powerpoint presentation merge

How-To Geek

How to combine powerpoint presentations.

If you want to merge two PowerPoint files together, you have a few options you can try. Here's how to do it.

Quick Links

Combining powerpoint files using the reuse slides option, copying and pasting powerpoint slides.

It's difficult for two or more people to work on a PowerPoint presentation simultaneously, as Office doesn't have the same collaboration features offered by  Google Slides . One way around this problem is to combine PowerPoint presentations into a single file.

Merging two PowerPoints can be done by either importing the slides using the "Reuse Slides" option or by using the copy-and-paste method instead. These instructions are designed to work for the latest versions of Office , including Office 2016 and 2019, as well as Office 365 and Online. You may find the instructions vary for older versions of PowerPoint.

Related: What's the Latest Version of Microsoft Office?

The "best" method for merging PowerPoint files, or at least the method that PowerPoint officially supports, is to use the "Reuse Slides" option. This feature merges the content of one presentation file into another, matching the theme of the new presentation file in the process.

To do this, open your PowerPoint presentation file---this is the file you're looking to merge into. In the "Home" tab on the ribbon bar, select the "New Slide" button and then click the "Reuse Slides" option at the bottom of the drop-down menu that appears.

A menu will appear on the right. Click the "Browse" button to locate the PowerPoint presentation file that you want to merge into your open file.

Locate your second PowerPoint file and then click the "Open" button to insert it.

A list of slides from your second presentation will appear in the "Reuse Slides" menu on the right.

First, you'll need to decide on the formatting for your inserted slides. If you want to keep the format (including the theme) from the original presentation, make sure that the "Keep Source Formatting" checkbox is enabled at the bottom of the "Reuse Slides" menu. If you don't check this, your inserted slides will have the style of the open presentation applied to them.

To insert individual slides, right-click a slide and then select the "Insert Slide" option. Otherwise, click the "Insert All Slides" to copy all of the slides into your open PowerPoint presentation.

Your slide (or slides) will then be inserted into the open presentation, immediately underneath the currently selected slide. With your PowerPoint files combined, you can then save your merged file by clicking File > Save or Save As.

While the "Reuse Slides" method allows you to change the format of your slides before you insert them, you can also combine PowerPoint files by copying the slides from one open PowerPoint file and inserting them into another.

To do this, open a PowerPoint presentation and select the slides you want to copy from the slide selection menu on the left. From there, right-click on the selected slides and then press "Copy" to copy them to your clipboard.

Switch to the PowerPoint presentation you're looking to paste your slides into and then, in the slide selection menu on the left, right-click at the position you want to stick your slides.

To paste the slides and apply the theme of the open presentation file to them, click the "Use Destination Theme" paste option.

To keep the original theme and formatting, select the "Keep Source Formatting" paste option instead.

The slides you paste will then appear in your new presentation at the position you selected. You can then save the merged file by clicking File > Save or Save As.

How to Merge Files in Powerpoint: A Step-by-Step Guide

Merging files in PowerPoint is a handy skill to have when you’re looking to combine information from different presentations or when you’re collaborating with others on a project. It might sound like a tricky task, but it’s actually pretty straightforward. In just a few simple steps, you can have all your slides together in one impressive presentation.

Step by Step Tutorial: How to Merge Files in PowerPoint

Before we dive into the steps, let’s understand what we’re about to do. Merging files in PowerPoint is all about bringing slides from different presentations into one. This can be very useful when you’re working on a group project or need to consolidate information. So, let’s get started!

Step 1: Open Your Main PowerPoint Presentation

Open the PowerPoint presentation where you want to add slides from another presentation.

When you’ve opened your main PowerPoint file, make sure it’s the one where you want all the merged slides to end up. Think of it as the ‘mother ship’ that’s about to welcome all the ‘little ship’ slides into its deck.

Step 2: Select the Slides You Want to Merge

Go to the “Home” tab, click on “New Slide,” and then choose “Reuse Slides” from the drop-down menu.

A pane will appear on the right side of the PowerPoint window. This is where you’ll be able to browse and select the slides you want to add to your main presentation.

Step 3: Browse and Choose the Presentation File

Click on “Browse” and then “Browse File” to select the PowerPoint file you want to merge with your main presentation.

You’ll need to navigate to the location of the PowerPoint file you want to merge. Once you find it, click on it and then click “Open” to bring up the slides in the Reuse Slides pane.

Step 4: Insert the Slides

Click on each slide you want to insert into your main presentation or check “Keep source formatting” and click “Insert All.”

You can select individual slides by clicking on them or insert all the slides from the secondary presentation. If you want to maintain the original design and formatting of the inserted slides, make sure to check “Keep source formatting.”

Step 5: Save Your Merged PowerPoint

Save your newly merged PowerPoint presentation by clicking on “File” and then “Save As.”

After you’ve merged all the slides you need, don’t forget to save your presentation. You can choose to overwrite the original file or save it as a new file with a different name.

After completing these steps, you’ll have a single PowerPoint presentation with slides from different files merged together. Now, you’ll be able to present all your information seamlessly without having to switch between different files.

Tips: Making the Most of Merging Files in PowerPoint

• Ensure that the presentation you’re adding slides to is saved before you start merging, just in case something goes awry.
• Use the “Keep source formatting” option if you want to retain the original design of the slides you’re merging. This is especially helpful if they come from a presentation with a different theme or layout.
• Consider the sequence of the slides. Make sure they are in the order that best supports your presentation’s flow.
• If you’re merging files from multiple team members, check for consistency in font, size, and color to maintain a professional look.
• It’s a good idea to review the final presentation to check for any formatting issues or duplications that may have occurred during the merge.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i merge powerpoint presentations with different themes.

To merge presentations with different themes, use the “Keep source formatting” checkbox when inserting the slides. This will preserve the original theme and formatting of the slides being merged.

Can I merge multiple PowerPoint files at once?

While you can’t select multiple files to merge simultaneously, you can repeat the process of merging for each file you want to add to your main presentation.

What happens if I don’t select “Keep source formatting”?

If you don’t select “Keep source formatting,” the inserted slides will adopt the theme and formatting of your main presentation, which might change their original look.

Can I merge specific slides from a presentation?

Yes, you can choose individual slides to merge by clicking on them in the “Reuse Slides” pane instead of selecting “Insert All.”

Will animations and transitions be preserved when merging slides?

Yes, if you check “Keep source formatting,” animations and transitions should be preserved. However, it’s always good to double-check the final presentation.

• Open your main PowerPoint presentation.
• Select “Reuse Slides” from the “New Slide” drop-down menu.
• Browse and choose the PowerPoint file you want to merge.
• Click on individual slides or “Insert All” to merge.
• Save your newly merged presentation.

Merging files in PowerPoint is a straightforward process that can save you a ton of time and hassle. Whether you’re pulling together a group project or consolidating your work, knowing how to merge presentations effectively can make you the PowerPoint guru among your peers. Remember to save your work frequently, check for consistency, and review your final presentation for any mishaps that might have occurred during the merging process. With this new skill in your back pocket, you’re ready to tackle any presentation challenge that comes your way. Happy merging!

Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.

His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.

Share this:

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related Posts

• How to Merge Cells in Google Sheets: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Merge Cells in Excel 2010: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Download a Google Slides Presentation as a Powerpoint File
• How to Merge Multiple Word Files in Word 2010: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Do a Powerpoint Google Slides Presentation Conversion
• How to Merge Cells in Word 2016 Tables: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Merge Layers in Photoshop CS5: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Insert Slides from Another Presentation: Powerpoint 2024 Guide
• Merge CSV Files Into One Large File on Windows 7: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Convert Powerpoint to Google Slides: A Tech Solution
• How to Rotate a Powerpoint Slide Presentation
• Can You Save a Powerpoint as a Video in Powerpoint 2013? Find Out Here!
• How to Make Google Slides Vertical (5 Quick Steps)
• How to Delete Multiple Slides in Google Slides: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Merge Contacts on an iPhone 6: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Add a Hyperlink on Google Slides
• How to Print 4 Slides Per Page in Google Slides: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Save Powerpoint as PDF with Notes: A Step-by-Step Guide
• Can You Download Google Slides Files?
• How to Compress Audio and Video in Powerpoint 2010: A Step-by-Step Guide

Get Our Free Newsletter

How-to guides and tech deals

You may opt out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

• PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
• Browse Articles
• Learn Something New
• Quizzes Hot
• This Or That Game New
• Train Your Brain
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow
• Log in / Sign up
• Computers and Electronics
• Microsoft Office

How to Combine PowerPoints on Mac or Windows

Last Updated: June 20, 2022 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA . Darlene Antonelli is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in 2012 and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 8,385 times. Learn more...

Do you want to use the slides from your other presentation in this one? The "Reuse Slides" function in Microsoft PowerPoint makes it easy to reuse slides from other presentations. It's also a helpful tool that will help you merge your presentations into one PowerPoint. If the "Reuse Slides" feature isn't available for your version of PowerPoint, you can also copy and paste slides, use the "Insert Object" menu, or drag and drop slides. This wikiHow article teaches you multiple ways you can combine PowerPoint presentations on your Windows or Mac computer.

Reusing Slides

• These imported slides will change to copy the theme and design of the other slides. If you don't want it to change, you can select Keep source formatting before you import them.

• If you want the slide(s) to maintain the original design theme and formatting, check the box next to Keep source formatting . [1] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
• Once you've selected the slides from the original source, they will appear in the new PowerPoint immediately.

Copy and Paste

• Use this option if "Reuse slides" isn't available since this will allow you the same options.

• If you want to select more than one slide, press and hold Shift as you click multiple sides.

Insert Object

• Use this if there are animations with the slide that you want to preserve. You won't be able to fine-tune the slide like you would if you used "Reuse Slide," but it will have all the animations and slide transitions from the previous slideshow.

• If you don't see the "New Slide" option, make sure the Home tab is selected.

• Stretch the image to fill the entire slide to prevent it from changing sizes randomly.

Expert Q&A

You might also like.

• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/reuse-import-slides-from-another-presentation-c67671cd-386b-45dd-a1b4-1e656458bb86#OfficeVersion=Windows
• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/copy-and-paste-your-slides-1fe39ace-4df6-4346-b724-30a6e2c0aeab#OfficeVersion=Windows

About This Article

1. Open the presentation that you want to add slides to. 2. Click where you want to add your slide. 3. Click the Home tab. 4. Click the arrow next to "New Slide" and select Reuse Slides . 5. Click Open a PowerPoint File and double-click the file you want to use. 6. Click a slide to add to your PowerPoint. 7. Save your presentation. Did this summary help you? Yes No

• Send fan mail to authors

Is this article up to date?

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Watch Articles

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

wikiHow Tech Help Pro:

Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve

• GroupDocs.Total Product Family
• GroupDocs.Viewer Product Solution
• GroupDocs.Annotation Product Solution
• GroupDocs.Conversion Product Solution
• GroupDocs.Comparison Product Solution
• GroupDocs.Signature Product Solution
• GroupDocs.Assembly Product Solution
• GroupDocs.Metadata Product Solution
• GroupDocs.Search Product Solution
• GroupDocs.Parser Product Solution
• GroupDocs.Watermark Product Solution
• GroupDocs.Editor Product Solution
• GroupDocs.Merger Product Solution
• GroupDocs.Redaction Product Solution
• GroupDocs.Classification Product Solution
• GroupDocs.Splitter Product Solution
• GroupDocs.Translation Product Solution
• GroupDocs.Rewriter Product Solution
• GroupDocs.Unlock Product Solution
• Source Code
• Free Support
• Free Download
• Free Consulting
• aspose.cloud
• groupdocs.com
• groupdocs.cloud
• groupdocs.app
• conholdate.com
• conholdate.cloud
• conholdate.app
• Acquisition
• GroupDocs Products
• Merge PowerPoint Files

PowerPoint Merger

Merge powerpoint documents from any device with browser..

Powered by groupdocs.com and groupdocs.cloud .

By uploading your files or using our service you agree with our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy .

Your files have been merged successfully

Send the download link to, about merger app.

Combine multiple PowerPoint documents in the preferred order and save them as a single file. Free online PowerPoint Merger tool without registration is created to quickly join multiple files into a single document. Join multiple PowerPoint files into one document at high speed. You will not spend your time doing these operations manually on desktop software. Our goal is to provide you with a reliable solution to optimize your office workflow through online PowerPoint Merger application. This PowerPoint Merger tool works for all platforms: Windows, Linux, macOS and Android. No desktop software installation is required. It's powerful, modern, fast, flexible, easy-to-use and completely free.

• Choose the order of merged files
• Combine your PowerPoint files to a single document
• Download or send resultant file as email attachment

How to merge PowerPoint files online

• How can I merge files using PowerPoint Document Merger? First of all, you need to select and add PowerPoint files for merging by two ways: drag and drop your PowerPoint files to the white area with the label ”Click or drop your file here” or click on this area and then select the desired PowerPoint files using file explorer. Once the files are added, the green progress bar will begin to grow. When the process is completed, you can click the Save button and then download your merged PowerPoint file.
• How long does it take to merge PowerPoint files? Usually, this PowerPoint Document Merger works fast for small files in seconds.
• Is it safe to merge files using our free PowerPoint Document Merger? Yes, the download link of merged PowerPoint file will be available only for you. The uploaded files will be ereased after 24 hours and the download link will stop working after this time period. No one has access to your files. The PowerPoint Document Merger is absolutely safe.
• Can I merge PowerPoint files on Linux, Mac OS or Android? Yes, you can use our free PowerPoint Document Merger on any operating system that has a web browser. Our PowerPoint Document Merger works online and does not require any software installation.
• What browser should I use to merge PowerPoint files? You can use any modern browser to merge PowerPoint files, for example, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Opera, or Safari.

Presentation File Formats

Presentation file formats that store collection of records to accommodate presentation data such as slides, shapes, text, animations, video, audio and embedded objects.

