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How to Create a Presentation with PowerPoint Online

An online version of PowerPoint was introduced in 2010, a few years after the Google Docs release, which came out as early as 2007. Over the years, the product, along with other Microsoft Office apps, underwent major changes, making it more user-friendly and feature-rich for end users.

Given the rise of inter-device connectivity and cloud support, tools like Microsoft 365, particularly its Word, Excel, and PowerPoint web-based counterparts, have considerably increased their capabilities, matching the performance of desktop versions. In this article, we will talk about PowerPoint Online, also called PowerPoint for Web, and how it can help presenters craft presentations and access them on the go wherever they log in. 

Table of Contents

What is PowerPoint Online

Advantages of powerpoint online, getting started with powerpoint for the web, how to create a powerpoint online presentation, collaboration and sharing, saving and exporting, tips for creating high-quality slides in powerpoint online, troubleshooting common issues in powerpoint online.

• Conclus i on

PowerPoint for the Web, which was previously called PowerPoint Online, is a web-based version of PowerPoint that enables creating, viewing, editing, and sharing PowerPoint presentations online. Unlike Google Slides, PowerPoint for the Web provides better native support for PowerPoint files. It makes it possible to seamlessly work with PowerPoint files and features through a web-based browser, with OneDrive support to share and store your data. PowerPoint for the web is free to use but has limited features. However, if you are a Microsoft 365 subscriber, you can get better features when using the web-based version of PowerPoint.

PowerPoint for the web provides the same benefits as the desktop version of PowerPoint, with the added advantage of accessing these features anywhere using an Internet browser. Below is a list of advantages of using PowerPoint Online.

Easy Accessibility

You can access PowerPoint features anywhere using an Internet-connected browser without installing the PowerPoint app on your device. Furthermore, you can also upload and access files from your device anytime, anywhere, via the web.

Support for Native PowerPoint Features

Be it online collaboration, cloud storage, or access to version history, you can get native PowerPoint features via a web-based version of PowerPoint without the need to worry about compatibility issues. Furthermore, unlike Google Slides or other web-based variants of PowerPoint, PowerPoint for the web helps access native PowerPoint features without causing compatibility issues such as incorrect display of certain themes or support for various animations available in the offline version.

OneDrive Integration

The integration of PowerPoint for the web with OneDrive allows instantly storing, sharing, and accessing different versions of a file using the cloud storage support of OneDrive.

Easy Sharing

The OneDrive integration enables the online version of PowerPoint to be used for instantly sharing presentations online using a link with a specific access level (view only or editing privileges).

Online Collaboration

While PowerPoint’s offline version also provides collaboration features, using PowerPoint for the web can provide a smoother experience when looking for real-time changes to a PowerPoint file.

Version History

PowerPoint files saved with the web version come with a version history, where you can access older file versions to restore according to need. This feature is also available for the offline version, which you must turn on upload to OneDrive. In other words, version history is only supported for PowerPoint files that are saved online.

Cross-Platform Compatibility

Since you only need a web browser and a Microsoft account to access PowerPoint Online, there are no issues with having a compatible device to use the app. This means you can access PowerPoint Online using any device that can run a modern Internet browser.

Accessibility Features

PowerPoint for the web is among the few platforms that provide accessibility features for persons with disabilities, such as image ALT text and support for screen readers.

PowerPoint for the web is regularly updated, providing access to the latest features for end users.

To get started, go to Office.com  or powerpoint.office.com and select the PowerPoint icon to access PowerPoint for the web. You will require a Microsoft account to log in.

Once logged in, you can create a new PowerPoint presentation or upload one from your device. All you need for accessing the web version of PowerPoint is a modern Internet browser and a device that can support it. This web-based version of PowerPoint works with all commonly used browsers and their variants, including Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, Opera, and others.

From Office.com, you can create new PowerPoint presentations from scratch or via a template, upload new ones, or open an existing one saved to OneDrive. 

Create a New Presentation with PowerPoint for the Web

Click Create or use a PowerPoint template from the options to create a new PowerPoint presentation. You can start with a specific theme or use a blank template. You can also browse through themes via Office.com to find one that best suits your needs.

Upload a PowerPoint Presentation

To upload a PowerPoint presentation, click Upload after logging into Office.com and select a file from your device.

Open an Existing PowerPoint Presentation Online

All PowerPoint presentations saved from a device are automatically uploaded to OneDrive and can be accessed via PowerPoint’s online version. As mentioned earlier, you can upload and save presentations and access them anytime.

Adjusting the Ribbon Menu Layout

You can toggle between the classic and single-line ribbon interface to suit your preferences. The Ribbon menu can also be adjusted to stay available or hidden periodically. 

Naming Your Presentation

It is best to name your presentation to ensure it is easy to search and open later via OneDrive. Otherwise, a generic name will be assigned to the presentation (e.g., Presentation 1). To name your presentation, click on the generic name at the top and type in the new name.

Formatting and Design

As you start formatting your slides, the Designer feature will provide you with options to create layouts for your slides. You can optionally use this feature to get started with the basic design for your slides or use the Design tab to select design elements.

Like the desktop app, the Design tab in PowerPoint Online provides access to themes, background and slide size adjustment options, and theme variants to help you design your slides.

Adding Content

The Insert tab provides all the necessary options to add new slides, tables, pictures, shapes, icons, SmartArt, text boxes, audio, video, cameo to insert Live camera feed, and other options. 

Formatting Pictures

Like the desktop version of PowerPoint, pictures can be added from your device, stock images, or via Bing search. The Picture tab can be used to format added pictures after selecting them. Various options in this tab allow you to crop, add a picture frame, and adjust the picture on the slide.

You can also access Format Options via the right-click menu.

This will open a sidebar providing options to adjust the selected image’s width, height, angle, shadow, reflection, and text margins.

Formatting Videos

PowerPoint for the web allows formatting videos via the Shape tab and Format Options via the right-click menu. The Shape tab can give a frame or shape to the video, adjust the outline, manage how it is displayed on the slide, and adjust the size of the video. Sometimes, the Shape tab might be replaced with the Video tab to show editing options. This change is particularly visible if the user is not logged in and is editing the presentation as a Guest user. The Format Options enable editing the video’s width, height, angle, text margins, shadow, and reflection.

Formatting Audio

Two major options for formatting added audio clips include the Playback tab and Audio Format tab. The Playback tab can adjust the volume, playback trigger, and other related options.

The Audio Format tab includes picture styles for the audio icon, border stylizing, rotation, and other formatting options to adjust how the audio clip appears on the slide.

Annotation Options

The Draw tab gives various tools like pens and highlighters to annotate slides or draw on the screen. Other tools include an eraser, lasso, draw with touch, and stencil.

Transitions and Animations

Like the desktop version of PowerPoint, the Transitions tab for the web version gives transitions to use for your slides. You can adjust the effects of added transitions and duration once you have added a transition for a slide.

The Animations tab can be used to apply standard transitions and adjust effects, triggers, and duration for the animations according to need.

SlideShow, Review, and View

The SlideShow tab is used to start the SlideShow from the beginning of the current slide or to initiate a Live presentation with a QR code and link for viewing the presentation Live. You can also use Rehearse with Coach, use subtitles, and edit subtitle settings. You can also learn more about some of these features from our post about how to present a PowerPoint Online .

If you are searching for the features to check spelling and grammar, comments, changes, and accessibility options, head to the Review tab.

Most PowerPoint users know that the viewing options are available at the bottom of the PowerPoint interface. However, you can also access them from the View tab in PowerPoint. The same features are available for PowerPoint for the web. This includes options like switching between Slide Sorter, Immersive Reader, and Normal View and access to Notes, Zoom, and Fit to Window options.

