Save a presentation that contains VBA macros

Applies To
PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 PowerPoint 2024 PowerPoint 2021 PowerPoint 2019 PowerPoint 2016

Macros can be created for PowerPoint using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). A presentation that contains VBA macros must be saved with a different file-name extension than a regular presentation file (such as .pptx, .potx, or .ppsx) that has no macros in it.

To save a presentation that contains VBA macros, do the following:

  1. On the File tab, select Save As or Save a Copy.

  2. In the file type list under the file name, select one of the following:

    • PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Presentation (*.pptm) A presentation with a .pptm file name extension that can contain VBA code.
    • PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Show (*.ppsm) A show with a .ppsm file name extension that includes pre-approved macros that you can run from within your presentation.
    • PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Design Template (*.potm) A template with a .potm file name extension that includes pre-approved macros that you can add to a template and use in your presentation.
  3. Select Save.