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How to troubleshoot a damaged presentation in PowerPoint

• 5 contributors
• Applies to: PowerPoint 2019, PowerPoint 2016, PowerPoint 2013, PowerPoint 2010, Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007

You may experience unexpected behavior when you work with a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation. This behavior may occur because the presentation is damaged. This article contains step-by-step methods that may help you partly or fully restore your presentation.

This article is intended for a beginning to intermediate computer user. You may find it easier to follow the steps if you print this article first.

When you try to open or change a presentation that is damaged, you may experience the following symptoms:

When you try to open a presentation, you receive one of the following error messages:

This is not a PowerPoint Presentation

PowerPoint cannot open the type of file represented by <file_name>.ppt

Part of the file is missing.

You receive the following kinds of error messages:

General Protection Fault

Illegal Instruction

Invalid Page Fault

Low system resources

Out of memory

More Information

How to determine whether you have a damaged presentation.

There are several ways to determine whether you have a damaged presentation. You can try to open the file on another computer that has PowerPoint installed to see whether the unexpected behavior occurs on the other computer. You can try to create a new file in PowerPoint and see whether the unexpected behavior occurs with the new file. This section describes how to use existing presentations and how to create a new file in PowerPoint to determine whether the presentations have the same behavior.

Method 1: Open an existing presentation

• In PowerPoint 2007 select the Microsoft Office Button .
• Select a different presentation, and then select Open.

If this presentation opens and seems to be undamaged, go to Method 3 in this section. Otherwise, go to Method 2 to create a new presentation.

Method 2: Create a new presentation

Step 1: create the presentation.

• In PowerPoint 2007, select Installed Templates , and then select Introducing PowerPoint 2007 .
• Select Create . This process creates a presentation that is based on the template.
• In PowerPoint 2007 select the Microsoft Office Button , and then select Save .
• Type a name for the presentation, and then select Save .
• Exit PowerPoint.

Step 2: Open the new presentation

• In PowerPoint 2007 select the Microsoft Office Button , and then select Open .
• Select the new presentation, and then select Open .

If you cannot open or save the new presentation, go to Method 3.

If you cannot create a new presentation, PowerPoint may be damaged and a repair should be initiated. (See Method 3, Part 2 below.)

Method 3: General troubleshooting

Windows 10, windows 8.1, windows 8, and windows 7.

This procedure allows your computer to restart without startup add-ons. For a clean restart, follow these steps:

Sign in to the computer by using an account that has administrator rights.

Select Start, type msconfig.exe in the Start Search box, and then press Enter to start the System Configuration utility.

If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, you should type the password or provide confirmation.

On the General tab, select the Selective startup option, and then clear the Load startup items check box. (The Use Original Boot.ini check box is unavailable.)

On the Services tab, select the Hide all Microsoft services check box, and then select Disable all.

This step lets Microsoft services continue to run. After you do a clean restart, you should check Office performance and then resume usual startup.

This procedure will cause the Office program to check for issues and repair itself.

Select the Start button and type Control Panel.

Open the Control Panel, go to Uninstall or change a program (or Add or Remove Programs ).

Scroll through the list of programs and find your version of Microsoft Office. Right-select and then select Change .

We suggest that you do the online repair option.

Methods to try if you cannot open a presentation

Method 1: drag the presentation to the powerpoint program file icon, windows 10, windows 8.1, and windows 8.

Right-click the Windows icon on the Taskbar, and then select Run.

Type one of the following depending on your version of PowerPoint:

Select the Enter key.

Locate the Powerpnt.exe icon in Windows Explorer.

Drag the damaged presentation icon from one window to the Powerpnt.exe icon in the other window.

PowerPoint will try to open the presentation. If PowerPoint does not open the presentation, go to Method 2.

Select Start, and then select Documents. Or select Start and then search for Windows Explorer.

If you have the MSI version of PowerPoint 2013 installed, type %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\office15 (PowerPoint 2013 64 bit) or %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Office\office15 (PowerPoint 2013 32 bit), and then press Enter.

If you have PowerPoint 2013 Select-to-Run installed, type C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office 15\root\office15 (PowerPoint 2013 64 bit) or C:\Program Files(x86)\Microsoft Office 15\root\office15 (PowerPoint 2013 32 bit), and then press Enter.

If you have the MSI version of PowerPoint 2016 installed, type %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Office\office16, and then press Enter.

If you have PowerPoint 2016 Select-to-Run installed, type %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\root\Office16 (PowerPoint 2016 64 bit) or %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Office\root\Office16 (PowerPoint 2016 32 bit), and then press Enter.

Method 2: Try to insert slides into a blank presentation

Step 1: create a blank presentation.

• In PowerPoint 2007, click the Microsoft Office Button , and then click New .
• Select Blank Presentation, and then select Create.

This process creates a blank title slide. You can delete this slide later after you re-create the presentation.

Step 2: Insert the damaged presentation as slides

• On the Home tab, select the arrow next to New slides in the Slides group, and then select Reuse Slides.
• In the Reuse Slides task pane, select Browse. Select the damaged presentation, and then select Open.
• Select Insert Slide for each slide in the damaged presentation.
• In PowerPoint 2007 click the Microsoft Office Button , and then click Save .
• Type a new name for the presentation, and then select Save.

Step 3: Apply the damaged presentation as a template

If the presentation does not look the way that you expect after you try these steps, try to apply the damaged presentation as a template. To do this, follow these steps:

On the File menu, select Save as.

• In PowerPoint 2007 click the Microsoft Office Button , and then click Save as .

This will make a backup copy of the restored presentation that you can use in case the damaged presentation damages this new presentation.

On the Design tab, select More in the Themes group, and then select Browse for Themes.

Select the damaged presentation, and then select Apply. The slide master of the damaged presentation replaces the new slide master.

If you start to experience unexpected behavior after you follow these steps, the template may have damaged the presentation. In this case, use the backup copy to re-create the master slide.

If the backup copy of the new presentation exhibits the same damage or strange behavior as the original presentation, go to Method 3.

Method 3: Try to open the temporary file version of the presentation

When you edit a presentation, PowerPoint creates a temporary copy of the file. This temporary file is named PPT ####.tmp.

The placeholder #### represents a random four-digit number.

This temporary file may be located in the same folder as the location to which the presentation is saved. Or it may be located in the temporary file folder.

Rename the file, and then try to open the file in PowerPoint

Right-select the file, and then select Rename.

Change the old file-name extension from .tmp to .pptx so that the file name resembles the following file name:

PPT ####.pptx

Start PowerPoint.

On the File menu, select Open.

Browse to the folder that contains the renamed file.

Try to open the file in PowerPoint.

More than one file may correspond to the temporary file that was created the last time that you saved the presentation. In this case, you may have to open each file to see whether one is the temporary copy of the presentation.

If there are no temporary files, or if the temporary files display the same kind of damage or strange behavior, go to Method 4.

Method 4: Make a copy of the damaged presentation

• Right-select the presentation, and then select Copy.
• In the Windows Explorer window, right-select in a blank space, and then select Paste.

If you cannot copy the file, the file may be damaged, or the file may reside on a damaged part of the computer's hard disk. In this case, go to Method 5.

If you can copy the file, try to open the copy of the damaged presentation in PowerPoint. If you cannot open the copy of the damaged presentation, try to repeat Method 1 through Method 5 in the "Methods to try if you cannot open a presentation" section below by using the copy of the damaged presentation.