Other Merger file formats

You can also merge other file formats. Please see the list below.

• ARCHIVE Merger Compression File Formats
• AUDIO Merger Audio File Formats
• EXCEL Merger Spreadsheet File Formats
• IMAGE Merger Image File Formats
• NOTE Merger Note Taking File Formats
• VISIO Merger Microsoft Visio File Formats
• WEB Merger Web File Formats
• WORD Merger Word Processing File Formats

APIs avaliable

Easily merge multiple documents or split MS Office, OpenOffice, PDF and other documents into pages. GroupDocs.Merger APIs are avaliable for .NET, Java and many other platforms & languages.

• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service

GroupDocs online applications

• Classification
• Translation

Select a language

• Slovenščina

• Slidesgo School
• PowerPoint Tutorials

How to Combine Multiple PowerPoints into One

PowerPoint is one of the most widespread and widely used Microsoft tools in the world, allowing you to make high quality presentations in a simple, fast and super visual way. Maybe that's why presentations have triumphed in the world of business and education! 

Whether you're a professional or a student, you surely must have had to make more than one presentation throughout your career. That's a piece of cake when you have Slidesgo and its templates! In this post we want to lend you a hand and help you become a true master of this program: today you will learn how to combine different PowerPoint presentations .

How to merge PowerPoint presentations

If you want to join two or more different presentations in the same file, you want to add some extra slides or you need to merge the collaborative work of different teams, all you have to do is follow these steps: 

• Open the first presentation. For this example we are going to use the template Minimalist Grayscale Pitch Deck .
• Go to the Start menu > New Slide. Click on the drop-down, not on the button. A menu will open with different options, select "Reuse slides".
• A menu will open on the right with recommended presentations. To add yours, click on Browse. We are going to add slides from the presentation Investment Business Plan .
• Go to the place in the presentation where you want the new content to appear.
• Choose which slides you want to add and add them one by one by clicking Insert Slide. You can also add the whole presentation by clicking on Insert All.

Pro tip : We recommend that you keep the "Use source formatting" checkbox checked. This feature makes the presentation you are adding keep its original style instead of adapting to the layout of the new one. 

Simple, isn't it? There is also another method, just as quick and easy, using the ancient technique known as "copy and paste". It consists of the following:

• Open the presentation where you want the new slides to appear.
• Open the other presentation and choose the slides you want to add. You can select more than one by pressing Control and clicking on them or you can select all of them by pressing Control + E. For this example we are going to add three slides from the Business Plan with Elegant Backgrounds template.
• Right click and press copy or press Control + C.
• Now go to the first presentation, choose the location and right click > Paste or press Control + V. Remember to select "Keep source formatting", this will keep the slides from losing their layout.

Now that you know how to put together your favorite presentations and slides, take a look at our website and download the ones that best suit your needs. You can choose resources from different designs and put them together to create the perfect presentation. 

Do you find this article useful?

Related tutorials.

How to print PowerPoint notes

Crafting an impactful PowerPoint slideshow and delivering a captivating presentation are distinct skills. The first focuses on designing appealing visuals to convey a clear message, while the second involves employing effective presentation techniques to ensure the audience grasps the idea. The content of this article will help you with the latter part of this process, guiding future presenters on how to print PowerPoint with speaker notes to enhance your presentations success and effectiveness.

Discover Our Online Presentation Software for Free

We have great news for you today! If you’ve been a Slidesgo fan for years (or months, or weeks, or days, or mere hours, we welcome everyone!), you’ll probably know for now that our templates are available mostly in two formats: for use in Google Slides and PowerPoint.Google Slides is a free tool, since you only need a Google account in order to use it. PowerPoint, on the other hand, is part of the Microsoft Office suite, so it’s not a free program, but that didn’t stop it from being one of the most popular options in the world!What if we...

Webinar: Presentation Audit

With more than 15,000 templates released on Slidesgo and a user base composed of millions of people, we estimate that the total number of presentations created adds up to… um, a lot! Our team of professional designers work very hard to provide you with editable slides so that the only thing you need to do is, well, customize the elements to your liking. Starting from any given template, the results may vary a lot depending on the person who edited the contents.Have you ever wondered “Is my presentation good enough?” and wished that an expert on presentations looked at your template...

How to Change Slides Orientation in Google Slides

A change of perspective is always good! Do you want your public to look at your slides in a new way? Changing slides orientation will do the work. In this tutorial you’re going to learn how to go from horizontal slides, to vertical ones (and vice versa!). 

• PowerPoint Themes
• Latest PowerPoint Templates
• Best PowerPoint Templates
• Free PowerPoint Templates
• Simple PowerPoint Templates
• PowerPoint Backgrounds
• Project Charter
• Project Timeline
• Project Team
• Project Status
• Market Analysis
• Marketing Funnel
• Market Segmentation
• Target Customer
• Marketing Mix
• Digital Marketing Strategy
• Resource Planning
• Recruitment
• Employee Onboarding
• Company Profile
• Mission Vision
• Meet The Team
• Problem & Solution
• Business Model
• Business Case
• Business Strategy
• Business Review
• Leadership Team
• Balance Sheet
• Income Statement
• Cash Flow Statement
• Executive Summary
• 30 60 90 Day Plan
• SWOT Analysis
• Flow Charts
• Gantt Charts
• Text Tables
• Infographics
• Google Slides Templates
• Presentation Services
• Ask Us To Make Slides
• Data Visualization Services
• Business Presentation Tips
• PowerPoint Tutorials
• Google Slides Tutorials
• Presentation Resources

How To Merge Two PowerPoint Presentations? Detailed Guide On How To Combine PowerPoints

Save your time and hassle by merging multiple PowerPoint presentations to reuse your already created presentations and optimize your workflow. This blog will guide you through the best methods to combine multiple slides into a single presentation.

If you work in sales, customer service, or as an independent consultant, you may need to utilize the same templates in many of your presentations. Of course, you don’t want to keep making the same slides for different presentations. That’s why you should consider learning how to combine PowerPoints slides.

That’s where merging slides in PowerPoint comes in handy when creating presentations from previously generated slideshows. In your current presentation, you can reuse slides from prior presentations to modify content, strengthen concepts, debunk ideas, or reference facts.

It’s all quite simple. Allow us to demonstrate how to combine multiple powerpoints into one.

How To Merge PowerPoints?

Consider the following five approaches and their associated stages to know how to combine powerpoints:

• Copy and Paste slides
• Reuse PowerPoint Slides
• Use Insert Object to Merge PowerPoint Files
• Drag and Drop PowerPoint Slides
• Merge with Compare Function

1. Copy and Paste Slides

The easiest option to combine multiple slides is the copy-and-paste option. Follow the below steps to learn how to merge two PowerPoint presentations:

• Open both the slides that you want to combine.
• Right-click on a slide and select “copy.” You can also copy it by using the Ctrl+C command.
• Now, open the slide on which you want to combine this slide.
• Choose a location in between your slides where you want to add the slide. You can do this from the left-side navigation pane. 
• Right-click and choose “Paste”. Or you can use the “Ctrl+V” command. You can select “Use Destination Theme” or “Keep Source Formatting” to meet your needs.
• Repeat this step for multiple slides.

