You’ve got a great idea. You spend hours getting it into a presentation. But, as you’re on the big stage, the idea falls flat in the big meeting. It’s not necessarily the idea but the presentation it’s kept in. Your slides lag, and your animations are off. There’s a big roadblock, and it’s PowerPoint.
Here’s a better way: Turn that stilted PowerPoint presentation (PPT) into a captivating video. With video, your presentation flows seamlessly, and viewers stay focused on the content instead of technical issues.
Discover how to make a PowerPoint into a video using PowerPoint’s built-in features or Loom’s screen recorder.
2 methods to convert PowerPoint to video
There are a few ways to convert your presentations, but two stand out as the simplest. Microsoft PowerPoint’s built-in feature lets you save your slides in a video format for quick and easy conversion.
But if you want a bit more punch—like live narration, personalized interactions, and video editing features to break down complex content—Loom’s video creation platform can turn your standard presentation into a dynamic video experience your audience will remember.
Here’s an overview of how to convert PPT files into high-quality videos:
Using PowerPoint’s built-in features
PowerPoint includes an easy, built-in feature for transforming your slides into a video presentation—no need for extra software or online tools.
Here’s how to make the most of this feature:
Step 1: Finalize your presentation
When converting a PPT into a video, the first step is to finalize your presentation. Think of this as a film director giving the last nod before the cameras roll. You want every slide, every animation, and every transition to be just right.
Use these PowerPoint tips to get your PPT polished and presentation-ready:
- Make last-minute edits. Review each slide to check for consistent fonts, colors, and formatting.
- Set appropriate slide timings. Decide how long each slide should be displayed to keep viewers engaged but not rushed. Think about this like the pacing in a movie. If it’s too slow, you’ll lose the audience’s attention—too fast, and they’ll miss the message.
- Simplify animations. Keep animations clean and professional. Too many can distract from your main message. Avoid excessive effects like “boomerangs,” animations that repeat back and forth, or “fly-ins,” where text or images enter from the screen edge. While entertaining, they can turn your presentation into something that feels more like a circus than an informative video.
- Add background music if needed. Low-volume, unobtrusive music can give your video a polished feel, but make sure it doesn’t overpower your voice. You want it to enhance the experience, not dominate it.
- Test the presentation to double-check for errors. Before converting it to video, view your presentation in “Slide Show” mode to catch any last-minute inconsistencies, typos, or hiccups.
While this may seem like a lengthy checklist, each polished detail will be worth the effort in the final video. Once everything’s in place, you’re ready to add your narration.
Step 2: Add your narration
Recording a voice-over narration helps you add your own personal commentary, making your video more engaging. It also helps you break down complex ideas.
PowerPoint offers two easy ways to add audio—insert a prerecorded audio file or record directly within PowerPoint.
Option 1: Insert prerecorded audio from your PC
This is perfect if you’ve already recorded your audio and want to quickly add it to your slides.
- Select “Insert” > “Media” > “Audio”
Head to the “Insert” tab and locate “Media,” where you’ll find the “Audio” option. Choose “Audio on My PC” from the drop-down menu to bring up your files.
- Choose your file and insert
In the dialog box, pick your audio file, then click “Insert.” Your file will now appear as a small audio icon on the slide.
Option 2: Record audio directly in PowerPoint
If you’d rather add a personal touch by recording live, PowerPoint has a built-in tool to let you do it on the spot.
- Select “Insert” > “Media” > “Audio” and choose “Record Audio”
This opens a recording box where you can name your audio file for easy identification.
Click “Record” and start speaking. You’ll see the timer running, so take a deep breath and speak naturally, like you’re explaining something to a friend.
When you’re done, hit “Stop,” then press “Play” to review your recording. If you like what you hear, select “OK” to add it to the slide. If not, you can redo it as many times as you want.
- Move your audio icon as required
Drag the audio icon to a spot that won’t cover key information on the slide. You might want to keep it consistent from slide to slide to give a visual cue to your viewers.
Step 3: Export as a video
Now for the final step: exporting your presentation as a video.
- Go to “File” > “Export” > “Create a Video”
If you’re using the Recording tab, you can also choose “Export to Video” from there. This opens up options for setting your video quality and timings.