To share your PowerPoint presentation, click Share from the top left corner of PowerPoint Online. You can create a sharing link according to specific settings, copy the existing link, link to a slide, or view and manage access to the presentation.

Collaborators can be invited via email or link by adjusting whether a user has view-only or editing privileges.

Once the settings have been configured, a link can be generated to copy and share with users. When configuring settings, you can also directly send the link with a message to an end user.

Users collaborating on the slide deck with their names are shown at the top. A generic name is assigned to the collaborator if it’s a guest.

You can see the comments added by collaborators on the presentation by going to Comments.

Next to the Comments button is the Catch-up button that tracks and shows the changes made by real-time collaborators as you work on the presentation.

You can also access sharing options via File -> Share . You can open sharing options or generate an embed code for the presentation from here.

When generating an embed code, you can adjust the width, height, and slide advancement options and generate a code for a website.

To switch between viewing modes, you can change to view only and editing options as you collaborate or open the presentation in the desktop app. These options can be helpful for you to adjust how you wish to work or review the presentation.

To save your presentation, go to File -> SaveAs to save a copy to OneDrive, download a copy of the PowerPoint presentation, rename the file, or download the file in an alternative format such as PDF, ODP, or image.

When saving a copy of the presentation on OneDrive, you can select an existing folder or create a new one to select the file location.

You can consider the tips below to create visually appealing slides with PowerPoint Online.

Focus on Design Consistency

Use a consistent design with a color scheme, fonts, alignment, and graphics tailored to a specific format. Don’t use too many changes that might make the content appear muddled.  

Avoid Heavy Multimedia

Since PowerPoint for the Web is an online platform, not everyone might have the required Internet bandwidth or hardware to run heavy presentations smoothly. Using multimedia content in moderation can help avoid such issues.

Uncluttered Slides

Cluttered slides on an online interface will likely cause compatibility issues for some viewers or the slides might not appear properly on some browsers and devices. To avoid this, try to create uncluttered slides. Using minimalist slides might just be the best way to go.

Even the Distribution of Slide Elements

By evenly distributing slide elements with proper alignment, you should be able to create online slides that are easy for the eyes to follow.

Choose Imagery Carefully

When selecting icons, graphical elements, and pictures, try not to use imagery that is too flashy and might cause issues when opened across different browsers and devices. You can use icons from the built-in icons library in PowerPoint and select pictures that don’t visually overpower the viewer.

Get Design Ideas

You can get design ideas using PowerPoint Designer to adjust your design for visual appeal and design consistency.

Productivity Shortcuts

PowerPoint for the web primarily provides most of the features in the desktop app. Below are some tips and tricks for productivity when using the web version of PowerPoint. For some shortcuts listed below, PC users must use CTRL, whereas Mac users will use Command.

• Insert New Slide using CTRL+M hotkey (Command+M for Mac)
• Use F5 to start the slideshow and Esc to end the slideshow
• CTRL+D duplicates the slide (Command+D for Mac)
• CTRL+Shift+D deletes the slide (Command+Shift+D for Mac)
• Use CTRL+S to save slide (Command+S for Mac)
• Use CTRL+W to close the presentation (Command+W for Mac)
• To open printing options, use CTRL+P (Command+P for Mac)
• Zoom in with CTRL+Plus button (Command+Plus button for Mac)
• Zoom out with CTRL+Minus button (Command+Minus button for Mac)
• Insert a table with CTRL+T (Command+T for Mac)
• Insert a hyperlink with CTRL+K (Command+K for Mac)
• Align text with CTRL+L for left, CTRL+E for center, and CTRL+R for right (Replace CTRL with Command for Mac)

Screen Freezes When Working with PowerPoint for the Web

If your screen freezes while you’re working, the web version of PowerPoint is likely encountering an issue when saving the file, showing elements, or inserting content. You can wait a while, and the issue should be resolved. Also, check your Internet connection to see that you are connected. You might want to close additional tabs and review your system usage to see if your hardware is overwhelmed due to resource-intensive apps or multiple browser tabs.

Slide Elements Don’t Appear Properly

If your browser isn’t compatible or uses a browser plugin that blocks slide elements, you might encounter issues viewing slides. Use a compatible browser and turn off any plugins that might interfere with PowerPoint’s online interface.

File Upload or Download Issues

When you are unable to upload or download files, it is likely that your Internet connection is unstable or disconnected. Check your connection to resolve the issue.

Unable to Login

This is likely caused by incorrect credentials or a recent change in credentials, such as a password. If you cannot log in despite no apparent issues, try to clear your browser’s cache or switch to another browser to see if you can log in.

PowerPoint for the web provides most features available for the desktop version and some sharing and collaboration features that require uploading the file online for use. You will notice that some of these features are smoother when used with the online version compared to the desktop version. Furthermore, the online version of PowerPoint provides access regardless of whether you have PowerPoint installed on your device. If you are someone who does not have a Microsoft 365 subscription and needs to access a PowerPoint file, you can log in for free with a Microsoft account with limited features. Alternatively, if the online version is not an option for you, you can still learn how to create a PowerPoint presentation in the installed version of Office.

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• Basic Features and Usage

How to Use PowerPoint Online?

Written by: Bill Whitman

Last updated: April 9, 2024

Getting Started with PowerPoint Online

To use PowerPoint Online effectively, start by going to the Office.com website and signing in with your Microsoft account. Then, select the PowerPoint app to access or create new presentations. You can choose from a variety of templates or start with a blank slate. PowerPoint Online offers essential tools for creating slides, including options for text formatting, inserting images, and adding transitions between slides. To collaborate in real-time, share your presentation link with others or work together effortlessly within the platform.

Quick Summary

• Sign in to Office.com using a Microsoft account to access PowerPoint Online.
• Choose from templates or start a new presentation from scratch.
• Utilize text formatting, image insertion, and slide transitions for presentation creation.
• Collaborate in real-time by sharing the presentation link.

Deep Dive into PowerPoint Online

PowerPoint Online is an incredibly efficient tool, perfect for those needing to create impactful presentations without the need for software installation. Recognizing the importance of user experience and collaboration, Microsoft has optimized PowerPoint Online for simplicity and functionality. At LearnPowerpoint.io, our trusted advice aims to guide you through maximizing PowerPoint Online’s benefits for your projects.

Signing In and Starting Up

The first step to leveraging PowerPoint Online is to sign in at Office.com. Use your Microsoft account; if you don’t have one, creating an account is straightforward and free. Once signed in, navigate to the PowerPoint app icon to start your journey.

Choosing Your Canvas

Upon accessing PowerPoint Online, you are greeted with options to create a new presentation from a variety of templates or start with a blank presentation. Templates range from professional designs to education-focused layouts, catering to virtually any presentation need.

Creating Your Slides

When your presentation canvas is ready, it’s time to build your slides. PowerPoint Online offers a series of intuitive tools for:

• Text Formatting: Customize your text with different fonts, sizes, and colors to emphasize your message.
• Inserting Images: Enhance your slides with visuals by inserting images straight from your computer or the web.
• Designing Transitions: Make your presentation flow smoothly with a variety of slide transition options.

Collaborating with Others

One of the standout features of PowerPoint Online is the ability to collaborate in real-time. Share your presentation with colleagues or classmates by sending them a link. You can work together on the same slides, seeing changes as they happen, which facilitates seamless teamwork.

Saving and Sharing Your Work

As you work on your presentation, PowerPoint Online automatically saves your progress to the cloud. This means you can access your presentation from anywhere, at any time. When you’re ready to share your final presentation, PowerPoint Online offers various options, including downloading as a PDF, sharing directly via email, or presenting online for a broader audience.