2. Reuse PowerPoint Slides

Let’s learn how to combine powerpoints using the Reuse option. Reusing slides is the simplest technique for incorporating slides from one presentation into another. This strategy allows you to manage what slides you add and where you place them. The reuse slides approach appears in this example. Follow the below steps to understand how to merge powerpoints:

• Open PowerPoint, then open the document to which you wish to add slides.
• Select where you wish to add a slide or slides. Then, click between two existing slides.
• In the ‘Main Menu,’ click the ‘Insert’ tab.
• Then, on the left side of the menu, click the ‘New Slide’ option.
• Then choose ‘Reuse Slides.’
• Click the ‘Browse’ button to access the ‘Reuse Slides’ dialog box. If you click the option next to ‘Keep source formatting,’ the newly added slides will keep their original formatting. When you uncheck the box, their formatting will match the main presentation.
• Insert your slide here. Browse the presentations, choose the one from which you wish to add the slides, and then click ‘Open.’
• You will see the thumbnails of the available slides. Browse and pick the ones you want to include in your main document. You can import all slides from the external presentation by clicking ‘Insert All Slides.’
• When choosing the slides to include, click the ‘Apply Theme to All Slides’ option to replace the theme of the primary presentation with that of the secondary presentation.

This strategy is perfect if you want to merge ppt slides. Use it for adding a slide or two to your PowerPoint presentation. It is also the best approach for including bits and pieces from other presentations in your primary presentation. Although you can use this approach to insert all slides from an external presentation, using the ‘Insert Object’ option is preferable.

3. how to combine powerpoints using Insert Object Methods?

The insert object method is best if you wish to insert all slides from an external presentation while keeping the animations and transitions between them.

Remember that after you include the slides in your new presentation, they will no longer be connected to the original file. As a result, any modifications you make to the original file will not affect the slides you include in your primary presentation.

Now that we’ve addressed that let’s examine how to merge powerpoints using the insert object technique. Follow the below steps to learn how to combine multiple powerpoints into one:

• Open MS PowerPoint and the main presentation.
• Go to the slide where you want to add another slide
• In the Main Menu, choose the ‘Insert’ tab.
• In the “Text” group, Select the ‘Object’ option.
• The ‘Insert Object’ dialog box will appear. Choose the ‘Create from file’ option there.
• Click “Browse” and select the slide you want to add.
• Following that, you will only view the first slide of the imported presentation. The remaining slides are below, though you can’t see them now.
• To prevent changes in the size of the slides after the presentation is played, stretch the added object to suit the size of the slide of your main presentation. After inserting the complete item into your main presentation, you can alter and tweak it to ensure its good performance.

4. Drag And Drop PowerPoint Slides

Let’s understand how to combine powerpoints using the drag & drop method. A drag-and-drop approach is one of the simplest methods of integrating two presentations. This feature is useful if you have two different presentations that you want to combine with PowerPoint or are working on a collective project. Follow the below steps to learn how to combine two powerpoints into one:

• Open both presentations on your PC or Mac, and minimize the PowerPoint software so that you can view both simultaneously.
• Long-press the slide you want to relocate and drag it to its new location with your mouse. You should do this for each slide; luckily, you can select all of them by clicking on the first slide, holding down the ‘Shift’ key, and then clicking on the final slide.
• The slide’s position will be highlighted with a red line. Your final presentation will be updated to match the design of the receiving document. Of course, you can always change the document’s overall look by clicking the ‘Design’ button at the top of your presentation.

5. how to combine powerpoints with compare function

This compare function combines your multiple slides with uniform formatting. Follow the below steps to learn how to merge PowerPoint presentations:

• Open the presentation in which you want to add another slide.
• Select the “Review” Tab from the Top Menu.
• Click on the “Compare” function.
• Browse the presentation you want to combine and select “Merge.” It will combine all the slides from both presentations.

It’s great to learn how to combine powerpoints into one slide to increase the usability of slides and save time in creating new slides from scratch. The techniques described in this blog will assist you in taking your PowerPoint abilities to the next level. In minutes, you can combine and merge PowerPoint presentations like an expert.

Does the formatting change if I combine ppt slides?

The formatting isn’t usually affected. However, you can choose to keep formatting or not while merging.

What are some tips for effectively merging slides?

Organize your slides beforehand, ensure consistent formatting and styling across all slides, remove duplicate content, and thoroughly review the merged presentation to ensure accuracy and coherence.

Is there a limit to the number of presentations I can merge?

Usually, there is no limit to the number of presentations to merge.

Table Of Content

Related presentations.

Customer Journey Executive Summary

Project Planning Presentation

Customer Journey Roadmap PowerPoint Template

Related blogs.

10 Bad PowerPoint Slides Examples to Avoid

10 Best Animated PowerPoint Templates

10 Best Business PowerPoint Templates for Presentations

10 Best Free PowerPoint Templates

Tags and categories, privacy overview.

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

• 9 Free Online Earth Day Games for Kids
• The Best Gadgets for The Beach or Pool

How to Merge PowerPoints

It’s easy to merge your PowerPoint presentations

• Fayetteville State University

• Wichita Technical Institute

What to Know

• In your primary PowerPoint: Home > New Slide > Reuse Slides > Browse .
• In your secondary PowerPoint: Open . Right-click individual slides and choose Insert Slide , or select Insert All Slides .

This article explains how to combine two or more PowerPoint presentations into one presentation. Whether you’re using Mac or PC versions of PowerPoint, it’s easy to combine PowerPoint presentations.

Method 1: Reuse Slides

Microsoft PowerPoint provides the option to Reuse Slides . This method doesn’t require you to open all of your PowerPoint presentations, so it’s the fastest and easiest way to combine presentations.

Open your main PowerPoint presentation. You can choose the largest presentation, or whichever one has formatting you want to keep.

When you insert slides, they’ll be inserted after the slide you have currently selected. Keep this in mind before inserting slides.

Go to the Home tab in the upper-left corner.

Click New Slide . A drop-down menu will open.

Newer versions of PowerPoint have a dedicated Reuse Slides button.

Select Reuse Slides , located at the bottom of the menu.

Click Browse .

Find your second PowerPoint file and click Open . The slides from your second presentation will appear in the Reuse Slides menu.

Make sure Keep source formatting is checked if you want your slides to keep their formatting. If it isn’t checked, the formatting of your main PowerPoint will be applied to the slides when you insert them.

If you want to insert individual slides, select them and click Insert Slide .

If you want to reuse all slides in the PowerPoint presentation, click Insert All . If you don't see this, right-click one slide and choose Insert All Slides .

After your slides are merged into your presentation, Save your work.

Method 2: Copy slides

If you need to combine slides from several different PowerPoint presentations, copying PowerPoint Sides is another quick method. It’s easy to choose where each batch of slides ends up in your final presentation.

Open the PowerPoint presentation with slides you want to move.

