Save as a video file
On the File menu, select Save to ensure all your recent work has been saved in PowerPoint presentation format (.pptx).
Click File > Export > Create a Video. (Or, on the Recording tab of the ribbon, click Export to Video.)
In the first drop-down box under the Create a Video heading, select the video quality you want, which pertains to the resolution of the finished video. The higher the video quality, the larger the file size. (You may want to test them to determine which one meets your needs.)
| Option | Resolution | For displaying on |
|---|---|---|
| Ultra HD (4K) 1 2 | 3840 x 2160, largest file size | Large monitors |
| Full HD (1080p) | 1920 x 1080, large file size | Computer and HD screens |
| HD (720p) | 1280 x 720, medium file size | Internet and DVD |
| Standard (480p) | 852 x 480, smallest file size | Portable devices |
1 The Ultra HD (4K) option is only available if you're using Windows 10.
2 In PowerPoint 2016, the Ultra HD (4K) option isn't available in the Volume License edition.
The second drop-down box under the Create a Video heading tells whether your presentation includes narration and timings. (You may switch this setting if you like.)
If you haven't recorded timed narration, by default the value is Don't Use Recorded Timings and Narrations.
The default time spent on each slide is 5 seconds. You can change that timing in the Seconds to spend on each slide box. To the right of the box, click the up arrow to increase the duration, or click the down arrow to decrease the duration.
If you have recorded a timed narration, by default the value is Use Recorded Timings and Narrations.
Click Create Video.
In the File name box, enter a file name for the video, browse for the folder that will contain this file, and then click Save.
In the Save as type box, choose either MPEG-4 Video or Windows Media Video.
You can track the progress of the video creation by looking at the status bar at the bottom of your screen. The video creation process can take up to several hours depending on the length of the video and the complexity of the presentation.
Tip: For a long video, you can set it up to be created overnight. That way, it’ll be ready for you the following morning.
To play your newly-created video, go to the designated folder location, and then double-click the file.
What parts of a presentation won't be included in a video?
The following items won't be included in a video that you create using PowerPoint:
- Media inserted in previous versions of PowerPoint. To include these, you can convert or upgrade the media object.
For example, if you inserted the media using PowerPoint 2007, it will be linked and it will play in the presentation. However, when you export the file as a video, the linked media will be dropped. You can convert the file to the new file format (click the File tab, and under Info, click Convert), or you can right-click the media object and then click to upgrade; it will embed the file and export it correctly. - QuickTime media (unless you have a third-party QuickTime codec named ffdShow installed and you have optimized for compatibility)
- Macros
- OLE/ActiveX controls