Using PowerPoint in a web browser lets you create and share create and share basic presentations. You can work simultaneously with others and present your slide show from anywhere. But web-based PowerPoint doesn't include all the features that desktop PowerPoint does. This article describes what you can and can't do in web-based PowerPoint.
There are two versions of web-based PowerPoint:
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The majority of people, including anyone not using web-based Office in a business or school setting, have PowerPoint for the web. Read on for information about how its features behave.
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Some of our business and school customers instead use PowerPoint Web App, which is included with SharePoint Server 2010 or SharePoint Server 2013. If you're using these Office Web Apps, switch to the PowerPoint Web App tab of this article (just below this introduction) to read about how its features behave.
File types and formats supported in PowerPoint for the web
|
Supported for viewing and editing |
Supported only for viewing |
Cannot be opened |
|---|---|---|
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PowerPoint Presentation (.pptx) |
PowerPoint Template (.potx) |
PowerPoint Add-in (.ppam) |
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PowerPoint Show (.ppsx) |
PowerPoint 97-2003 Template (.pot) |
Rich Text Format (RTF) |
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OpenDocument Presentation (.odp) |
** PowerPoint 97-2003 .ppt and .pps |
Portable Document Format (PDF) |
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Password files |
*** PowerPoint Macro-Enabled .pptm, .potm, and .ppsm |
PowerPoint 97-2003 Add-in (.ppa) |
|
Files marked as final |
IRM files |
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Files with digital signatures |
** PowerPoint for the web displays presentations in the .ppt and .pps formats, but to edit the presentation in the browser, it saves a new copy of the presentation in .pptx format.
*** The presentation can be opened, but macros do not run.
Opening and saving
|
Desktop feature |
In PowerPoint for the web |
|---|---|
|
Open |
PowerPoint for the web can open files up to 2 gigabytes (GB) in size. PowerPoint for the web can open .pptx, .ppsx, and .odp files. You can view .ppt and .pps files in PowerPoint for the web, but it converts them to the newer format (.pptx/.ppsx) if you want to edit them. You can view template files (.pot, .potx) in PowerPoint for the web, but you can't edit them. Macro-enabled PowerPoint files (.pptm, .potm, .ppam, .potx, .ppsm) can be viewed, but can't be edited. Add-in files (.ppa, .ppam) can't be opened in PowerPoint for the web. |
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Save |
PowerPoint for the web saves your work automatically each time you make a change, so there’s no need for a Save button. However, you can use File > Download As to save your presentation locally as a .pptx, .pdf, .odp file or as a series of JPEG images (one image per slide). |
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Password protection |
Presentations that were protected with a password, digitally signed, or protected with Information Rights Management in desktop PowerPoint can be opened only in the desktop program. To control who can open your presentation, use the Sharing settings in OneDrive or SharePoint library. |
Viewing and printing
|
Desktop feature |
In PowerPoint for the web |
|---|---|
|
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In PowerPoint for the web, you can print one slide per page, with headers and footers. (For details, see Print your PowerPoint slides, handouts, or notes) and you can print notes pages, or handouts. To get more printing layout options click Edit in PowerPoint, and print in the PowerPoint desktop application. |
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Normal View |
Use Editing View to create your slides. |
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Outline, Master, and Slide Sorter Views |
Outline and Master views are only available in desktop PowerPoint. Slide Sorter view is now available in PowerPoint for the web. |
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Reading View |
You can flip through slides and show or hide speaker notes. |
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Presenter View |
You need desktop PowerPoint to use Presenter View. Of course, you can still present your slide show in PowerPoint for the web. |
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Slide Show View |
You can run your slide shows in a full-screen window. Click each slide or press the spacebar to go to the next slide. Right-click a slide to go back, go to a specific slide, or end the show. |
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Video and audio |
You can play video and audio in Reading View and Slide Show if you have Silverlight installed. You’ll need Flash for videos that are linked from a website. Keep an eye on the file size, because PowerPoint for the web won’t insert large media files. For embedded media, the size limit can be from 50-100MB, and for WAV files the limit is 100KB. |
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Speaker notes |
You can show, print, or hide Speaker Notes. |
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Zoom |
Go to View > Zoom to select a size you'd like to zoom to. |
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Rulers and gridlines |
Rulers and gridlines are only available in desktop PowerPoint, but PowerPoint for the web has smart guides that automatically appear to help you align objects. |
Editing and formatting
|
Desktop feature |
In PowerPoint for the web |
|---|---|
|
Create, delete, reorder, or hide slides |
You can add, reorder, hide, and delete slides. You can choose a slide layout when you create a new slide, or change the slide layout after the slide is created. |
|
Copy and Paste |
Text pasted in PowerPoint for the web keeps the formatting from where you copied it. You can reformat the text after pasting it into the destination presentation. You can copy and paste pictures from one slide to another in the same presentation and also copy and paste from other presentations or applications. . |
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Font size and formatting |
You can apply bold, italic, underline, font size, and color, including using Format Painter. |
