Learning how to turn your PowerPoint presentations into usable notes can save you time and improve productivity. Whether you’re a student, educator, or business professional, having comprehensive notes from slide decks allows you to easily reference information without having to reopen presentations.
Fortunately, there are several straightforward methods to convert PowerPoint slides into insightful notes. This guide explores the various techniques to transform your presentations into valuable text-based notes on Windows, Mac, iPad, and online.
Export PowerPoint to Word
One of the simplest ways to generate notes from PowerPoint slides is to export your presentation as a Word document. Both Windows and Mac operating systems have built-in functionality to convert slides into an editable Word file.
On Windows
- Open your PowerPoint presentation
- Select the File tab > Export > Create Handouts
- Choose your desired page layout under Send to Microsoft Word
- Click OK
You can now access your presentation notes in Word format.
On Mac
- Launch your PowerPoint presentation
- Click the File tab > Export
- Select Word under File Format
- Choose a location to save the Word doc
- Click Save
Once exported, you can edit, format, and work with your PowerPoint notes in Word.
Print PowerPoint Slides With Notes
Another option is to print your PowerPoint slides with notes directly from the app.
On Windows
- Open your PPT presentation
- Select File > Print
- Click Show Details
- Choose Notes under Layout
- Select Save as PDF
You now have a PDF copy of your slides and notes.
On Mac
- Launch your presentation
- Click File > Print
- Select Notes under Layout
- Choose Save as PDF
- Click Save
The resulting PDF will display each slide alongside your speaker notes.
Use Third-Party Tools
If you don’t have access to Microsoft Office, third-party software can convert PowerPoint files into notes.
- Google Slides – You can upload your PowerPoint presentation to Google Drive and covert slides to a Google Doc. This extracts just the text.
- Adobe Acrobat – Using Acrobat’s export function strips out graphics and exports slide text into a Word file.
- WPS Office – This free office suite can save PowerPoint presentations as PDFs with notes.
Online tools like SmallPDF, Zamzar, and CloudConvert also let you turn PPT files into text documents or PDF notes.
Take Notes Manually
If you want your notes in handwritten or typed format, manually taking notes is an option.
To type notes:
- Open your PowerPoint presentation
- Create a new Word doc or text file
- Go through each slide and type relevant notes/summaries
To handwrite notes:
- Print your deck as handouts with slide thumbnails + note sections
- Write down notes, summaries, and key takeaways by hand
While manual note-taking takes more effort, it can aid retention and comprehension.
Tips for Converting PowerPoint to Notes
- Focus on summarizing key ideas rather than transcribing all text
- Use your own words to paraphrase concepts
- Employ formatting like bold and italics to highlight important points
- Include images, data visualizations, or diagrams if relevant
- Cite sources of any referenced information
- Save your notes so they are easy to find and access later
Converting your PowerPoint presentations into readable notes saves time, enhances productivity, and enables simple review of key ideas. With various built-in and third-party options, transforming slides into usable reference material is straightforward. Follow the techniques outlined to effortlessly create helpful notes from your existing slide decks.
