, including your iPhone, but it also works best with the iPad touchscreen. Keynote has a largely clean and professional approach to the built-in templates, but nothing is stopping you from going creative. Animations are one of Keynote's strongest suits, allowing you to create near cinematic-looking presentations with just a few clicks. 

While you can still use Apple Keynote through iCloud on Windows devices, this alternative is clearly meant for people surrounded by the walled garden of Apple technology. It makes use of features like AirDrop, Live Photos, and VoiceOver  — all of which are technologies available across Apple devices. Using Apple Keynote is completely free, and the app has easy exporting tools that make working with Microsoft PowerPoint less of a hassle.

WPS Presentation

WPS Office makes some of the best solutions for creating and editing documents on smartphones , but their service offerings extend to Windows, macOS, and even Linux. WPS Presentation is perhaps the closest you'll get to Microsoft PowerPoint in terms of the user interface and how most tools are bundled in familiar locations.

This PowerPoint app offers real-time collaboration where you can invite your team members and work on the same document remotely. Like most collaboration tools, users can leave comments to suggest changes or add information for other people on the team.

WPS Presentation is not the only free product; you can utilize every app in the WPS Office suite. Unlike most competitors, you don't need to download or use a separate mini-app to make presentations. WPS Office has a document editor, PowerPoint creator, spreadsheet manager, and other tools all within its umbrella. Premium plans for this service exist, but they mostly cater to unlocking features for editing PDFs. 

Google Slides

As a netizen, you most likely already have a Google account. Not only is it required to make any meaningful use of your Android phone, but popular services that we take for granted, like Gmail and Drive, all fall under Google's umbrella. One such free service that the tech giant has at its disposal is Google Slides . While the barebones UI might seem lackluster at first, Slides has nearly the same level of functionality as Microsoft PowerPoint and can even be supercharged by add-ons. 

All of Google's workspace apps, such as Docs, Sheets, and Slides, provide an intuitive way to work in a team. You can add comments, use annotations, and share the presentation with limited access to others. You can use one of the many predesigned Google Slides templates for simple presentations , or browse for templates that cater to specific needs. Being part of a bigger service catalog has its obvious advantages, such as seamless integration with Google Meet, Gmail, and other products from Google that you already use. 

We recommend Google Slides to anyone who needs to create and edit PowerPoint presentations on the go and can't be bothered with working in a complicated environment. The service is also available as an app for Android and iOS, and you can export your presentations in a wide range of formats, including PPT, PDF, or PNG for individual slides. 

To Pay Or Not To Pay?

You'll notice that all the services we've mentioned on this list are free to use. In fact, you can use Office 365 apps online for free   — including PowerPoint, which makes purchasing a standalone subscription to the Microsoft PowerPoint app quite redundant. However, nearly every free alternative here short of Keynote also offers premium plans, but should you consider buying one?

For the vast majority of people who are looking for a robust software to create, edit, and share presentations with  —  these free options deliver exceptionally well in every aspect. Some apps like Google Slides and Apple Keynote let you work in smaller teams with the free tier as well. Apps like WPS Office and Canva tend to lock new and exciting features like AI tools behind a paywall, and while these are nice to have, you definitely can do without them. 

If you're looking for a presentation tool for a company with multiple people, you can scale up using any of the alternatives mentioned on this list. Both Google Workspace and Zoho offer reliable and enterprise-level plans you can upgrade to. For everyone else  — enjoy creating and demonstrating your PowerPoint presentations for free.

Read the original article on SlashGear .

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March 14, 2024

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Top Contributors in PowerPoint: Steve Rindsberg  -  Jim_ Gordon  -  John Korchok   ✅

March 11, 2024

Top Contributors in PowerPoint:

Steve Rindsberg  -  Jim_ Gordon  -  John Korchok   ✅

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Unable to edit a PowerPoint file

I am given a PowerPoint template file. I, however, can't edit the template file. Click on it, only the border of the panel shows up. I have it on a Macbook Pro. On a command line prompt, its file permission is shown as -rw-r--r-- as other files' access permissions. With the access permission, I should be able to edit the file, but I can't.

How to solve this problem?

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Hi, George,

Thanks for your information.

I did a double click to open the ppt file. I have another look at all options and don't see the template in the menu. After a double click, a message shows up in the opened ppt file, "add sensitivity label. Your organization requires you to label this document before editing". I added a label and it didn't work. I tried it again and works on the second try for some reason.

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Create a presentation

Create a presentation in powerpoint for the web.

With PowerPoint for the web running in your web browser, you can:

Create presentations that include images, videos, transitions, and animations.

Get to your presentations from your computer, tablet, or phone.

Share and work with others, wherever they are.

If you're using the desktop version of PowerPoint on a Windows PC, see the PowerPoint Quick Start .

If you're using the desktop version of PowerPoint on a Mac, see Office for Mac Quick Start Guides and PowerPoint for Mac Help .

Create, open, and name a presentation

Go to powerpoint.office.com .

Select New blank presentation , open a Recent file, select one of the themes , or start with a presentation template .

To name the presentation, select the title at the top and type a name.

If you need to rename the presentation, select the title and retype the name.

Add a slide

Select the slide you want your new slide to follow.

Select Home > New Slide .

Select Layout and the you type want from the drop-down.

When working in PowerPoint for the web, your work is saved every few seconds. You can select File > Save a Copy to create a duplicate copy in another location.

Or choose File > Download As to save a copy to your device.

When you're online, AutoSave is always on and saves your changes as you work. If at any time you lose your Internet connection or turn it off, any pending changes will sync as soon as you’re back online.

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