New to PowerPoint 2016 or upgrading from a previous version? Use this guide to learn the basics.
Create something
Begin with a Blank Presentation to get right to work. Or save yourself a bunch of time by selecting and then customizing a template that resembles what you need. Click File > New, and then select or search for the template you want.
Find recent files
Whether you only work with files stored on your PC’s local hard drive or you roam across various cloud services, clicking File > Open takes you to your recently used presentations and any files that you may have pinned to your list.
Stay connected
Need to work on the go and across different devices? Click File > Account to sign in and access your recently used files anywhere, on any device, through seamless integration between Office, OneDrive, OneDrive for Business, and SharePoint.
Set your preferences
Something not working quite as expected? It’s easy to change and customize options at any time. Click File > Options, and then set up PowerPoint 2016 the way you want.
Change your layout
Good presentations adapt their structure to the points that are being presented. Switch things around on the fly to make them fit — literally or figuratively. On the Home tab, click Layout, and then browse through the available options. New slides will adopt your current choice, which you can just as easily replace with a new one.
Keep slide notes handy
The cornerstone of any good factual presentation is the data that backs up your points. Avoid overwhelming your audience by front-loading every detail in your deck; instead, keep important facts and figures in the Notes pane for easy lookup — either while you rehearse, or in the heat of the moment.
Format shapes with precision
Achieve precise picture, shape, and object formatting with the comprehensive formatting tools in PowerPoint. Start by making a selection on your current slide. On the Home tab, in the lower right corner of the Drawing ribbon group, click the Format Shape button to open the task bar.
Share your work with others
To invite others to view or edit your presentations in the cloud, click the Share button in the top right corner of the app window. In the Share pane that opens, you can get a sharing link or send invitations to the people you select.
Get help with PowerPoint
Type a keyword or phrase into the Tell me what you want to do box on the ribbon to find the PowerPoint features and commands that you’re looking for, read our online Help content, or perform a Smart Lookup on the Web.