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Paragraph formatting |
You can align paragraphs left, right, or center; run text right-to-left or left-to-right; increase or decrease indentation; format paragraphs as a bulleted or numbered list. |
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Format background |
You can format the background of one or more slides with color or a picture. |
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Numbering and bullets |
You can apply built-in numbering or bullet formats. |
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Find and Replace |
The Find command is available on the Home tab of the Ribbon. The Replace command is not available in PowerPoint for the web. |
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Themes |
You can choose from a limited gallery of built-in themes when you add a new slide to your presentation. Themes added to a presentation from desktop PowerPoint are preserved in PowerPoint for the web. |
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Animation effects |
You can create many types animation effects in PowerPoint for the web. Animations added using desktop PowerPoint (that are not available in PowerPoint for the web) are preserved and will play in the slide show, but you can’t modify them there. |
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Transitions |
You can choose from a limited gallery of transitions in PowerPoint for the web. Transitions added in desktop PowerPoint are preserved, but can only be played or changed in desktop PowerPoint. |
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Customize or broadcast slide show |
Options for setting up and customizing the slide show, broadcasting the slide show, or setting up monitors aren't available in PowerPoint for the web. |
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Co-authoring |
Multiple authors can work simultaneously in PowerPoint for the web. Co-authoring works with PowerPoint 2010 or later and PowerPoint for Mac 2016 or later. |
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Red squiggle underline appears under misspelled words. A right-click menu offers spelling suggestions to choose from. |
Inserting things
|
Desktop feature |
In PowerPoint for the web |
|---|---|
|
Hyperlinks |
You can insert, edit, and follow text hyperlinks. You can’t add a hyperlink to a picture or shape. Bookmark links work but you can’t edit them in PowerPoint for the web. See Add a hyperlink to text. |
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Tables |
You can insert and edit tables in PowerPoint for the web. |
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Video and audio |
Video and audio content play in Reading View and Slide Show View. You can resize, move, and delete video and audio controls in PowerPoint for the web. You can insert online videos. However, to insert video or audio from your PC, you’ll need to use desktop PowerPoint. |
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Pictures |
Insert pictures or icons from your computer or the web. You can move, resize, and crop pictures, and you can apply picture styles. More sophisticated picture formatting features, such as applying special effects and removing the background are not available in PowerPoint for the web. To capture screen shots, you can use desktop PowerPoint. |
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Shapes, drawings, or text boxes |
Add a text box or choose from a gallery of shapes. Apply styles, which define fill, outline, and shadow effects. Move, resize, rotate, or order shapes and text boxes in layers, back-to-front. Ungroup shapes to work with them individually. |
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SmartArt graphics |
Insert a SmartArt graphic, switch to a different layout or color scheme, apply Smart Art styles, and edit text. |
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Charts and equations |
You can’t insert these in PowerPoint for the web, but if you insert them using desktop PowerPoint, PowerPoint for the web displays them as expected. |
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WordArt |
Not available in PowerPoint for the web. If you want to apply WordArt effects to text, tap or click Edit in PowerPoint. |
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Symbols |
A limited set of symbols can be inserted in PowerPoint for the web. If the font for displaying a symbol is not available, the symbol is displayed as a placeholder. |
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Headers and footers |
Footers, including date and slide numbers, can be inserted, edited, or deleted in PowerPoint for the web. See Add slide numbers or the date and time. Tip: You can add a text box to act as a header. |
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Macros |
You can view, edit, print, and share presentations that contain macros, but to run the macros, tap or click Edit in PowerPoint. |
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ActiveX controls, embedded OLE objects |
You can’t insert or edit these in PowerPoint for the web, but they are displayed as expected. |
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Linked pictures |
These are preserved in the presentation but are hidden in Reading View and Slide Show View. They display as placeholders in Editing View. |
Reviewing
|
This feature |
In PowerPoint for the web |
|---|---|
|
Proofing tools |
You can check the spelling of a word and you can set the proofing language. |
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Comments |
You can view and edit comments. See Comments in a presentation. |
File formats supported in PowerPoint Web App
PowerPoint Web App opens presentations in these formats:
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PowerPoint Presentation (.pptx)
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PowerPoint Template (.potx)
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PowerPoint Show (.ppsx)
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PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Presentation (.pptm), PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Template (.potm), or PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Show (.ppsm). The presentation can be opened, but macros do not run. These presentations cannot be edited in the browser.
