Insert PDF into PowerPoint Easily

Looking to insert a PDF into PowerPoint but not sure how? You’ve come to the right place. We’ll show you 5 easy ways to do it.

PDF files are read-only. That means once created, they are difficult to edit. Read on to find out how you can still insert and edit PDF content in your PowerPoint presentation.

What is a PDF?

The Portable Document Format was developed in 1993 by Adobe Systems. A PDF file can contain images and/or text. To open these documents, you need a compatible program, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, which must be purchased. However, there are free alternatives, such as PDFCreator and BullZip, which allow you to create PDFs easily.

A key feature of PDF files is that they retain the original author’s layout, ensuring the document looks the same on any computer system. This is why many government agencies and companies rely on PDFs for distributing important documents.

Insert a PDF into PowerPoint: Your Options

You can insert a PDF file into PowerPoint in the following ways:

• As a picture
• As an object
• As a link
• With the Snipping Tool
• Convert online

Not all methods yield the same result; depending on the method chosen, you might only see a single page of your PDF document or gain access to the entire file. Below, we explain each option in detail.

Option 1: Insert a PDF into PowerPoint as a Picture

The easiest and fastest method to insert a PDF file into your PowerPoint presentation is through “Drag and Drop”:

1. Open your PowerPoint presentation and the folder containing the desired PDF file in two adjacent windows.

2. Select the PDF file and drag it onto the open slide of your PowerPoint presentation. This will display the first page of the PDF as an image.

3. To edit the image, click on it and select the “Picture Format” tab that appears.

Tip: If you want to insert only a specific part of the image, use the screenshot function to manually capture portions of your PDF file as images. Follow these steps:

1. Open your PDF file.

2. Ensure the file window is the most recent open window.

3. Confirm that everything you want to capture is visible in the window.

4. Select the slide in PowerPoint where you want the PDF content to appear.

5. Click on the Insert tab and select Screenshot in the Images group.

6. Your PDF will be the first thumbnail in the Available Windows gallery.

7. Select Screen Clipping to add a selected portion of your PDF.

8. Your window will appear white with the pointer as a cross.

9. Hold the left mouse button and drag to select the area you want to capture. Once finished, the selected area will appear as an image in your PowerPoint slide.

10. To edit your new screenshot, use the tools in the Picture Format tab.

Option 2: Insert a PDF into PowerPoint as an Object

This method allows you to access a multi-page PDF file, even though only one object will be visible on the PowerPoint slide. Follow these steps to embed your file as an object:

Note: The quality of the file may be reduced with this method. However, if you double-click on the PDF file image in Normal View, you can view the entire PDF.

1. Select the PowerPoint slide where you want the content to appear.

2. Ensure the PDF file is the most recent open window.

3. In the Insert Object box, select Create from File.

4. Click Browse to search for your file, then confirm with OK.

Option 3: Add a Link

To easily access the PDF file during your presentation, you can insert a link to it:

1. Enter the text that will serve as a link to the file in your presentation.

2. Go to Insert > Link > Insert Link.

3. Enter the address for your file, or click the File Folder icon to search for it, then click Open.

4. Press Ctrl + Click on the selected text to open your document in a PDF reader (e.g., Adobe Reader).

Option 4: Use a Snipping Tool

If you are a Windows user, you can use the Snipping Tool or Snip & Sketch, which is pre-installed on your computer. This tool enables you to create screenshots easily. Here’s how:

1. Open the file you want to screenshot.

2. Find the Snipping Tool or Snip & Sketch on your computer and select New.

3. Your screen will appear white. Use your mouse to drag the area you want to capture.

4. Save the image as a PNG by clicking the Save icon, placing it where you can easily access it.

5. Go to Insert > Pictures to add it to your presentation.

For Mac users, press Shift + Command + 4 to use the screenshot function and save the selected portion as a PNG image, which can then be easily inserted into PowerPoint.

Option 5: Convert Online

You can convert your PDF directly into a .pptx document using suitable online software. Here’s how to use the paid converter Smallpdf:

1. Go to Smallpdf.com.

2. Select the PDF to PPT tile.

3. Click Choose Files and select your PDF file, then confirm with Open.

4. Wait for the conversion to complete, then click Download to save the new PowerPoint presentation.

5. Open the converted file, and you’ll have a PowerPoint presentation containing all your document’s data, ready for further editing.

Final Tip: Show Your PDF File with a Mouse Click

1. Insert your file as an object as described in option 2.

2. Go to Insert > Action in the Links group.

3. This will open the Action Settings box. In the Mouse Click tab, enable the option to open your file using a mouse click.

Conclusion: Inserting a PDF into PowerPoint is Easy

As a PowerPoint presenter, your goal is to deliver high-quality information on your topics. This often involves using PDF files, which are read-only and difficult to modify.

We’ve outlined 5 ways to quickly and easily insert a PDF into PowerPoint. Try one of these methods for your next presentation!