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How to Insert a PDF in PowerPoint

How to Insert a PDF in PowerPoint | Quick Tips & Tutorial for your presentations

Portable document formats, more known as PDFs, were a revolution in the way we share information. They are an easy and universal way to keep everyone informed and a great tool for your presentations. Are you in a meeting with investors speaking about your company’s achievements? Add a PDF with your last year’s performance! Maybe you are speaking about your school center and the different studies it offers? Add a PDF with a schedule so that everyone knows when your classes are happening!

Giving a bit more information to your listeners is always appreciated, so in this tutorial you are going to learn the different ways to insert a PDF in PowerPoint

How to insert a PDF file as an object

If you insert a PDF file as an object, it will appear as a small icon. It’s a great tool if you want to have all your documents easily accessible by your readers in the same document. To insert it, follow these steps: 

  • First, check that your file is not opened anywhere else. Then, choose the slide where you want it to appear. For this example, we are using the Retro Mollinetti Meeting presentation.
  • Open the Insert tab and click Object → Create from file. If you click on Display as an icon, your document will appear as a small PDF icon.
  • Browse the document and click OK. 
How to Insert a PDF in PowerPoint
Select a slide and insert the PDF

Pro tip: select the icon you just inserted and go to Insert → Action, on the top menu. Then, select Open. If you do this, the file will open when someone clicks on it. 

Insert a PDF in PowerPoint
Make your icon interactive

How to insert a PDF file as a picture

If you are looking for a more visual representation of your file, the solution is adding it as a picture. This is a simpler process that will show a page of your document in your presentation. Let’s see how it goes: 

  • Open your PDF and make the part you want to appear in your slide visible.
  • Make a screenshot of the file. For that, press Windows + Shift + S (or Command + Shift + 4, if you use Mac), the cursor will then allow you to select the part you want to print. After you release it, the selection will be saved as an image in your clipboard.
How to Insert a PDF in PPT
Make a screen capture of your document
  • Open the presentation. For this example, we’re going to use the template Professional Business Meeting. 
  • Select the slide you want your image to appear and paste it. Now you can resize or move the file as you please!
Insert a PDF in PPT
Paste the picture in your slide

Now you are ready to put your knowledge into practise. Take a look at our website and download a template to start preparing your next presentation!

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