Computer

so you can open any PowerPoint file

If we have more than one application compatible with the file format used with PowerPoint, such as OpenOffice or LibreOffice applications, if this extension is associated with both applications, unless we change the default application to open this format, we will never be able to open PowerPoint files by double-clicking on it.

Using the right button

If, as we have commented in the previous section, we have several applications compatible with the PowerPoint .PPT and PPTX format installed on the computer and the default option is not the Microsoft solution, we can open this file format through the context menu of Windows by clicking the right mouse button.

Next, we select the Open with option and all the applications installed on the computer that are compatible with the PowerPoint file format will be displayed and where we have to select PowerPoint. Yes, we want that, from that moment on, the default application to open the file format is the Microsoft solution, we must check the box Always use this app to open .pptx files.

Open PowerPoint files

From the app

Another method that we can use to open PowerPoint files without having to use context menus or worry about the default Windows application is to do it directly from the application. To open a PowerPoint file from PowerPoint, once we have opened the application, click on the menu Open located in the left column and, in the right section, Review to go to the location where the file is located and double-click on it to open it in the application.

Open PowerPoint files

What file formats can PowerPoint open

With the release of Office 2007, Microsoft introduced a new format to PowerPoint. Until now, the format for PowerPoint files was .ppt. Office 2007 marked a radical change in this suite of applications, not only introducing the .pptx format, but also including the .docx and .xlsx formats of Word and Excel respectively.

These formats allow you to add rich content that was not available in previous versions, content that is not available if we use the old format to save the presentations we make, so we should only use it if we want to maximize its compatibility with previous versions.

Office is the suite of applications on which all applications are based to create text files, spreadsheets or presentations. Being the main market reference, in the case of PowerPoint, Microsoft does not have any need to add support for other formats and we find a clear example with the formats compatible with this application. The file formats that we can open with PowerPoint are:

  • .PPTX – Format of PowerPoint files as of PowerPoint 2007.
  • .PPT – PowerPoint file format up to PowerPoint 2003.
  • .PPTM – PowerPoint files that include VBA macros.
  • .PPSX – This format represents non-editable PowerPoint slide files that were created with PowerPoint 2007 onwards.
  • .PPS – Non-editable file format created with versions of PowerPoint up to and including the version included in Office 2003.
  • .PPSM – Presentation that includes macros that can be run from a presentation.
  • .XML – PowerPoint documents created and saved with this PowerPoint.
  • .POTX , .POT, .POTM – These are the PowerPoint template formats.
  • .THMX – This is the extension of Office theme formats.
  • .TXT, .RTF, .DOCM, DOCX, .DOC, .WPD – Text files that include some type of diagrams.
  • .PPAM, .PPA – These files contain plug-ins to extend the features of PowerPoint.
  • .ODP – OpenDocument presentation files

PowerPoint Supported Formats

Save PowerPoint files in other formats

Once we know which are all the file formats that are compatible with PowerPoint, we can easily come to the conclusion that these same formats are the ones that we can use to export the documents that we create with this application. PowerPoint allows us to save the benefits in the same file formats that we can also open with the application.

But, in addition, since it is an application to create presentations, we can also save the presentations in video format to later edit it with an application if we want to add videos embedded in the applications (a process that can be done directly from the application). In addition, it also allows us to convert each slide into an image in JPG or PNG format and create an animation in GIF format.

If we want to save PowerPoint files in other formats compatible with previous versions of Office, in .ODP format to open in applications such as OpenOffice and LibreOffice, create a video in GIF, MP4, WMV format or export the slides in image format (JPG, PNG, SVG) independently among other options, click on File, Archive on the ribbon, and then click on save a copy.

Next, in the right column, click on the down arrow of the file format, which by default indicates PowerPoint Presentation (*.pptx) and select the format we want to use.

Save PowerPoint other formats

Open and edit .PPTS files in PowerPoint

The files in .PPTX and .PPT format are presentation files, files that, as soon as they are opened with PowerPoint or with any other application compatible with this format, shows the editing mode of the file, so we do not have to do absolutely anything for ourselves. for part to edit a file in PowerPoint rather than open it with the application.

If we find a PowerPoint file created so that, when opened with PowerPoint, it plays automatically without showing the editing mode, we are talking about files in .PPTS format. This file format opens PowerPoint in presentation mode, without offering the possibility of entering editing mode, even if the file is not protected or has been created by us.

Edit PPTS PowerPoint files

If we want to open files in .PPTS format in PowerPoint, we can only do it in one way, unlike if it is a file in .PPT or .PPTX format, PowerPoint editable files. To open and edit a file in this format, the only way to do it is from the application itself. Once we have opened the application, click on the button Open and then in Review to select the file location.

Alternatives to open PowerPoint files

PowerPoint, like Word and Excel, were the first applications to hit the market that allowed you to create text files, spreadsheets, and presentations. It was not the only application of its time, Lotus123 being the main rival, a rival that soon abandoned the competition to become the market reference and that has allowed Microsoft to be currently the king of office automation.

However, in the case of PowerPoint, this is not the only application with which we can open this type of file, since, as we all know, it is necessary to pay a subscription to be able to use both this application and the rest of the included applications. . If we need to open a PowerPoint file and we are not Microsoft 365 users, we can use one of the following options.

PowerPoint via web

Microsoft makes available to all users who have a Microsoft account the ability to open Word, Excel and PowerPoint files through this link. To open PowerPoint files, we just have to click on the PowerPoint icon located on the left side of the web, in the right section, click on Upload. At that point, the file will be uploaded to OneDrive where it will remain stored until we delete it.

Open web PowerPoint

Any changes we make to the file will automatically be saved to the file, a file that we can download directly when saving changes or using OneDrive.

Google Drive

If we are Google Drive users, we can use the search giant’s Google Docs platform to open files in this format without having to convert the file or download an application compatible with it. We just have to upload the file to the platform and double-click on it so that Google takes care of automatically converting the file and being able to open it with Google Presentations.

Open PowerPoint with Google Drive

Once the file has been converted to Google Slides’ own format, when we save the file, it will use the Google format, not the PowerPoint format. If we modify the file and want to export it in PowerPoint .PPTX format, we must access the menu File, Archive and select the option Discharge selecting the Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx) option.

LibreOffice

If we want to work without an internet connection and with greater freedom, we can make use of the LibreOffice suite of applications. LibreOffice is the free alternative to Office, with which we can create all kinds of files, including presentations in .ODT format that is natively compatible with PowerPoint. With LibreOffice we can open all kinds of files in .PPT and .PPTX format and make any changes we want.

Open PowerPoint with LibreOffice

In addition, it also allows us to save changes in PowerPoint format, making it one of the best options for working with this file format without having to pay for a Microsoft 365 subscription. Downloading LibreOffice is completely free and is available at through this link. The application that we must use to open a PowerPoint with LibreOffice is print.

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