How to Convert PowerPoint into Word?

Yes, you can convert PowerPoint into Word by sending handouts, exporting the outline, or inserting slide images.

Need a quick way to reuse slides in a document? This guide shows reliable routes for Windows and Mac. You will see what each method produces, when to use it, and step-by-step moves that save time. No add-ins needed, just built-in tools.

How to Convert PowerPoint into Word: Methods That Work

This section maps the main options. Pick the output you need, then jump to the matching steps below.

Method	What You Get In Word	Best Use
Create Handouts (Send to Word)	Page layouts with slide thumbnails, notes, or outline text placed on Word pages	Class handouts, training packs, meeting notes
Export Outline Only	A clean text outline built from slide titles and body placeholders	Drafts, study notes, policy docs
Save Slides As Pictures	Each slide saved as PNG/JPG, inserted like images in Word	Reports that must match slide design
Copy And Paste	Selected objects or whole slides pasted; keep source look or paste as images	Quick excerpts and one-off slides
Print To PDF, Then Open In Word	Word converts PDF pages; text may be editable, layout holds better	Long decks where layout weight matters
OneNote Route	Send slides to OneNote, then copy pages to Word	Annotating slides before sending to Word
Notes Pane Copy	Copy speaker notes from PowerPoint’s Notes Pane into Word	Scripts, briefs, presenter guides
Third-Party Converters	Web tools that turn PPT into DOCX or text	When you lack Office on a device

Use Send To Microsoft Word (Windows)

This built-in route sends slides straight into a .docx with your choice of layout. It is fast and keeps structure tidy.

Open your deck in PowerPoint.
Select File > Export > Create Handouts, then choose Create Handouts again.
In the Send to Microsoft Word window, pick a layout: Notes next to slides, Blank lines next to slides, Notes below slides, or Outline only.
Choose to link or embed. Linking keeps slides synced with the deck; embedding makes a standalone Word file.
Press OK. Word opens with your pages ready.

Microsoft documents this feature under Create handouts in Word, including layout choices and version notes.

Layout Tips

Notes next to slides suits training binders. Text sits beside each thumbnail.
Notes below slides gives more width for scripts.
Outline only drops images and sends pure text. Fast for editing.
Linked handouts update when you change slides. If you plan to share the .docx, pick embed.

Export Only The Outline To Word

Need clean text without thumbnails? Export the slide outline. Titles and body placeholders go out; text boxes and shapes stay behind.

In PowerPoint, go to the File menu.
Pick Save As or Export and choose Rich Text Format (.rtf).
Save and open the .rtf in Word.

Microsoft engineers note that an .rtf outline includes title and content placeholders only. See their guidance on the Rich Text Format outline.

Make The Outline Shine

Use consistent Title and Content placeholders in your slides. That structure feeds the outline.
Convert SmartArt back to bullets before exporting, or you may lose text.
Promote and demote headings in Word to rebuild hierarchy fast.

Save Slides As Images, Then Insert Into Word

When layout fidelity matters, save slides as pictures and drop them into a document. The look matches the deck tightly.

In PowerPoint, select File > Save As.
Pick PNG or JPG from the file type list.
Choose All Slides. PowerPoint saves each slide as an image.
Open Word and insert the images in order. Add captions or headings as needed.

If you only need a few visuals, right-click a slide or group of objects in PowerPoint, use Save as Picture, then insert that file in Word. Microsoft’s forum thread outlines this approach in the Save as Picture notes.

Copy And Paste With Formatting

For quick excerpts, paste selected shapes or a full slide. Use Paste Special to control the result.

Copy the content in PowerPoint.
In Word, open the arrow under Paste and choose Paste Special.
Select Picture to lock the look, or pick Keep Source Formatting to bring editable parts across.

This route is simple for one or two slides. For full decks, the handouts route stays cleaner.

Converting PowerPoint To Word With Formatting Control

These pointers help you pick the right route and avoid snags while you convert.

Pick By Goal

Edit long text — use the outline.
Preserve the slide look — use images.
Share notes with slides — send handouts.
Keep updates flowing — link handouts to the deck.