Method 5: Run Error Checking on the hard disk drive

• Exit all open programs.
• Right-click the Start menu and select File Explorer .
• Right-select the hard disk drive that contains the damaged presentation.
• Select Properties, and then select the Tools tab.
• In Error-checking, select Check Now.
• Select the check box Automatically fix file system errors.
• Select the check box Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors.
• Select Start.
• Select Start, and then select Computer.
• Right-click the hard disk drive that contains the damaged presentation.
• Select to select the Automatically fix file system errors check box.
• Select to select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box.

Error checking may verify that the presentation is cross-linked and attempt to repair the presentation. However, this is not a guarantee that PowerPoint will be able to read the presentation.

Methods to try if you can open a damaged presentation

Method 1: try to apply the damaged presentation as a template.

• In PowerPoint 2007, select the Microsoft Office Button , and then select New .
• Select Blank Presentation , and then select Create . This process creates a blank title slide. (You can delete this slide after you re-create the presentation.)

Step 2: Insert the damaged presentation into the blank presentation

• On the Home tab, select the arrow next to New slides in the Slides group, and then select Reuse Slides .
• In the Reuse Slides task pane, select Browse .
• Select the damaged presentation, and then select Open .
• Select the Microsoft Office button, and then select Save .

If the presentation does not look the way that you expect it to look after you try follow these steps, try to apply the damaged presentation as a template. To do this, follow these steps:

• On the File menu, select Save as .
• In PowerPoint 2007, select the Microsoft Office Button , and then select Save as .

Type a new name for the presentation, and then select Save .

On the Design tab, select More in the Themes group, and then select Browse for Themes .

Select the damaged presentation, and then select Apply . The slide master of the damaged presentation replaces the new slide master.

If the backup copy of the new presentation still displays damage or strange behavior, go to Method 2.

Method 2: Transfer the slides from the damaged presentation to a blank presentation

• In PowerPoint 2007, select the Microsoft Office Button , and then select Open .
• Locate the damaged presentation, and then select Open .
• Select Blank Presentation , and then select Create . This process creates a blank title slide.

Step 2: Copy slides from the damaged presentation to the new presentation

On the View tab, select Slide Sorter . If you receive error messages when you switch views, try to use Outline view.

Select a slide that you want to copy. On the Home tab, select Copy .

If you want to copy more than one slide at a time, hold down the Shift key, and then select each slide that you want to copy.

Switch to the new presentation. To do this, on the Window tab, select Switch Window in the View group, and then select the new presentation that you created in step 1.

On the View tab, select Slide Sorter .

On the Home tab, select Paste .

Repeat steps 2a through 2f until the whole presentation is transferred.

In some cases, one damaged slide may cause a problem for the whole presentation. If you notice unexpected behavior in the new presentation after you copy a slide to the presentation, that slide is likely to be damaged. Re-create the slide, or copy sections of the slide to a new slide.

If the new presentation shows damage or strange behavior, go to method 3.

Method 3: Save the presentation as a Rich Text Format (RTF) file

If there is damage throughout the presentation, the only option to recover the presentation may be to save the presentation as a Rich Text Format (RTF) file. If this method is successful, it recovers only the text that appears in Outline view.

Step 1: Save the presentation in the RTF file format

• Open the presentation.
• In PowerPoint 2007, select the Microsoft Office Button , select Save As , and then select Other Formats .
• In the Save as type list, select Outline/RTF(*.rtf) .
• In the File Name box, type the name that you want to use, select a location in which to save the presentation, and then select Save .
• Close the presentation.

Any graphics, tables, or other text in the original presentation will not be saved in the .rtf file.

Step 2: Open the .rtf file in PowerPoint

• On the File menu, select Open .
• In the Files of type list, select All Outlines or All Files .
• Select the .rtf file that you saved in step 1d, and then select Open .

This procedure will re-create the presentation based on the original presentation's outline view.

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Top 6 Ways to Fix PowerPoint Found a Problem With Content on Windows

Do you keep seeing the ‘PowerPoint found a problem with content’ error while opening PPTs on your PC? This error can occur for various reasons, including temporary glitches, misconfigured settings, corrupted files, and more. Thankfully, it is possible to resolve the error and restore your PowerPoint file.

Whether you face trouble opening one of your presentations or the one shared by a co-worker, this guide can help. Below, we’ve listed all the possible solutions to fix this annoying PowerPoint error on your Windows 10 or 11 PC.

Also Read: How to Fix Microsoft PowerPoint Not Responding on Windows 11

1. Repair the Presentation File

When you receive the ‘PowerPoint found a problem with content’ error, PowerPoint offers the option to repair the file. Click the Repair button to allow PowerPoint to fix any corrupt or damaged elements within your PPT file. If it’s just a minor issue, this will resolve the error and get PowerPoint to open your file on Windows.

2. Unblock the File

If Windows blocks a PPT file is also why PowerPoint may fail to open a file and display the error. This usually happens when you receive the file containing different version of PowerPoint or other components. In that case, you will need to unblock the PowerPoint file first. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: On your PC, locate the PowerPoint file that’s triggering the error. Right-click on it and select Properties.

Step 2: Under the General tab, clear the Unblock checkbox at the bottom and hit Apply followed by OK.

3. Disable Protected View

Protected View is a security feature that prevents PowerPoint from opening files in read-only mode to prevent making changes that can be harmful to your computer. Several users on the Microsoft forums reported fixing the ‘PowerPoint found a problem with content’ error by temporarily disabling the Protected View feature. However, do this if you are opening a file that you created yourself or that you received from a trusted source.

Step 1: Open Microsoft PowerPoint and click the File menu at the top-left corner.

Step 2: Select Options from the left sidebar.

Step 3: In the PowerPoint Options window, switch to the Trust Center from the left sidebar and then click the Trust Center Settings button from the right pane.

Step 4: Choose the Protected View tab from the left sidebar, uncheck three checkboxes in the right pane under the Protected View section to disable the feature and click OK to save changes.

After completing the above steps, try to open your file one more time.

4. Mark the Folder Containing the File as a Trusted Location in PowerPoint

Errors like ‘PowerPoint found a problem with content’ or ‘PowerPoint found unreadable content in PPTX’ can also arise if your presentation file is located in an untrusted folder on your PC. To fix this, you need to mark the folder containing your presentation as a trusted location in PowerPoint. Here are the steps for the same.

Step 2: Select Options from the left pane.

Step 3: Click on the Trust Center from the left sidebar and then click the Trust Center Settings button in the right pane.

Step 4: Choose the Trusted Locations from the left sidebar and click the Add new location button from the right pane.

Step 5: Click the Browse button and head to the folder containing your PPT files. Then, hit OK.

After that, try opening your PowerPoint files to check for any errors.

5. Move the File Out From the Synchronized Folder

Are you getting the ‘PowerPoint found a problem with content’ error while accessing files stored in a cloud storage folder like OneDrive? You can copy it from the cloud storage folder to your computer’s local hard drive and open it.

Locate the problematic PPT file, right-click on it, and select the Copy option. Then, switch to your preferred location on the hard drive and press Control + V keyboard shortcut to paste the file. After that, check if PowerPoint can open it.

6. Restore an Older Version of the File

Lastly, if none of the above tips work, your PowerPoint file may be irreparably corrupted. In that case, your best option is to restore an older version of the PPT file. Of course, this is only possible if you have previously backed up the file in OneDrive .

Step 1: Press the Windows + S keyboard shortcut to open the search menu, type in OneDrive and select Open.

Step 2: In the File Explorer window that opens, locate your PowerPoint file. Right-click on it and select Show more options.

Step 3: Select the Version history option from the context menu.

Step 4: Hover your mouse over an earlier version of the file on the list. Click the three horizontal dots menu icon and select Restore.

After Windows restores the PowerPoint file to its earlier version, you can try to open it.

