When you create a Powerpoint file you have the ability to add speaker notes to your slides. Use these steps to save Powerpoint as a PDF that includes the notes.
- Open your Powerpoint file.
- Select the File tab at the top-left.
- Choose the Save As option and select where to save the PDF.
- Give the file a name, then click the File type dropdown and choose PDF.
- Click More options.
- Click the Options button.
- Select the Publish what dropdown and click Notes pages, then click OK.
- Click Save.
Our article continues below with additional information and pictures for these steps.
Powerpoint has a couple of different ways that you can save or print your presentation. Among these options is the ability to save it as a PDF.
But when you elect to save as a PDF, the default option won’t include any speaker notes that you have added to your slides.
Fortunately you can make some changes to the settings for the PDF, and one of those changes will let you save the PDF as “Notes pages” which will include your speaker notes under the slide.
Our guide below shows you how to save a Powerpoint as a PDF with notes.
How to Save a Powerpoint Slideshow as a PDF with Notes
The steps in this article were performed in the Microsoft Powerpoint for Office 365 version of the application.
Step 1: Open your Powerpoint presentation.
Step 2: Click File at the top-left of the window.

Step 3: Choose the Save As tab at the left side of the window.

Step 4:Click inside the File name field and enter a name for the PDF, then click the dropdown menu below it and choose PDF.

Step 5: Select the More options link under the file type.

Step 6: Click Options at the bottom of the save window.

Step 7: Choose the Publish what dropdown menu and select Notes pages, then click OK.

Step 8: Click the Save button.
Powerpoint will then generate the PDF and save it to the location you previously selected. You can then open that file and see that each page has one slide from the presentation, and any notes for that slide are included below it.
Note that you will need an application that can edit PDFs if you want to make changes to that file. Otherwise you will need to make the changes in Powerpoint then regenerate another PDF.
See also
- How to create a check mark in Powerpoint
- How to make curved text in Powerpoint
- How to make a Powerpoint slide vertical
- How to remove an animation from Powerpoint
- How to set a picture as a background in Powerpoint
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