How to Convert a PowerPoint to Word

Converting a PowerPoint presentation to a Word document is a common task for many professionals. Whether you need to edit the content more easily, share it with others who don’t have PowerPoint, or repurpose the information, Word offers more flexibility.

Fortunately, you can convert PowerPoint to Word in just a few quick steps. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the process and provide some tips for optimizing the conversion.

Why Convert PowerPoint to Word?

Here are some of the top reasons you may want to convert a PowerPoint presentation to a Word document:

  • Edit content more easily – Word has more robust editing tools for working with text and formatting. This makes updating and revising content simpler.
  • Share with more users – Not everyone has PowerPoint. Converting to Word allows more users to access the content.
  • Repurpose information – Once in Word, it’s easier to rework the content into other formats like a brochure, report, or even an eBook.
  • Print handouts – Creating handouts from a PowerPoint presentation is easier when it’s converted to Word.

Step 1: Export the PowerPoint File

The first step is exporting the presentation from PowerPoint into a Word-compatible format. Here’s how:

  1. Open the PowerPoint file and select File > Export from the top menu.
  2. Choose Create Handouts then select your desired page layout.
  3. Click Export and PowerPoint will convert the file.

When choosing page layouts, consider if you want one slide per page or multiple slides condensed onto each page.

Step 2: Open the File in Word

After PowerPoint exports the presentation, it will automatically open the converted file in Word.

If it does not automatically open, you can locate the converted file (it will be a .docx file type) and double click to launch it in Word.

From here, you can edit, format, and work with the document just like any other Word file.

Step 3: Tweak Formatting (Optional)

When PowerPoint converts to Word, most of the formatting transfers over but some adjustments may be required.

Here are some things you may want to modify:

  • Fonts and sizes – Tweak fonts so they are consistent.
  • Text boxes – Convert text boxes into regular text.
  • Images – Resize and position images for better flow.
  • Tables – Clean up tables so they fit better and are easy to edit.

Spend some time reviewing and cleaning up the document to polish it.

Tips for Converting PowerPoint to Word

Follow these tips for the smoothest PowerPoint to Word conversions:

  • Simplify first – Delete unnecessary slides and content before converting from PowerPoint. This prevents formatting issues.
  • Use an online converter – For tricky conversions, use a free online PowerPoint to Word converter. They can handle complex files better.
  • Convert sections at a time – For very long presentations, break it into parts and convert one section at a time.
  • Save your original – Before converting, save a copy of the original PowerPoint file in case you need to go back to it.

Get More from Your Word Documents

Converting your PowerPoint presentations into Word makes them more versatile and shareable. Here are a few things you can do once you have the content in Word:

  • Turn it into a long-form blog post or article
  • Expand and reformat it into an eBook
  • Edit and redesign it for a brochure
  • Create customized handouts for events or classes
  • Extract key data for reports, whitepapers or other documents

The possibilities are endless! PowerPoint presentations often contain lots of great content – convert to Word to unlock its full potential.

Hopefully this guide has helped explain the process of converting between PowerPoint and Word. Let me know if you have any other questions!