Power Up Your Ideas with PowerPoint

Encountering such PowerPoint errors right before an important presentation can be stressful. Hopefully, applying the above tips has helped fix the ‘PowerPoint found a problem with content’ error on your Windows 10 or 11 PC, and things are back to normal.

Last updated on 07 August, 2023

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

DID YOU KNOW

Pankil Shah

Pankil is a Civil Engineer turned freelance writer from Ahmedabad, India. Since his arrival at Guiding Tech in 2021, he delves into the world of how-tos, and troubleshooting guides on Android, iOS, Windows, and the Web at Guiding Tech. When time permits, he also writes at MakeUseOf and Techwiser. Besides his new-found love for mechanical keyboards, he's a disciplined footfall fan and continues to plan his international travels with his wife.

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How to Fix a Corrupted PowerPoint PPTX File

Last Updated: January 5, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA . Nicole Levine is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. She has more than 20 years of experience creating technical documentation and leading support teams at major web hosting and software companies. Nicole also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and teaches composition, fiction-writing, and zine-making at various institutions. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 266,153 times. Learn more...

A corrupt file can bring your well-prepared presentation to a screeching halt. There are several ways you can try getting a corrupted file to load, including moving it to a new location, extracting the slides from inside of it, and loading PowerPoint in Safe Mode. If you’re able to recover some or all of the corrupted presentation, you can use the recovered slides to make it again. This wikiHow teaches you some helpful techniques to get your PowerPoint presentation back up and running.

Using Open and Repair (Windows)

• If the presentation opens but didn't before, you should be able to click the Presentation icon at the top to start the slideshow.
• If you need to make changes to the presentation, click Enable Editing at the top to do so.

Inserting Slides into a New Presentation (Windows and macOS)

• Click the File and select Save As , and then save the file with a different name as a backup. [9] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
• Click the Design tab, select More (or the down-arrow with a horizontal line above it) on the Themes panel, and then click Browse for Themes .
• Select your damaged presentation file and click OK . This will load the slide master from your damaged presentation, which will restore the theme.
• Switch back to your backup copy of the recovered presentation if it stops

• To be extra safe, save it to a different location than the original corrupted file was stored.

Adding a New Trust Location (Windows)

• You can now close the File Explorer window.

• Keep clicking ' OK until you've returned to the blank presentation.

• If it does, continue to work with this version of the file.

Moving the Presentation to a Different Drive (Windows and macOS)

• To open File Explorer on Windows, right-click the Windows Start butting and select File Explorer . [16] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
• To open Finder on macOS, click the two-toned smiley face icon on the Dock.

• If the file doesn’t allow you to copy it, the file or the drive itself may be corrupt.

• Windows - Open your Computer/This PC window, right-click the disk that was giving you problems, and select Properties . On the Tools tab, select Check now in the "Error Checking" section. Check both boxes and click Start .
• Mac - Open the Disk Utility program in the Utilities folder. Select the problematic disk from the left menu, then click First Aid . Click Run or Repair Disk . [18] X Research source

Opening PowerPoint in Safe Mode (Windows)

• If the presentation opens in Safe Mode but not normally, you may need to reinstall PowerPoint.

Community Q&A

• If all of your presentation files are getting corrupted, there is likely something wrong with the storage device. Try the disk checking methods outlined in the first section, and avoid saving new files there in the future. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/office/open-a-document-after-a-file-corruption-error-47df9d48-2165-4411-a699-1786ac734bc3
• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-and-delete-slides-in-powerpoint-8bf2b58d-df6c-4e5f-90e3-ade289a2d64d
• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/office/reuse-import-slides-from-another-presentation-c67671cd-386b-45dd-a1b4-1e656458bb86
• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/use-multiple-slide-masters-in-one-presentation-dc684a1d-9d14-4ead-9bb5-2303d4fedba8
• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/office/save-your-presentation-file-34377c9c-a1e5-44e1-9c3f-e6e72ee6c541
• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/927477
• ↑ https://thegeekpage.com/repair-corrupt-powerpoint-files/
• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-remove-or-change-a-trusted-location-in-microsoft-office-7ee1cdc2-483e-4cbb-bcb3-4e7c67147fb4
• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/find-and-open-file-explorer-ef370130-1cca-9dc5-e0df-2f7416fe1cb1
• ↑ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/troubleshoot/powerpoint/damaged-presentation
• ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210898
• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/open-office-apps-in-safe-mode-on-a-windows-pc-dedf944a-5f4b-4afb-a453-528af4f7ac72?ui=en-us&rs=en-us&ad=us

About This Article

1. Open the folder with the corrupt file. 2. Connect a storage device. 3. Open a folder on the storage device. 4. Drag the corrupt file to a folder on the storage device. 5. Open the file from its new location. Did this summary help you? Yes No

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FIX: The Presentation Cannot be Opened in PowerPoint (Solved).

PowerPoint is a powerful tool that can be used to create or view presentations. One of the common errors that PowerPoint users have encountered is " Sorry, PowerPoint can't read file…The Presentation cannot be Opened. Your Antivirus program may prevent you from opening the presentation ", or " PowerPoint found a problem with content in PPT file ."

This generally happens if the system is blocking the file or because of certain settings in PowerPoint application.

If you have problems opening a PowerPoint file on your system don’t panic. In this guide, we have compiled some fixes that will help you to solve the following PowerPoint errors:

• PowerPoint found a problem with content in PPT file.
• Sorry, PowerPoint can't read PPTX file.
• Presentation Cannot be Opened.

How to FIX: Cannot open PowerPoint file in Windows 10.

Before proceeding with the methods listed below to fix errors when trying to open a PowerPoint presentation, try the following:

1. Check the name of the PowerPoint file you can't open and make sure it doesn't contain any dots other than the dot before the "pptx" extension. Files with such names sometimes are flagged are malicious by the antivirus programs.

For example, if the PowerPoint file is named "Presentation_File.19.10.2020.pptx", then remove all other dots from the name except the ".pptx" (e.g. rename the file to "Presentation_File_19_10_2020.pptx")

2. If the PowerPoint file comes from a trusted source and your antivirus program blocks the file, temporarily disable your antivirus program and then try to open the PPT file.

Method 1: Unblock the PowerPoint File

If you are seeing the error "Sorry, PowerPoint can't read .PPTX file" in a PowerPoint file downloaded from the internet or received as an attachment in your mail, then unblock the file and then try opening it by using the steps below.

1. Right-click on the PowerPoint file that is not opening and choose Properties from the menu.

2a. In the properties window, make sure you are in the General tab.

2b. At the bottom of the window, check the Unblock option next to the security warning message "This file came from another computer and might be blocked to help protect this computer ", and then click Apply & OK to save the setting.

3. Finally try to open the PowerPoint file that you cannot open.

Method 2. Turn Off the Protected View settings in PowerPoint.

1. Open the PowerPoint application. 2a. Click on the File menu and…

2b. …choose Options from the left-hand side.

3. From the PowerPoint Options window, choose Trust Center at the left and click to to open the Trust Center Settings.

4. In the Trust Center window that opens:

1. Choose Protected View from the left-hand side. 2. Untick all the three options from the right side as shown below. 3. Click OK to apply the change.

5. Click OK again to close the PowerPoint Options window. 6. Now try to open PowerPoint presentation.

Method 3: Create a copy of the PPT file that does not open.

In some cases, a presentation cannot be opened because it is either damaged or stored in a wrong/corrupted location on the disk. So try to copy the presentation to a different location (folder) on the disk. To do that:

1. Select the damaged PPT File.

2. Press CTRL + C keys to copy the PPT file.

3. Navigate to your desktop (or any other location you want) and press the keys Ctrl+V to paste the file.

4. Now try to open the presentation.

Method 4: Create a blank PPT file in the same location as the damaged PPT file. *

* Note: Although this method may seem a little weird, it seems to work in some cases.

