How to Convert Presentations: PPTX to PDF, Video, and More

Why Convert Presentations?

Presentations are one of the most common document types in business, education, and professional communication. Whether you are delivering a quarterly business review, teaching a university lecture, or pitching a startup to investors, chances are you have a slide deck.

But the format you create your presentation in is not always the format you need to deliver it in. You might create slides in PowerPoint but need a PDF for email distribution. You might build a deck in Google Slides but need a video for an asynchronous review. You might receive a Keynote file from a Mac user but only have access to Windows.

Converting presentations between formats is a daily need, and doing it correctly — preserving fonts, animations, layouts, and embedded media — requires understanding the strengths and limitations of each format.

This tutorial covers the major presentation formats, provides step-by-step conversion instructions for every common scenario, and shares best practices for maintaining quality throughout the process.

Understanding Presentation Formats

PPTX (Microsoft PowerPoint)

PPTX is the dominant presentation format worldwide. Introduced with Office 2007, it replaced the older binary PPT format with an XML-based structure. PPTX supports advanced features including animations, transitions, embedded video and audio, SmartArt, 3D models, morph transitions, and presenter notes.

PDF (Portable Document Format)

PDF is the most common target for presentation conversion. A PDF version of your slides provides a universal, non-editable document that looks identical on every device and operating system. PDF preserves the visual layout but strips out animations, transitions, audio, and video.

KEY (Apple Keynote)

Keynote is Apple's presentation software, known for its polished design templates and smooth animations. The KEY format is proprietary to Apple and requires Keynote (macOS or iOS) or iCloud to open. Keynote offers some of the best animation and transition effects available in any presentation software.

ODP (OpenDocument Presentation)

ODP is the open-standard presentation format used by LibreOffice Impress and Apache OpenOffice Impress. It is part of the OASIS OpenDocument specification and offers a royalty-free, vendor-neutral alternative to PPTX.

Google Slides

Google Slides uses a proprietary cloud-based format that is not directly accessible as a file. However, Google Slides can export to PPTX, PDF, ODP, JPEG, PNG, and SVG formats.

Presentation Format Comparison

How to Convert PPTX to PDF

Converting PowerPoint to PDF is the most common presentation conversion. Here are multiple methods.

Method 1: Using ConvertIntoMP4 Online

The simplest approach:

1. Navigate to our PPTX converter
2. Upload your PPTX file
3. Select PDF as the output format
4. Click Convert
5. Download the PDF

Our converter preserves fonts, images, and layouts while producing optimized PDF files.

Method 2: Using Microsoft PowerPoint

1. Open the PPTX file in PowerPoint
2. Go to File > Save As (or File > Export on Mac)
3. Select PDF as the format
4. Click Options to configure:
   • Which slides to include (all, current, or range)
   • Whether to include presenter notes
   • Whether to include hidden slides
   • Handout layouts (multiple slides per page)
5. Click Save

Method 3: Using Google Slides

1. Upload the PPTX to Google Drive
2. Open with Google Slides
3. Go to File > Download > PDF Document (.pdf)

PDF Output Options

When converting to PDF, consider these layout options:

• Full slides — One slide per page, best for screen viewing
• Notes pages — Each slide with its presenter notes below, ideal for study materials
• Handouts — 2, 3, 4, 6, or 9 slides per page, best for printing
• Outline — Text content only, no graphics, useful for review

Preserving Quality in PDF Conversion

• Embed all fonts before converting (File > Options > Save > Embed fonts in the file)
• Use high-resolution images in the original presentation (at least 150 DPI for print, 96 DPI for screen)
• Verify that transparent elements render correctly in the PDF
• Check that hyperlinks in the presentation are preserved as clickable links in the PDF

How to Convert Presentations to Video

Converting a presentation to video is increasingly popular for asynchronous communication, online courses, social media content, and self-running kiosks.

