How to Import Slides from a Word Outline into PowerPoint

PowerPoint allows you to use a Word outline to create new slides in a presentation.  If the Word document is formatted properly with the correct heading styles, you can simply insert the Word document into the PowerPoint presentation and PowerPoint will translate the information into slides with the appropriate titles and bullets.

You will need some experience with applying heading styles in Word before you can do this. In Word, there 9 levels of heading styles which are Heading 1 through Heading 9.   Heading styles help give your documents structure.  For example, Heading 1 is the highest outline level and is usually used for the Title of the document.  Heading 9 is the lowest and least commonly used. In PowerPoint, these heading styles translate as follows:

In Word, heading styles are displayed on the Ribbon.  Only Heading 1 and Heading 2 styles are displayed in the Styles gallery by default.  However, after you apply a Heading 2 style, Heading 3 style will appear and so on to allow you to continue formatting your document.

Apply Heading Styles to a Word Document

In order for PowerPoint to translate your Word outline, you will need to apply your Word styles properly before you import it into PowerPoint.  To apply a Heading style, select the text and click on the Home Tab > Styles Group and click on the style you require.  In the example below, we’re applying the Heading 1 and Heading 2 styles to display single level bullets in PowerPoint.

Once you have formatted your outline the way you want it, save and close the Word file before you import it.

Import an Outline from Word into PowerPoint

1. Click on the Home tab > Slides Group > New Slide menu
2. Choose Slides from Outline
3. Navigate to the folder where you have saved your Word Outline
4. Click on the file you wish to import
5. Click on the Insert button.  (PowerPoint converts the outline into slides)

1. To see if your slides copied over properly, click on the slide sorter button. You should see the slides you imported from Word.  In our case, we imported 7 additional slides into our presentation.