1. Open PowerPoint application. 2. From the File menu click New and then click Blank Presentation .

3. Now press the Ctrl+S keys to open the "Save As" window.

4. In the Save As window, browse to the location where the damaged PPT file is present.

* Note: In this case, the problematic PPT file is in Desktop, hence navigating to the Desktop location.

5. Give a suitable name to the Presentation and Save it to the same location where the damaged Presentation is.

6. Try to open the damaged PPT file.

That's it! Let me know if this guide has helped you by leaving your comment about your experience. Please like and share this guide to help others.

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Home Blog PowerPoint Tutorials How to Fix: “An Error Occurred While PowerPoint Was Saving the File”

How to Fix: “An Error Occurred While PowerPoint Was Saving the File”

Spending hours working on a PowerPoint file only to end up with an error message preventing you from saving your file can cause a fair amount of panic. You can end up with questions like ‘Why can’t my PowerPoint be saved’ or ‘Why isn’t my PowerPoint opening’? No one wants to end up losing hours of work due to an unforeseen error, but it can happen unexpectedly anytime. You can use different methods to fix the issue when you get the following error: ‘An error occurred while PowerPoint was saving the file.’

Reasons Your PowerPoint File Might Not be Saving

When you cannot save your PowerPoint presentation, there can be several reasons causing the issue. Some of these might be one of the following:

•  You might not have permission from the administrator to save the file in the location specified.
• Your PowerPoint presentation file might be corrupt.
•  PowerPoint files on your system might have become corrupt.
•  Your system files might have become corrupt.
• Your disk drive might have encountered an error.

6 Methods to Fix ‘An Error Occurred While PowerPoint was Saving the File.’

If you’re unable to save your PowerPoint file, the chances are that you have just run into a frequent error message ‘An error occurred while PowerPoint was saving the file.’ Whether it’s a presentation you spent hours working on, an issue with PowerPoint templates , or your inability to save Google Slides templates edited in PowerPoint, the solutions mentioned below might help you resolve your issue.

Method 1: Save a Copy of the PowerPoint File to Your System or OneDrive

Sometimes, the most simple solution is the correct one. If you are unable to save your PowerPoint file, you can try saving a copy of the PowerPoint file via File -> Save As .

Some restrictions might be causing the file from being saved in your desired location. In such a case, you might want to try saving it in a different folder, drive, or save it to OneDrive.

Method 2: Copy Slides to a New PowerPoint File

If you can’t simply save the original file, it might be time to copy the slides to a new PowerPoint file. Select all slides by clicking a slide and selecting CTRL+A (PC) or Command+A (Mac) or by selecting slides using the Shift key. Right-click to copy or use CTRL+C (PC) or Command+C (Mac) .

Open a new PowerPoint file, use CTRL+V (PC) or Command+V (Mac), or right-click to paste the copied slides to a new file. You can keep source formatting to ensure your files are copied using the correct format.

The files can be copied in the same format as the new PowerPoint file by keeping the source formatting intact.

Method 3: Repair or Reinstall PowerPoint

Sometimes, it’s not the file but the copy of PowerPoint installed on the system that is the cause of the issue. You can repair PowerPoint by going to Programs and Features via the Control Panel on Windows or Finder -> Applications for Mac.

NB: The instructions to be listed now are for Windows computers. Mac OS has similar procedures, so please browse for Microsoft assistance on the equivalent process if any part looks far too different on your OS.

Click to Change (repair) or Uninstall PowerPoint. In the case of the latter, reinstall your copy of PowerPoint to see if the issue is resolved.

If you’re using the Change option to repair your Microsoft Office copy, you can use the Quick Repair option or Online Repair . The latter takes longer but is likely to fix issues more comprehensively. Reinstalling or repairing PowerPoint can help eliminate faulty registries or corrupt files that might cause the error preventing you from saving your PowerPoint files.

Method 4: Remove Active Movie Control

If the error you are facing is caused by video files not being saved, you can try to fix this via the Developer options in PowerPoint. If the Developer tab isn’t visible, go to File -> Options .

Go to Customize Ribbon and enable the Developer tab.

This will show the Developer tab in the Ribbon menu. Go to the tab and select Visual Basic .

In the next step, go to Insert User Form -> User Form .

Now, go to the File menu and select Remove UserForm 2 .

To return to PowerPoint, select File -> Close and Return to Microsoft PowerPoint .

Method 5: Repair the Disk Drive

Repairing your disk drive might help resolve the issue. This is in case the drive is faulty. This is necessary when you notice the file is saving on one disk drive but not the other. You can look to back up your PowerPoint file on a separate disk, USB, or OneDrive to save changes.

Right-click the disk drive you want to check for errors and go to Properties .

Go to the Tools tab and select Check. This will check the disk for errors which might take several minutes or hours to attempt identification and rectification of drive errors.

Method 6: Use a PowerPoint Repair Tool

Numerous PowerPoint file repair tools like Stellar Phoenix for PowerPoint or Wondershare Repairit exist. Such tools can help repair your PowerPoint presentation and make it usable again.

Final Words

PowerPoint files can suffer from an ‘an error occurred while PowerPoint was saving the file’ error unexpectedly. There can be various reasons causing the error, including insufficient permission to save the file in the selected location, corrupt PowerPoint, or system files. Using the abovementioned methods, you can try to fix the issue and ensure your valuable work isn’t lost.

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6 Ways to Fix the “PowerPoint Found a Problem With the Content” Error

Are you getting the “PowerPoint found a problem with the content” error? Here are some effective ways to fix it.

Do you encounter the “PowerPoint found a problem with the content” error when trying to open a .PPT file? Needless to say, it can be really frustrating, besides interrupting your work.

If you’ve already restarted your device and nothing has changed, there’s no need to worry. We’ve put together a quick troubleshooting guide to help you get back to work in no time.

1. Turn Off Protected Views

PowerPoint’s Protected Views is designed to protect you from malicious files. So, if it considers the file as a potential security threat, it displays the content error and stops you from opening it.

However, the feature might be a bit too cautious and stop you from opening a safe file. You can double-check if there’s a security risk by scanning the file with Microsoft Defender . If there’s nothing wrong with the file, you can temporarily turn off protected views.

• Open PowerPoint.
• Go to File > Options .
• From the left-hand menu, select Trust Center > Trust Center Settings .
• Click on Protected View .
• Uncheck the Enable Protected View for files originating from the Internet and Enable Protected View for files located in potentially unsafe locations options.
• Click OK to save the new changes and try to open the .PPT file.

2. Add the Presentation to Trusted Locations

Disabling PowerPoint’s protected view feature might not be the most secure idea, as you might expose your computer to security threats.

Instead, you could add the .PPT file to PowerPoint’s trusted location if you've received it from a trustworthy source. Here’s how you can do it:

• Head to File > Options .
• From the left pane, select Trust Center .
• Click the Trust Center Settings button.
• Click on Trusted Locations in the left pane.
• Click Add new location > Browse and select the.PPT file’s location.
• Click Add> Save .

Once done, PowerPoint will no longer perceive the presentation as a potential security threat, and you’ll no longer get the “PowerPoint found a problem with the content” error.

3. Repair the Presentation

Before changing your system or PowerPoint settings, make sure a corrupt file isn’t causing the content error. In this case, try to open the file from another device or download it again. If you’re still facing the same issue, you should repair the file using PowerPoint's built-in tools.

To do so, launch PowerPoint and click Open . There, browse to the presentation location, extend the Open menu, and select Open and repair .

