how to apply template to existing presentation

Apply a template to an existing presentation

When you want to apply a template, either to a new or existing presentation, start fresh with a blank presentation.

If you need help knowing where to put a template file so you can apply it as described here, see Where template files belong below. 

Select a template

Select File > New .

Under New , you can navigate to a personal or workgroup template, Search for a template, or choose a featured template or theme from the gallery.

To navigate to a personal or workgroup template, select the tab next to Featured , which may be named Personal , Shared , or Custom (depending on the circumstance) and then open the folder that contains the template you want.

If you don't have two tabs to select from under the Search box , you can change that. See Where template files belong below.

Select the template to see a preview of it, then click Create .

The template is applied to the blank presentation.

If you don't have existing slides to import, simply begin creating slides in your new file.

If you have existing slides that you want to apply the template to, see the next section.

Apply the template to existing slides, if any

If you have existing slides, import them into the new file you created above:

Open the file that contains the existing slides.

Click the thumbnail pane and then select the slides you want: 

Copy the selected slides (Ctrl+C).

Switch to the new file, right-click the thumbnail pane, and under Paste Options select Use Destination Theme :

All the copied slides are inserted in the new presentation.  

Where template files belong

To be used easily, store a personal template that you've created or a workgroup template for your organization in a standard folder location that Office knows about. 

Doing so makes the template available from File > New in PowerPoint from the tab next to the Featured tab.

Personal templates: see or change the default location

In PowerPoint, go to File > Options > Save .

Under Save presentations , see the box named Default personal templates location .

There may or may not already be a folder location specified in this box. If a folder is specified, we recommend that you continue using it. Place your personal template in this folder. 

If no folder is specified in that box, we recommend that you use File Explorer to create the following default personal template folder: 

C:\Users\ YourUserName \Documents\Custom Office Templates

YourUserName isn't a literal folder name. Use the above folder path name in the Default personal templates location box, but replace YourUserName with whatever your user name is on this computer.

Workgroup templates: see or change the default location

Organizations often have a standard network or cloud location where templates are stored for everyone to have access to. Office calls them workgroup templates .

In some cases, no location is specified for Workgroup templates . Continue with the next steps to establish a default location.

Open any .docx file in Word.

Select  File > Options > Advanced > File Locations .

(Scroll down towards the bottom to the General section to find the File Locations button.) 

In the File Locations dialog box, note the location specified for Workgroup templates .

If a location name is cut off, select it and click Modify to open a dialog box that will show the full location.  

To change the default location, select it, and then click Modify .

In the dialog box that opens, navigate to the folder you want to specify as the default location, and then click OK .

In the case of workgroup templates for a large organization, they are typically stored in a network location that all users have access to. For example, the Contoso Consulting company might have a server named "Contoso" with a folder structure like this for templates: \\Contoso\Files\OfficeTemplates.

Start from a custom template

To create a new presentation from a custom template, follow the procedures below.

Select File > Open .

Navigate to the folder where the template file is stored.

Select the template file and then click Open .

Select File > Save As .

In the dialog box, type a name for your new presentation in the Save As box.

In the File Format box, choose PowerPoint Presentation (.pptx) .

In the Where box, select the folder you want to save the presentation in.

If you have some existing slides that you want to apply the template to, see the section Apply the new template to existing slides below.

Start from a standard Microsoft template

To create a new presentation from a standard PowerPoint template

Select File > New from Template .

Choose a template from the Gallery, then click Create .

If you don't have existing slides to add to the new presentation, simply begin creating slides in your new file.

If you don't have existing slides to add to the new presentation, see the next section.

Apply the new template to existing slides, if any

Click the thumbnail pane and then select the slides you want:

All the copied slides are inserted in the new presentation, and they adopt the design of its template.  

Save the file and then continue creating slides as you see fit.

Why it's best to start fresh when applying a template

Even if you have existing slides, we recommend that you apply a template to it by starting fresh with the template and then importing the existing slides into the new, fresh template. This process helps to ensure that everything in your presentation (especially things you haven't created yet) adopts the look and formatting prescribed by the template.

Create and save a PowerPoint template

Download free, pre-built templates

Create your own theme in PowerPoint

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How To Import PowerPoint Template? [Step-by-Step Tutorial!]