Mastering PowerPoint Online requires a bit of practice, but with these essential steps, you’re well on your way to creating professional-looking presentations that can be accessed and collaborated on from anywhere. Here at LearnPowerpoint.io, we believe in empowering you with the knowledge and tools to effectively harness the power of PowerPoint Online for all your presentation needs.

Other Categories

• Advanced Features and Interactivity
• Media and Design
• Slides and Organization
• Text and Formatting

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PowerPoint for the web

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PowerPoint for the web (formerly PowerPoint Web App) extends your Microsoft PowerPoint experience to the web browser, where you can work with presentations directly on the website where the presentation is stored. Microsoft 365 customers with Microsoft 365 for the web can view, create, and edit files on the go.

The PowerPoint Editor is a web front-end component that creates a browser-based editing surface, which lets users work on documents without losing fidelity.

If you select the Open in PowerPoint button on the PowerPoint for the web toolbar, the presentation opens in the PowerPoint desktop app (if Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 or later is installed on the computer).

Learn how to download and install Office using Microsoft 365 for business on a PC .

Alignment, bullets, numbers

With PowerPoint for the web, you can change paragraph alignment, apply bullets or numbering, and change the level of bulleted or numbered text. Learn more about the differences between using a presentation in the browser versus the PowerPoint desktop app .

Apply basic transitions and animations

Choose from a gallery of animation and transition effects. PowerPoint for the web supports eight transitions and 37 animations. Additional animations and transitions not supported by PowerPoint for the web are preserved in the presentation and displayed in the slide show, but they can't be modified in PowerPoint for the web. Learn more about the differences between using a presentation in the browser versus the PowerPoint desktop app .

Apply rich formatting to text, shapes, and pictures

Not available in PowerPoint for the web. Advanced formatting features, such as more colors, gradients, eyedropper, effects, and styles, are available in the PowerPoint desktop app. With PowerPoint for the web, you can add a text box or choose from a gallery of shapes and apply styles, which define fill, outline, and shadow effects.

Apply themes and theme variants

Choose from a gallery of built-in themes and variants when you add a new slide to the presentation. Themes not supported by PowerPoint for the web are preserved in the presentation, but the ability to modify themes is not available in PowerPoint for the web. Learn more about the differences between using a presentation in the browser versus the PowerPoint desktop app .

Office add-ins

PowerPoint for the web only supports content add-ins for Office. Content add-ins integrate web-based features as content that can be shown in line with a presentation. Learn more about types of add-ins for Office .

Arrange objects

Move, resize, rotate, or order shapes and text boxes in layers, back-to-front in PowerPoint for the web. Ungroup shapes to work with them individually. Learn more about the differences between using a presentation in the browser versus the PowerPoint desktop app .

Broadcast slide show

The PowerPoint desktop app is required to broadcast a slide show to a remote audience through PowerPoint for the web. Viewers can watch lives presentations through PowerPoint for the web, regardless of whether they have the PowerPoint desktop app installed. Learn more about broadcast slide show .

With PowerPoint for the web, you can cut, copy, and paste content in a presentation. A user can copy and paste text between Microsoft 365 for the web programs, as well as between Microsoft 365 for the web and the Microsoft Office desktop apps on the computer. Learn more about the differences between using a presentation in the browser versus the PowerPoint desktop app .

Create and manage slides

Add, reorder, duplicate, hide, and delete slides in PowerPoint for the web. Learn more about the differences between using a presentation in the browser versus the PowerPoint desktop app .

Create custom animation

PowerPoint for the web includes a gallery of animation effects. Animations not supported by PowerPoint for the web are preserved in the presentation and displayed in the slide show, but they can't be modified in PowerPoint for the web. To create custom animations, you'll need the PowerPoint desktop app installed on your computer. Learn more about creating custom animations with PowerPoint 2013 desktop app .

Design tools, advanced

Not available in PowerPoint for the web. Advanced design features, such creating slide masters and modifying layouts, are only available in the PowerPoint desktop app. With PowerPoint for the web, you can use your own template file as the basis for creating new files or choose from a predefined list of themes.

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Embed presentation on web or blog page

With PowerPoint for the web, you can embed presentations on websites or blogs so that anyone can view your information even if they don't have the Microsoft PowerPoint desktop app. Embedded viewers show animations, transitions, and audio/video—the same as full fidelity reading view. Learn more about embedding presentations on a web or blog page .

Font downloading and formatting

The font service is a CDN based solution to ensure Office applications are able to render documents and presentations in full fidelity by downloading the required fonts to the local machine.

When sharing PowerPoint presentations with recipients via PowerPoint for the web, only use the fonts detailed in the cloud fonts list here . Why? These fonts are available in the cloud and are downloaded as needed and installed on our servers. Other fonts, including locally installed fonts not on this list and embedded fonts, will not be installed on our servers and will be replaced with fallback fonts, resulting in content reflow and formatting issues.

PowerPoint for the web lets you apply bold, italics, underline, font, size, and color to text. You can also use the Format Painter to copy the format of entire shapes.

To use your organization’s custom font on PowerPoint for the web, upload your font as an Organization Asset Library .

Full fidelity reading view

View presentations as they were intended to be seen—showing animations, transitions, and audio/video.

Full ink support

Ink can't be inserted in PowerPoint for the web, but PowerPoint for the web displays them as expected.

Full selection of animations and transitions

PowerPoint for the web supports eight transitions and 37 animations. For a larger selection, use the PowerPoint desktop app.

Headers and footers

Headers and footers, including date and slide numbers, can't be inserted, edited, or deleted in PowerPoint for the web, but PowerPoint for the web displays them as expected. Learn more about the differences between using a presentation in the browser versus the PowerPoint desktop app .

Insert, edit, and follow hyperlinks. Bookmark links work, but can't be edited in PowerPoint for the web.

Insert online video

Video and audio content plays in Reading view and Slide Show, with a file size limit of 100 MB. Online video can be inserted from YouTube, and media controls can be resized, moved, and deleted in PowerPoint for the web. But to insert audio and video other than YouTube, you need the Microsoft PowerPoint desktop app.

Integration with Excel for charts

Not available in PowerPoint for the web. With PowerPoint for the web, you can view Excel charts in an existing presentation, but you can't edit or insert an Excel chart in a presentation using PowerPoint for the web. Learn more about copying an Excel chart to PowerPoint .

Navigation - slide sorter

Slide sorter view, which gives you a view of your slides in thumbnail form, makes it easy to sort and organize your slides. You can use slide sorter view to organize your slides, add sections, and sort slides into different categories.

Offline viewing and authoring

PowerPoint for the web is launched from a web browser and relies on an internet connection. To access presentations offline, Microsoft PowerPoint desktop app must be installed on your computer and used to view and edit slides.

Picture cropping

Improve the framing of a subject in a picture with the cropping tool. Simply click one of the cropping handles at the edge of the picture and drag it until you achieve the picture you want.

With PowerPoint for the web, you can insert pictures stored on your computer, or insert pictures from Bing Images. You can move, resize, and crop pictures, and apply a number of picture styles. More sophisticated features for working with pictures, such as applying effects, are not available in PowerPoint for the web. You can't create screenshots in PowerPoint for the web, but screenshots that are in a presentation display as pictures in PowerPoint for the web. Learn more about the differences between using a presentation in the browser versus the PowerPoint desktop app .

Present online through Skype for Business or the Office Presentation Service

Not available in PowerPoint for the web. Microsoft PowerPoint desktop app lets you deliver your presentations using the Office Presentation Service, a free, public service that allows others to follow along in their web browser. Learn more about Office Presentation Service .

Presenter view

Not available in PowerPoint for the web. Only Microsoft PowerPoint desktop app allows a presenter a behind-the-scene control of the presentation flow, notes, annotations, and zooming tools. PowerPoint for the web does not support these features.

