Duplicating a slide in PowerPoint is the fastest way to build a series of slides with the same layout, formatting and design: copy it, then change only the text or images. PowerPoint 2016 offers several ways to do it, from a right-click to a keyboard shortcut. This guide covers each method, how to duplicate several slides at once, and how to copy slides into another presentation. The steps also work in PowerPoint 2019, 2021 and Microsoft 365.
Quick Answer
Select the slide in the thumbnail pane on the left and press Ctrl + D, or right-click it and choose Duplicate Slide. The copy appears right after the original.
Method 1: Right-Click Duplicate Slide
- Open your presentation in Normal view (View > Normal).
- In the slide thumbnail pane on the left, right-click the slide you want to copy.
- Choose Duplicate Slide.
Method 2: Keyboard Shortcut
Click the slide thumbnail and press Ctrl + D (Command + D on a Mac). Press it again for more copies. Make sure the thumbnail is selected, not an object on the slide; with an object selected, Ctrl + D duplicates the object instead.
Method 3: New Slide Menu
- Select the slide.
- On the Home tab, click the arrow under New Slide.
- Choose Duplicate Selected Slides at the bottom of the gallery.
Duplicate Several Slides at Once
- In the thumbnail pane, click the first slide, then hold Shift and click the last to select a range, or hold Ctrl and click individual slides.
- Press Ctrl + D, or right-click and choose Duplicate Slide.
The copies appear after the last selected slide, in the same order.
Copy Slides to Another Place or Presentation
- Copy and paste: select slides, press Ctrl + C, click where you want them (in the same or another presentation), and press Ctrl + V. Use the Paste Options button to Keep Source Formatting or Use Destination Theme.
- Drag with Ctrl: hold Ctrl and drag a thumbnail to a new position to copy it there.
- Reuse Slides: click Home > New Slide > Reuse Slides, browse to another presentation, and click the slides to insert them.
- Slide Sorter view: View > Slide Sorter shows all slides as a grid, which makes selecting and duplicating many slides easier.
Tips
- Duplicated slides keep animations, transitions, notes and hidden status.
- If you’re making many similar slides, consider editing the Slide Master (View > Slide Master) to create a custom layout instead.
- To duplicate an object on a slide, select it and press Ctrl + D, or Ctrl-drag it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn’t Ctrl + D duplicate my slide?
The focus is on the slide canvas or an object. Click the slide in the thumbnail pane first.
Can I duplicate a slide in PowerPoint for the web?
Yes. Right-click the thumbnail and choose Duplicate Slide, or use the New Slide menu.
How do I undo a duplicate?
Press Ctrl + Z, or select the extra slide and press Delete.
Summary
- Select the slide in the thumbnail pane.
- Press Ctrl + D, or right-click and choose Duplicate Slide.
- Use Shift or Ctrl to duplicate several slides.
- Copy and paste or Reuse Slides to copy between presentations.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.