By: Author Shrot Katewa

When you want to change the design of your presentation but don’t have enough time, try using a template. Microsoft PowerPoint has a variety of built-in templates or you want to take it to another level by importing custom templates to your presentation.

To import PowerPoint Template, open your presentation and click on the “File” tab. Then, choose the “Office” option under the “Blank Presentation” option in the “New” screen. Click on your preferred template and hit “Create” to download the template.

Are you constantly using the same theme? Would you like to change the design of each new presentation? This article is a complete guide on how to import a template to a new or existing presentation as well as how can you save a custom PowerPoint template.

Let’s get started!

1. How to Insert PowerPoint Template?

In Microsoft PowerPoint, you can add custom templates to a presentation file using the “File” menu. Using templates in your PowerPoint presentation makes the slides look more connected and coherent. To add a PowerPoint template to a blank presentation, follow the 5 easy steps.

Step-1: Click on the “File” tab

The first step is to open any PowerPoint presentation file. Then click on the “File” tab, the first option in the menu ribbon at the top of the screen. 

Step-2: Click on the “New” option

The next step is to open a new presentation file with a template. To do so, click on the “New” option in the sidebar located at the left side of the screen in the “File” menu.

Step-3: Click on the “Office” option

Under the “Blank Presentation” option in the “New” screen, click on the “Office” option. This will show all the PowerPoint templates available in Office 365. 

Step-4: Select your preferred template

You can scroll down to find your preferred template. You can also click on the search bar under the “Office” option to look for a specific template. Then all you have to do is click on your preferred template. This will open a dialog box.

Step-5: Click on the “Create” button

The final step is to download the template. Click the “Create” button in the dialog box to download the template. The new presentation file containing the template slides will open automatically once the download is complete. 

2. How to Import Custom PowerPoint Template?

Microsoft PowerPoint allows you to create and add custom presentation templates. Using the “File” menu, you can import a custom template to a new presentation or even an existing presentation. 

2.1 How to Apply a Template to a New Presentation?

To apply a custom template to a new presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint, all you have to do is follow the 5 quick steps.

The first step is to open a new presentation. To do so, you can click on the “File” tab in the menu ribbon of any PowerPoint presentation file. This will open the “File” menu.

In the “File” menu, click on the “New” option. It is the second option in the sidebar located on the left side of the screen. This will open the “New” screen. 

Step-3: Click on the “Personal” option

Now you can open a custom template. Click on the “Personal” option under the “Blank Presentation” option in the “New” screen. This will show all the custom PowerPoint templates available on your device. 

Step-4: Select your preferred custom template

All you have to do now is click on the custom template that you want to use. This will open a dialog box.

In the dialog box, click on the “Create” button to open a new presentation file with the selected template automatically applied to it.

2.2 How to Apply a Template to an Existing Presentation?

In Microsoft PowerPoint, you cannot apply a new custom template to an existing presentation file. However, you can import existing slides into a custom template file. All you have to do is follow the 6 simple steps.

Step-1: Apply a custom template to a new presentation 

The first step is to apply your preferred custom template to a new presentation. To do so, follow the steps detailed in section 2.1 .

Step-2: Select the existing presentation slides

The next step is to open the existing presentation where you want to apply the custom template. Then click on the slide thumbnail pane on the left side of the screen to select the slide thumbnail. Press the “Ctrl+A” keys on your keyboard to select all the slides from the slide thumbnail pane. 

Step-3: Click on the “Copy” option

You have to now copy all the existing slides. “Right Click” on the slide thumbnail pane and click on the “Copy” option in the right-click menu. Alternatively, you can press the “Ctrl+C” keys on your keyboard to copy all the slides simultaneously. 

Step-4: Select the template slides

The next step is to open the new presentation file containing the template slide. Click on the slide thumbnail pane located on the left side of the screen. Then press the “Ctrl+A” keys on your keyboard to select all the template slides. 

Step-5: Click on the “Delete Slide” option

“Right Click” on the slide thumbnails and click on the “Delete Slide” option from the right-click menu. You can alternatively press the “Delete” key on your keyboard to remove all the template slides. 