4. Use Recovery Software

If PowerPoint tools weren’t enough to fix the corrupted file, you should try a third-party app to fix it. If you haven’t used recovery software before, you can check out our guide on the best recovery software .

5. Download the File

If the PowerPoint presentation you’re trying to open is stored on a storage service, you might have a hard time trying to open it. In this case, create a local copy of the file and try to open it.

6. Update Microsoft 365

Sometimes, Microsoft 365 apps aren’t working properly if you haven’t updated them in a while. If you notice other issues while using one of the Microsoft 365 apps, chances are you’re using an outdated version.

In this case, you should update Microsoft 365 to the latest version available. To do so, launch any Microsoft 365 app and go to File > Account . There, open the Update Options menu and select Update now .

If something goes wrong during the update process, check out our guide on how to fix Microsoft 365 error code 30015-26 .

Fix PowerPoint Content Error

Hopefully, the solutions above helped you fix the “PowerPoint found a problem with the content” error. Most of the time, you have to move the file out of a synchronized folder or fix a corrupted file.

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A Complete Guide to Solve every PowerPoint Error

David Darlington

Jan 24, 2024 • Filed to: Recover Files • Proven solutions

Getting a PowerPoint error is a common thing for the regular users of the Microsoft Office suite. Ideally, PowerPoint problems can be triggered due to numerous reasons, related to the software or a corrupt file. The good news is that it doesn’t matter if your PowerPoint is slow or a file has been corrupted, it can easily be resolved. Read this ultimate PowerPoint troubleshooting guide to fix all kinds of issues and errors.

• How Does PowerPoint Works
• Common Causes of PowerPoint Errors
• Typical Common Errors in PowerPoint
• Multiple Methods to Resolve PowerPoint Problems
• Tips on PowerPoint Troubleshooting

Part 1 How Does PowerPoint Works?

PowerPoint is a dedicated application in Microsoft Office Suite that is used to draft engaging and informative presentations . It is compatible with a wide range of files and extensions. Though, the most common file types are PPT, PPTX, and PPTM.

• Users candraft presentations from the scratch or browse the readily available themes.
• There are different ways to incorporate textual and graphical content in it.
• It also supports the integration of charts, tables, smart word arts, shapes, videos, images, GIFs, and so much more.
• There are inbuilt graphic editing and formatting tools that can help us design visually appealing slideshows.

Part 2 Common Causes of PowerPoint Errors

There could be tons of reasons for encountering PowerPoint problems. Here are some of the common causes.

• The PowerPoint file can be corrupted due to a virus or malware attack.
• If the file has been saved on a bad sector or corrupt storage, then it can become inaccessible.
• Unexpected changes with its header, encoding, or meta data can also make PowerPoint can’t read the file.
• It can get corrupt if the transfer process of the file has been halted in between.
• An unexpected shutdown of the computer when the PPT was still opened can lead to unwanted issues.
• Sometimes, a third-party application can also tamper with the encoding of a PowerPoint file, making it unreadable.
• A faulty or unreliable PowerPoint can also corrupt the entire application.
• If your system is running low on memory or you have opened too many applications in the background, then it can make PowerPoint slow.
• The multiple conversions of a file or the intentional change in its extension can make it inaccessible by PowerPoint.

Part 3 Typical Common Errors in PowerPoint

While working with PowerPoint, you might encounter different errors and issues. Here are some common PowerPoint problems that you might encounter.

1. This is not a PowerPoint presentation

This error occurs when PowerPoint is not able to recognize the document or some of its content (mostly the fonts) are not compatible. You can run the inbuilt repairing process to fix it or use a dedicated tool like Repairit.

2. PowerPoint cannot open the type of file

This PowerPoint error occurs when the file can’t be located or has been renamed. Also, if the file has been drafted in a newer version of PowerPoint, but you are trying to open it in an older version, then PowerPoint can’t read the file at times. Just make sure that the version of PowerPoint is compatible with the file.

3. Part of the PowerPoint file is missing

Users often get this PowerPoint repair error when a part of the file is missing or has been corrupted. Often, the corrupted content is replaced by a blank side. To repair a file, you would need to use a dedicated tool.

4. General Protection Fault

Sometimes, the system’s anti-virus can block certain components of PowerPoint, resulting in this error. It can easily be resolved by unblocking the Protected View option via System configuration (discussed later in the guide).

5. PowerPoint Illegal Instruction

This error prompt occurs when there is some conflict accessing the file or if the file has been corrupted. Mostly, a system reboot resolves this error. If not, you can use the native repair feature of PowerPoint to fix it.

6. Low system resources

As the error states, it usually occurs when the computer runs on low resources. This can happen when numerous other applications are opened in the background. Close all the other running applications and try to launch PowerPoint again.

7. Out of memory error

The PowerPoint repair error happens when there is no space in the primary memory to load the file. Ideally, you would be able to fix the problem by restarting the system or closing other applications.

8. PowerPoint is running slow

If PowerPoint is slow, then chances are there could be a problem with your system’s resource allocation or the application could be corrupted. It is recommended to reinstall PowerPoint in this case or run system diagnostics.

9. PowerPoint can’t read the path\file_name.ppt

If PowerPoint can’t read the file, then chances are there could be an issue with its encoding. Make sure that the extension of the file is not changed and that you haven’t converted it multiple times to avoid this.

10. There was an error accessing the file

A file can become inaccessible due to different reasons. Its location or name could have been changed. The file or its location could have been corrupted as well. Run an anti-virus scan on the system or use a dedicated repairing tool to fix this PowerPoint error.

Part4 Multiple Methods to Resolve PowerPoint Problems

As you can see, there can be all kinds of PowerPoint problems that one can face. Therefore, depending on these issues, you can try to follow these PowerPoint troubleshooting suggestions.

1. Insert Slides into a Blank PowerPoint

The easiest solution to fix a corrupt PowerPoint is by reusing its content. You can draft a new PowerPoint document and later insert the existing content of a corrupt document on it. Here’s how you can do a quick PowerPoint repair error.

i. Launch Microsoft PowerPoint on your system and draft a new presentation.

ii. Insert a blank slide and go to the toolbar. Add a new slide and choose to reuse slides.

iii. Browse to the location where the existing presentation is stored and load its content to a new document.

2. Start PowerPoint in the Safe Mode

All the Microsoft Office tools support a Safe mode. If there is a problem with the PowerPoint application itself, then you can choose to launch it in the safe mode instead. To do this, just select the PowerPoint application’s icon and hold the CTRL key. While still holding the CTRL button, double-click the icon. Agree to the following prompt to enter the safe mode.

Apart from that, you can also launch the Run prompt to open PowerPoint in the safe mode. Just type “powerpnt /safe” and press enter on the Run command.

3. Unblock the Protected View Options

If you have got the General Protection Fault in PowerPoint, then you can resolve it by following this technique. Sometimes, PowerPoint can enable a Protection View that can tamper with the working of the application. To fix this PowerPoint error, follow these steps:

i. Launch the PowerPoint application and go to its File menu > Options.

ii. Visit the Trust Center feature and go to the “Protected View” tab.

iii. From here, disable the option for Protected View under different categories.

iv. Save the changes and restart your system to check if the PowerPoint troubleshooting works or not.

4. Open the Temporary PPT Files

You might already know that while working on a document, Microsoft Office creates its temporary file in the background. If the main PowerPoint file has been corrupted, then you can still try to access its data through its temporary file.

i. Firstly, you need to locate the temporary PowerPoint file. It is stored with the name of PPTxxxx.tmp. Here, “xxxx” is a 4-digit code given to the file.

ii. You can look for the temporary file in the same folder or the Temp folder in the Windows directory.

iii. Once you have selected the file, rename it and change its extension from .tmp to .ppt.

iv. In the end, launch PowerPoint and open the temporary file to view its data.

