Reduce Powerpoint File Size

If you created a PowerPoint but have realized that it is too large to be shared, don't fret! wikiHow is here to help you compress that gigantic PowerPoint so the world can see it. Scroll down to Step 1 to start get started on your journey through the world of PowerPoint compression.

Steps

Compressed graphics file

  1. Use compressed graphics file formats to reduce the size of PowerPoint. There may be many images in graphic formats like bitmap (.bmp) in your PowerPoint presentation. The suggestion is to open bitmap image with a program that converts images and save the image in one of the following graphic file formats: jpg, gif, tif, wmf. Once your image has been saved under another format, you can reinsert it into your slide. If you do this for all your images, your presentation will be much smaller and it will run smoothly and fast.
  2. Save your presentation a second time to reduce the size of PowerPoint. Open your presentation, go to File (2003)/Office Button (2007) >> Save As… and give it another name. Then click “Save”.Doing this you will have a second presentation that often is smaller than the original copy. This is because PowerPoint usually stores lots of redundant information such as earlier drafts and previous used images. Once you save it as another file, the unnecessary redundant information would be purged.
  3. Choose E-mail (96 ppi) output to reduce the size of PowerPoint.Picture Tools >>Format >> Compress Pictures >> Options >> Target Output >> E-mail (96 ppi)(For PowerPoint XP and 2003, right-clicking the image >>Format Picture >> Compress >> Web/Screen). This would change all the pictures used in your presentation to an optimal size.
  4. Insert a hyperlink instead of inserting an object to reduce the size of PowerPoint. When you insert an image, you have the option to insert it either as an embedded object or as a linked file. By inserting it as a linked file means it will not become a part of the final presentation file. But you should always make sure that the linked file is with you and in the computer where you will run the presentation. Otherwise, the hyperlink won’t be working.Insert >> Picture >> From File >> Select the image you want to insert >> Click the little down arrow besides Insert >> Link to File
  5. In order to quickly and effectively compress your presentation to a minimum, converting the PowerPoint presentation to video with a third-party tool such as Acoolsoft PPT2Video Converter will be a good choice. And it is especially suitable for the presentations that contain lots of pictures. By doing so, the file size could be reduced to up to 90%.

Discard edit data

  1. Go to the File menu. Look for small 'options' towards the bottom.
  2. Go to 'Advanced'.
  3. Look for the picture settings here. These will include a checkbox for 'discard edit data'.
  4. Check the box.
  5. Save again. The PowerPoint file size should now be smaller.



Tips

  • Try using a PowerPoint optimization tool that will do the above steps for you.
  • Besides the advantage of reducing file size, converting your PowerPoint presentation to video also has many other benefits:
    • Enable you to view your PowerPoint presentations without the need of MS PowerPoint. Windows Media Player would be OK.
    • Podcast PowerPoint slide show to iTunes or your own blog for sharing.
    • Show your PowerPoint presentations on YouTube, Google Video, etc.
    • Review PowerPoint presentations on iPod/iPhone/Pocket PC.
    • Create mp4 video and view PowerPoint presentation on TV.

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