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PowerPoint 97-2003 Presentation (.ppt) or PowerPoint 97-2003 Show (.pps)PowerPoint Web App displays presentations in these formats, but to edit the presentation in the browser, PowerPoint Web App saves a new copy of the presentation in .pptx format. PowerPoint Web App can’t save presentations in the .ppt or pps formats.
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PowerPoint 97-2003 Template (.pot),PowerPoint Web App displays presentations in this format, but they cannot be edited in the browser.
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OpenDocument Presentation (.odp) This format is supported for presentations stored in a SharePoint library.
PowerPoint Web App can’t open presentations in other file formats. For example, these formats are not supported: Open Document Format (ODF), PowerPoint Add-in (.ppam), PowerPoint 97-2003 Add-in (.ppa), Rich Text Format (RTF), and Portable Document Format (PDF).
Features supported for viewing and printing
When you view a presentation in PowerPoint Web App, you can advance through the slides or play the slide show in the browser.
If you want PowerPoint features for printing (such as printing handouts) or you are using PowerPoint Web App in SharePoint, click Open in PowerPoint, and print in the PowerPoint desktop application.
When you are viewing a presentation, some features work differently in the browser than they do in the PowerPoint desktop application. To use features that are not available in PowerPoint Web App, click Open in PowerPoint.
|
This feature |
Works like this in PowerPoint Web App |
|---|---|
|
Normal, Notes Page, Reading View, and Master views |
Reading view provides a way to advance through the slides, to jump to a particular slide, and to display or hide slide notes. Editing view in PowerPoint Web App is similar to Normal view in the PowerPoint desktop application. Notes Page, and Master views are not available in PowerPoint Web App. |
|
Slide Show |
PowerPoint Web App plays slide shows in a full-screen window. Press the spacebar to advance the slides. Slide animations play, but transitions from one slide to the next play as fades. |
|
Video and audio |
Video and audio content does not play in PowerPoint Web App, but it is preserved in the file. |
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Outline View |
Outline View is available on the File tab in Reading view. |
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View slide notes |
Notes for each slide can be displayed or hidden. |
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Zoom |
Zoom is not available in PowerPoint Web App. Using your browser’s zoom enlarges text of the PowerPoint Web App user interface, but slide content is not enlarged. |
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Rulers and gridlines |
PowerPoint Web App does not display rulers and gridlines. |
Features that differ between the browser and the desktop
When you edit a presentation, some features work differently in the browser than they do in the PowerPoint desktop application. The following tables describe how PowerPoint Web App supports features that might apply to your presentations. To use features beyond what’s available in PowerPoint Web App, click Open in PowerPoint.