5. Use Open and Repair Utility

If you don’t want to use any third-party PowerPoint troubleshooting application, then you can try this native feature as well. Instead of opening a document the usual way, open and repair it instead. In this way, PowerPoint will automatically run a diagnostic and try to repair the file.

i. Launch the PowerPoint application on your system and go to its File menu. Choose to open a new file and browse its location.

ii. As a browser window will open, go to the location where the faulty PPT file is stored and select it.

iii. Click on the dropdown menu adjacent to the Open button and choose to “Open and Repair” the file instead.

6. Repair PowerPoint Program

There are times when a problem with the Office program can make your application corrupt. If you are using an outdated version of PowerPoint, then you can encounter such issues frequently. To resolve this, you can run a thorough diagnostics and repair the PowerPoint application itself.

i. Go to the Control Panel settings on your system and view all the programs installed on it.

ii. Select Microsoft Office from the list of programs and click on the “Change” button.

iii. This will launch the Microsoft Office configuration wizard. Choose to repair Office and start the setup.

iv. Follow the simple on-screen instructions to complete the setup and restart your system in the end.

7. Run Scandisk to Check Disk Errors

You might be getting unwanted PowerPoint problems due to a bad sector or corrupt hard drive as well. To resolve this issue, you can run a scan of the disk and rectify these errors.

i. Open Windows Explorer and select the hard drive that you wish to diagnose.

ii. Right-click it and go to its Properties.

iii. Visit the “Tools” tab and click on the “Check Now” button under the Error Checking option.

iv. Turn on both the options to scan for any bad sector and automatically fix system errors.

v. Click on the “Start” button to initiate the system scan.

8. Use Repairit

If you are looking for a foolproof solution to fix PowerPoint problems, then give Repairit a try. It can provide a dedicated PowerPoint troubleshooting and resolve all kinds of issues with a corrupt or damaged file. By following a simple click-through process, you can resolve any PowerPoint repair error while still retaining all the data.

• It can repair PPT, PPTX, PPTM, and all kinds of PowerPoint files.
• Users can load multiple documents as the tool can repair them simultaneously.
• It allows us to have a preview of the repaired files before saving them.
• Also provides raw recovery for severely damaged PowerPoint documents.
• All the formatting and graphics like tables, shapes, charts, images, header, word art, etc. are retained.

The tool is fully compatible with MS PowerPoint 2000 and all the newer versions like 2013, 2010, 2007, and so on. You can download it on your Windows system and follow these steps to resolve any PowerPoint error.

Step 1: Launch Repairit

Close all the corrupt or damaged PowerPoint documents in advance. Once it is done, launch the Repairit application on your Window system. If you don’t haveRepairit installed, then you can download it from its website.

Step 2: Load the corrupt file and scan it

Select the drive where the corrupt file has been stored and simply browse to the location. You can select a file or an entire folder and load as many files as you want to the tool.

You can select the files that you wish to repair and see how many files have been selected. Once it is done, click on the “Scan” button to repair the PowerPoint files.

Step 3: Preview and save the file

Sit back and wait for a while as the application would repair the PowerPoint files based on different parameters. Just make sure that the tool is not closed in between.

As soon as the PowerPoint files have been repaired , you will be notified. Now, you can just preview the PPT and check if the content has been recovered or not. You can switch between different files from the left panel and view their data on the right.

That’s it! Once the errors are resolved, you can click on the save button. If you want, you can save the repaired file to the same location or go to any other location to save the PowerPoint file.

The Best Corrupted Files Repair Toolkit

• Repair 4 types of files,namely Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Zip.
• Offer excellent search options to find corrupted files instantly.
• Preview and recover all the data contained in the corrupted files.
• Repair files corrupted due to different causes and from all devices.

Part5 Tips on PowerPoint Troubleshooting

Now when you know how to do PowerPoint repair error, you can easily make the most of this resourceful application. If you want to avoid getting an unwanted PowerPoint error in the future, then consider following these expert tips.

• Update MS Office: If you are using an outdated version of PowerPoint, then you might encounter some unwanted issues as well. To resolve this, make sure that you have an authentic and latest PowerPoint application installed.
• Install an anti-virus: If PowerPoint can’t read a file, then chances are it could have been corrupted. To avoid this, install a working anti-virus software on your system and turn on its real-time protection features.
• Only use reliable add-ons: There are tons of add-ons available for PowerPoint to perform various operations. Just make sure that you have added a reliable plugin that won’t tamper with the working of the PowerPoint application.
• Maintain a backup: If you don’t want to suffer from PowerPoint error related to a file, then just make sure you have got its backup beforehand. Ideally, you can turn on the automatic backup feature to avoid an unforeseen issue with a PPT.
• Avoid unexpected shutdown: Make sure that your computer has a stable power supply as an unexpected shutdown of the system (while PowerPoint is still open) can corrupt a file.
• Avoid PPT conversion: The over-conversion of files to and from PPT can also cause an error. Try not to perform multiple conversions of a document to preserve its meta content.
• Don’t change the file extension: Try not to intentionally alter the extension of a file as it can lead to numerous PowerPoint problems.
• Have enough free space: If your system is running low on memory or resources, then it can make PowerPoint slow. Therefore, you should have enough free space in the primary storage and RAM.
• Use reliable third-party tools: If you are giving any third-party tools an access to PowerPoint documents, then make sure it is a secure and reliable application. Sometimes, a third-party tool can mishandle the PPT and make it corrupt.

By following this in-depth and comprehensive guide, you would be able to perform a complete PowerPoint troubleshooting. To resolve any unwanted PowerPoint error, give Repairit a try. It features a user-friendly interface and runs a sophisticated repairing algorithm to fix all kinds of PowerPoint problems in minutes.

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How to Fix “Cannot Play Media” Error in PowerPoint

Annoying when it happens in the middle of a presentation

Presentations have become a vital tool for communication and sharing information in schools and offices worldwide. Microsoft PowerPoint allows you to create visually appealing presentations that include various multimedia elements, such as video and audio.

However, you might encounter “cannot play media” errors in PowerPoint, causing video playback issues and preventing the smooth delivery of your presentation. If you want to resolve this problem, follow the steps below.

What Causes the “Cannot Play Media” Error in PowerPoint?

The “cannot play media” error in PowerPoint (or “media not found” error) usually occurs when PowerPoint cannot find or play the media file that you’ve inserted in your presentation.

This can happen for several reasons. The file might be missing, moved, renamed, or deleted from its original location, or it could have become corrupted or damaged in some way. You could also have linked to an external source (such as a website) that’s no longer accessible.

However, not every file is compatible with PowerPoint. Files that don’t have the correct file format, or are too large for PowerPoint to use, won’t load.

Depending on the cause of the error, you may see different messages on your screen, such as no supported file type, an audio codec is needed to play the file, a network error has occurred, or the specified file can’t be played.

To fix this error, you need to identify the cause and apply the appropriate solution using the steps below.

Check the Location and Name of the Media File

One of the simplest solutions is to check if the media file that you inserted in your presentation is still in its original location and has the same name. If you moved, renamed, or deleted the media file after inserting it in PowerPoint, PowerPoint may not be able to find it and will show you the error message.

However, this all depends on how the PowerPoint file has been saved. By default, PowerPoint will likely try to embed media files into the PowerPoint file itself—this makes it easier to move media assets with the file. However, if you’ve only added a link to the file, you’ll need to update the link to the file to the new location.