Print to PDF

With PowerPoint for the web, you can print your presentation to a PDF reader, where all the layout and formatting of your slides will print the way you expect. Learn more about basic tasks you can do using PowerPoint for the web .

Proofing tools

You can check spelling and set the proofing language, using the built-in dictionary with PowerPoint for the web. But PowerPoint for the web does not use a custom dictionary and does not include translation or a thesaurus.

Real-time co-authoring

Multiple authors can work simultaneously in PowerPoint for the web and PowerPoint 2016. Real-time presence helps you see where your co-authors are working in the presentation so that you don't create conflicts as you edit, and you can see changes as they're being made. PowerPoint 2013 supports simultaneous editing, but there is no presence indication, and changes can't be seen by multiple authors until the document is saved. For more information about real-time co-authoring in PowerPoint, see Work together on PowerPoint presentations .

Reviewer tools, advanced

Not available in PowerPoint for the web. Advanced reviewer features, such as merge conflicts and compare presentations, are only available in the PowerPoint desktop app. With PowerPoint for the web, you can view, add, edit, or delete comments.

Rights management: Apply and consume IRM and password protection

Not available in PowerPoint for the web. PowerPoint for the web displays presentations that are protected with Information Rights Management (IRM). However, these presentations can't be edited in the browser, and you can't create IRM-protected presentations in PowerPoint for the web. PowerPoint for the web can't open presentations that are digitally signed or encrypted with a password.

Run slide show

With PowerPoint for the web, you can run your presentation with just a web browser and an internet connection. Learn more about basic tasks you can do using PowerPoint for the web .

Save as or Download a copy

PowerPoint for the web saves your work every time you make a change. There is no Save command. You can download a copy, but you must have the Microsoft PowerPoint desktop app to edit a local copy.

Word Art and charts can't be inserted in PowerPoint for the web, but PowerPoint for the web displays them as expected. In Editing view, edit and format text. If you want to apply text effects to Word Art, you'll need the Microsoft PowerPoint desktop app.

If your presentation is saved in a SharePoint document library, then your presentation is online and you can share it by sending a link instead of an email attachment. People with proper permissions can view it in their web browser or mobile device. Learn more about sharing a presentation .

PowerPoint for the web plays slide shows in a full-screen window. Press the spacebar to advance the slides. Slide animations play, but only Fade and Wipe transitions between slides are supported. Learn more about the differences between using a presentation in the browser versus the PowerPoint desktop app .

You can insert SmartArt, switch to a different layout or color scheme, apply SmartArt styles, and edit text with PowerPoint for the web. Learn more about the differences between using a presentation in the browser versus the PowerPoint desktop app .

Table creation, editing, and formatting

Tables can be created and edited in PowerPoint for the web, and PowerPoint for the web supports most table functions. For advanced functions, such as merging and splitting cells, use the PowerPoint desktop app. Learn more about the differences between using a presentation in the browser versus the PowerPoint desktop app .

When you need to accomplish something in PowerPoint for the web but don't know how, you can use the Tell Me search feature to quickly find what you're looking for. Tell Me understands what you're trying to accomplish and helps you do it faster by making suggestions.

Undo and redo

Undo (Ctrl + Z) and redo (Ctrl + Y) an infinite number of recent actions during the current editing session in the active presentation. If the editing session times out or if you switch to Reading View for more than 30 seconds, the undo history is reset. Learn more about keyboard shortcuts in PowerPoint for the web .

View and add comments

If your files are stored on SharePoint Online or OneDrive for Business, you can add, edit, or delete comments.

If your files are stored on OneDrive, you can add, edit, or delete comments while in Editing View, and you can view and update comments while in Reading View.

View and edit slide notes

With PowerPoint for the web, notes for each slide can be displayed or hidden. You can also add notes in Edit mode.

WYSIWYG viewing

Edit your presentation in a form closely resembling its appearance when printed or displayed as a finished product.

Feature availability

To view feature availability across plans, standalone options, and on-premises solutions, see Microsoft 365 for the web service description .

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10 Tips for Using PowerPoint Online

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Another rambling PowerPoint presentation. A few more willing recruits line-up for the anti-PowerPoint brigade. But as new fronts continue to come together in a coalition of PowerPoint alternatives , we tend to forget the act for which it takes the stabbings. Bad presentations.

Poor presentation skills slink off while the software takes the heat. If you do not know how to show and tell, any presentation tool would share the same graveyard. Microsoft PowerPoint is the world's most popular conference software and if you know how to use it well, you can make anything with it.

That's the defense as we continue hunting for tips to make our presentations easier, and more gorgeous. With PowerPoint Online (the erstwhile PowerPoint Web App) let's take the Microsoft PowerPoint experience to the browser.

It is not as full-featured as the desktop version ( see all the key differences ). You might miss most of the advanced tools, but you can still use text, images, and SmartArt graphics to create professional presentations.

All your PowerPoint presentations are stored in OneDrive. Microsoft Office 365 customers with Office Online can view, create, and edit files on the go. Cloud users can also open presentation files with PowerPoint desktop and do advanced customizations.

After looking at the best tips for PowerPoint 2016 on the desktop, PowerPoint Online offers you a few more ways to do things with your slides.

1. Easy Viewing Online

It's a safe assumption that you will use PowerPoint Online in a range of mobile devices. Instead of using your mobile browser's zoom, you can use the native zoom feature, which was introduced as an improvement.

Go to View > Zoom.

The same toolbar gives you a new full screen Reading View for a more comfortable experience on small screen devices. I just wish they had the same Zoom feature in the Reading View as well.

2. Save Your Presentation Locally

PowerPoint Online saves all open presentations automatically in the cloud. There is no Save button, but you can use the Save As option to keep an offline copy on your desktop or any other location.

Go to the File tab > click Save As .

Click Download a Copy .

You can also save the copy in a different format like ODP ( Open Document Presentation ) and port it to any other presentation tool that supports the ODP format. PowerPoint also allows you to edit ODP files. Do note that not all PowerPoint features are supported in the ODP format.

3. Use the Spell Checker

Few things are as embarrassing as a typo on a large screen. PowerPoint Online has a powerful spell checker which you should enable immediately. PowerPoint Online shifted from the browser spell check to the robust Microsoft Office spell checker. Before you finish your presentation, correct the misspelled words that are flagged with a red underline.

When you first use PowerPoint Online, select a word with a right-click. Choose Set Proofing Language and then pick the language of your choice from the list.

PowerPoint Online catches the misspelled word and offers suggestions for the correct spelling. Right-click the word, and choose the correct spelling from the list.

I find it a bit slow, but that could also be due to my own broadband connection.

4. Take Full Advantage of Skype Document Chat

Collaboration is sometimes the key when working online and co-authoring documents in real time . PowerPoint Online introduced Skype group chats a couple of years back. When you are co-authoring documents with someone else, click the chat button in the top right to begin chatting with others on your team.

Don't forget – you have to be in the editing view to see the chat bubble icon.

The chat takes its name from the document everyone is working on. So, if you are working on a PowerPoint presentation called "World Domination Report," the chat would have the same name and you can refer to it in your recent conversations list in Skype. You can of course, rename this conversation and share it with anyone else not involved in the chat.

Click the Call or Video call icon to add a phone call or video conference to your chat.

You can continue the group conversation with the Skype mobile apps or Skype Desktop, even if you close the document. Also, like Google Drive, you can chat with anyone inside an Office online document, even if they don't have an Office 365 account.