Method 1: Using PowerPoint's Built-In Export

PowerPoint can export directly to MP4 or WMV:

1. Open the presentation in PowerPoint
2. Go to File > Export > Create a Video
3. Choose quality:
   • Ultra HD (4K) — 3840 x 2160
   • Full HD (1080p) — 1920 x 1080
   • HD (720p) — 1280 x 720
   • Standard (480p) — 852 x 480
4. Set timing:
   • Use recorded timings and narrations (if you have recorded a narration)
   • Set default duration per slide (e.g., 5 seconds)
5. Click Create Video

Method 2: Record with Narration

For a more engaging video presentation:

1. Go to Slide Show > Record Slide Show
2. Present your slides while recording your narration and webcam
3. Use the annotation tools to draw on slides during recording
4. When finished, go to File > Export > Create a Video
5. Select "Use Recorded Timings and Narrations"

Method 3: Using Our Video Converter

For presentations already exported as PDF or images:

1. Convert your presentation to images (one per slide)
2. Upload to our MP4 converter or video converter
3. Configure frame duration and transitions
4. Download the resulting video

Video Export Best Practices

• Use 1080p for most purposes. 4K is rarely necessary for slide-based content and produces much larger files
• Set appropriate slide timing. Text-heavy slides need more time (8-10 seconds); image-heavy slides can be shorter (4-5 seconds)
• Add narration whenever possible. A video of slides without narration is far less engaging than one with a human voice explaining the content
• Include captions/subtitles for accessibility and viewers watching without sound
• Compress the output using our video compressor to optimize file size for sharing

How to Convert Between Presentation Formats

PPTX to KEY (PowerPoint to Keynote)

There is no direct conversion tool for PPTX to KEY. Instead:

1. Open the PPTX file in Keynote on a Mac (Keynote can read PPTX files)
2. Keynote will import the file with a compatibility notice
3. Review the presentation for formatting issues
4. Save as a Keynote file (File > Save)

Be aware that complex PowerPoint animations, SmartArt, and custom fonts may not convert perfectly.

KEY to PPTX (Keynote to PowerPoint)

1. Open the presentation in Keynote
2. Go to File > Export To > PowerPoint
3. Choose the format (.pptx)
4. Review the exported file in PowerPoint for compatibility issues

PPTX to ODP

1. Upload your PPTX to our document converter
2. Select ODP as the output format
3. Download and verify in LibreOffice Impress

Alternatively, open the PPTX in LibreOffice Impress and save as ODP format.

Google Slides to PPTX

1. Open the presentation in Google Slides
2. Go to File > Download > Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx)

Note that Google Slides' unique features (linked charts, add-ons, web fonts) may not convert perfectly.

Conversion Path Matrix

Use this table to find the best conversion method for any scenario:

Handling Fonts in Presentation Conversion

Font issues are the number one cause of presentation formatting problems during conversion. When a font used in the presentation is not available on the viewing or converting system, the software substitutes a different font, which can change text sizes, line breaks, and overall layout.

Embedding Fonts in PowerPoint

1. Go to File > Options > Save
2. Check "Embed fonts in the file"
3. Choose "Embed all characters" for maximum compatibility (or "Embed only the characters used" for smaller file size)

Using Web-Safe Fonts

If font embedding is not an option, consider using universally available fonts:

• Arial — Available on virtually every system
• Calibri — Default in modern Microsoft Office
• Times New Roman — Universal serif font
• Verdana — Designed for screen readability
• Georgia — Elegant serif for screen use

Google Fonts Considerations

Google Slides uses Google Fonts, which may not be installed on Windows or Mac systems. When exporting to PPTX, Google Slides substitutes these with similar system fonts, which can cause layout shifts.

Handling Animations and Transitions

What Converts

When converting presentations to different formats, not all content survives equally:

Strategies for Animation-Heavy Presentations

If your presentation relies heavily on animations:

1. For PDF distribution: Create a "print version" with static layouts that convey the same information without animation
2. For cross-platform sharing: Simplify animations to basic entrance effects (Appear, Fade) that convert more reliably
3. For maximum fidelity: Export to video, which captures every animation and transition exactly as designed

Converting Presentations for Print

When presentations need to be printed, the conversion approach differs from digital distribution.

Print-Optimized PDF Settings

• Use CMYK color mode if available (PPTX uses RGB by default, which may look different when printed)
• Ensure all images are at least 300 DPI
• Set page size to match the print medium (Letter, A4, or custom)
• Use handout layouts for efficiency (3 or 6 slides per page with space for notes)
• Include slide numbers for easy reference during discussions

Best Practices for Printable Presentations

• Avoid dark backgrounds (they waste ink and reduce readability on paper)
• Use high-contrast text colors
• Ensure text is large enough to read when printed small (14pt minimum for body text on handouts)
• Include a title page and table of contents for long presentations

For more on optimizing documents for print, see our guide on best file formats for printing.