If you want to update the link, follow these steps:

• Open PowerPoint and press File > Info .
• If you have any media files with links (so they aren’t embedded into the file itself), you’ll see a View Links option listed under Optimize Media Compatibility —select this to proceed.

• In the Audio/Video Options dialog box, select your media file and press Change Source .

• Browse to the new location and name of the file and press Open .
• Press Update Now and then Close to update your links when you’re finished.

Use PowerPoint Media Compatibility Mode

Another possible solution to fix the “cannot play media” error in PowerPoint is to use the media compatibility mode in PowerPoint.

This mode allows you to optimize your presentation for compatibility with older versions of PowerPoint or different devices. It can also help you resolve some issues with video playback and conversion. To use the media compatibility mode in PowerPoint, follow the steps below.

• Press Check for Issues under the Inspect Presentation section.
• In the drop-down menu, press Check Compatibility and wait for PowerPoint to scan your presentation for potential compatibility issues.

• In the Compatibility Report dialog box, look for any issues related to media files and check the boxes next to them.

• Fix the problems manually or, if the option is available to you, press Fix and wait for PowerPoint to fix the issues automatically.
• Save your presentation and see if the media files play without any error.

Note that using the media compatibility mode may change some aspects of your presentation, such as the format, quality, or size of your media files. Make sure to back up a copy of your file before you proceed so that you can restore any changes afterward.

Convert the Media Files Using VLC

Another possible solution is to convert or compress the media file that you inserted in your presentation. PowerPoint may not be able to play certain types of media files or play files that are too large or have a high resolution. This can cause compatibility issues and lead to the error message.

To fix this, you need to either convert the media file to a format that is supported by PowerPoint or compress it to reduce its size and resolution. One possible tool that allows you to convert and compress a media file is VLC Media Player.

To convert a media file using VLC Media Player, follow these steps:

• Download and install VLC Media Player from its official website.
• Open VLC Media Player and press Media > Convert/Save .

• In the Open Media dialog box, press Add and select the media file that you want to convert, then press Convert/Save .

• Choose the output format that you want—this will determine the file size. For example, you can choose Video – H.264 + MP3 (MP4) for video files or Audio – MP3 for audio files. You can also choose video or audio formats such as MKV, WAV or MP4 .
• Select Browse and choose the destination folder and name for the converted file.
• Press Start and wait for the conversion to finish.

Once the file is converted, you can insert the new file into your PowerPoint presentation.

Embed the Media File in Your Presentation

Another possible solution is to embed the media file in your PowerPoint presentation instead of linking to it. As we’ve already mentioned, linking to a media file means that PowerPoint will look for the file in its original location every time you play it.

Embedding a media file means that PowerPoint will instead store a copy of the file within your presentation file. This can prevent the “cannot play media” error from occurring because PowerPoint will always have access to the file regardless of its location or availability.

However, embedding a media file can also increase the size of your presentation file significantly, so you need to be careful about how many and how large media files you embed. To embed a media file in your PowerPoint presentation, follow these steps.

• In PowerPoint, go to the slide where you want to insert the media file and select Insert > Media > Video > This Device .

• Browse to the location of the media file and select it.
• Press the Insert button—this will automatically embed it into your presentation. If this isn’t available, press the dropdown arrow next to your presentation and choose Insert there instead.

Once the file is inserted, resize and place it into the correct position in your presentation. Repeat these steps for any other video files you want to use in your presentation.

Managing Media in PowerPoint

The “cannot play media” error in PowerPoint can be annoying and frustrating, but it can usually be fixed. You’ll just need to check the location and name of the media file, convert or compress it, or embed it in your presentation. You can also try using PowerPoint’s multimedia compatibility mode to help it load on other PCs.

If all else fails, you can also convert your PowerPoint presentation into a video and play it on another device. Lost the changes to your PowerPoint presentation after a restart? Don’t forget to recover your unsaved presentations to recover the changes.

Ben Stockton is a freelance technology writer based in the United Kingdom. In a past life, Ben was a college lecturer in the UK, training teens and adults. Since leaving the classroom, Ben has taken his teaching experience and applied it to writing tech how-to guides and tutorials, specialising in Linux, Windows, and Android. He has a degree in History and a postgraduate qualification in Computing. Read Ben's Full Bio

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PowerPoint Video Not Playing? Here’s How to Fix it Fast!

By: Author Shrot Katewa

It is annoying when you want to play a video during your presentation speech but PowerPoint just refuses to play the video! The video may either fail to work or display just the audio/video. There are actually several reasons why this could happen!

So, in this article, we will take a closer look at the various issues related to playing video in PowerPoint, and I will also provide you with a few quick solutions to each of the issues.

So, without further adieu, let’s get started!

1. Video Not Playing in Presentation Mode 

Although Microsoft PowerPoint is one of the powerful presentation tools out there, it is not perfect. There may be more than a few reasons why video is not playing in the presentation mode of your PowerPoint.

The most common problem that users face is that the format of the media file is either not supported by PowerPoint, or the media file might have missing fragments, or the file may have a syncing issue, or the media file may just be corrupted.

In the following subsection, I will explain the possible solutions to a corrupted media file in your PowerPoint presentation.

1a. PowerPoint Video Cannot Play Media Error 

There are two possible solutions to a corrupted file. You can either optimize the media compatibility or clear the temporary data on your Windows operating system. Both of the solutions are described below.

Optimizing media compatibility

Follow the simple steps given below to optimize the compatibility of the video file with your PowerPoint presentation. 

Step-1: Go to “Info”

The first step of the process is to go to the “Info” section located in the “ File ” tab, which is the first tab in the ribbon of your PowerPoint window.

Step-2: Click on ‘Check Compatibility’

The next step is to click on the “ Check for issues ” button and select the “ Check compatibility ” option from the drop-down menu.

Step-3: Click on the “Ok” button

After you have selected the “ Check compatibility ” option, Microsoft PowerPoint will automatically detect the media files, report to you the issue with your video file, and try to fix it.

To finish optimizing the media file, click on the “ Ok ” button and the issue should be resolved.

Clearing the temporary files

Microsoft PowerPoint may fail to play your video files if there are too many temporary files on your Windows operating system. To clear these temporary files, follow the easy steps described below.

Step-1: Launch the “Run Prompt”

To being, go to the “ Start ” menu of your computer and launch the “ Run Prompt ”

Step-2: Type in the “%temp%” command

After you have launched the “ Run Prompt ”, type “%temp%” in the search box and hit the “ Ok ” button.

Step-3: Delete all the files

Once you have clicked on the “ Ok ” button, a new folder will open on your screen. This folder contains all the temporary files that are present on your computer.

Select all the files and delete them. Skip the files that are still in use and the video should be good to go.

2. YouTube Video Not Playing in PowerPoint 

There are several reasons why a YouTube video may not play in your PowerPoint presentation. Some of the reasons why this may happen and possible solutions to them are given below.

1. The link used to embed the YouTube video was a shared link and not an embedded link. If you have entered the link that is used to share the video, then the video will not play in your PowerPoint presentation. To fix this issue, insert the embedded link of the YouTube video instead of the shared link.

2. The YouTube video that you embedded in your Presentation may not be available anymore. In order to avoid this issue, do not use videos that are in “ Private viewing only ” settings.

3. The embedded file may be in an unsupported format. Most versions of Microsoft PowerPoint supports “.wmv” files. Hence, videos that are in a different format may not play in your PowerPoint presentation. Make sure the video file is in the right format.   

3. Video Only Plays Audio in PowerPoint 

Sometimes, the video file only plays the audio of the video file in Microsoft PowerPoint.

