How to Add A PDF Document to Powerpoint

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If you’re giving a presentation and want to add a PDF document to your PowerPoint, you may be wondering how to do it. By default, PowerPoint doesn’t allow you to insert a PDF file directly into your slides. However, there are several methods you can use to overcome this challenge and achieve your goal. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the steps to add a PDF document into your PowerPoint presentation.

Video Tutorial:

The Challenge of Adding A PDF Document to Powerpoint

As stated earlier, you can’t add a PDF file directly to your PowerPoint slides. The reason is that PowerPoint expects all documents to be embedded, while PDFs are designed to be linked. However, there are several methods you can use to create a link between your presentation and the PDF document, ensuring that it opens when you click on the link.

Things You Should Prepare for

Before proceeding, there are a few things you should prepare for:

  • The PDF document you want to add to your PowerPoint presentation
  • Your PowerPoint presentation
  • Access to Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
  • A stable internet connection (for some methods)

Method 1: Add PDF as an Object

Method 1: Pros

  • The PDF is embedded in the presentation, so it works well offline

Method 1: Cons

  • The PDF document may not be displayed correctly
  • The embedded file size can be large, slowing down the presentation

Step 1: Open your PowerPoint presentation and select the slide where you want to add the PDF document

Step 2: Go to the "Insert" tab in the PowerPoint ribbon and click on "Object" (in the "Text" section)

Step 3: In the "Object" dialog box, select "Create from File" and browse to your PDF document. Click "OK"

Step 4: If you want the PDF document to open in full screen mode, check the "Display as icon" box. If you want to show an image of the first page of the PDF, uncheck the box. Click "OK"

Step 5: A PDF icon or the image of the first page of the PDF document will appear on your slide. Click on it to open the PDF document.

Method 2: Add PDF as a Hyperlink

Method 2: Pros

  • Lessens file size of the presentation since PDF is not embedded

Method 2: Cons

  • The PDF document must be in the same location as the presentation to work
  • If you move the presentation or PDF document, the hyperlink may no longer work

Step 1: Save your PDF document in the same folder as your PowerPoint presentation

Step 2: In your PowerPoint presentation, select the text or object you want to turn into a hyperlink

Step 3: Go to the "Insert" tab in the PowerPoint ribbon and select "Hyperlink" (Ctrl+K)

Step 4: In the "Insert Hyperlink" dialog box, select "Existing File or Web Page" on the left, navigate to your PDF document, and click "OK"

Step 5: Your selected text/object will now appear as a hyperlink. When clicked, the PDF document will open in a separate window.

Method 3: Add PDF as a Slide Image

Method 3: Pros

  • Displays an image of the PDF document on the slide
  • Lessens file size of the presentation since PDF is not embedded

Method 3: Cons

  • You can only show one page of the PDF document on the slide
  • If you want to show other pages of the PDF, you must duplicate the slide and change the image

Step 1: Open the PDF document and take a screenshot of the page you want to show in the slide

Step 2: Open your PowerPoint presentation and create a new slide

Step 3: In the "Insert" tab of the ribbon, select the "Picture" button

Step 4: Navigate to the screenshot of the PDF document and select "Insert"

Step 5: Resize the image to fit the slide and align it to the center. You can also add a title on top of the image.

Why Can’t I Add A PDF Document to Powerpoint?

There are several reasons why you may not be able to add a PDF document to your PowerPoint presentation:

  1. Microsoft PowerPoint does not have a built-in feature to support PDFs.
  2. PDFs are designed to be separate entities, and PowerPoint can only embed files.
  3. Converting the PDF to an image file can cause image quality loss.

However, the methods we’ve outlined above provide several ways to add a PDF document to your presentation.

Additional Tips

Here are a few additional tips to keep in mind when working with PDFs in PowerPoint:

  • To ensure that the file size of your presentation is not affected too much when adding a PDF, optimize the PDF before you insert it.
  • If you want to add a video or audio to your presentation, you can convert the PDF into a PowerPoint slide with a media clip.
  • You can also use screenshots or images of the PDF document in your presentation.

5 FAQs about Adding A PDF Document to PowerPoint

Q1. How do I insert a multi-page PDF document into PowerPoint?

A: Unfortunately, there’s no direct way to insert a multi-page PDF document into PowerPoint. However, you can use most of the methods we’ve discussed to add a hyperlink or an embedded icon/link to your presentation. You can also add images from different pages of your PDF document to different slides in your PowerPoint.

Q2. Can I embed a PDF document into PowerPoint on a Mac?

A: Yes, you can embed a PDF into PowerPoint on a Mac using the "Object" or "Insert" method. The steps are similar to the ones we outlined above for Windows.

Q3. Can I add a password-protected PDF document to PowerPoint?

A: Yes, you can add a password-protected PDF to PowerPoint, but you must first open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC and remove the password protection. This way, you can use the PDF as an embedded icon/link, an image, or a hyperlink in your presentation.

Q4. Can I add links to a PDF document within PowerPoint?

A: No, you can’t add links to a PDF document from within PowerPoint. However, if your PDF document already has internal links, they will work when you open the PDF document from your presentation.

Q5. Can I add a PDF file to a slide master in PowerPoint?

A: No, you can’t add a PDF file directly to a slide master in PowerPoint. However, you can add a hyperlink, an embedded icon/link, or an image of the PDF document to different slides within your presentation.

In Conclusion

Adding a PDF document to your PowerPoint presentation may seem challenging, but with the methods we’ve outlined above, it is possible. By embedding the PDF as an object, hyperlink, or image, you can share your desired document with your audience while giving your presentation. Follow the steps outlined above to successfully add a PDF document to your presentation.