5. Broadcast a Presentation Online

PowerPoint on the desktop gives the presenter more tools for better presentations in comparison to PowerPoint Online. The Presenter View and the Laser pointer are just two of the tools for stylized presentations. You can do away with both and start a self-running presentation . With the ability to broadcast rich presentations online to a remote audience, your audience can follow along in any part of the world in their browsers without having PowerPoint at all. PowerPoint Online is the interface for them.

Launch PowerPoint 2016 desktop. As the presenter, you need to have a (free) Microsoft account.

On the Ribbon, go to File > Share > Present Online . In the screen below, again click the Present Online button.

Sign into your Microsoft account, if you haven't done so already. Once connected, the Present Online dialog box appears.

Invite your audience by sending the presentation link via an email or copy-paste it into any other instant messenger. Audience members click the link to join the presentation in their browsers.

Note: If you need to send more invitations in the middle of a presentation, click on ESC  to stop the presentation. On the Present Online tab, select Send Invitations . Then, click on From Beginning to restart the slideshow.

Click Start Presentation .

When the slide show ends, click End Online Presentation .

6. Learn Keyboard Shortcuts

As PowerPoint Online runs in the browser, some of the keyboard shortcuts are different from its desktop counterpart.

Example: Familiar shortcuts like Ctrl + P (Print) and F1 (Help) will run browser commands, not PowerPoint Online commands.

To use the new Tell Me  help of Office 2016, press CTRL+' (apostrophe) to jump to the Tell Me box. Type the command you want and use the Up and Down arrows to select the command. Press Enter .

Here's the complete list of keyboard shortcuts .

7. Use the Online Clipboard

When using PowerPoint Online, you can cut, copy, and paste content in a presentation and between Office Online programs, too. More than that, you can do the same between Office Online and the Microsoft Office desktop apps on the computer. Text formatting is retained from source to destination.

While you can copy and paste pictures from websites into your PowerPoint Online slides, you cannot do it from another presentation or application on your desktop. Save the picture locally and use the Insert > Picture option instead.

8. Share with an Embed

You can also extend your sharing by embedding it in websites and any other page that supports embed quotes. This is one of the major advantages of using PowerPoint Online over the desktop version. It is one of the easiest ways to give readers an interactive experience without coding.

The PowerPoint embed can be an instructional guide, an interactive banner, or even a business report enhanced with animated graphs and charts.

To grab the embed code, go to File > Share > Embed . Click on the blue Generate button.

A preview screen gives you a box with the embed code to copy. You can also choose the size and an auto-advance option for your presentation. Auto advance will only work if you enable the setting when creating your presentation. Leave auto advance off if you don't want your presentation to start playing when someone loads the web page.

Visitors to your site will then be able to page through the presentation and interact with it on your Web page, from within the browser and without having to have PowerPoint installed. As you might see, using an embed code could be better than uploading a presentation and linking to it.

9. Print Your Handouts

PowerPoint Online has an option for printing in PDF . You can use any PDF viewer for the job (Example: Chrome's Save as PDF option). Print your slides and use them as handouts, or add your speaker notes to them and use them as a visual aid when you present.

Go to the File tab > Print > Print to PDF .

The presentation is converted to PDF and you can download it to the desktop.

10. When PowerPoint Is Too Much…Use Sway

When you are more of a storyteller instead of a graphs and stats person, use the quicker Sway . PowerPoint could be a stumbling block for the design challenged (or when you are on a tight deadline) …and it's no fun presenting just for the heck of it. You can do a much better job with Sway instead.

Let's put the PowerPoint vs Sway confusion to bed…

• With PowerPoint, you have hands-on control over each part of the presentation design.
• With Sway, you hand-over design decisions to the tool by supplying it with pre-created content, and letting it create presentation for online / mobile presentation.

And yes, you can collaborate on Sway, too.

The Experience of PowerPoint Online?

Have you answered this question for yourself – PowerPoint Online or Google Slides?

So far, it's clear that PowerPoint Online is competing with Google Slides and isn't meant to be a full replacement for its desktop sibling, yet.

PowerPoint 2016 on the desktop has a steeper learning curve compared to Google's offering, but PowerPoint Online is a simpler alternative for you to bite into. PowerPoint Online is in harmony with the desktop version, and you can use this advantage to create more advanced slides.

Do you like the speed? Are you comfortable with the viewing experience? How do you use PowerPoint Online in your workplace?

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• Presentations
• Microsoft PowerPoint

How to Access the Free Online Version of Microsoft PowerPoint

Creating, Editing and Saving Presentations using PowerPoint Online

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated October 3, 2015

Applies to: Microsoft ® PowerPoint ® Online

You can access a free online version of Microsoft PowerPoint and create simple presentations on the fly or you can open presentations you've created in the desktop version of PowerPoint online and collaborate with colleagues. All you need is a Microsoft account (which is also free) and a password. PowerPoint Online is a light version of PowerPoint and runs in your web browser so you don't need to install any software to use it. The free online version is available without using SharePoint and you don't need Office 365.

Since the online version is free, it has limited functionality (for example, you can't insert a video from your hard drive and you have limited animation options). For those already using the desktop version of PowerPoint, creating a presentation in the online version is quite similar.

PowerPoint Online is available at  office.com .

Related articles: How to Insert Screenshots in PowerPoint and Word (Part 1: Office Tools)  and Are You Using These 10 Slide Show Tricks?

Accessing PowerPoint Online

To access the free version of PowerPoint Online:

• Go to office.com to get started.
• Click on the PowerPoint icon/tile.
• Sign in with a Microsoft account and password or create a new free account. If you have Hotmail, you can sign in with that account as your ID.
• Click on a template. PowerPoint creates the presentation. It is saved automatically in a cloud storage location called OneDrive.
• If you're familiar with the desktop version of PowerPoint, you'll be able to create, edit and format slides easily as the interface is very similar to the desktop version. You'll be able to add limited animations and transitions but you won't be able to add audio or video from your hard drive.
• You can change the design theme at any time by clicking on the Design tab on the Ribbon and choosing another theme.

Switching to the desktop version of PowerPoint

You can switch over to the full desktop version of PowerPoint (assuming it's installed) to take advantage of all of the features in PowerPoint.

To switch to the desktop version:

• In a presentation in PowerPoint Online, click on Open in PowerPoint in the Ribbon. A message asks you to confirm that you wish to open the file. Click on OK.
• A message may appear asking you to login with your Windows credentials. Complete and click on OK.
• A message may appear asking you to choose the application to open the file. Select Microsoft Office and your current version, check Remember my choice for ms-powerpoint links and click on OK.

Saving an online PowerPoint presentation in OneDrive

Presentations created with the online version of PowerPoint are saved automatically on OneDrive, but you'll likely want to save the file with a specific name.

To save a presentation with a specific name in PowerPoint Online:

• Click on the File tab on the Ribbon.
• Choose Save As and then click on the Save As icon and enter a name. If necessary, choose a location in OneDrive.
• Click on Save. The file will be saved in your OneDrive cloud storage location. All users with a Microsoft account are provided with a OneDrive storage account. The size of the OneDrive storage varies depending on the type of account.

Saving a PowerPoint presentation on a desktop computer

If you want to save your presentation on your desktop computer, you'll need to download a copy.

To save a presentation on your desktop computer:

• Choose Save As and then click on Download a Copy. The copy will be placed in your Downloads folder on your c: drive (if pop-ups are disabled in your browser). If pop-ups are enabled, you will be able to save a copy to a specific folder.
• Enter a name for the presentation.
• Navigate to the desired location (if pop-ups are enabled in your browser).
• Click on Save. You will now be able to open the file with the desktop version of PowerPoint.