This may happen either because the inserted video file is not supported by the PowerPoint software, or the file is too large. Another reason might be that the file is corrupted, or the Windows operating system is missing some necessary codecs.

Following are 3 possible solutions to these problems.

Solution 1 – Convert the video file

To convert the video file, follow the simple steps given below.

Step-1: Go to the “Info” section

The first step is to go to the “ Info ” section of the “ File ” tab which is located at the right-most corner of the ribbon of your PowerPoint presentation.

Step-2: Click on the “Media Size and Performance” option

The second step is to click on the “ Media Size and Performance ” option which is the first option in the “ Info ” section

Step-3: Click on the “HD (720)” button

After clicking on the “ Media size and performance ” option, a drop-down menu will appear. From that drop-down menu, click on the “ HD (720) ” option.

This will compress the size of the video and convert it to a supported format. 

Solution 2 – Clear temporary files

Like the previous issue, sometimes your computer may be working on too many temporary files, due to which the video file in your PowerPoint presentation may not be functioning properly.

Simply follow the steps described earlier in this article and delete all the temporary files operating in your Windows operating system.

Solution 3 – Install missing codecs

Right out of the box, Windows does not support every media codecs. It is possible that the video file in your PowerPoint presentation is only playing audio because some of the codecs in your Windows are missing.

To fix this issue, you can download a codec pack from the internet. Some of the best Codec packs are,

1. K-Lite Codec Pack

2. Media Player Codec Pack

3. X- Codec pack

4. Audio of the Video Doesn’t Work in PowerPoint  

If the audio of the video in your PowerPoint presentation is not working, try all the solutions mentioned in the above section. If it still doesn’t work, then maybe the PowerPoint software is muted in your computer.

To make sure the audio of your PowerPoint is not muted, turn on the video in your presentation and follow the simple steps described below.

Step-1: “Right-click” on the “speaker/headphone” button

At first, you have to “ Right-click ” on the “ Speaker/Headphone ” volume button in the taskbar of your computer. It is the right-most button on the taskbar and its icon looks like a handheld speakerphone (as showcased in the image below)

Step-2: Select the “Open Volume Mixer” option

After you have opened the “ Speaker/Headphone ” menu from your taskbar, click on the “ Open Volume Mixer ” option which is the second option in the menu.

Step-3: Click on the volume icon under the PowerPoint section

Once you have selected the “ Open Volume Mixer ” option, a pop-up window will appear on the bottom right corner of your screen.

Click on the small volume icon with a red cross over it, which will unmute the PowerPoint software on your computer.

5. Video Doesn’t Play Automatically 

To play a video file in your PowerPoint presentation automatically, you have to change the playback settings of the video file.

This might sound a little difficult but the whole process is described in 2 simple steps below.

Step-1: Go to the “Playback” tab

At first, turn on the video in your PowerPoint presentation. This will allow you to access the “ Playback ” tab which appears on the ribbon when a media file is played.

Step-2: Select the “Automatically” option

Now, select the “ Automatically ” option which is located in the “ Start ” drop-down menu of the “ Video Options ” section in the “ Playback ” tab.

The video should now play automatically when the slide is opened.

6. PowerPoint Export to Video Not Working 

To fix videos not exporting in your PowerPoint presentation, you may have to optimize the media file using the method mentioned earlier in this article.

You might also have to update your PowerPoint software if it is outdated or repair it if needed. To learn more on how to update Microsoft PowerPoint, you can read one of our articles on this topic by clicking here .

I will discuss the process of repairing PowerPoint below:

Step-1: Go to “Add or remove programs”

The first step is to go to the “ Start ” menu of your computer and launch the “ Add or remove programs ” tool.

Step-2: Click on the “Advanced Options” button

The second step is to find your Microsoft Office program and select the “ Advanced options ” button.

Step-3: Select the “Repair” option

After you click on the “ Advanced Options ” button, you will be taken to a new window. From that window, under “ Reset ” select the “ Repair ” option.

Once the scanning and repairing are complete a tick mark will appear beside the “ Repair ” option, which will indicate that the repairing is complete.

7. How to Change Video Source in PowerPoint?

Unfortunately, there is no direct way to change the path of the source of a video in your PowerPoint presentation.

You can use a macro to fix this problem but honestly, it is easiest to simply re-attach the video to your PowerPoint presentation.

To change the video source in your PowerPoint presentation, delete the initial video, move the video file to the same folder as the PowerPoint presentation and insert the video again and the source of the video will change accordingly.

Credit to Benzoix (on Freepik) for the featured image of this article (further edited)

PowerPoint cannot insert a video from the selected file

Fix your media file that won't play in PowerPoint.

For a complete list of supported video formats , see Video and audio file formats supported in PowerPoint .

Recommendations

Video:    We recommend that you use .mp4 files encoded with H.264 video (also known as MPEG-4 AVC) and AAC audio. This is your best bet for compatibility across both Windows and Mac versions of PowerPoint.

Audio:     We recommend that you use .use .m4a files encoded with AAC audio.

These names and formats sound complicated, but you can easily convert to and use these formats without having to know anything more than those names.

If PowerPoint doesn’t let you insert a video or audio file, convert it to the recommended format.

Missing codec?

If your media file is in a supported format, but won't play in PowerPoint, then you can either add a missing codec to your PC (described in the procedure below) or convert the media file to the recommended format. Converting your media file is easier than solving an individual codec mystery.

A codec is a small piece of software that decodes a digital media file so that it can be played as sound or video.

It's not easy to determine which codec you need for your media file. One solution is to install a package of numerous codecs on your computer. That greatly increases the likelihood that you'll have the necessary codec to play your the audio or video file that is giving you a problem. Follow the steps below to install a package of codecs on your PC.

Install a K-Lite Codec Pack on your computer:    

Go online to K-Lite Codec Packs page on www.free-codecs.com.

Four variations of the pack are offered. We recommend the Standard pack.

Click Download for the second package in the list, the Standard package.

The page may have advertisements for other products on it. Those advertisements may say "Start Download" or "Start Now." Those buttons are NOT related to the pack you want to install.

If your browser prompts you, choose Save .

The download of the pack begins. The file is copied to your PC slowly. It may take several minutes, depending on your internet connection. By default it will be copied to the "Downloads" folder on your computer. The name of the downloaded file is K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1365_Standard.exe or something similar.

Double-click the downloaded file to begin the process of installing it on your PC.

The package will give you the opportunity to choose installation options momentarily.

There are several sets of options to choose in the setup process. If you find them confusing, it's reasonable to accept the default settings that are presented to you.

Accept the Normal mode of installation unless you are experienced with media files and want to customize the installation.

Click Next in the dialog box.

Accept or adjust the Installation Preferences as you see fit. Then click Next .

Accept the Decoding Method under Hardware Acceleration .

Under Preferred Language , accept the default, or make changes as you see fit.

After the Audio configuration settings, the dialog box will offer you additional software unrelated to codecs. You can click Decline for this extra offer, and the setup process for the codec pack will then continue.

Finally, under Ready to Install , click the Install button.

The K-Lite Codec pack is now installed on your PC. You can see it on the Windows  Start menu. But more importantly, its presence on your PC increases the likelihood that a media file in a PowerPoint presentation will play successfully.

More help for working with videos

If you simply want help inserting an audio or video file, see one of these other articles:

Add audio to your presentation

Add and play a video in a presentation

Insert or link to a video on YouTube

PowerPoint videos not playing on secondary monitor

Error message when you try to insert an MPEG-4 or QuickTime Movie file: "PowerPoint cannot insert a video from the selected file"

"PowerPoint cannot insert a video from the selected file" error when you try to insert an MPEG-2 video

File formats supported in PowerPoint

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