Step-6: Click on the “Use Destination Theme” option

Now all you have to do is click on the down arrow under the “Paste” option in the “Home” menu in the template file. In the dropdown menu under the “Paste” button, click on the “Use Destination Theme” option to paste the existing slides into the new template design. 

3. How to Save Custom PowerPoint Template?

To create a custom template in PowerPoint, you can simply save a presentation as a “PowerPoint Template (.potx)” file. To do so, follow the 4 easy steps.

Step-1: Click on the “File” menu

In the menu ribbon located at the top of the screen, click on the “File” tab. This will open the “File” menu. 

Step-2: Click on the “Save As” option

In the “File” menu, click on the “Save As” option from the sidebar located at the left side of the screen. 

Step-3: Click on the “File Type” box

In the “Save As” screen, click on the “File Type” box that shows “PowerPoint Presentation (.pptx)” by default. Then click on the “PowerPoint Template (.potx)” option in the dropdown menu under the “File Type” box.

Step-4: Click on the “Save” button

Now all you have to do is click on the “Save” button next to the “File Type” box to save the PowerPoint file as a custom template. 

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How to Copy a PowerPoint Design Template to Another Presentation

It's quick and easy to copy over a design template

• Brock University

What to Know

• In the source presentation, select View > Slide Master . In the Slide pane, right-click the Slide Master and select Copy .
• Go to View > Switch Windows and choose the second presentation. Go to View > Slide Master . Right-click the Slide pane and select Paste .
• Choose Use Destination Theme (keeps colors, fonts, and effects) or Keep Source Formatting (copies the source's colors, fonts, effects).

This article explains how to copy a PowerPoint design template over to another presentation. Instructions apply to PowerPoint 2019, PowerPoint 2016, PowerPoint 2013, and PowerPoint for Microsoft 365.

How to Copy a Presentation's Design Template

It's often quicker to copy a design template from a presentation than to find it in the list of PowerPoint templates. 

Go to View in the presentation that contains the design template you want to copy and select  Slide Master .

Right-click the Slide Master in the Slide pane on the left side of the screen and select Copy .

The Slide Master is the large thumbnail image at the top of the Slide pane. Some presentations contain more than one slide master.

Go to View , select  Switch Windows , and choose the presentation you want to paste the Slide Master into.

If you don't see the other PowerPoint presentation on this list, it means that the other file isn't open. Open it now and return to this step to select it from the list.

In the second presentation, go to View and select Slide Master to open the  Slide Master .

To insert the Slide Master from the other presentation, right-click on the Slide pane to the left, select Paste , and do one of the following:

• Choose Use Destination Theme to keep the theme colors, fonts, and effects of the presentation you are pasting to.
• Choose Keep Source Formatting to copy the theme colors, fonts, and effects of the template you are copying from.

Select  Close Master View .

Changes made to individual slides in the original presentation, such as font styles, do not change the design template of that presentation. Therefore, graphic objects or font changes added to individual slides do not copy over to a new presentation. 

To copy PowerPoint slides to another presentation , right-click the thumbnail of the slide you want to copy and choose Copy . Right-click a blank area of the Slides pane where you want to place it and choose one of the pasting options.

To save a copy of a PowerPoint presentation on your computer, go to the File tab and select Download As > Download a Copy . Select Download to continue.

To embed YouTube videos in PowerPoint , select Share > Embed . Select the HTML code and choose Copy . In your PowerPoint slide, select Insert > Video > Insert Video From Website . In the dialog box, right-click the blank area and choose  Paste  > Insert .

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Apply a template to an existing presentation

When you want to apply a template, either to a new or existing presentation, start fresh with a blank presentation.

If you need help knowing where to put a template file so you can apply it as described here, see Where template files belong below. 

Select a template

Select File > New .

Under New , you can navigate to a personal or workgroup template, Search for a template, or choose a featured template or theme from the gallery.

To navigate to a personal or workgroup template, select the tab next to Featured , which may be named Personal , Shared , or Custom (depending on the circumstance) and then open the folder that contains the template you want.

If you don't have two tabs to select from under the Search box , you can change that. See Where template files belong below.

Select the template to see a preview of it, then click Create .

The template is applied to the blank presentation.

If you don't have existing slides to import, simply begin creating slides in your new file.

If you have existing slides that you want to apply the template to, see the next section.