Opening a PowerPoint presentation saved in OneDrive

To open a presentation saved in OneDrive:

• If you're not logged onto Office Online, go to office.com and click on the PowerPoint icon/tile and then sign in with a Microsoft account and password.
• Click on Open. A menu will appear with recent documents. Click on one of the presentations or click on More from OneDrive to choose another file. In OneDrive, click on Documents and then click on the desired file.
• Click on Edit Presentation in the Ribbon and then Edit Presentation with PowerPoint Online.

The free online version of PowerPoint does have limited functionality if you're creating a presentation in that environment, but you can open a presentation created in the desktop version of PowerPoint and make minor editing changes online without losing functionality.

Note: Since this is an online version, features and functionality will change.

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PowerPoint Online: How to Create an Online Presentation!

Since the launch of Office 365, Microsoft has been making a push to optimize its Office suite for remote work. With the free version of PowerPoint Online, you can easily create presentations and share them with your audience.In this article, we’ll show you what features, advantages and disadvantages you can expect with PowerPoint Online.

This is PowerPoint Online

PowerPoint users typically turn to the classic program installed on their computer’s. But did you know there’s also an online version of the world’s most popular presentation software? Welcome to PowerPoint Online .

Although it doesn’t have some of the familiar tools from the desktop version (see Desktop version vs. PowerPoint Online: Advantages and disadvantages ), the online version offers plenty of features to create professional presentations .

Since 2010, Microsoft has been offering its well-known Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.) as free online versions. All you need is a web browser (see PowerPoint Online requirements ). The data processing of the web app runs via a Microsoft web server. Your data is also stored online in the Microsoft cloud (OneDrive).

PowerPoint Online: Where to find it

PowerPoint Online and the web app are free services. You can’t download the web app itself – a Microsoft server collects your data. But you can download your created presentation slides and save them on your PC.

Here you can find the link to PowerPoint Online version. Log in with your Microsoft ID and select PowerPoint. If you decide to use the web app, you can find it here .

If you don’t have a Microsoft account yet, create a free account and log into PowerPoint online here .

PowerPoint Online requirements

PowerPoint Online is straightforward and doesn’t involve any complicated requirements . All you need is:

• Internet access
• A web browser (Mozilla Firefox, Edge, Chrome, Safari, etc.)
• A Microsoft ID to log in (you can find this in your Office program on your PC if you use Office programs)
• Enough OneDrive storage space, the cloud where your presentations will be stored (You get free OneDrive storage with your Microsoft ID)

PowerPoint Online requires you to register (log in) first . The login guarantees that your presentations will be saved on the web server be available the next time you need them.

The advantages of using PowerPoint Online

Does PowerPoint Online work the same way as the full version of PowerPoint on your PC? PowerPoint Online’s features are extensive and more than enough to create a professional presentation .

There are features you’ll have to do without in the online version. This is because some of them are technically not feasible online . To enjoy all of PowerPoint’s features, you’ll have to use the paid PC version.

We’ve compiled the most important advantages and disadvantages of PowerPoint Online for you here:

How to create a presentation with PowerPoint Online

1. Open your web browser and go to PowerPoint Online (link provided above). Log in with your Microsoft ID.

2. You now have the choice to (a) continue editing an existing presentation, (b) create a new presentation, or (c) open a presentation from an external storage device .

a. Presentations that have already been created are displayed at the bottom center of the home page.

b. For a new presentation, go to New > Blank Presentation or select one of the suggested templates. c. Presentations saved on external storage devices (e.g., USB stick) can be uploaded, opened and edited by clicking Upload a Presentation .

3. To (re)name your presentation, select the presentation name box at the top and enter the desired name.

4. Now you can create and edit your presentation as usual using the various buttons (new slides, layouts, designs, content, animations, transitions, etc.).

5. The program automatically saves your progress to OneDrive, provided your internet connection is up and running . If you lose your internet connection, the program will synchronize when you reconnect .

6. Would you like to download your presentation or save it to an external device ? Then click File and select Save As . You can also save it as a PDF or print it under File .

7. To show your finished presentation to an audience, select the Slide Show Presentation tab.

You can find a video tutorial here .

Alternatives to PowerPoint Online

Microsoft is just one of several companies that offer online solutions for presentations. Below, we’ve summarized the most important applications and their advantages and disadvantages.

Online presentations with Google Slides

Google offers a free alternative to PowerPoint for presentations: Google Slides. Like Microsoft, you only need a Google account to use the program. While Google Slides doesn’t offer as many features for effects and visual tweaks, you can create diagrams and edit the slide master. This allows you to easily create business presentations as well.

Collaborative work is easy with Google Slides. With just one click, you can share presentations via email or a link. You decide whether others can see, comment or edit your presentation. Just like in PowerPoint 365, it’s possible to work on the same presentation at the same time. No matter where you are, you can create your presentations online, share and access them anywhere – completely free of charge.

Google Slides lets you open and edit PowerPoint presentations . You can add Google Slides add-ons that include additional features, such as special charts, templates and much more. But be aware : these add-ons are created by third parties and some of them require payment.

To use of Google Slides in larger teams, Google offers a business option and G Suite Essentials . These don’t modify the program itself nor unlock any additional features. What they do offer are increased security features and team collaboration options. Google Business customers are given wide-ranging features for sharing. You decide who can download presentations, print them and see comments. Google is currently offering the business service G Suite as a free trial.

Click here to go to Google Slides.

Microsoft Sway

Microsoft Sway is a web application for creating professional presentations . Microsoft Sway has only been around since 2017 and represents a new approach to presentations: presentations are no longer based on pages (slides), as with PowerPoint Online, but can be scrolled through horizontally, like an eBook, or vertically, like a website.

Click here to go to Microsoft Sway.

Present Online with Prezi

Prezi is another online presentation software provider. What makes Prezi unique is that it doesn’t use slide sets. Instead, all the slides are part of a single, large slide that you navigate during the presentation.

Like Google Slides, Prezi is primarily marketed as an online service ; offline versions of presentations are only available as part of a subscription plan. You can create presentations online via Prezi and also share them via a link. Up to ten people can work on a slide at the same time and you can see who’s working on what in an overview window. Prezi allows you to control presentations remotely – if someone starts a presentation, you can guide them through it from wherever you are. This is especially handy when international teams are presenting a topic together. It also means that any cell phone can be used as a remote control, making you completely independent of on-site technical capabilities.

Click here for Prezi.

Adobe Express

Adobe Express lets you create presentations for free – no design skills required . Adobe uses a presentation generator with design tools to create professional charts and presentations . In addition to pre-designed layouts, you can add videos and media to your slides and choose from templates with free images, video clips and icons.

Click here for more information about Adobe Express.

More online presentation options

There are plenty of options for creating presentations online. Sites like Zoho , Visme , Pitch and Slides all provide similar features to PowerPoint Online, Google Slides and Prezi.

PowerPoint stands out from the rest as the software that can be used completely and reliably offline. You can work on or present your presentations without an internet connection. You never know when you may need that option.

Pro tip: collaborate online

Finally, we’d like to mention a few applications that are designed to make online collaboration easier. Work is becoming more and more mobile and teams more international, increasing the demand for such solutions. These programs are also a great solution for small and medium-sized companies that operate domestically. Teamwork and effective knowledge exchange are important for every company!

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is a chat platform in Office 365 that is designed to facilitate and improve collaboration and communication . Messages can be sent to individual users, groups and team members. The real-time exchange makes communication that much more efficient. In addition to chat, Microsoft Teams offers a wide range of video and audio communication options .

Appointments with external parties and even entire webinars can be set up with Microsoft Teams. The program is ideal for improving collaboration between small and medium-sized teams and increasing efficiency in group work. Larger companies may find that collaborating online presents a logistical challenge. Teams has gradually developed into a robust solution for them as well.

Click here for Microsoft Teams.

