Want to showcase your PowerPoint presentation using a good old DVD player? If so, it’s quick and easy to burn a presentation to your disc using just the built-in tools on your Windows or Mac computer.
What You Need
Before getting started, make sure you have the following:
- A blank DVD-R or a usable DVD-RW or DVD+RW
- A DVD writer/burner
- The PowerPoint presentation file you want to burn
Convert the Presentation to Video (Windows)
To burn a PowerPoint presentation to a DVD, you first create a video file out of your presentation, then use a built-in tool on your Windows computer to burn that file to your DVD.
Here are the steps:
- Open your PowerPoint presentation and click File > Export > Create a Video.
- In the menu that appears, configure the video options:
- Select video quality (720p or 1080p)
- Check the box to record narrations and laser pointer
- Check the box to record slide timings
- Click Create Video. Choose a save location and filename.
- Windows will now render your presentation to an MP4 video file. This may take a few minutes.
Once done, move on to burning the video file to DVD.
Convert the Presentation to Video (Mac)
On a Mac, the process is very similar:
- In PowerPoint on your Mac, open your presentation.
- Select File > Export and pick Create a Video.
- Choose quality settings and click Save to render the video.
After a brief render, you’ll have an MP4 file ready for burning.
Burn the Video to DVD (Windows)
With your PowerPoint video file created, burning it is straightforward:
- Insert a blank DVD-R disc and, if asked, format it.
- Open File Explorer and right-click the blank DVD. Select Burn files to disc.
- In the Burn a Disc window, enter a disc title and select With a CD/DVD player. Click Next.
- Locate and select your PowerPoint video file, then click Burn.
Windows will now burn the video onto your DVD. Once finished, eject and play!
Burn the Video to DVD (Mac)
On a Mac, after rendering your presentation video:
- Insert a blank DVD-R disc. Open Finder and click Burn in the top toolbar.
- In the window, select your PowerPoint video from the left panel. Click Burn in the lower right.
- Enter a disc name and select maximum compatibility. Click Burn.
Your Mac will begin burning your presentation video to the DVD. When finished, eject and play!
And that’s how you bring your PowerPoint presentation onto a DVD for you to play it on your favorite DVD player. Happy presenting!
Tips for Best Results
Here are some tips to ensure your PowerPoint DVD works smoothly:
- Check disc compatibility: Ensure your DVD player supports the media formats you’re burning (typically MP4 video). Most do, but double check.
- Lower video resolution if needed: If compatibility is an issue, re-export your video at a lower resolution like 720p before burning to DVD.
- Use high-quality blank discs: Avoid cheap blank discs as they can cause playback issues. Name-brand ones offer better reliability.
- Finalize your disc when done: For write-once discs like DVD-R, ensure you finalize the disc after burning so players recognize it.
Following these tips will let you easily burn a great-looking PowerPoint presentation onto a DVD to showcase your hard work!