How to Reduce Powerpoint File Size

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This wikiHow teaches you how to lower a PowerPoint presentation file's size by compressing its images on a Windows or Mac computer, or by clearing the editing data on a Windows computer. There is currently no option to delete the editing data of PowerPoint presentations on a Mac.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Compressing Images on Windows

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    Doing so will open the Format tab at the top of the PowerPoint window.
    • If your PowerPoint file isn't yet open, first open it by double-clicking it.
    • It doesn't matter which picture you double-click, since all of them will open the appropriate tab.
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    This option is just below the Transitions tab. Clicking it will invoke a pop-up window.
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    It's the first option at the top of the Compress Pictures window. Disabling this option will ensure that all pictures in your presentation are compressed. [1]
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c1\/Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-4-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-4-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c1\/Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-4-Version-4.jpg\/aid432285-v4-728px-Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-4-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This option is near the bottom of the Compress Pictures window.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8d\/Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-5-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-5-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8d\/Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-5-Version-4.jpg\/aid432285-v4-728px-Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-5-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Doing so will apply the compression settings to all images in your PowerPoint file, thereby reducing its overall size.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Compressing Images on Mac

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    This menu item is in the far-left corner of your Mac's menu bar at the top of the screen. [2]
    • If your PowerPoint file isn't yet open, first open it by double-clicking it.
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    It's toward the bottom of the drop-down menu.
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    Doing so will invoke a drop-down menu.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/37\/Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-9-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-9-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/37\/Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-9-Version-3.jpg\/aid432285-v4-728px-Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-9-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This option will reduce the quality of all images in your PowerPoint file to 96 ppi, which is a generally lower resolution than most images' defaults.
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    Doing so will ensure that any unused data will be removed from your presentation.
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3f\/Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-11.jpg\/v4-460px-Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-11.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3f\/Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-11.jpg\/aid432285-v4-728px-Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-11.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This option applies your changes to every image in the presentation.
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    This will drastically lower your PowerPoint file's size.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Removing Edit Data on Windows

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/71\/Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-13.jpg\/v4-460px-Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-13.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/71\/Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-13.jpg\/aid432285-v4-728px-Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-13.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It's on the far-left side of the PowerPoint window's top row of options.
    • If your PowerPoint file isn't yet open, first open it by double-clicking it.
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    This tab is at the bottom of the list of options on the left side of the window.
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    You'll see this option near the middle of the left-hand column of options.
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    It's below the "Image Size and Quality" heading, which is about halfway down the window. This option removes excess information from your PowerPoint presentation.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/56\/Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-17.jpg\/v4-460px-Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-17.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/56\/Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-17.jpg\/aid432285-v4-728px-Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-17.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This button is at the bottom of the window.
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/74\/Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-18.jpg\/v4-460px-Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-18.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/74\/Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-18.jpg\/aid432285-v4-728px-Reduce-Powerpoint-File-Size-Step-18.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It's the square in the top-left corner of the screen. Doing so will save your changes and apply the "discard editing data" changes to your presentation, which may lower the overall file size.
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      Tips

      • Using JPEG files rather than other file formats will cut down on your presentation's overall size.
        Thanks
      • When formulating a presentation, using the default plain backgrounds in your slides will make your file smaller than if you upload detailed backgrounds.
        Thanks
      • If you can't get your PowerPoint file to shrink down enough to send it via email, you can upload it to a cloud service (e.g., Google Drive) and send an email with a link to the file instead. Your recipient will be able to download the file from Google Drive.
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      Warnings

      • Reducing your images' quality will make a noticeable difference in your PowerPoint's overall quality.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Reduce-your-file-size-631d1d48-a56b-4fd4-ad66-091dd201db10?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US&fromAR=1#bmpp
      2. ↑ http://www.isumsoft.com/it/reduce-powerpoint-file-size-in-office-2016/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Double-click an image.
      2. Click Compress Pictures .
      3. Remove the check mark from “Apply only to this picture.”
      4. Select a lower DPI.
      5. Click OK .
      6. Click File .
      7. Click Options .
      8. Click Advanced .
      9. Click Discard editing data .
      10. Click OK and save the file.

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