PowerPoint Updates That Could Impact Your Team's Productivity

Many employees may not notice every change Microsoft makes to Office apps, but some updates have a real impact on workflow. One such change is the removal of PowerPoint's Reuse Slides feature. For teams that create presentations regularly, this small tool was a major time saver. Its retirement could slow down slide creation if employees are not aware of alternative methods.

What Was Reuse Slides?

Reuse Slides allowed users to pull individual slides from other presentations directly into their current deck. You could keep the original formatting or adapt it to your current style, making it simple to maintain consistency across client presentations, sales decks, or training materials.

Instead of rebuilding slides from scratch, teams could reuse content quickly and keep presentations looking professional. For businesses, this meant less wasted time and fewer errors when copying formatting or design elements.

How to Reuse Slides Now

Microsoft removed Reuse Slides because it overlaps with other ways to work with slides. While that may make sense from a software design perspective, it leaves teams needing new processes.

Here are practical alternatives:

1. Drag and Drop Between Open Files

Open both presentations at once and drag the slides you need from one deck to another. Most formatting, animations, and media are preserved, though some tweaks may be required.

2. New Window Method

Go to View and select New Window to duplicate your current deck. You can then work on a new version while keeping the original intact. This is helpful when creating updated versions of existing presentations.

Both options allow slide reuse but may require a little more attention to detail than the old Reuse Slides feature.

Business Impact

For companies that rely on PowerPoint for client-facing materials or internal communications, this change has real implications:

• Time management: Employees may need to adjust workflows to avoid delays in slide creation.
• Consistency: Teams must check formatting and branding when copying slides manually.
• Training: Staff may require guidance on the new methods to maintain efficiency.

The change is not a barrier, but awareness and preparation are key to minimizing disruptions.

What to Watch and Consider

Businesses should make sure employees:

• Know how to use drag and drop between presentations
• Understand the New Window method for duplicating decks
• Take time to review formatting after moving slides

Proactively addressing this change can prevent frustration and keep your presentations looking polished and professional.

Conclusion: Adapt to Maintain Efficiency

Microsoft's decision to retire Reuse Slides reflects a push toward a more streamlined Office experience, but it does require businesses to adjust their workflows. By understanding the alternatives and training teams on these methods, companies can continue creating high-quality presentations efficiently and avoid lost time or errors.