Apply the template to existing slides, if any

If you have existing slides, import them into the new file you created above:

Open the file that contains the existing slides.

Click the thumbnail pane and then select the slides you want: 

Copy the selected slides (Ctrl+C).

Switch to the new file, right-click the thumbnail pane, and under Paste Options select Use Destination Theme :

All the copied slides are inserted in the new presentation.  

Where template files belong

To be used easily, store a personal template that you've created or a workgroup template for your organization in a standard folder location that Office knows about. 

Doing so makes the template available from File > New in PowerPoint from the tab next to the Featured tab.

Personal templates: see or change the default location

In PowerPoint, go to File > Options > Save .

Under Save presentations , see the box named Default personal templates location .

There may or may not already be a folder location specified in this box. If a folder is specified, we recommend that you continue using it. Place your personal template in this folder. 

If no folder is specified in that box, we recommend that you use File Explorer to create the following default personal template folder: 

C:\Users\ YourUserName \Documents\Custom Office Templates

YourUserName isn't a literal folder name. Use the above folder path name in the Default personal templates location box, but replace YourUserName with whatever your user name is on this computer.

Workgroup templates: see or change the default location

Organizations often have a standard network or cloud location where templates are stored for everyone to have access to. Office calls them workgroup templates .

In some cases, no location is specified for Workgroup templates . Continue with the next steps to establish a default location.

Open any .docx file in Word.

Select  File > Options > Advanced > File Locations .

(Scroll down towards the bottom to the General section to find the File Locations button.) 

In the File Locations dialog box, note the location specified for Workgroup templates .

If a location name is cut off, select it and click Modify to open a dialog box that will show the full location.  

To change the default location, select it, and then click Modify .

In the dialog box that opens, navigate to the folder you want to specify as the default location, and then click OK .

In the case of workgroup templates for a large organization, they are typically stored in a network location that all users have access to. For example, the Contoso Consulting company might have a server named "Contoso" with a folder structure like this for templates: \\Contoso\Files\OfficeTemplates.

Start from a custom template

To create a new presentation from a custom template, follow the procedures below.

Select File > Open .

Navigate to the folder where the template file is stored.

Select the template file and then click Open .

Select File > Save As .

In the dialog box, type a name for your new presentation in the Save As box.

In the File Format box, choose PowerPoint Presentation (.pptx) .

In the Where box, select the folder you want to save the presentation in.

If you have some existing slides that you want to apply the template to, see the section Apply the new template to existing slides below.

Start from a standard Microsoft template

To create a new presentation from a standard PowerPoint template

Select File > New from Template .

Choose a template from the Gallery, then click Create .

If you don't have existing slides to add to the new presentation, simply begin creating slides in your new file.

If you don't have existing slides to add to the new presentation, see the next section.

Apply the new template to existing slides, if any

Click the thumbnail pane and then select the slides you want:

All the copied slides are inserted in the new presentation, and they adopt the design of its template.  

Save the file and then continue creating slides as you see fit.

Why it's best to start fresh when applying a template

Even if you have existing slides, we recommend that you apply a template to it by starting fresh with the template and then importing the existing slides into the new, fresh template. This process helps to ensure that everything in your presentation (especially things you haven't created yet) adopts the look and formatting prescribed by the template.

Create and save a PowerPoint template

Download free, pre-built templates

Create your own theme in PowerPoint

Need more help?

Want more options.

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

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How to Change or Apply PowerPoint Template for Existing Presentation (In Easy Steps)

Transform your presentations effortlessly with our step-by-step guide. Say goodbye to confusion and hello to captivating slides!

Applying a Template to an Existing Presentation (Step-by-Step)

Follow these clear steps to give your existing presentation a fresh, professional look.

Step 1: Open your presentation in PowerPoint.

Step 2: Navigate to the "Design" tab.

Step 3: Click "More" for template options.

Step 4: Choose a template and apply.

Step 5: Review and adjust as needed.

Step 6: Save your updated presentation.

Note: Applying a template will change the overall design of your presentation, including the fonts, colors, and layout. However, your existing content will remain the same.

Where Can I Get Delicate Templates for Free

You can get delicate templates for free for WPS Office from the following sources:

WPS Template Store:  The WPS Template Store is a built-in store in WPS Office that offers a wide variety of free templates for presentations, spreadsheets, and documents.