Opening and saving
|
This feature |
Works like this in PowerPoint Web App |
|---|---|
|
Open |
The maximum file size that PowerPoint Web App can open is 300 MB. |
|
File protection: IRM, digital signature, or password |
PowerPoint Web App can’t open presentations that are encrypted with a password, digitally signed, or protected with Information Rights Management. Open these presentations in the PowerPoint desktop application. |
|
Save |
PowerPoint Web App saves your work every time you make a change. There is no Save command. |
Editing and formatting
|
This feature |
Works like this in PowerPoint Web App |
|---|---|
|
Create, delete, reorder, hide slides |
Add, reorder, duplicate, hide, and delete slides. Choose a layout when you create a new slide. |
|
Copy and Paste |
Copy and paste text. Text pasted in PowerPoint Web App keeps the formatting of where it was copied. You might need to format the text after pasting it, to match formatting of surrounding text. |
|
Font formatting |
Apply bold, italics, underline, font, size, and color. Note: the Format Painter command is not available in PowerPoint Web App. |
|
Paragraph formatting |
Align paragraphs left, right, or centered; run text right-to-left or left-to-right; increase or decrease indentation; format paragraphs as a bulleted or numbered list. |
|
Numbering and bullets |
Apply built-in numbering or bullet formats. |
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Find |
Find and Replace are not available in PowerPoint Web App. |
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Theme |
Theme is preserved in the presentation but can’t be edited in PowerPoint Web App. |
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Slide masters and slide layouts |
Slides in PowerPoint Web App are based on the slide master and layouts that were used to create the slide in the PowerPoint desktop application. For presentations created in PowerPoint Web App, slide masters and layouts are based on default settings. Choose among a gallery of slide layouts when you add a slide to a presentation, but you cannot change slide masters or modify layouts in PowerPoint Web App. |
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Animations and transitions |
These are preserved in the presentation but can’t be added or changed in PowerPoint Web App. |
|
Slide show |
Options for setting up and customizing the slide show, broadcasting the slide show, or setting up monitors are not available in PowerPoint Web App. |
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Co-authoring |
Multiple authors can work simultaneously in PowerPoint 2010 for presentations stored in a SharePoint library. Co-authoring is not available in PowerPoint Web App. |
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Comments |
Comments are hidden in PowerPoint Web App, but they are preserved in the presentation. Comments can’t be added in PowerPoint Web App. |
Objects
|
This feature |
Works like this in PowerPoint Web App |
|---|---|
|
Hyperlinks |
Insert, edit, and follow hyperlinks. Bookmark links work, but cannot be edited in PowerPoint Web App. |
|
Tables |
Tables are displayed but cannot be edited (other than to delete them) in PowerPoint Web App. |
|
Pictures and clip art |
Insert pictures stored on your computer, or insert clip art available on Office.com. You can apply a number of picture styles, but pictures and clip art cannot be moved or resized. More sophisticated features for working with pictures, such as applying effects and cropping, are not available in PowerPoint Web App. You can’t create screenshots in PowerPoint Web App, but screenshots that are in a presentation display as pictures in PowerPoint Web App. In SharePoint, the ability to insert clip art is available only if it has been switched on by the SharePoint administrator. |
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Video and audio |
These are preserved in the presentation, but cannot be added in PowerPoint Web App. They are displayed as placeholders. |
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Shapes, charts, equations, and ink |
These can’t be inserted in PowerPoint Web App, but PowerPoint Web App displays them as expected. In Editing view they appear as pictures that cannot be edited. |
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SmartArt |
Insert SmartArt, switch to a different layout or color scheme, apply Smart Art styles, and edit text. |
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Text boxes and WordArt |
These can’t be inserted in PowerPoint Web App, but PowerPoint Web App displays them as expected. In Editing view, edit and format text. If you want to apply text effects to WordArt, click Open in PowerPoint. |
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Symbols |
These can’t be inserted or edited in PowerPoint Web App. If the font for displaying a symbol is not available, the symbol is displayed as a placeholder. |
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Headers and footers |
Headers and footers, including date and slide numbers, cannot be inserted, edited, or deleted in PowerPoint Web App, but PowerPoint Web App displays them as expected. |
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Macros |
You can view, edit, print, and share presentations that contain macros, but to run the macros click Open in PowerPoint. |
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ActiveX controls, embedded OLE objects |
These can’t be inserted or edited in PowerPoint Web App, but PowerPoint Web App displays them as expected. |
|
Linked pictures |
These are preserved in the presentation but are hidden in Reading view and Slide Show. They are displayed as placeholders in Editing view. |