Select the slides you want to copy from the slide viewer on the left.

Right-click the selected slides and copy them.

Open your main PowerPoint presentation.

Right-click where you want your slides to be inserted. The Paste Options menu will appear.

You can also use CTRL + V to paste the slides. On Mac, use command + V . The Paste Options menu will still appear.

If you want your inserted slides to match your main PowerPoint, click Use Destination Theme on the left. This will adapt the copied slides to your main presentation.

If you want your inserted slides to maintain their theme, click Keep Source Formatting . Your slides will keep their original appearance.

After moving all of your slides, save your project.

First, combine PowerPoint presentations by copying and pasting slides into the primary presentation or using the  Reuse Slide  option. After combining slides into one merged document,  save your PowerPoint as a PDF . Go to  File  >  Save as  >  PDF  or  File  >  Save & Send  >  Create PDF/XPS Document  >  Publish .

To merge multiple locked PowerPoints, you need to know the passwords to unlock them. Once you have password access, open the PowerPoints and select  File  >  Info  >  Protect Presentation  >  Encrypt with Password  > delete the content in the  Password  field > and select  OK . Now you can reuse or copy slides into one main presentation.

Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day

• Copy Slides to Another PowerPoint Presentation
• The 8 Best Google Drive Add-ons for 2024
• How to Copy a PowerPoint Design Template to Another Presentation
• Use PowerPoint Slide Finder
• How to Add Page Numbers in PowerPoint
• How to Add PowerPoint Slides Into a Word Document
• How to Use Google Duet in Slides
• PowerPoint Master Slide
• How to Make a PowerPoint Presentation
• How to Add Music to PowerPoint
• How to Select More Than One Slide in PowerPoint
• How to Use PowerPoint Slide Master Layouts
• How to Add an Excel Chart to a PowerPoint Presentation
• Create Pictures From PowerPoint Slides
• Tips for Solving Common PowerPoint Problems
• An Introduction to PowerPoint

How to Combine Multiple PowerPoint Presentations

There are 2 different ways, depending on how you want them to appear

Do you have multiple PowerPoint presentations that you need to combine or merge into one presentation? I’ve had to do this myself a couple of times and one of the most important aspects when merging presentations is whether you want to maintain the format and theme of the inserted presentation or have it match the theme of the main presentation. The second most important factor is whether you need to maintain any animations and transitions that might be included in the inserted presentation.

Depending on how you want the inserted slides to appear in the main presentation, you will need to choose between two different methods for joining the presentations. In this article, I’ll mention both methods along with the advantages and disadvantages for each method.

The first method uses the Reuse Slides option in PowerPoint and the second method uses the Insert Object option.

Reuse Slides Method

If you want the inserted slides to match the theme of your main presentation, then you have to use the Reuse Slides option. The inserted slides will simply take the slides exactly as they are in the external presentation and add them to the main presentation.

However, there is one big caveat: none of the animations or transitions will be carried over. Whatever you see on the slide in the normal viewing mode is what will get imported into the main presentation.

If you need to maintain all the animations or transitions, then skip down to the Insert Object method.

To get started with this method, open the main presentation and then click between the two slides you want to import the slides into. It’s worth nothing that this method also lets you pick and choose which slides you want to insert from an external presentation, whereas the Insert Object method will insert the entire presentation.

Now click on the Insert menu and then click on the words New Slide  and you’ll see a menu appear. At the very bottom of that menu is an option called Reuse Slides .

When you click on that, a tab will appear on the right hand side. Click on the Browse button and then select Browse File . Check the Keep source formatting  box if you want keep the theme and text formatting of the external presentation.

If you uncheck that box, then when you go to insert the slides into the main presentation, the original formatting will not be kept. Instead the slides will use the theme and formatting of the main presentation.

Select the PowerPoint Presentation you want to insert and then click OK. Immediately, you should see a small thumbnail and the title of each slide displayed.

As you can see above, the second presentation has a different theme than my first presentation. There are a number of things you can do at this point. Firstly, if you just want to insert one slide or a couple of slides from your external presentation, simply click on the slide and it will be inserted!

The formatting will depend on whether you checked the Keep source formatting box like I explained above. As shown below, I inserted just one slide from the external presentation and kept the source formatting.

It will be inserted wherever you had clicked earlier with the red line. If you want to insert all the slides, just select the Insert All Slide s option that comes up when you right-click on any of the slides.

Lastly, you can apply the theme used in the external presentation to your main presentation by right-clicking and choosing Apply Theme to All Slides . This will apply the external presentation theme to the main presentation.

As mentioned earlier, you lose all animations, effects, transitions, etc when using this method. Now let’s talk about the other way to merge two presentations.

Insert Object Method

The second method will insert the entire external presentation into one slide as an object. You then have to configure some settings so that when you run your slideshow, it also runs through all the slides in the external presentation.

There are a couple of things that need to be mentioned before we get into how to use this method:

1. When you insert the presentation as an object, it is not a link to the presentation, but an actual full copy into the main presentation. This means that if you open the external presentation later after inserting it into the main presentation and make changes to it, those changes will not be reflected in the imported version inside the main presentation.

2. If you do want to make changes to an already inserted presentation, you can edit it inside the main presentation. Again, those changes are only made to the version inside the main presentation.

In my opinion, this method is better than the Reuse Slides method because it lets you keep all your animations and transitions and it allows you to change or keep the theme of the inserted presentation.

To get started, open the main presentation and then insert a new slide. Make sure to delete any default text boxes or anything else on the new slide so that it is completely blank.

Now click on the Insert tab and then click on Object .

Select the Create from file radio button and click the Browse button. Select the external presentation you want to insert into your main presentation.

You’ll now see the first slide of the presentation inserted as a selectable object. All of the other slides are there, but you just can’t see them.

The next step is to move your cursor to the upper left corner of the inserted object until it turns into a double sided arrow. Click and then drag the corner to the upper left corner of the main slide. Now do the same thing with the bottom right corner of the object and drag it to the bottom right corner on the main slide.

Now the inserted object should be the exact same size as the slide that it was inserted onto. You want to do this so that there won’t be any change in the size of the slides when you are playing the presentation.

Once that is setup, we have to configure the second presentation to play when we hit that slide that we inserted the presentation into. To do this, select the object, click on the Animations ribbon, click on Add Animation and then scroll all the way to the bottom where it says OLE Action Verbs .

Another dialog will pop up and you want to choose Show . If you were to play the presentation at this point, you would notice that when you reach the slide with the inserted presentation, it will show all the slides in the inserted presentation, but it will also include a still slide of the first slide at the front and back of the inserted presentation.

This was kind of annoying to me and luckily you can almost get rid of it. First, click on Animations again and then click on Animation Pane , which will show up at the right.

In the Animation Pane, you will see the inserted object listed as Object 1 or Object 2, etc. and when you select it, there will be a small black arrow you can click on. This will bring up a few options and then first one you want to select is Start With Previous .

Now when you play the presentation, it won’t show you that still image of the first slide but will actually play the first slide from the external presentation. To get rid of the still image at the end of the presentation, you have to select Effect Options from the menu above and then select Hide After Animation from the After animation dropdown box.

