Choose the target presentation for the merge
When combining PowerPoint presentations, you bring the necessary slides together in a single target presentation and arrange them to suit the flow. First, choose the target file. A file with its cover and introduction ready, or one that already has a flow suited to your narrative, may be the target; this is a decision based on what the presentation needs to accomplish.
Check that the source files open and contain the slides you want to add. Keep copies of the files if you want to preserve the original versions. Deciding in advance which slides to transfer, where they will go in the target, and whether you prefer the source appearance or the target design can help you avoid adding unnecessary cover or transition slides.
Feature availability and your version
Microsoft’s guide to reusing slides from another presentation lists the feature for the specified Windows and Mac versions of Microsoft 365, PowerPoint 2024, 2021, 2019, and 2016. This list does not mean that the option will definitely be in the same place in another version or interface. If you cannot see the option, check the menu in your PowerPoint window.
The guide says the feature can be used to reuse slides from local files, and that reusing slides from cloud files has been deprecated. If the option does not appear for your cloud file, check the menu in your version of PowerPoint rather than assuming there is a definitive explanation that applies to every version. You can consider whether you can open the source file locally, or try the copy-and-paste method below; verify the on-screen options for your file and version.
Add slides with Reuse Slides
- Open the target presentation where you want to add the slides. In the thumbnail pane on the left, select the slide after which you want the new slides to appear.
- For the Windows steps, on the Home tab, click the arrow below New Slide in the Slides group, then select Reuse Slides. In the pane that opens, use Open a PowerPoint File to find and open the source presentation.
- For Mac, Microsoft’s guide describes selecting the insertion point in the navigation pane in Normal view, then choosing Reuse Slides from the New Slide menu on the Home tab. If the labels in your interface differ, check the menu in your version.
- If you want to preserve the source presentation’s formatting, select Keep source formatting before adding the slides. Microsoft explains that if this option is not selected, the added slides inherit the design of the slide immediately before them in the target presentation.
- To add a single slide, click it in the Reuse Slides pane. To add all slides, right-click a slide in the pane and select Insert All Slides.
According to Microsoft’s guide, slides added to the target are copies of the source slides; changes you make to the copies in the target do not change the original slides in the other presentation. If you added all the slides but need only some of them, you can remove the unnecessary ones from the target.
Design choice and alternative transfer method
Choose whether to preserve the source appearance or use the target presentation’s design based on the content and purpose of your presentation. For example, if a custom visual layout on a source slide is important, try preserving the source formatting. If a consistent appearance is the priority, review the added slides without selecting the option to preserve formatting. In either case, check the final appearance; your choice of option does not remove the need to review the slides.
If the Reuse Slides menu is not visible, you can open the source and target presentations, copy the slides you need, and try pasting them into the target. This is a general alternative you can use; do not assume in advance how the formatting will look. After pasting, check the formatting options shown on screen and the results on the slides. Microsoft’s guide to adding, rearranging, duplicating, and deleting slides also explains how to rearrange slides by dragging them in the thumbnail pane.
Hypothetical example: bringing three files into one presentation
The file names and flow in the example below are hypothetical. Imagine a team has “Proje_Giriş.pptx,” “Araştırma.pptx,” and “Sonraki_Adımlar.pptx.” The team chooses “Proje_Giriş.pptx” as the target and adds the necessary slides from the research and next steps files. One possible order is: cover and purpose, research question, method, findings, conclusion, and next steps.
If a second cover from the research file or a transition slide that interrupts the narrative is not needed, it can be left out. If the source appearance of the method and findings slides is important, the team can try preserving the source formatting; if a single design language is preferred, they can check how the slides look in the target. These are editorial choices. After transferring the slides, review their order in the thumbnail pane.
Slide order and final review
Microsoft’s guide to editing slides describes dragging a single slide from the thumbnail pane on the left to its new position. In Windows, to select multiple slides, hold down Ctrl and click the slide thumbnails; after making your selection, move the slides as a group. On Mac, to select multiple slides, hold down Command and click the slides, then drag the group to its new position.
As you review the entire presentation, check the headings, text, images, duplicate or blank slides, and section transitions. Reviewing slides in presentation view as well as in the thumbnail pane can help you spot layout issues. Keeping the original files and saving the final presentation with a suitable name lets you distinguish between versions.
Final checklist
- The target presentation and source slides to transfer were identified; the original files were preserved.
- The slides were placed in the correct order and unnecessary duplicates were removed.
- A choice was made to preserve the source formatting or use the target design; the resulting appearance was checked.
- Headings, text, images, and section transitions were reviewed.
- The merged presentation was saved with a suitable name.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to add the entire presentation?
No. If the feature is available, you can add slides one at a time by clicking an individual slide, or add all slides from the menu in the pane. If you find that you need only some of them after adding all the slides, you can remove the unnecessary slides from the target presentation.
Does merging change the slides in the source presentation?
According to Microsoft’s guide, the slides added are copies of the source slides. Changes you make to the copies in the target presentation do not affect the original slides in the source presentation. Check the target and source file names before transferring to avoid working in the wrong file.
Related how-to guides
You can explore the relevant step in this process in the guide to creating an academic poster in PowerPoint. You can explore the relevant step in this process in the guide to using PowerPoint design ideas.
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