Third-party websites:  There are many third-party websites that offer free templates for WPS Office. Some popular websites include:

WPS Academy

Template.net

WPS Templates

WPS Office is a free and open-source office suite that includes word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and PDF tools. It is compatible with Microsoft Office formats, so you can easily open, edit, and save files created in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 3 advantages related to powerpoint editing or some features that Microsoft Office does not offer for FREE:

Co-editing within Word document, Spreadsheet and Presentation: WPS Office allows multiple users to co-edit Word documents, spreadsheets, and presentations in real time. This is a feature that is not available for free in Microsoft Office.

Share documents in a group, and group members can edit them with your permission: WPS Office allows you to share documents with a group of people and give them permission to edit them. This is a feature that is not available for free in Microsoft Office.

PDF to Word/PPT/Excel: WPS Office allows you to convert PDF files to Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, and Excel spreadsheets. This is a feature that is not available for free in Microsoft Office.

Useful WPS Office templates:

#1: Delicate Floral Art Year-End Summary Report

Beautiful floral art design

Easy to customize with your own content

Suitable for a variety of uses, such as year-end reports, business proposals, and marketing presentations

#2: Elegant Delicate Year-End Summary Template

Elegant and professional design

#3: Steady Blue Delicate Waves Shading Template

Modern and minimalist design

Suitable for a variety of uses, such as business presentations, educational presentations, and marketing presentations

How to Change PowerPoint Templates for Existing Presentations with WPS Office :

Step 1: Open the existing presentation that you want to change the template for.

Step 2: Click the Design tab.

Step 3: In the Themes gallery, click the more button.

Step 4: Click the Browse for Themes option.

Step 5: Navigate to the folder where the template file is stored. Select the template file and then click the Open button.

Step 6: Click the Apply button to apply the template to your presentation.

Use a consistent design throughout your presentation. This includes using the same fonts, colors, and layout.

Use high-quality images and graphics.

Avoid using too much text on each slide.

Microsoft Office Templates

Useful PowerPoint templates:

#1: Minimalist Presentation Template

Clean and simple design

#2: Infographic Template

Visually appealing design

Easy to use to create infographics that are informative and engaging

#3: Data Visualization Template

A variety of data visualization charts and graphs

Easy to use to create data visualizations that are clear and concise

Tips for Customizing a Stunning PowerPoint Presentations

5 tips for designing stunning PowerPoint presentations:

Consistency is key. Use the same fonts, colors, and layout throughout your presentation.

Use high-quality visuals. Images and graphics can help to make your presentation more engaging and informative.

Keep it concise. Avoid using too much text on each slide.

Use white space effectively. White space can help to make your presentation look more clean and organized.

Practice makes perfect. Practice your presentation beforehand to deliver it more confidently and smoothly.

WPS AI is a powerful tool that can help you to design stunning PowerPoint presentations quickly and easily. It offers a variety of features, including:

Smart Layout:  Automatically adjusts the layout of your slides based on the content that you add.

Smart Template:  Recommends templates for your presentation based on your topic and style preferences.

Smart Clipart:  Automatically searches for and recommends clipart for your presentation based on your keywords.

How to use WPS AI:

Step 1: Open your PowerPoint presentation.

Step 2: Click the WPS AI tab.

Step 3: Use the Smart Layout, Smart Template, and Smart Clipart features to design your presentation.

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Microsoft-like interface. Easy to learn. 100% Compatibility.

Boost your productivity with WPS's abundant free Word, Excel, PPT, and CV templates.

Can I use multiple themes in one presentation?

In traditional PowerPoint, you can use only one theme for the entire presentation. However, you can mix slide layouts from different themes within the same presentation.

In WPS Office, you can apply different themes to individual slides, allowing for multiple themes in one presentation. This offers more creative flexibility in design. Remember to maintain a cohesive look for professionalism.

How do I apply a layout to all slides in PowerPoint?

To apply a layout to all slides in PowerPoint:

Step 1: Open your presentation.

Step 2: Go to "View" > "Slide Master."

Step 3: Select the desired layout on the left.

Step 4: Make changes if needed.

Step 5: Exit "Slide Master" to apply the layout to all slides

Are there any copyright considerations when using templates?