Converting Presentations for Social Media

Presentations are increasingly used as social media content — slide carousels on LinkedIn and Instagram, video presentations on YouTube and TikTok, and image posts derived from individual slides.

For LinkedIn Carousel Posts

1. Export each slide as a separate image (PNG for best quality)
2. Alternatively, export the entire presentation as a PDF
3. Upload the PDF directly to LinkedIn as a document post
4. LinkedIn will create a swipeable carousel automatically

Optimize your slides for this format:

• Use square (1080x1080) or portrait (1080x1350) aspect ratios
• Use large text (24pt minimum) for mobile readability
• Keep each slide focused on a single idea
• Include a compelling first slide and a clear CTA on the last slide

For YouTube Videos

1. Record narration over your slides using PowerPoint's Record feature
2. Export as 1080p or 4K video
3. Add intro/outro and background music in a video editor
4. Upload to YouTube with an optimized title and description

For Instagram and TikTok

1. Adjust slide dimensions to 1080x1920 (9:16 portrait)
2. Export as video with 5-8 second timing per slide
3. Add trending audio or voiceover
4. Keep total video under 90 seconds for Reels/TikTok

Batch Converting Multiple Presentations

If you need to convert many presentations at once — for example, converting an entire semester's worth of lecture slides to PDF — batch processing saves enormous time.

Using ConvertIntoMP4

Our platform supports batch conversion:

1. Upload multiple PPTX files simultaneously
2. Select PDF (or another format) as the output
3. Convert all files at once
4. Download as a ZIP archive

Using LibreOffice Command Line

For power users, LibreOffice offers headless batch conversion:

libreoffice --headless --convert-to pdf *.pptx
libreoffice --headless --convert-to odp *.pptx

Using PowerShell (Windows)

$pptApp = New-Object -ComObject PowerPoint.Application
Get-ChildItem "*.pptx" | ForEach-Object {
    $presentation = $pptApp.Presentations.Open($_.FullName)
    $pdfPath = $_.FullName -replace '\.pptx$', '.pdf'
    $presentation.SaveAs($pdfPath, 32) # 32 = ppSaveAsPDF
    $presentation.Close()
}
$pptApp.Quit()

Troubleshooting Common Conversion Issues

Fonts Change After Conversion

Cause: The target system does not have the fonts used in the original presentation.

Solution: Embed fonts before converting (PowerPoint: File > Options > Save > Embed fonts). Alternatively, use system fonts that are available on all platforms.

Slide Layouts Break

Cause: Different applications interpret positioning, spacing, and alignment differently.

Solution: Use simple layouts with left-aligned text and centered images. Avoid complex overlapping elements, custom text positioning, and multiple text boxes per slide.

Images Appear Blurry

Cause: PowerPoint compresses images by default to reduce file size.

Solution: Go to File > Options > Advanced and set "Default resolution" to "High fidelity" or disable "Discard editing data." For existing images, you may need to re-insert the high-resolution originals.

Videos Do Not Play in PDF

Cause: Standard PDF does not support embedded video playback.

Solution: This is a fundamental limitation of PDF. For video content, either link to the video URL in the PDF or export the entire presentation as a video instead.

File Size Too Large

Cause: High-resolution images, embedded videos, or embedded fonts inflate file size.

Solution: Compress images within PowerPoint (Format > Compress Pictures), remove embedded videos (link to external files instead), and embed only the characters used rather than all characters when embedding fonts.

Accessibility in Presentation Conversion

When converting presentations, accessibility should be a priority:

• Add alt text to all images and charts before converting
• Use proper slide titles on every slide (these become headings in the PDF)
• Ensure sufficient color contrast between text and backgrounds
• Use a logical reading order (check in PowerPoint's Selection Pane)
• Add descriptive hyperlink text (not "click here")
• Include presenter notes as supplementary text for the PDF version

Conclusion

Presentation conversion is a routine task with more nuance than most people realize. The key to successful conversion is understanding what each target format supports, preparing your source presentation properly, and verifying the output before distribution.

For the vast majority of use cases, converting to PDF with our PPTX converter or PDF converter provides the most reliable, universally compatible result. For video presentations, PowerPoint's built-in export is excellent, and our video converter can help with further optimization.

Whatever format you need, start with a well-structured source presentation, embed your fonts, use universally compatible layouts, and always preview the conversion result before sharing it with your audience. Our document converter is here to help with any conversion scenario you encounter.