How to Make & Save a PowerPoint Template in Microsoft 365

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Create your own PowerPoint template from scratch

Written by Hannah Dillon

Last Updated: March 28, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Creating from Scratch
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• Creating from Another PowerPoint
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• FAQ
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If you want to maintain consistency throughout your organization's PowerPoint presentations, a template is what you'll want to use. This wikiHow teaches you how to create a custom PowerPoint template in Microsoft PowerPoint. You can do this on both Windows and Mac versions of PowerPoint.

Quick Steps

1. Open a blank presentation.
2. Click Design > Slide Size > Custom Slide Size.
3. Set the size you want your PowerPoint slides to be.
4. Click View > Slide Master.
5. Create master slides for each slide type.
6. Insert placeholders where you want to add information later.
7. Adjust the design and fonts in your presentation.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

Creating a PowerPoint Template

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1. 
   1
   Open PowerPoint and click Blank Presentation. You can either select here or go to File > New > Blank Presentation.

   • On Mac, simply opening PowerPoint might open a new presentation depending on your settings. If it does, skip this step.
2. 
   2
   Click the Design tab. It's in the editing ribbon above your PowerPoint, between Draw or Insert and Transitions.
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3. 
   3
   Choose the page orientation and dimensions. To do this, click Slide Size > Custom Slide Size. This will set the overall look of the PowerPoint.
4. 
   4
   Click the View tab. This tab is in the editing ribbon at the top of the PowerPoint window. Clicking it opens a toolbar below.

   • On Mac, this option is on the top menu bar.
5. 
   5
   Click Slide Master. You'll find this option near the left side of the toolbar in the "Master Views" section. Doing so will open the Slide Master tab on the left side of the PowerPoint window.

   • On Mac, first click Master, then click Slide Master.
6. 
   6
   Select a slide format to edit. Click one of the slide templates in the left-hand column of options. There will be one slide for each type of slide that you can use (e.g., a title slide, a basic content slide, etc.).

   • Once you select a slide, you can pick a theme from the "Themes" drop-down that's located above the slide master panel. You can also apply backgrounds by clicking Background styles. You can also click Format Background... in the drop-down menu to customize color options like base color, gradient, and brightness.
7. 
   7
   Click Insert Placeholder. It's on the left side of the Slide Master tab and will give you options that you can add to your slides for later use. A drop-down menu will appear with the following options:

   • Content: Inserts a written content outline. On a Mac, you have a "Vertical" option for Content as well.
   • Text: Inserts a text box. On a Mac, you have a "Vertical" option for Text as well.
   • Picture: Inserts a picture section.
   • Chart: Inserts a section for a chart.
   • Table: Inserts a table section.
   • Smart Art: Inserts a section for smart art items.
   • Media: Inserts a video section.
   • Online Image: Inserts a section from which you can add an online image.
8. 
   8
   Drag and drop a placeholder to a slide. Once you've decided which placeholder you want, like a picture box, drag it from the drop-down to a slide. Continue adjusting its position on the slide by dragging and dropping it as needed. To resize the placeholder, drag the corner of one of its borders.

   • You may have to perform additional steps before the item is added to your template. For example, clicking Online Image will prompt you to search for an image and click Insert.
9. 
   9
   Select a template font. Click Fonts in the "Background" section, then click a font in the drop-down menu.
10. 
    10
    Save your template. This process differs between the Windows and Mac versions of PowerPoint:

    • Windows: Click File > Save As, select a location, and enter a name for your template. Click the Save as type drop-down box, click PowerPoint Template, and then click Save.
    • Mac: Click File > Save as Template, enter a file name, and click Save.
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Section 2 of 3:

Saving an Existing PowerPoint as a Template

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1. 1
   Open a PowerPoint presentation. If you've created a presentation that you think would make a good template for future presentations, you can save it as a template to make it easier to reuse. Begin by opening that presentation in PowerPoint.
2. 2
   Click on File. It's in the upper-left corner.
3. 3
   Click Save as. If you're on a Mac, click Save as template instead.
4. 4
   Give the file a name. You'll see a box next to "Save as" or a box that says "Enter file name here." Type the name that you want to give to the template.
5. 5
   Choose "PowerPoint Template (*.potx)" in the file type dropdown. You can also choose one of the following file types if it makes sense for your needs:

   • If your PowerPoint has macros, choose the "PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Template (*.potm)" from the dropdown.
   • If you want your template to be compatible with PowerPoint 97-2003, choose "PowerPoint 97-2003 Template (*.pot)."
6. 6
   Change the save location (Windows only). When you choose a template save file format, you'll see a link pop up in the "Save as" screen that says Go to recommended folder. Click this button to open the Custom Office Templates folder.

   • You don't have to save your template here. Saving to this folder just makes your template easier to find when making new PowerPoints with it.
   • On Mac, your template will automatically be saved to the default templates filepath. It will only change if you choose to change where the file is saved.
7. 7
   Click Save. Your PowerPoint template will be saved. You can now easily access it when creating a new PowerPoint document.
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Section 3 of 3:

FAQ

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1. 1
   Can I make PowerPoint templates on the web? No, you cannot. You must use the desktop version of PowerPoint to make templates. However, you can always create a PowerPoint file on the web, download it, and then open it in the PowerPoint desktop app to turn it into a template.
2. 2
   Can I store my template in OneDrive? Yes! If you're signed in to OneDrive, clicking Go to recommended folder will take you to the Custom Office Templates folder that is connected to your OneDrive. You should then be able to access this template on any computer where you're signed in to OneDrive and have access to PowerPoint.
3. 3
   How do I design a good PowerPoint presentation? Make sure your information is organized well and use appealing design elements. To learn more about creating a PowerPoint, check out our guides on making a professional presentation and creating a great PowerPoint.
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  Before creating a PowerPoint, do I have to gather and save all the information I want to use in it?

  

  Community Answer

  You are not required to gather all information beforehand, but doing so will help you stay organized and ensure the PowerPoint creation process flows more smoothly.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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  Not Helpful 1 Helpful 10
• Question

  How do I apply a new template to an existing PowerPoint without copy and pasting?

  

  Community Answer

  Open the file and click "insert." Click the "new slide" button. You can change the theme of the slide by clicking "office theme."

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 14 Helpful 7
• Question

  How can I record my voice over a PowerPoint?

  

  Arrenius Karunakaran

  Community Answer

  Open a file and click "Insert." Then click on "Audio" in the "Media" options, where you can choose "Record Audio."

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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  Not Helpful 1 Helpful 2

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