Fix Common Hiccups

Missing text: It was in a text box or shape. Move it into a placeholder, then export again.
Broken bullets: Clean up lists in PowerPoint first, then export.
Heavy images: Compress pictures in Word, or export slides at a lower resolution.
Slow send to Word: Close other apps and try embedding instead of linking.

PowerPoint For Mac Routes

PowerPoint for Mac leans on the same ideas. Send notes and slides as images, or export the outline and edit in Word.

To capture layout, save slides as PNG/JPG and insert in Word.
To capture text, export the .rtf outline and open it in Word for Mac.
If you only need notes, open the Notes Pane, select the text, and paste it to Word.

Older builds had different menu names. The two routes above stay stable across versions.

Which Method Should You Choose?

Match the job to the route. The table below pairs everyday tasks with the cleanest result.

Scenario	Recommended Method	Why It Fits
Trainer needs a workbook with room for notes	Create Handouts, notes next to slides	Thumbnails guide the reader; space for writing is built in
Writer building a policy draft from slides	Export Outline (.rtf)	All text lands in Word styles ready for editing
Manager attaching a few slides to a report	Save As Picture for those slides	Placement in Word stays stable
Analyst archiving a long deck	Print to PDF, open in Word	Pages keep layout while still giving selectable text
Team that keeps revising the deck	Send to Word with linking	Edits in PowerPoint flow to the document
Presenter writing a script	Copy from Notes Pane	Clean text with slide context nearby
Student making study notes	Outline plus a few slide images	Fast reading with key visuals where needed

Pro Tips For Clean Results

Prep The Deck

Use Title and Content placeholders.
Flatten complex SmartArt first.
Trim hidden slides you do not need.

Tidy The Document

Apply Word styles to the outline so headings and lists look consistent.
Add a table of contents after you finish edits.
Compress images to keep the .docx size lean.

Print To PDF, Then Open In Word

This route keeps page order and visuals steady. Word can convert the PDF into an editable .docx. Results vary by font and slide design, yet it works well for long decks.

In PowerPoint, pick File > Export > Create PDF/XPS and publish the deck.
Open the PDF in Word. Word offers to convert it to an editable document.
Scan through pages. Fix any spacing quirks and adjust headings.

Version And Platform Notes

Menu labels shift across releases. On recent Windows builds the handouts route sits under Export. Older builds used Send to Word or placed it under Publish. On Mac, the outline and image routes stay steady.

These labels vary across regions widely.

Accessibility And Layout Care

Add alt text to images in Word.
Keep heading levels logical.
Use real lists, not manual dashes.
Pick high contrast colors and legible fonts.

Privacy And Sharing

Before sharing, remove hidden slides and private notes in PowerPoint. Linked handouts point back to your deck. For outside recipients, embed content to avoid broken links.

Time-Saving Playbook

Use this quick chooser:

Clean prose? Outline.
Slide look? Images.
Slides + writing? Handouts.
Static pages? PDF.

Why These Routes Work

Each method uses built-in export pipelines that respect PowerPoint’s structure. Placeholders carry out as text. Thumbnails move as pictures. Word then adds styles, paging, and printing tools. You get a document that reads well and stays true to the deck.

Troubleshooting Quick List

Fonts look off: Install the same fonts used in the deck or replace them with near matches.
Images blur: Export slides at a higher resolution or paste as vector when possible.
Link updates fail: Keep the Word file and the deck in one folder, then update links.
Notes missing: Make sure notes live in the Notes Pane.

Shortcuts You Can Trust

Need to reverse the flow? Use Slides from Outline in PowerPoint.
Sharing outside your team? Embed content, not links.

Your Next Step

Pick the route that fits your task and run it once with a test deck. Once you like the result, repeat with your real slides. If your goal is text editing speed, the outline route wins. If layout fidelity matters, images win. If you need slides and notes side by side, send handouts. That is the whole playbook for how to convert powerpoint into word. Bookmark this page so you can repeat the steps next time you need to convert a deck. With practice, you will have a smooth path for how to convert powerpoint into word.