Format guide
What is PPT?
Microsoft PowerPoint 97–2003 Presentation is the older binary PowerPoint format superseded by PPTX, created by Microsoft (1997+). PPT is legacy PowerPoint. Convert to PPTX for editing in modern Office/Keynote/Impress, or to PDF for fixed handouts.
PPT format specifications
- Full name
- Microsoft PowerPoint 97–2003 Presentation
- Kind
- legacy presentation
- File extension
- .ppt
- MIME type
- application/vnd.ms-powerpoint
- Developer / standard
- Microsoft · 1997+
- Compression
- Binary OLE compound (legacy)
- Quality model
- Lossless / not lossy
- Container
- No / single bitstream typical
- Common codecs
- —
- Technical sources
- —
- Transparency
- Not supported
- Animation
- Supported / container can carry motion
- Typical size
- Grows quickly with embedded media
- Browser support
- Convert to PDF for universal browser viewing
- Compatibility
- Best in PowerPoint; import support elsewhere with caveats
PPT compression & quality
Legacy binary package. PPTX is ZIP+XML and handles media and themes more predictably in modern apps.
Quality: Editable slides in PowerPoint; layout may shift elsewhere
Typical size: Grows quickly with embedded media
Transparency & animation
Not applicable as an image alpha format.
Can contain slide animations; fidelity varies when converted across suites.
PPT metadata
Presentation properties and notes metadata; strip before public sharing if needed.
Best use cases for PPT
- Opening old decks
- Migrating to PPTX
- Archive modernization
When to avoid PPT
- New presentations
- Guaranteed cross-platform animation fidelity
- Email without PDF fallback
Advantages
- Opens historical decks
- Familiar legacy extension
Disadvantages
- Superseded by PPTX
- Weaker modern interchange
- Media/animation quirks
Compatibility
Best in PowerPoint; import support elsewhere with caveats
Browsers: Convert to PDF for universal browser viewing
Software support
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- LibreOffice Impress
- Keynote (import)
Device support
- Laptops used for presenting
How to open PPT
Open in PowerPoint or LibreOffice Impress, then save as PPTX.
How to convert PPT
Convert PPT→PPTX for editing or export PDF for read-only sharing.
Popular PPT conversions
PPT comparison guides
Compare PPT with related formats to pick the right container for quality, size, and compatibility.
Related formats
PPT tools
Tools extend the format graph beyond one-off conversion — compression, metadata, and utilities for real workflows.
PPT FAQ
Should new decks be PPT or PPTX?
Always PPTX (or PDF for handouts) unless a system hard-requires .ppt.
Are my PPT files uploaded on Format Convertly?
No. PPT conversion runs in your browser. Files are not sent to Format Convertly servers for processing.