Power point

Debbie Westoff 0 Reputation points
2026-08-20T14:06:21.9433333+00:00

I am getting mixed messages and not sure what is true??? Is power point going away and we can no longer use it? I have presentations to make in Sept and October and want to be sure that my current presentations will work? If that is not the case, what are we supposed to be using instead?

Microsoft 365 and Office | PowerPoint | For home | Other
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  1. Marcin Policht 107.9K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-08-20T15:10:42.35+00:00

    Microsoft PowerPoint is not going away, and your current presentations will work

    I gather you might be confusing this with Microsoft Publisher or general headlines regarding older Office software ending its support cycle. PowerPoint remains a core, fully supported product.

    No standalone version of PowerPoint expires this September or October, Office 2016 and Office 2019 reached their official end of life last autumn on October 14, 2025, and Office 2021 is scheduled to reach its end of life on October 13, 2026. However, even if you are using one of these versions, your PowerPoint program will not self-destruct or stop working. End of life simply means Microsoft stops providing security patches and tech support. You can still safely open, edit, and present your slides for your upcoming meetings.

    If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

    hth

    Marcin

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  2. AI answer

    2026-08-20T14:06:38.34+00:00

    PowerPoint is not going away.

    What is going away in the Microsoft 365 messaging is Publisher, not PowerPoint. If the concern came from a Microsoft email about apps changing in October 2026, that message refers to Publisher being removed from Microsoft 365. That does not mean PowerPoint will stop working.

    For presentations in September and October:

    • Existing PowerPoint presentations can still be used.
    • If the files are in modern .pptx format, they are the normal PowerPoint format.
    • If a presentation is saved in the older .ppt format, PowerPoint may open it in Compatibility Mode. In that case, some newer features can be unavailable or behave differently.
    • When a .pptx file is saved as .ppt, PowerPoint runs the Compatibility Checker to warn about content that may not work correctly in earlier versions.

    Best way to make sure current presentations work:

    1. Open the presentation in PowerPoint.
    2. Check whether the file is an older .ppt file.
    3. If it is, save it in the current .pptx format to avoid Compatibility Mode limitations.
    4. If needed, run the Compatibility Checker before sharing with people who might use older PowerPoint versions.

    If an older Windows mobile app is being used, that is a separate issue: the PowerPoint Mobile UWP app is no longer supported after October 14, 2025. Alternatives listed are:

    • PowerPoint on the web
    • Desktop PowerPoint through Microsoft 365
    • The Microsoft Copilot app on iOS or Android for mobile use

    So the practical answer is:

    • PowerPoint is still available and usable.
    • Publisher is the app being removed from Microsoft 365 in October 2026.
    • Current presentations should work, especially if saved as .pptx.
    • If there is any doubt, open each important file now and resave older .ppt files as .pptx.
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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