Run Windows PowerPoint on Mac with Parallels Desktop

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"My Mac Pro Retina 2015 wouldn’t run the newest Office by Microsoft. Parallels Desktop fixed the problem without having to buy a new Mac Pro just to run Microsoft Office, and the follow-up was phenomenal. I'm a professor. I build comprehensive lesson plans that require Word, Excel, and PowerPoint."

Professor

"I have a Mac from my employer, but I need Windows software. Parallels Desktop is stable and allows me to use ClassPoint which is an add-on for PowerPoint along with other windows software for education e.g., Eclipse."

Parallels Desktop Customer

"I use a MacBook for 80% of the things that I do on a computer. However, there are a couple of critical programs that I use, like PowerPoint, and I like the Windows version better. For the first time in 10 years, it's very nice to only need one computer."

Learning & Development / Content Developer

See how PowerPoint is better on Mac with Parallels Desktop

Many of the most popular PowerPoint features are available in the Mac and Windows versions. For power users, however, certain features and functionalities may be lacking in the Mac version, including...

Animation and design capabilities

Some key features, like the Morph transition, Animation Painter, video trimming, and Zoom are exclusive to the Windows version. Additionally, Windows users have access to more customizable animation paths and a wider selection of entrance and exit animations.

Integration with Windows-only services

PowerPoint for Windows offers tighter integration with certain Windows-specific services. For example, Windows Search functionality is more effective at finding content within presentations on the Windows platform.

Graphic and multimedia features

Certain advanced formatting options for 3D models or multimedia objects are only available in the Windows version due to differences in platform support and/or development priorities.

Add-ins and extensibility

Many add-ins are available for both the Windows and Mac versions of PowerPoint, developers typically prioritize support for the more widely used Windows platform, leading to differences in availability and/or functionality.

Integration with VBA

Both Windows and Mac versions support Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) enabling users to automate tasks, create custom macros, and extend PowerPoint’s functionality through scripting, but the integration is deeper and more extensive in the Windows version.

See what features are available in Windows PowerPoint vs Mac PowerPoint

Feature	PowerPoint for Mac	PowerPoint for Windows
Certain animations	Some animation capabilities	Yes
Keyboard access to the Ribbon	No	Yes
AI tools	No	Yes
VBA capabilities	No	Yes
Remote presentation support	No	Yes
Closed captioning	No	Yes
Voice recording	No	Yes
Support for file formats like Windows Media and QuickTime	No	Yes

Parallels Desktop for Mac

Authorized by Microsoft

Optimized for Mac M-series

/year

Billed annually

Use 200,000+ Windows apps
Access the full range of PowerPoint features
No need for a second Windows machine
Switch between macOS and Windows effortlessly

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Start running Windows PowerPoint on your Mac with Parallels Desktop

Download Parallels Desktop

Download and install Parallels Desktop on your Mac.

Install Windows

Once installed, set up a new virtual machine and install Windows.*

*Windows license required

Launch Microsoft PowerPoint

After installing Windows, you can run your favorite Windows apps and software, play PC games, and more right from your Mac.

Why choose Parallels Desktop?

Authorized by Microsoft

The only solution authorized by Microsoft to run Windows 11 on Apple M-series Macs.

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Live support

24/7 phone, chat and email support for subscribers. Get in touch anytime, anywhere.

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30-day money back guarantee

Cancel any time during your initial month if you are not completely satisfied.

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Using Microsoft PowerPoint on Mac FAQs

Can I run a PowerPoint presentation on Mac?

Yes, you can run a PowerPoint presentation on Mac in Presenter View. You’ll need to make sure that mirroring displays is disabled on your Mac and that “Use Presenter View” is enabled in Slide Show >Monitors in the PowerPoint Ribbon. If you’d like to use full screen view enable “Use All Displays” in the menu. For further troubleshooting, check our KB article on fixing presentation issues.

Is PowerPoint better on Mac or PC?

While that’s a subjective question, the Windows version of Microsoft PowerPoint does offer more complete functionality and a full feature set.

Is PowerPoint on Mac different from Windows?

Yes, PowerPoint on Mac is different from PowerPoint on Windows, since it offers unique features such as AppleScript and Automator support as well as different aspects of presenter view.

Will a PowerPoint that was made on Mac with Parallels Desktop work on Windows?

Yes, Microsoft PowerPoint presentations created on a Mac can be viewed on a Windows machine, with some possible exceptions involving video playback.

Are there any differences in performance and stability between Mac PowerPoint and Windows PowerPoint?

Differences in the underlying architecture of Windows and Mac can lead to variations in performance between the Windows and Mac versions of PowerPoint.

Accordingly, Windows users may experience smoother performance or better stability in certain scenarios due to optimizations specific to the Windows operating system.

Do you offer educational discounts?

Parallels Desktop offers exclusive discounts to students and faculty. Students enrolled in a qualified institution, or professional educators employed at an eligible institution can save up to 50% on Parallels Desktop. Start by verifying your student discount eligibility.

Can I run other Windows applications alongside PowerPoint using Parallels Desktop?

Absolutely. Parallels Desktop lets you run a wide range of Windows applications on your Mac, making it a versatile tool for various tasks beyond PowerPoint.

What extensions are only available in Windows PowerPoint?

Certain extensions or add-ons are only available in the Windows version of PowerPoint, including but not limited to:

SlideProof is a suite of productivity tools for PowerPoint, including slide management, formatting, alignment, and consistency checks.
DataPoint is used to connect PowerPoint slides to various data sources and dynamically update charts, tables, and text boxes with real-time data during presentations.
Think-Cell offers advanced charting and data visualization tools specifically designed for business presentations.
iSpring Suite facilitates the creation of interactive e-learning content directly within PowerPoint, including quizzes, simulations, screencasts, and interactive presentations.
MagPointer enhances presentations with features such as live annotations, spotlight effects, zooming, and highlighting.
Office Timeline simplifies the creation of professional-looking timelines and Gantt charts directly within PowerPoint.

See what Parallels enables you to accomplish

200,000+ apps and integrations

Run all your favorite Windows apps on Mac.

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Excel

Use Windows Excel on your Mac.

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Office365

Unlock the full-featured versions of Microsoft Office apps on your Mac.

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Learn more about using Parallels Desktop to run Microsoft PowerPoint on Mac

What’s the difference between Microsoft PowerPoint on Mac vs. Windows?

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How to copy and paste between Windows and Mac applications with Parallels Desktop

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How to control a PowerPoint presentation on your Mac using the trackpad

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Access the full power and capability of Microsoft PowerPoint on your Mac starting at a year with Parallels Desktop

Enjoy Microsoft PowerPoint on Mac, plus other key Windows applications without the need for a PC.

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