Yes, there are important copyright considerations when using templates:

License Agreement: Always check the license agreement that comes with the template. Some templates may have specific terms regarding usage, modification, and distribution.

Attribution : Some templates may require you to give credit to the original creator. Make sure to comply with any attribution requirements specified in the template's license.

Commercial Use: Be cautious when using templates for commercial purposes. Some templates may be for personal use only and may not be suitable for business or commercial projects.

Always read and understand the terms and conditions associated with any template you use. If you're unsure about the copyright status, it's best to seek legal advice or choose templates from trusted sources that explicitly grant the necessary usage rights.

This guide covers creating and customizing presentations with WPS and Microsoft Office templates. It provides step-by-step instructions, tips, and introduces WPS AI for efficient design. It also addresses copyright considerations for template usage. Emphasis is on choosing trusted sources and understanding usage rights.

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How can I apply a new version of a master layout to my existing slides with an older version of that master layout?

My company offers a PowerPoint template for business presentations that contains multiple slide masters (with multiple layouts). They recently updated this template. Now I need to update my existing presentations that still use an older version of that template.

What I tried:

I created a new presentation from the new template. I then copied all slides from my old presentation into that new presentation.

Result: All slides changed their layouts to the corresponding layout of the first slide master (in the list of all slide masters) instead of keeping their slide master with the same name.

I opened my old presentation. I copied all new slide masters from the template into the old presentation and then removed all old slide masters from it.

Result: Again, all slides changed their layouts to the corresponding layout of the first slide master (in the list of all slide masters) instead of keeping their slide master with the same name.

With my last try I effectively replaced the existing slide masters, but technically it was a copy and remove operation. So that's probably why the slides lost their reference to the correct slide masters.

Is their a way to technically replace a slide master, so that its new layout(s) apply to existing slides?

• microsoft-powerpoint

• Have you opened the master slides of the old presentation and directly editing them? That is, removed the objects within the existing master slide and then creating the new layout within the same master slide. That is, do not ever delete the master slides. You can probably copy the objects from within the new master slide and paste them into the existing old master slide without deleting the slide itself.. Unless I misunderstood what you, you haven't tried this. –  Brian Jul 19, 2023 at 15:29
• I do not want to repeat the work that someone else already did, when updating the template. In other words, I do not want to apply every change (he/she did to the slide masters of the old template) to the slide masters of my presentation manually. This just does not scale well. I am looking for a way to take the new slide masters (with all their changes at once) and apply them to my old slides without knowing all the detailed changes. –  stackprotector Jul 19, 2023 at 15:43
• 1 Hopefully I'm wrong but I don't see any other way. "Normal" slides are linked to their respective master slide and only change when that slide changes. And I don't see how copying the objects in a new master slide and pasting them onto an old master slide is repeating the work. The purpose of the master slide is that all "normal" slides that are linked to it so that you do not need to be individually changed should there be a change to the template; only the template (i.e. master slide) needs to be edited. –  Brian Jul 19, 2023 at 15:50

Currently, there does not seem to be a way to apply a newer version of a slide master conveniently. So you have to do it the hard way:

Copy and paste the new slide masters into your existing presentation.

Change every single slide to use a layout of the new slide masters.

Remove the old slide masters.

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Designate Master Slide on existing presentation?

I have an existing presentation created in 2010 that I would like to designate a particular slide as the master slide.  The company who created this presentation had no idea what I was talking about and I've been through hundreds of forums looking for the answer.  Is there a simple way to select a slide (i.e. slide 3) in my presentation and designate that as the master slide for additional slides I will be adding to my presentation?

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1) Pick the slide that you want to use as the "slide master."

2) Assuming that everything you want on your master is on this particular slide, Select everything on that slide expect the text boxes.

3) Hit Ctrl-X to cut everything from the slide.

4) Don't panic.

5. Go to View > Master > Slide Master

6. A blank slide master for "Title and Text" layouts is available

7. Hit Ctrl-C to paste every thing on the Master.

8. With everything still selected, right click and choose send to back.

9. Reformat the text.

10. Close slide master view.

Now each time you Insert > New slide your slide will use the master layout you just designed.

But like Rick says, there's  a whole lot more to it, but this will get you started.

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