File Types That Can be Opened in PowerPoint 2019 for Windows

Programs such as PowerPoint are a very significant part of our workflows not just because of their vast abilities, but also because they can understand content from so many file formats. These include file types that PowerPoint can save and open. We already explored file types that PowerPoint 2019 can save to, but when you go and look at the file types that PowerPoint 2019 for Windows can open, you'll find that the list of file types is not exactly the same. There are several omissions and additions compared to that list. When you access the Open dialog box in PowerPoint 2019 for Windows, you can choose the file type you want to open, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Open file types in PowerPoint 2019

Have you ever wondered what all those file types are? Should you even be concerned about them at all? We suggest you take a look for yourself:

1. All Files

Essentially any file you throw at PowerPoint, just in case you want to try your luck!

2. All PowerPoint Presentations

Since all these files are covered in later categories, we don't cover them here. Please see the subsequent category listings on this page.

3. Presentations and Shows

These are default PowerPoint file formats:

PPTX (PowerPoint Presentation)

This file type is the default open option in PowerPoint 2007 and later. It is based on XML and can be distinctly identified as different from the older file formats for PowerPoint because it has four letters rather than three, for example PPTX rather than the older PPT format.

PPT (PowerPoint 97–2003 Presentation)

This file type was the default format for presentations created in PowerPoint versions 2003 and earlier. Most of the time, this is known as the PowerPoint 97 to 2003 format (or the PowerPoint 97 to 2004 format if you include Mac versions of PowerPoint).

PPTM (PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Presentation)

This is identical to the PPTX file format other than the fact that file type creates presentations with macros enabled.

PPSX (PowerPoint Show)

This file type comprises presentations that have been saved as a slide show. In all respects, this is the same as a PPTX file, but when double-clicked, this opens in Slide Show view rather than Normal view. If you use the Open dialog, it opens in Normal view. See our PPT vs. PPS (or PPTX vs. PPSX) article to understand the differences better.

PPS (PowerPoint 97–2003 Show)

This file type comprises presentations that have been saved as a slide show in PowerPoint 97 to 2003, in all respects this is the same as a PPT file, but when double-clicked, this opens in Slide Show view rather than Normal view. If you use the Open dialog, it opens in Normal view. See our PPT vs. PPS (or PPTX vs. PPSX) article to understand the differences better.

PPSM (PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Show)

This file type comprises presentations that have been saved as a slide show with macros enabled and works in the same way as PPSX files.

4. PowerPoint XML Presentations

This signifies XML (PowerPoint XML Presentation) presentations saved in an XML format for use in an XML information storage system.

5. PowerPoint Templates:

Typically these files open as editable templates when you use the Open dialog box. On the other hand, if you double click these files, they open as new presentations based on the template:

POTX (PowerPoint Template)

This file type is a template that you can use as a starter for future presentations. This file format works with PowerPoint 2007 and subsequent versions of PowerPoint.

POT (PowerPoint 97–2003 Template)

This file type is a template in PowerPoint 97 to 2003. You can still open and use these in newer versions of PowerPoint.

POTM (PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Template)

This file type is a template in the same way as POTX files, but with macros enabled.

6. Office Themes

These are THMX (Office Theme) files, choosing this option creates a new presentation based on the chosen Office Theme.

7. All Outlines

These are all outline formats that PowerPoint can import to create slides. All text in an outline is imported as text placeholders, to learn about text placeholders, refer to our Text Boxes vs. Text Placeholders tutorial. All these outlines can also be imported into your existing PowerPoint presentations using the techniques explained in our Import Outlines in PowerPoint tutorial.

TXT

Text files, typically created by Notepad in Microsoft Windows (or TextEditin Mac OS X)

RTF

(Outline/RTF), Rich Text Format files

WPS

Corel WordPerfect files

DOCX

Word 2007 and later versions create these files

DOCM

Same as DOCX above, but includes macros

DOC

Word 97 to 2003 files

WPD

Corel WordPerfect files

8. PowerPoint Add-Ins

PPAM (PowerPoint Add-In)

This file type opens presentations as an add-in that includes custom commands or VBA code. Typically used in PowerPoint 2007 or later versions.

PPA (PowerPoint 97–2003 Add-In)

This opens presentations as an add-in that you can open in PowerPoint 97 to 2003. Typically used in PowerPoint 2003 or earlier versions.

9. Open Document Presentations

This opens ODP (Open Document Presentation) files, such as those created by Google Docs or OpenOffice.