Saving Presentations
Learn how to save PowerPoint presentations, change file types, export presentations, and recover unsaved work.
Video
Watch the lesson video, then complete the reading and challenge.
Lesson Notes
Read through the key concepts before you try the challenge.
Saving a Presentation
Saving protects your work and allows you to reopen your presentation later. You can save files to your computer or to OneDrive.
Click the File tab to open Backstage view and access the Save and Save As commands.
Using the Save Command
The Save command stores the current presentation using the same file name and location.
If the presentation has never been saved before, PowerPoint will automatically open the Save As screen.
Using Save As
Save As allows you to create a new version of a presentation or save it to a different location.
From the Save As screen you can choose to store the presentation on OneDrive, your computer, or another location.
Entering a File Name
When saving a presentation you must provide a file name. Use descriptive names so you can easily identify presentations later.
Choosing a File Type
PowerPoint allows you to save presentations in multiple file formats including PowerPoint Presentation (.pptx), PowerPoint Show, or PDF.
Exporting Presentations
The Export section allows you to convert presentations into different formats such as PDF or video.
Sharing Presentations
If a presentation is stored on OneDrive, you can share it directly with others from within PowerPoint.
You can invite people to view or edit the presentation by entering their email address.
Recovering Unsaved Presentations
If PowerPoint closes unexpectedly, you may be able to recover work that was not saved.
Go to File → Info → Manage Presentation and choose Recover Unsaved Presentations.
Document Recovery
When PowerPoint restarts after a crash, the Document Recovery pane may appear showing versions of your presentation that can be restored.
PowerPoint Save Options
PowerPoint includes settings that control how presentations are saved. You can adjust AutoRecover settings and default save locations.
Knowledge Check
What should you do if you want to share a presentation that others cannot edit?
Practice File
Download this file and follow along with the lesson.
Challenge
Apply what you've learned in this lesson.
Complete the following tasks:
- Open PowerPoint and create a new blank presentation.
- Save the presentation to your computer using Save As.
- Rename the presentation.
- Export the presentation as a PDF.
- Open the File tab and locate the Recover Unsaved Presentations option.