How to Copy Text and Formatting From Word to PowerPoint

Do you have a Microsoft Word document you need to present in Microsoft PowerPoint? Here’s how to copy content from Word to PowerPoint without losing the formatting.

Good to know: if PowerPoint just isn’t your thing, check out this list of PowerPoint alternatives.

Copying Bulleted Lists from Word to PowerPoint

Do you have a block of text or a bulleted list you created in Word that you want to present using PowerPoint? Follow the steps below to copy and paste your text or list to PowerPoint without losing the formatting:

1. In Word, highlight the text you want to copy.

2. Right-click on the highlighted text and select “Copy.” Alternatively, highlight the text, then press Ctrl + C.

3. In PowerPoint, go to the slide where you want to paste the text that you copied from Word.

4. Select the “Insert” tab.

5. Click on “Text Box.”

6. Draw a text box on the slide by dragging and clicking in the slide area.

7. Right-click inside the text box.

8. Under “Paste Options,” select the second icon (with a paint brush), which is “Keep Source Formatting.” Alternatively, press K after opening the right-click menu.

Helpful Hint: are you looking for quicker ways to do things in PowerPoint? Bookmark this PowerPoint keyboard shortcuts list.

Copying Lines or Blocks of Text from Word to PowerPoint

If the text you want to copy from a Word document to a PowerPoint presentation doesn’t contain bullet points, you don’t have to draw a text box to retain formatting. Follow the steps below.

1. In Word, highlight the text you want to copy.

2. Right-click on the highlighted text and select “Copy.” Alternatively, highlight the text, then press Ctrl + C.

3. In PowerPoint, go to the slide where you want to paste the text that you copied from Word.

4. Within the slide you selected, right-click on the area where you want to paste the copied text.
5. Under “Paste Options,” select the second icon (with a paintbrush), which is “Keep Source Formatting.” Alternatively, press K after opening the right-click menu.

Copying a Table from Word to PowerPoint

If you have a table you created in Word that you want to paste to a PowerPoint presentation, follow these steps to do so without losing the formatting:

1. In Word, click on either of the two small squares outside the table you want to copy to highlight it.

2. Right-click on the highlighted table and select “Copy.” You can also highlight the table and press Ctrl + C.

3. In PowerPoint, go to the slide where you want to paste the table you copied from Word.

4. Right-click on the area where you want to paste the table.

5. Under “Paste Options,” select the second icon, which is “Keep Source Formatting.” Alternatively, press K after opening the right-click menu.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do these same instructions apply to pasting images formatted in Word to PowerPoint?

No. Images you inserted and formatted in Word will appear the same in PowerPoint, even if you use Ctrl + V to paste or any other paste option.

The color, size, picture style, alt text, and other formatting remains the same.

Can I resize tables pasted from a Word document?

Yes. You can resize columns and rows pasted from a Word document to a PowerPoint presentation and resize them the same way you would in Word. You can resize the column width, row height, and resize the whole thing from all four sides. If you’d like to export from Word to a PDF instead, we have you covered.

Image credit: Pixabay. All screenshots by Natalie dela Vega.