Microsoft SharePoint

SharePoint is another web-based document management and collaboration platform developed by Microsoft. The program is geared towards large groups or companies that need a solid data sharing structure . SharePoint is excellent for storing data and documents and editing them together in real-time.

SharePoint 365, a cloud-enabled version of SharePoint, was introduced with the launch of Office 365. It augments the Office 365 applications and simplifies data sharing for collaboration . Depending on your needs, both Microsoft Teams and SharePoint are great tools for networked, team collaboration. You can also use these platforms to simplify both short and long-term collaboration.

Click here for Microsoft SharePoint.

Design high-quality presentations quickly and easily with PowerPoint Online!

PowerPoint Online offers users a free alternative to the fee-based, full version for PC. The online version allows you to create professional presentations and access many PowerPoint features. PowerPoint Online offers many advantages (e.g., automatic saving), but a few limitations as well . PowerPoint Online is nevertheless a viable solution for the average user.

With its straightforward user interface , presentations can be created quickly. Thanks to the Slide Show option, you can share your presentations and be ready for remote business meetings that are becoming commonplace in 2022.

For more ways to share your presentations live and online, check out this blog post .

Do you have questions about PowerPoint Online or general questions about PowerPoint? Please don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected] We’ll be happy to help you! Are you looking for professionally designed templates for your presentation ? Feel free to take a look around our online shop . You’ll find modern and up-to-date templates for a wide range of topics and business areas.

These articles may also interest you:

• Online presentations
• Virtual presentations
• PowerPoint Presenter View

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PowerPoint Online vs. Full PowerPoint on Your Desktop

Did you know that Microsoft PowerPoint Online is basically PowerPoint for the web?

Using the term "PowerPoint" alone no longer describes how you use the app. You might be talking about PowerPoint on iPad or Android, the PowerPoint desktop apps for Windows or even PowerPoint in a web browser. This is called Microsoft PowerPoint Online.

In this tutorial, we're going to learn a bit more about Microsoft PowerPoint Online (part of Office on the web), the PowerPoint web-based application. You can create a PPT online with no other apps needed. We'll cover how you can use it and what the key differences are between it and the PowerPoint desktop app.

Download Our Free PDF eBook on Making Great Presentations

Before you read on, we want to make sure you know about this resource. It'll help you write, design, and deliver the perfect presentation. Download our Free eBook:  The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations .

What Versions of PowerPoint Exist?

Microsoft has several different options for how you can buy or license Microsoft Office. Office includes apps like PowerPoint, Excel, and Word. Here are the common ways that you can buy or use Office:

• Microsoft Office 365. This is the subscription-based model for using Office apps, with a monthly or annual package. You'll always have access to the latest version of the Office apps as long as you continue paying for Office 365.
• Office Home & Student, also sometimes called Office Home & Student 2021 . The "Home & Student" edition is a one-time purchase of Office with no subscription attached. But your app won't stay up to date as Microsoft releases new versions and features.
• Office Online. Run PowerPoint in a web browser. Regardless   of which version of PowerPoint you use, you can pair it with the browser-based version of the app for free. Microsoft PowerPoint online sounds pretty cool, right?

As you can see, there are many options. You're probably making the choice between PowerPoint desktop and the PowerPoint web version, also known as PowerPoint Online. Read on to learn more about the two versions of PowerPoint.

What Is Microsoft PowerPoint Online?

For those who follow the tech industry, it's hard to miss the shift that Microsoft has been experiencing in recent years. Once upon a time, the Redmond-based giant made its revenue from selling single use licenses of Windows, Office, and other enterprise software.

It's clear that Microsoft has shifted their focus to a more service-driven company. They'd rather sell you a monthly subscription to Office and cloud storage than a single transaction. As part of this shift, Microsoft has built out impressive web versions of their Office apps that you can use right inside of a web browser. 

Enter PowerPoint Online. It's a capable version of Microsoft's presentation app that you can use from practically any web browser. Best of all: it's free to use . All you need to do is create and login with a Microsoft account.

There are many reasons you might want to use PowerPoint online but consider this one: freedom of movement . If you're jumping between many devices, you'll benefit from the PowerPoint web version. You can continue working where you left off with no gaps. 

Using Microsoft PowerPoint Online

To get started with PowerPoint Online, simply jump over to this link . You can log in with a Microsoft account or create one for free if you don't already have one. Remember, it's free to use PowerPoint online.

Once you're logged in, the online version of the app largely resembles the desktop version that you're likely already familiar with. You can launch a new presentation from one of the theme thumbnails.

You could also upload a presentation from your desktop that's already in progress and pick up on editing it straight from the browser. Many of the normal tools are right inside your browser to create and edit a presentation.

Key Differences in PowerPoint Online

Don't cancel your Office 365 subscription just yet. The online version of PowerPoint certainly has a few differences and lacks some of the features of the desktop apps. Let's walk through several features that may keep you using the desktop version:

1. Printing Your Slides

Printing your slides is somewhat limited in the online edition of PowerPoint but it's seen some additions, here in 2023. Before, PowerPoint Online would only let you print one slide per page. Now you can print full page slides, slides with notes, or handouts with three slides per page. It's an improvement!

But the desktop apps allow you to print everything from notes pages to handouts to full slides. There are more options than what you get with PowerPoint Online. Consider this carefully before you count on printing your presentation from a different, web-connected device.

This is particularly important if you're using features like Speaker Notes, the built-in feature to add speaking cues to your slides. Print your slides from a desktop app, or plan on scribbling note cards before the presentation!

2. Guides & Rulers

Microsoft has done a great job with the browser-based PowerPoint Online. But the desktop app is going to be smoother for the foreseeable future. It's much easier to make refined adjustments to your slide deck thanks to features like zooming and alignment.

Also, one of my favorite features is the grid and snapping in the desktop app. It makes it easy to line up many elements on your slide and ensure that they're the same size. PowerPoint Online has some of these features but they aren't quite as polished. If you build really advanced presentations, you may prefer to stay on the desktop app.

One of my favorite features of PowerPoint is the ability to change  Views.  Views are just different ways to work with your slide deck. 

This includes helpful options like  Slide Sorter View,  an easy way to drag and drop the slides in your presentation to reorder them. Or,  Outline View,  to review your content in the classic outline structure to ensure that the content supports your key points.

Unfortunately, many of these views are missing from the browser-based version of PowerPoint. You've got access to the standard " Normal " view to work with and rearrange slides in the sidebar, but it's a bit limited compared to the desktop app. You can now also use Slide Sorter view in PowerPoint for the Web.

4. Presenter View

Technically, Presenter View is one of the missing views I mentioned above, but it warrants consideration of its own.

I often tout Presenter View as one of my favorite features in Microsoft PowerPoint. This is a special view that you can use when giving a presentation so that the most useful tools for speakers stay in view. It includes essentials like a timer, access to your speaker notes, and the ability to jump between slides.

And unfortunately, you won't find this in Microsoft PowerPoint Online. You can switch into the standard Slideshow View from PowerPoint Online, but it only shows the presentation inside the browser.

Microsoft's official documentation has the  full roundup  of the differences or missing features from PowerPoint Online. Make sure to check this first to make sure your key features are preserved before you make the leap in one direction or another.

5. Password Protection

This could definitely pose a problem. PowerPoint Online doesn't currently support working with password-protected presentations . There's no workaround or easy solution for this problem; you'll need to work with these in PowerPoint on Mac or Windows instead.

A Recommendation: Use Both

With all these options for how to license and use PowerPoint, you might wonder what the best approach is for your personal needs. I can think of two specific cases that would affect your choice of which app to use:

• For the budget-minded. Use PowerPoint Online to create, edit, and view presentations as a free replacement for the desktop apps.
• For everyone else. Use PowerPoint Online alongside the desktop app to maintain access to your files anywhere you go.

