Export Video File from PowerPoint

Some assignments may require a narrated slideshow. While Panopto Recordings and other tools allow for this functionality, PowerPoint is commonly used as well. Below are instructions on how to export video files for a PowerPoint presentation on both the Windows and Mac OS platforms.

Please check the video after exporting for both accuracy in expected playback as well as final size. Videos must be under 500MB to be uploaded to Canvas or Panopto Recordings. If the final video is larger than 500MB, please follow these instructions for compressing videos.

Windows

(from Microsoft Office support site)

On the File menu, select Save to ensure all your recent work has been saved in PowerPoint presentation format (.pptx).
Click File > Export > Create a Video. (Or, on the Recording tab of the ribbon, click Export to Video.)
In the first drop-down box under the Create a Video heading, select the video quality you want, which pertains to the resolution of the finished video. The higher the video quality, the larger the file size. (You may want to test them to determine which one meets your needs).

Option

Resolution

For displaying on

Ultra HD (4K)

3840 x 2160, largest file size

Large monitors

Full HD (1080p)

1920 x 1080, large file size

Computer and HD screens

HD (720p)
recommended

1280 x 720, medium file size

Internet and DVD

Standard (480p)

852 x 480, smallest file size

Portable devices
The second drop-down box under the Create a Video heading tells whether your presentation includes narration and timings. (You may switch this setting if you like.)
- If you haven't recorded timed narration, by default the value is Don't Use Recorded Timings and Narrations.
  
  The default time spent on each slide is 5 seconds. You can change that timing in the Seconds to spend on each slide box. To the right of the box, click the up arrow to increase the duration, or click the down arrow to decrease the duration.
- If you have recorded a timed narration, by default the value is Use Recorded Timings and Narrations.
  IMPORTANT: to ensure the full audio from the final slide exports in its entirety, set the default time per slide to the length of the audio recording on the final slide.
Click Create Video.
In the File name box, enter a file name for the video, browse for the folder that will contain this file, and then click Save.
In the Save as type box, choose MPEG-4 Video.

You can track the progress of the video creation by looking at the status bar at the bottom of your screen. The video creation process can take up to several hours depending on the length of the video and the complexity of the presentation.

Tip: For a long video, you can set it up to be created overnight. That way, it’ll be ready for you the following morning.
To play your newly-created video, go to the designated folder location, and then double-click the file.

After the export is finished and the video recording is checked for proper playback, it can be uploaded to Canvas.

Mac OS

(from Microsoft Office support site)

This is a subscriber-only feature This feature is available to Office 365 Subscribers only.

Version 16.19 (required) for recorded narration to be included in exported video files.

If the MP4 and MOV options described in the following procedure aren't in your version of PowerPoint, see Requirements below for more information.

Select File > Export.

(Don't use Save As, because it doesn't offer video options.)
Open the File Format list and select the video format that you want (MP4 or MOV).

(These two options are only available in the Office 365 subscription version of PowerPoint.)
Select the video Quality you want: Presentation Quality, Internet Quality (recommended), or Low Quality. The higher the video quality, the larger the file size.
If you have recorded timings and want to use them in the video you create from your presentation, make sure the box next to Use Recorded Timings and Narrations is checked. You can also choose to set the amount of time the video will spend on each slide if you don't have a set timing.
IMPORTANT: to ensure the full audio from the final slide exports in its entirety, set the default time per slide to the length of the audio recording on the final slide.
When you've made all your selections, choose Export.

Note: When you export your presentation as a video, any narrated audio that was recorded in Slide Show will play, but other embedded media files won't play.

After you've saved your presentation as a video, you can share it just as you would any other video, by using applications or devices that can open and play videos.

Requirements for saving in a video format

Task, checklist, planning symbol

Applies to:
PowerPoint for Office 365 for Mac
Version 16.19 (required) for recorded narration to be included in exported video files.
License: Office 365 Subscription
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