It’s not perfect because it still shows you the empty slide that the inserted presentation was put once before the presentation ends. Luckily, I found a simple hack for this too that works really well. Simply add something to the slide that has the external presentation object like a text box or whatever you like and then right-click on the object and choose Send to Back .

This will effectively hide the object behind the presentation object. Now when you play your presentation, it will hide the presentation object after the last slide because that is what we chose in the After animation option. When the presentation object is hidden, you’ll see any content that was hidden under it. It’s a great way to avoid having that blank slide show up during the presentation.

One last thing I wanted to mention was about editing the inserted presentation. You can right-click anywhere on the object and choose Presentation Object – Edit to edit any slide in the inserted presentation directly within the main presentation.

Hopefully, this was a detailed enough tutorial for anyone wanting to merge, combine or insert one PowerPoint presentation into another. If you have any questions, feel free to comment. Enjoy!

Founder of Online Tech Tips and managing editor. He began blogging in 2007 and quit his job in 2010 to blog full-time. He has over 15 years of industry experience in IT and holds several technical certifications. Read Aseem's Full Bio

Read More Posts:

Home Blog PowerPoint Tutorials How to Combine PowerPoint Files

How to Combine PowerPoint Files

When making a PowerPoint presentation consisting of different reports, charts, and analyses, there might be a need to combine slides from other PowerPoint templates and presentations. There are different ways by which you can combine PowerPoints into one slide deck, including reusing slides from another presentation and copying them with or without the source formatting.

Method 1: Reuse Slides to Merge PowerPoint Presentations

To reuse slides from another PowerPoint presentation, go to Home -> New Slides -> Reuse Slides . Depending on your Ribbon menu settings, you might also be able to go directly to Home -> Reuse Slides .

Open Browse to select the PowerPoint presentation that you wish to merge.

Select the PowerPoint presentation to combine PowerPoints by selecting the required slides.

You can click on the slides to add to your existing presentation or add them individually or simultaneously via the right-click context menu.  To ensure the formatting of your slides doesn’t inherit the current presentation, check the Keep source formatting option. However, if you wish to use the formatting of the current slide deck, you can skip this option so that the imported slides adopt the theme of your current presentation.

By reusing slides from one or more PowerPoint presentations, you can merge different slides from multiple PowerPoints into one slide deck.

Method 2: Copy Slides to Insert in a PowerPoint Presentation

Similar to how you copy Google Slides templates and slides in most other presentation applications, you can also copy your slides from one or more PowerPoint presentations to combine slides in PowerPoint.

Go to the PowerPoint presentation from which you wish to copy slides, hold the CTRL key, and select the slides to copy by clicking on them. Once all required slides are selected, use CTRL+C or the right-click context menu to copy the slides.

Go to the PowerPoint presentation where you wish to merge the copied slides and paste the slides using CTRL+V or via right-click menu. If you’re using the latter, you can paste slides with source formatting, without source formatting, and as standalone images.

Final Words

Now that you know how to combine PPT files, you can choose different slides from PowerPoint presentations and templates to include in a single presentation deck. Merging PowerPoint slides and even entire presentations by using the methods mentioned above can also save you time in reproducing frequently used slides, such as introductory slides for your organization or portfolio slides to showcase your work.

Like this article? Please share

PowerPoint Tips, PowerPoint Tools Filed under PowerPoint Tutorials

Related Articles

Filed under PowerPoint Tutorials • April 16th, 2024

How to Insert an Equation in PowerPoint

Learn how to create easy-to-understand science slides by mastering how to insert an equation in PowerPoint. Step-by-step guide.

Filed under PowerPoint Tutorials • April 9th, 2024

How to Remove Notes from PowerPoint

Make alternative versions of your presentation files by learning how to remove notes from PowerPoint. Step-by-step guide with screeshots.

Filed under PowerPoint Tutorials • April 2nd, 2024

How to Round Corners in PowerPoint

Learn how to add rounded corners to shapes and images in PowerPoint. Elevate your presentations with sleek designs. Expert tips and step-by-step guides.

Leave a Reply

How to combine and merge PowerPoint-presentations

In my work as an AV-technician on conference and events, I receive Powerpoint presentations from speakers that represents different companies. My job is to make sure that these are displayed on the projector/screen at the right moment exactly as they were made. To simplify this task, we made Auto Presentation Switcher (APS) which lets you open and display new presentations using keyboard-shortcuts and network-commands. But you may ask, isn’t this something that can be done from within PowerPoint? How can we merge and switch PowerPoint presentations without using third-party software?

And yes, as it turns out, Powerpoint has methods for combining slides and linking presentations. Today we will show different ways to work with multiple PowerPoint presentations for live events, and focus on 3 methods:

• Paste and reuse slides
• Switch presentations with APS
• Use hyperlinks

After reading this blogpost, you should be a master of combining and merging PowerPoint-presentations. This can solve a lot of problems if you work as an event-producer or AV-technician on live events.

1. Paste and reuse Powerpoint slides

Some event-organizers want to have all the slides from the different speakers in one master-presentation. Then they can control everything from one presentation-clicker, and never exit the presentation during the show.

To create this presentation, you can paste the slides you need into one master-presentation. Or you can use the Reuse Slides method, which is an option in Powerpoint to import multiple slides. When pasting and reusing slides, there is one pitfall that you should be aware of, which can easily be overlooked: By default, if you bring slides from one presentation into another, PowerPoint can automatically make those slides look like the new presentation, by applying the destination theme to them. If you want the pasted slides to look identical to the original, you need to apply the option “Keep Source Formatting”

Pasting and reusing slides on Mac

This video shows how to paste slides and keep source formatting when using Mac:

There is an easier way to import multiple slides: using the “Reuse Slides” method. However, when I tested this for Mac, I couldn’t find a way to keep the source formatting. Notice in the video below that the popup-square for the theme-options doesn’t appear after reusing the slides. So, unless I did something fundamentally wrong here, the “reuse slides” method on Mac can´t be used in my workflow. The reused slides wont be identical to the originals.

Paste and reuse slides on PC

It seems that these things work better on Windows: When I paste slides, the formatting-options appear as an option before the slide is inserted, making it harder to miss: 

And when re-using slides, the “keep original formatting” is chosen as the default option: 

This is one example where the PC version of PowerPoint is more developed than the Mac counterpart. If your workflow relies heavily on combining slides from different presentations, I recommend using the Windows version.

2. Use APS to switch between different PowerPoint presentations

The method of pasting and reusing slides takes time, and it’s easy to screw up the formatting. And, if the presentations have different aspect-ratio of let’s say 16:9 and 4:3, then combining the slides becomes more difficult. For these reasons, I think its a good idea to have alternative solutions for working with multiple Powerpoint presentations. One of the reasons we made APS was to solve this problem of quickly and seamlessly displaying content from different presentations. With APS, you don’t need to edit the presentations at all, instead you get shortcuts and network-commands to open and display new presentations. And with the seamless switching method , the audience wont notice the switch: The transitions will look the same as if you progress to the next slide.