To use PowerPoint between devices and locations, we need a place to keep our files so that they stay in sync. You can certainly use an app like Dropbox to save files, but  OneDrive  is the most seamless way to marry up the apps. Let's learn more.

OneDrive to Unite Them All

With all the apps that we've mentioned so far, you might wonder how Microsoft's OneDrive  app fits into the equation for using PowerPoint Online. If you're going to take my advice to use PowerPoint Online and desktop in tandem, OneDrive is the glue that holds it all together.

If you've not heard about it, OneDrive is Microsoft's cloud storage service. Basically, it works a lot like Dropbox or Google Drive, for example. 

You can get five gigabytes of storage for free as part of your Microsoft Account. Think of your Microsoft account as one hub. It includes OneDrive and access to PowerPoint Online, so make sure that you don't make separate accounts for each.

OneDrive makes it possible to use the desktop and web versions of PowerPoint seamlessly. Save a presentation to your OneDrive, and it'll be available the next time you log into PowerPoint Online. Make a change to a presentation in your browser, and the desktop version is updated at the same time.

OneDrive is available regardless of which PowerPoint version you've got. If you're using PowerPoint for the Web, your presentation files are automatically saved to your OneDrive.

My recommended workflow for PowerPoint is to do the following:

• Start by creating a presentation on either the desktop app or PowerPoint Online. 
• If you're using the desktop app, make sure you save the presentation to your OneDrive from the  File  tab.
• In Microsoft PowerPoint Online, documents you create are automatically saved to OneDrive, so nothing extra to do here.

Keeping all your PowerPoint presentations in OneDrive gives you a second level of assurance that your presentation is stored safely. Plus, making OneDrive your main storage for presentations makes it available no matter where you're working from.

You don't have to choose one version or the other. PowerPoint Online is an ideal supplement to your desktop PowerPoint app, and capable enough if you don't want to buy PowerPoint.

The Ultimate Source for PowerPoint Presentation Templates (With Unlimited Use)

Need to find PowerPoint online templates for your next project? Trying to make a winning impression? Head for Envato Elements . 

There, you'll unlock unlimited downloads of PowerPoint templates, along with other creative assets. It's all available for a flat monthly rate. 

Envato Elements is the best value for creatives today. You benefit from designer-quality PPT online templates that wow any audience. 

Plus, you save precious time by having the design work done for you. All you've got to do is drop in your own content. With unlimited downloads, you can try out as many templates as you want.

Even better: Elements gives you all the content you need to fill up your slides . Explore categories like:

• beautiful stock images
• sleek custom fonts
• cool background music
• refined 3D objects

What are you waiting for? Join Envato Elements today and join the ranks of the world's top PowerPoint creators.

5 Best PowerPoint Online Presentation Designs (From Envato Elements)

Let's explore five of the very best PowerPoint designs for your next slide deck. Whether you're using PPT online or PowerPoint desktop, these work well for a variety of topics. 

Each of these PowerPoint templates comes from Envato Elements, the all-you-can-download resource for creatives. Let's take a look:

1. Be. PowerPoint Presentation Template

A PowerPoint presentation should complement your message. Be does exactly that, with 125 sleek, minimalist slides inside. It also comes with free font icons, and easy-to-edit graphics. In a few clicks, you can make every slide your own.

2. Kalium Corporate PowerPoint Presentation

Want to use PowerPoint online to collaborate with your global team? Turn to Kalium, a refined template for business. It's professional and elegant but uses bright colors to keep things interesting. This one works well in PPT online to build slides together.

3. Alisha Brand Template

Alisha is an ideal template for portfolio use. You won't find these rich layouts in a PowerPoint free download! With rustic, earthy tones, the deck conveys a warm spirit. 34 custom slides are full of content placeholders where you can add your own material.

4. Olivia - Fashion PowerPoint Presentation Template

The best PowerPoint presentation templates make a fashion statement for you. Olivia is the perfect example. Open it in PowerPoint desktop or the PowerPoint web version. Either way, you'll find over 30 custom slides inside. Bold fonts and sizable images bring your content to everyone's attention - fast!

5. Karbon PowerPoint Presentation Template

Let's face it: dull PowerPoint slides won't keep your audience engaged . When you work in PowerPoint online, try to choose bright layouts wherever possible. This PowerPoint template delivers exactly that. There are over 100 colorful slides! Each one features different types of content, like charts, infographics, and timelines.

More Top PowerPoint Presentation Templates

Once you know about PowerPoint templates, I'll bet that you'll always use them to design presentations. PPT online is an easy-to-use tool, and it's even easier when you use pre-built templates.

Check out three more articles with options for top templates for PowerPoint desktop - and the PowerPoint web version!

Learn More About PowerPoint

PowerPoint Online is one of the most exciting things that Microsoft has done. They've pivoted to focusing on "freemium" services designed to entice paying users. The browser-based version of PowerPoint Online is plenty good enough for most users.

The best combination is using PowerPoint Online as a supplement to your desktop app. The ability to make quick changes to your presentation from any computer is a huge advantage.

Don't stop here. Even seasoned PowerPoint presenters can still pick up a few tricks from the tutorials below:

Grab This eBook on Making Great Presentations ( Free Download )

We've got the perfect complement to a professional PowerPoint template. It'll help you learn how to write, design, and deliver great presentations.

Download  The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations now for FREE with a subscription to the Tuts+ Business Newsletter. Get your ideas formed into a powerful presentation that'll move your audience.

Do You Prefer Microsoft PowerPoint Online or PowerPoint Desktop?

Have you tried out Microsoft PowerPoint Online (PowerPoint for the Web)? Both PowerPoint for the web and PowerPoint desktop have their pros and cons. PowerPoint web versus PowerPoint desktop often boils down to your presentation's needs.

Looking to work on the go or on a budget? Microsoft PowerPoint Online could be the perfect choice for you. But PowerPoint for web-based browsers lacks some of what you get in the PowerPoint desktop application. Which one is the right choice for you? Why not give them both a try?

Editorial Note : This post was originally published on December 12, 2017. It's been comprehensively updated with special help from  Andrew Childress and Daisy Ein .

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Create a presentation

Create a presentation in PowerPoint

Create presentations from scratch or start with a professionally designed, fully customizable template from Microsoft Create .

Tip:  If you have Microsoft Copilot it can help you create a presentation, add slides or images, and more. To learn more see  Create a new presentation with Copilot in PowerPoint.

Open PowerPoint.

In the left pane, select New .

Select an option:

To create a presentation from scratch, select Blank Presentation .

To use a prepared design, select one of the templates.

To see tips for using PowerPoint, select Take a Tour , and then select Create , .

Add a slide

In the thumbnails on the left pane, select the slide you want your new slide to follow.

In the  Home tab, in the  Slides  section, select  New Slide .

In the Slides section, select Layout , and then select the layout you want from the menu.

Add and format text

Place the cursor inside a text box, and then type something.

Select the text, and then select one or more options from the Font section of the Home tab, such as  Font , Increase Font Size , Decrease Font Size ,  Bold , Italic , Underline , etc.

To create bulleted or numbered lists, select the text, and then select Bullets or Numbering .

Add a picture, shape, and more

Go to the  Insert  tab.

To add a picture:

In the Images section, select Pictures .

In the Insert Picture From menu, select the source you want.

Browse for the picture you want, select it, and then select Insert .

To add illustrations:

In the Illustrations section, select Shapes , Icons , 3D Models ,  SmartArt , or Chart .

In the dialog box that opens when you click one of the illustration types, select the item you want and follow the prompts to insert it.

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