You’ll have options to adjust the video quality and resolution—opt for higher quality if you’re sharing this with a larger audience or on a big screen.
Choose “Use Recorded Timings and Narrations” to ensure the video follows your pre-set narration and transitions.
Once your settings are in place, click “Create Video.” You can choose either MPEG-4 Video (.mp4 video) or Windows Media Video (.wmv) file format.
Finally, in the dialog box, name your video file and choose where you’d like to save it.
Using Loom’s screen recorder
Follow these steps to bring your PPT to life with Loom.
Step 1: Prepare your PowerPoint and set up Loom
First, open your PPT and ensure it’s polished and ready to go. Then open Loom on your desktop or web browser.
Pro tip: For Google Slides, use Loom’s Chrome extension to record right from your browser. For a local PPT, Keynote, or Canva, use the Loom Desktop app to record with your camera bubble in any app.
Step 2: Choose your recording settings
Once Loom is open, select the recording settings that best fit your needs:
Step 3: Start recording
With everything set up, hit the “Start Recording” button in Loom. Select the screen or window with your PPT, and begin your slideshow in “Full-screen presentation” mode.
This setup will allow viewers to experience your presentation as if they’re watching it live.
Pro tip: If you’re covering detailed content, pause briefly on key slides to allow viewers to absorb the information. Think of how great orators pause at significant moments to build anticipation and give their audiences a moment to focus.
Step 4: Add narration and engage with your audience
As you move through the presentation, narrate naturally and highlight any key points.
Loom also offers a drawing tool, making it easy to annotate and emphasize important details, circle specific data points, or underline essential terms as you speak.
For example, as you discuss an upward trend, you draw a quick arrow pointing to the chart, guiding your viewers’ eyes exactly where you want their focus.
The drawing tool lets you direct attention, much like a lecturer might use a laser pointer on stage. But even better—your audience can replay those visual cues if they need a second look.
Step 5: Finish and save your recording
When you’re finished, pause your recording in Loom. Your video will be saved automatically to your Loom library, where you can preview it before sharing.
Pro tip: Loom allows you to pause or rerecord your video. If you stumble over a word or misspeak, pause the recording, adjust as needed, or start a new take. That said, there’s no need to worry about awkward pauses and filler words like “ums” and “ahs.” Loom’s AI video editor will automatically trim them out later.
Best practices when converting a PPT into a video
Whether you’re sharing knowledge with a remote team, pitching an idea to a global audience, or archiving important data, here’s how to ensure your PowerPoint videos hit the mark.
- Optimize for accessibility. Include closed captions and transcriptions to enhance comprehension and retention for viewers from all walks of life. Luckily, video creation tools like Loom automatically generate transcriptions and closed captions, making every word clear for your audience without any extra effort on your part.
- Use consistent branding and slide transitions. Reinforce your company’s image with consistent branding elements, including logos, fonts, and color schemes.
- Keep slides simple and visual-heavy. Avoid cluttering slides with too much text or small graphics. Let the visuals do the talking and support key points with your narration. Think of Steve Jobs’ famous product launches. His minimalistic slides often featured just a few powerful images and words. This approach enhanced the visual appeal and focused the audience on his messaging.
- End your presentation with a call to action (CTA). If your presentation is informational, use Loom to add a clickable CTA link to redirect your audience to additional resources, a feedback survey, or contact details to encourage them to take action.
- Set the right slide duration and pace for viewers. Remember the last time you watched a presentation where slides lagged, or maybe they sped by too fast? Keep slide duration around five to seven seconds unless a slide requires more attention. For presentations with a lot of data, extend the timing slightly to allow viewers to digest the information.
Bring your PowerPoint presentations to life
So there you have it. There are two ways to convert your PowerPoint presentation to video. Whether you’re wrapping up team training, presenting a video marketing strategy, delivering a sales pitch, or mapping a project timeline for team alignment, video is the most engaging way to relay your messaging.
With Loom’s screen recorder, you can take it a step further by adding narration, highlighting key points, and even including a friendly camera bubble so viewers can connect with you on a personal level. With auto-transcription and AI-based editing, Loom makes it even simpler to create accessible, impactful presentations that people can watch anytime, anywhere.
Forget the rushed pressure of live presentations and create interactive, ready-to-share videos with Loom.
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