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How to Convert Your PowerPoint to Word on Mac or Windows Devices

June 28, 2019

So you’ve created an amazing PowerPoint presentation, and now you want to be able to hand out the document to others.

If you wish to give your viewers a physical copy of your presentation, follow the instructions below to learn how to convert a Microsoft 365 PowerPoint presentation into a Word document.

In this article, we’re going to discuss how to convert a PowerPoint to Word document using nothing but the software that is already on your computer.

While there are web tools to help accomplish this conversion, we’re not going to discuss those in this article. Rather, I’m going to explain how you can accomplish this task with minimal frustration!

Convert PowerPoint to Word on Windows computer

The following instructions apply only to Windows devices.

1 . Create or download your presentation

The first step to converting a PowerPoint to a Word document is having the presentation downloaded and open on your computer. If you’re not done with your presentation just yet, open that back up and get to work!x

Tip: Learn how to find and replace in Word

If the presentation was sent to you by someone else, make sure you open it up and download it to your device before you proceed.

save powerpoint as word document

2. Export the file

In the top left-hand corner of the PowerPoint window, you’ll see where it says “File.” Click on this.

export the powerpoint file
 

Scroll down and select where it says “Export.”

press export

3. Create handouts

Once you choose to export the file, it’ll give you the option of deciding how you want it to be formatted. You’ll want to select “create handouts,” which will add all slides to a Word document.

You can format the Word document to be one slide per page, two slides per page, six slides per page, etc. How you format the document will depend on the resources you have (ie, ink and paper) and what you think your viewers would prefer.

create pwerpoint handouts

4. Format handout

From here, you’ll decide how you want to format the handout: notes next to slide, notes beside slide, no notes at all, etc.

Once you’re done deciding on those features, press “ok” and your work is done. The presentation will automatically open up in Word, and you can see if everything transferred over as you wish.

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Convert PowerPoint to Word document on a Mac

The following instructions apply to anyone using a Mac device.

1. Create or download your presentation

The first step to converting a PowerPoint to a Word document is having the presentation downloaded and open on your computer. If you’re not done with your presentation just yet, open that back up and get to work!

If the presentation was sent to you by someone else, make sure you open it up and download it to your device before you proceed.

save powerpoint as a word doc

2. Export the file

On a Mac, the “file” button will be part of the computer’s top menu as opposed to being displayed in the PowerPoint window. Go up top, click “file,” and then click “export.”

export powerpoint file

3. Export as a rich text file

Once you hit “Export,” a window will pop up. In this window, give your document a name. In the box which says “File Format,” select “Rich Text Format.”

export document as a rich text file
 

Select “Export,” which will save the document as a .rtf file.

4. Open the document in Word

Next, you’ll open up Word on your computer and choose to open an existing file. Search for the name you just exported your PowerPoint as, and click “open.”

This will open the file in Word, at which point you can click through and edit, re-format, and reorganize all pages.

It is worth noting that not all images will transfer over, so you may still have some work to do on the Word side of things.

Get ready to present

By converting your PowerPoint to a Word document, you’re making the presentation more accessible for those who are visually impaired or have other difficulties. Now that you know how to do it, anyone can be apart of your powerful presentations.


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