3. Link PowerPoint presentations with internal hyperlinks

If you don’t want to use a third-party program like APS to switch presentations, you can try the internal solution presented by Powerpoint: Hyperlinks. This lets you create buttons in a slide that jumps to another presentation. This video shows how it’s done: 

The Hyperlink-button switches seamlessly to the next presentation. When pushing “escape”, you go back to the presentation with the hyperlink. I recently had a discussion on Reddit where the user u/SteveRindsberg explained how he used Hyperlinks to display different Powerpoint presentations: He has one presentation which only consists of one slide with hyperlinks to all the other speaker-presentations. The hyperlink-slide acts as a remote control. To exit the speaker-presentations and return to the hyperlink-slide, he push “escape”. In this setup, the presentation with the hyperlink is always in slideshow-mode but hidden behind the speaker-presentations started from the hyperlink. I think this is a sound method, and a viable alternative to APS. However, in my biased opinion, being the founder of APS, I do want to point out some advantages of using APS compared to using hyperlinks:

• Easier preparation. With APS you just need to sort the presentations in a folder. Creating a master-slide with the hyperlinks can be more intimidating if you don’t know Powerpoint very well.
• You get more ways to trigger the command to switch presentations. The commands can be controlled from Companion and Stream Deck, making APS compatible with professional A/V networks. With Hyperlinks you can only start the presentations by pushing the links with the mouse
• Switching presentations with APS are seamless, whereas with the Hyperlink-method there is no way to avoid displaying the slide with all the hyperlinks. Arguably, you can use a video-switcher to smooth out the transitions, but with APS these things are taken care of within the computer.

Summary: The best way to combine and merge Powerpoint presentations for professional live A/V

In this blogtext we have shown different ways you can merge slides and switch presentations, and if you are a professional A/V technician working with presentations, I think its useful to know all of them:

• Pasting and reusing slides can be a good solution if you have time to prepare this, and the organizer wants to have all the slides in one presentation
• APS works great to quickly and seamlessly switch between different presentations with a minimum of preparation
• Hyperlinks works well if you are experienced with Powerpoint, you like to have a page with links to all your presentations, and you don’t need the seamless transitions between the presentations.

As always, bring different tools to your arsenal, and be prepared for any request the client might have. But before we finish this text I want to repeat one thing: If you decide to paste slides or reuse slides, remember to turn on the setting for Keep Source Formatting. Otherwise the speakers can be in for a surprise when they see the presentation on the projector. 

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Be the first to know about the latest news from PresentationTools

Contact & Follow

Company Invoicing

© PresentationTools A/S 2024

Merge Files

Save to desired format: PDF, DOC, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, TEX, HTML and others

Merging PDFs...

Merge PPT files for Free

Combine several PPT files and save in many formats including images.

Please wait your files are in process

Would you like to report this error to Aspose forum, so that we can examine and resolve the issue? You will get the notification by email when the error is fixed. Report form

Your error has been posted successfully.

Your files have been processed successfully.

Send result to:

Share file:

Merge PPT files to many format online

Our PPT merger allows you to combine several PPT files online for free. Merge PPT or any other supported file formats. No third-party software installation is required. Web-based application is fast, robust, easy-to-use and absolutely free.

Merge multi-format files

Conveniently merge your multi-format documents including DOC, PDF, DOCX, PNG,JPG, HTML, TXT and many more.

Save to desired format

Save your merged documents to PDF, JPEG, HTML and many other supported formats.

Free online quick merge operation

Lightning fast merge operations for your selected documents.

Combine to a single format

Merge documents belonging to different file formats into a single output format.

Merge image files

Ability to merge various popular image file formats easily.

Reorder merged files

Arrange and reorder the merged files as required.

How to merge PPT files

• Upload PPT files to merge them online for free.
• Specify the parameters and press the "MERGE" button to merge PPT.
• Download the merged PPT to view instantly or send a link to email.

How to merge Microsoft PowerPoint and other files?

Just use our online merger . It is fast, easy to use and entirely free. It is designed to quickly merge documents and images online.

Which formats does your merger support?

How many files can i merge at a time, what is the maximum allowed file size for merging, how can i get the merged result, for how long are my files stored on your servers, are my files safe on your servers, why does the merging process run so long, learn about different file formats.

Indulge yourself into learning more about well-known document and image file formats.

PowerPoint Presentation

A file with PPT extension represents PowerPoint file that consists of a collection of slides for displaying as SlideShow. It specifies the Binary File Format used by Microsoft PowerPoint 97-2003. A PPT file can contain several different types of information such as text, bulleted points, images, multimedia and other embedded OLE objects. Microsoft came up with newer file format for PowerPoint, known as PPTX, from 2007 onwards that is based on Office OpenXML and is different from this binary file format.

The most popular file formats to merge

We support a variety of document, web, e-book and image file formats, including PDF, DOC, DOCX, RTF, ODT, HTML, Markdown, PNG, JPG, TIFF, BMP, MOBI, CHM, WPS, TXT and many more.

Report form

Only you and the support team will have access to your files.

Send us your feedback

Send the download link to, bookmark this app.

• 日本語
• ไทย
• عربي
• Suomalainen
• Български
• Français
• 한국어
• Український
• Català
• ქართველი
• اردو
• Ελληνικά
• Tiếng Việt
• Čeština
• فارسی
• Қазақ
• Íslenska
• Português
• Русский
• Slovák
• हिन्दी
• Español
• Slovenščina
• 简体中文

How To Merge Shapes In PowerPoint: A Step-by-Step Guide

Table of Contents

Adding shapes to your PowerPoint presentations can greatly improve their visual appeal, allowing you to create unique graphics and designs that effectively communicate your message. Whether you want to combine shapes, remove parts of one shape from another, or simply make your slides look better, understanding how to use the Merge Shape commands is essential.

In this guide, we’ll explore different ways to merge shapes in PowerPoint, starting from the basics and moving to more advanced techniques. By the end of this article, you’ll have the skills to create eye-catching shapes and designs that will engage your audience.

What Is Merge Shapes in PowerPoint and Why It Is Important?

The Merge Shapes feature in PowerPoint is a handy tool that lets you combine two or more shapes to create a new custom shape. This feature can greatly enhance the visual appeal and clarity of your presentations.

Here are a few ways it can be useful in your presentations:

• Adding depth and dimension to your slides.
• Emphasizing specific areas of your presentation.
• Creating visually engaging diagrams, flowcharts, and timelines.
• Updating your slide backgrounds.
• Designing customized graphics and icons.

Steps to Merge Shapes in PowerPoint

1. Adding Shapes

To include shapes in your PowerPoint slide, head to the ‘Insert’ tab on the PowerPoint Ribbon. In the ‘Illustrations’ group, click ‘Shapes.’ Choose your desired shape from the drop-down menu, then click and drag it onto your slide. Repeat for each shape, ensuring they overlap as needed.

2. Selecting Shapes

To select multiple shapes, hold down the ‘Shift’ key and click on each shape you want to merge.

