Jan 26, 2026
How to Speed Up the PowerPoint Making Process
Have you ever been working on a PowerPoint and it feels like it is taking too long? Well, do not worry, because in this article we will look at eight ways you can speed up the process of making PowerPoints
First, is learning a bunch of keyboard shortcuts, which saves a lot of time. Things like control+v which is paste, control+c which is copy, and control+d which is duplicate.
Second, is using the same background for the whole presentation after the title slide. This allows me to create the first slide then just duplicate that slide over and over again for as many times as I need, then editing each one as needed. Doing it this way as opposed to clicking new slide every time keeps all of my formatting from the first slide so that I do not have to redo it every slide.
Third, is planning out what will appear on the slides first. Typically, I will use word for this, then just copy and paste the wording onto each slide. Also, I try to keep it between 3-6 sentences per slide that summarize each point of what I am going to say. Anything more than that should have a new slide. Plus, since PowerPoint allows you to record slide by slide instead of the whole thing at once, this means each take will be shorter.
Fourth, for many educational and formal presentations, you typically do not really need to use complex transitions between slides. Simple or no transitions can work well if the content of the presentation is really good. Only use transitions if you really think they will improve the presentation or if it is supposed to be a casual presentation.
Fifth, is repurposing. Sometimes I will copy a presentation's format, then just copy and paste it onto a new PowerPoint file. Then, I change the background and edit it to whatever I need without having to draw up a new format.
Sixth, are images. On my computer, I gathered a bunch of images that would work for PowerPoints and put them on one file. Then, when I am creating a PowerPoint, I have one place from which I can draw illustrations or images. Also, PowerPoint has stock photos you can use too. Typically, I try to not have more than one illustration or image per slide and I do not use one unless it is necessary or helpful to get my point across.
Seventh, customize your quick access toolbar for any tools that you often use. This saves a lot of time and is relatively easy to do.
Finally, make sure your computer is running smoothly. PowerPoint can get really slow if your computer has too many temp files or has not been optimized in a while. If you do not know how to do this check out our other articles on computer maintenance.