When Familiar Tools Fade: PowerPoint’s Reuse Slides Feature and What Comes Next

Technology updates are often described as improvements, but many users know that isn’t always how they feel in practice. Sometimes a change removes a feature that worked quietly in the background and made everyday tasks easier. One recent example is the removal of the Reuse Slides feature from Microsoft PowerPoint

For people who build presentations regularly, this change has been frustrating. While the core function of reusing slides still exists, the process now takes more effort and less precision. This article explains what the Reuse Slides feature did, why it mattered, what Microsoft says about removing it, and how businesses can adapt without losing productivity.

Throughout this post, we’ll focus on three key ideas that matter most to Canadian businesses:

presentation efficiency, Microsoft PowerPoint, and IT productivity.

Why PowerPoint Still Matters in Business

Despite the growth of new collaboration tools, PowerPoint remains one of the most widely used business tools in Canada. It is used for:

• Sales and proposal presentations

• Client reports and project updates

• Internal training and onboarding

• Board meetings and executive briefings

For many small and medium-sized businesses, PowerPoint is the standard way to share structured information visually. Because of this, even small changes to how PowerPoint works can have a real impact on day-to-day IT productivity.

What the Reuse Slides Feature Did

The Reuse Slides feature was not flashy. It didn’t get much attention, but it was extremely practical.

Inside PowerPoint, Reuse Slides allowed users to:

• Open a side panel within the same window

• Browse another presentation file

• Select individual slides to insert

• Choose whether to keep original formatting or match the current deck

This made it easy to reuse slides from older presentations without opening multiple files or manually copying content.

Why It Was So Useful

For businesses focused on presentation efficiency, Reuse Slides solved several common problems:

• Brand consistency

  Logos, colours, fonts, and layouts stayed intact.

• Time savings

  Teams didn’t need to rebuild slides they had already created.

• Precision

  Users could select only the slides they needed from large decks.

• Reduced errors

  Less copying and pasting meant fewer formatting issues.

In many organizations, Reuse Slides became part of standard workflow, especially for sales teams, trainers, and managers who reuse similar content across multiple presentations.

When the Feature Disappeared

Earlier this year, Microsoft quietly removed the Reuse Slides feature from PowerPoint. There was no major announcement aimed at everyday users, which added to the confusion.

According to Microsoft, the feature was removed because it overlapped with other ways of accomplishing the same task. Maintaining multiple features that do similar things increases complexity in the software over time.

From a technical point of view, this makes sense. From a user’s point of view, it feels like losing a tool that worked well.

This highlights a common gap between how software is designed and how it is actually used.

Microsoft’s Perspective: Fewer Features, Cleaner Design

Microsoft’s broader goal across its products has been simplification. By reducing overlapping tools, the company aims to:

• Lower development and maintenance costs

• Reduce confusion for new users

• Create a more consistent experience across devices

In theory, this should improve long-term usability. In practice, it often means experienced users lose shortcuts they rely on.

For businesses that depend on Microsoft PowerPoint every week, these small workflow changes can add up.

What Options Are Still Available?

Although Reuse Slides is gone, the ability to reuse slides is not. The process has simply changed.

1. Drag and Drop Between Open Presentations

The most common alternative is to open both PowerPoint files at the same time and drag slides from one deck into another.

Advantages:

• Fast once you get used to it

• Keeps most formatting, animations, and media

Drawbacks:

• Less precise when working with large decks

• Can introduce small formatting issues

• Requires more screen space and manual control

This method works well for simple reuse but can feel clumsy compared to the old side panel approach.

2. Using “View > New Window”

Another option is to open a second window of the same presentation. This allows you to:

• Keep an original version open

• Create a new version side by side

• Copy slides between versions

This is useful for version control but less helpful when pulling slides from multiple different presentations.

3. Copy and Paste (The Oldest Method)

Copying and pasting slides still works, but it is the least reliable option for maintaining formatting consistency. This method often requires cleanup work afterward, which reduces presentation efficiency.

The Hidden Cost of Small Software Changes

Removing a single feature may not seem significant, but the impact becomes clearer when multiplied across an organization.

For example:

• A sales team building proposals weekly

• A training department updating course materials

• A manager reusing board report templates

Each extra step adds time. Each formatting fix adds frustration. Over weeks and months, these inefficiencies affect overall IT productivity.

This is why change management matters, even for tools as familiar as PowerPoint.

Helping Teams Adjust to the Change

Businesses that rely heavily on PowerPoint should take a few practical steps:

1. Update Internal Documentation

If your company has internal guides or training materials, update them to reflect the new process for reusing slides.

2. Share Simple Tips

Short internal notes or lunch-and-learn sessions can help staff adjust quickly.

3. Standardize Templates

Using approved templates reduces the need to reuse slides in the first place and helps maintain brand consistency.

4. Monitor Frustration Points

When employees struggle with tools, productivity drops. These issues often surface first as small complaints.

A Broader Trend in Business Software

The removal of Reuse Slides is not unique. Many software platforms are simplifying interfaces and consolidating features. While this can improve usability for new users, it often frustrates experienced ones. 

For small and medium-sized businesses, staying aware of these changes is important. Tools evolve, and workflows must evolve with them.

Having the right IT support partner can make this transition smoother by:

• Explaining changes in plain language

• Recommending better workflows

• Reducing disruption to daily operations

Looking Ahead: Adapting Without Losing Efficiency

Change is inevitable in technology. The key is not avoiding change, but managing it well.

PowerPoint remains a powerful tool, even without Reuse Slides. With the right guidance, businesses can adapt their processes and maintain strong presentation efficiency.

Understanding these updates before they cause frustration helps teams stay focused on their real work, not the tools they use to do it.

Keywords Used Throughout This Article

• Microsoft PowerPoint

• presentation efficiency

• IT productivity

About Robertson Technology Group

Robertson Technology Group helps small to medium-sized businesses across Canada manage their technology with confidence. Based in Victoria, BC, the company provides managed IT security and support services designed to remove the burden of day-to-day technology management. By focusing on personalized service, Robertson Technology Group works closely with each client to understand their business needs, risks, and goals. This approach allows businesses to benefit from secure, reliable systems without the cost of in-house IT staff. With expertise in modern workplace tools, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies like AI-driven risk analysis, Robertson Technology Group supports organizations that want dependable technology and clear guidance in an ever-changing digital landscape.