3. Accessing Merge Shapes

Once shapes are selected, go to the ‘Shape Format’ tab on the Ribbon. In the ‘Insert Shapes’ group, click ‘Merge Shapes’ to see merge options.

4. Choosing Merge Type

In the drop-down menu, select your merge preference:

• Union: Combines shapes into one.
• Combine: Removes overlaps to form a new shape.
• Fragment: Splits shapes at intersections.
• Intersect: Forms a shape from overlapping areas.
• Subtract: Removes overlapping parts of one shape from another.

5. Applying Merge

After choosing, PowerPoint will merge shapes accordingly. Adjust the merged shape’s size, position, and formatting as needed.

6. Saving Changes

Once satisfied, save your file to keep changes. Edit or use the shape in your presentation.

These steps explain merging shapes in PowerPoint, helping you create custom designs for presentations.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Merging Shapes in PowerPoint

1. Shape Selection

Make sure to select all the shapes you want to merge before using the “Merge Shapes” or “Combine Shapes” feature.

2. Compatibility Check

Check that the shapes you’re trying to merge can actually be merged using the “Merge Shapes” feature. Some shapes might not work together.

3. Stacking Order Adjustment

Remember that the order you select shapes in can change how they merge. If the result isn’t what you expected, try rearranging the order of the shapes.

4. Overlapping Areas

Be aware that merging shapes can create areas where they overlap. Adjust the shapes or use options like “Fragment” or “Intersect” to fix any overlap issues.

5. Grouping Merged Shapes

After merging shapes, it’s a good idea to group them together to avoid accidentally changing the merged shape.

6. Selecting the Correct Merge Option

Choose the right merge option (Union, Combine, Fragment, Intersect, or Subtract) based on what you want the final shape to look like.

7. Alignment and Distribution

Once you’ve merged shapes, make sure they’re aligned properly and evenly distributed for a neat and professional finish in your presentation.

Closing Thoughts

With a little practice and these helpful tips, you’ll be merging shapes in PowerPoint like a pro in no time. This powerful feature unlocks a world of creative possibilities, allowing you to design unique and impactful visuals that will leave a lasting impression on your audience. So, go forth and unleash your inner design guru!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can merge shapes be used in presentations.

Merge Shapes can be used in presentations to add depth and dimension, highlight specific areas, create diagrams and flowcharts, enhance slide backgrounds, and design custom graphics and icons.

How do I merge shapes in PowerPoint?

To merge shapes in PowerPoint, select the shapes you want to merge, navigate to the “Format” tab, click on “Merge Shapes,” and choose one of the available merge options (Union, Combine, Fragment, Intersect, or Subtract) based on your desired outcome.

Can I undo a merge operation in PowerPoint?

Yes, you can undo a merge operation in PowerPoint by pressing Ctrl + Z or selecting “Undo” from the Edit menu.

Are there any limitations to merging shapes in PowerPoint?

While Merge Shapes offers a range of options for combining shapes, some complex shapes may not merge as expected. It’s recommended to experiment with different shapes and merge options to achieve the desired result.

Why is “Merge Shapes” not available in PowerPoint?

There might not be any shapes selected on your slide. The “Merge Shapes” option appears only when you have at least two shapes chosen. Try inserting some shapes and then try merging them!

How do I merge shapes in PowerPoint using Union?

To merge shapes wiSth Union in PowerPoint, select the shapes and choose “Merge Shapes” > “Union” under the Drawing Tools Format tab (appears when shapes are selected).

How to merge two shapes using the subtract option in PowerPoint?

• Select two shapes (hold Shift to pick both).
• Go to the Shape Format tab (appears when shapes are selected).
• Click Merge Shapes > Subtract. (Subtracts second shape from first).

Can you merge 2 shapes in powerpoint?

Yes, You can merge 2 shapes in PowerPoint! Select the 2 shapes (hold Shift to pick both) and then under the “Shape Format” tab (appears when selected), choose “Merge Shapes” for a combined shape.

Merge PowerPoints Online

Merge powerpoint presentations online and free., powered by aspose.com and aspose.cloud ., * by uploading your files or using our service you agree with our terms of service and privacy policy ..

Optionally upload style master file (any presentation file)

Send the download link to

Press Ctrl + D to store it in your bookmarks in order not to search it again

We've already processed ??? files with total size of ??? Mbytes.

Want to create the same presentation Merger app? Learn how to do it here .

How to merge presentations using Aspose.Slides Merger App

• Open Aspose.Slides Merger application.
• Click inside first drop area to upload or drag & drop presentation files.
• Click inside second drop area to upload style master file, if you want to apply it to the presentations merged.
• Choose the format of resulting file. You may merge presentations into a PowerPoint presentation format or many other formats.
• Click "Merge" button to start merging presentations.
• Download or send merged file as an email. If the resulting file has PowerPoint presentation format, you may view it.
• Note that the resulting file will be deleted from our servers after 24 hours and download links will stop working after this time period.

Aspose.Slides Merger

• Merge PowerPoint and OpenOffice documents.
• Merge multiple PPT , PPTX and PowerPoint presentation files.
• Combine different PPT , PPTX , PowerPoint presentation file formats into one.
• Apply PowerPoint templates by merging Slide Master into presentations.
• Reuse slides of merged PowerPoint presentations.
• Choose the order of merged presentation files.
• Change PowerPoint presentation design.
• Set theme to PowerPoint presentation.
• What is PowerPoint Merger app? PowerPoint Merger takes presentations uploaded and merges them together into one document of PowerPoint, Word, image, html or other format.
• Which presentation formats can be merged? You may merge any presentation formats all together: PPT(X), POT(M), PPS(M), ODP, etc.
• What is the order of presentation merge? Presentations are merged in the order of their upload. After you upload presentations, you may see their merge order in upload page section.
• Can I merge PPT with style master file? You may add presentations into first upload section and slide master file into second upload section. The presentations will be merged and style master will be applied to them.

Fast and Easy Way to Merge

Convert from Anywhere

Merge Quality

Other supported mergers.

You can also merge other file formats. Please see the list below.

• Merge PPT to PDF (PowerPoint Presentation)
• PPT Merger (PowerPoint Presentation)
• PPT to PPT Combiner (PowerPoint Presentation)
• PPT to PPT Merger (PowerPoint Presentation)
• PPT to PPTX (PowerPoint Presentation)
• PPTX Merger (PowerPoint Open XML Presentation)
• PPTX to ODP (PowerPoint Open XML Presentation)
• PPTX to ODP (OpenDocument Presentation File Format)
• PPTX to PPT Merger (PowerPoint Open XML Presentation)
• PPTX to PPTX Merger (PowerPoint Open XML Presentation)
• Presentations Merger (PowerPoint Presentation)
• Two PPT Merger (PowerPoint Presentation)

Oops! An error has occurred.

Error has been reported successfully..

You have successfully reported the error, You will get the notification email when error is fixed. Click this link to visit the forums.

� Aspose Pty Ltd 2001-2022. All Rights Reserved.