PowerPoint for the web can print full-page slides, but it does not offer the handout layouts found in the desktop app. Microsoft’s suggested workaround is to print the presentation to PDF and then use your PDF reader’s multiple pages per sheet option to create handouts. If you have the desktop app, you can also open the file there and choose a handout layout directly.
Handouts leave out your speaker notes, so see printing slides with notes if you need them on the page.
Quick Answer
In PowerPoint for the web, choose File, Print, and save the slides as a PDF. Open the PDF, choose Print, select Multiple pages per sheet, and pick 2, 3, 4, or 6 slides per page.
How to Print Handouts From PowerPoint for the Web
- Open the presentation in PowerPoint for the web.
- Select File, then Print, and choose Full Page Slides.
- Download or save the result as a PDF.
- Open the PDF in your PDF reader and choose Print.
- Select Multiple (pages per sheet), choose how many slides per page, and print. Alternatively, choose Open in Desktop App, then File, Print, and a Handouts layout.
Handout Options
| Method | Result |
|---|---|
| PDF with multiple pages per sheet | Handouts from PowerPoint for the web |
| Desktop app, Handouts layout | 1 to 9 slides per page, with lines on 3-slide pages |
| Notes Pages | One slide per page with speaker notes |
| Full Page Slides | One slide per page |
To present instead, read how to play a presentation in PowerPoint for the web.
Troubleshooting
- There is no Print option: some browsers block the pop-up. Allow pop-ups for the site and try again.
- Slides look small: use fewer slides per page or landscape orientation.
- In the desktop app, see how to print 4 slides per page in PowerPoint.
- Using Google Slides instead? Read how to print speaker notes in Google Slides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there no handouts option in PowerPoint for the web?
The web version has fewer print layouts than the desktop app. Microsoft recommends the PDF workaround.
Can I add note lines like the 3-slide handout?
Not with the PDF method. Use the desktop app’s 3 Slides handout for lines.
Does this work on a Mac?
Yes. The PDF reader’s print dialog on a Mac also offers several pages per sheet in its Layout options.
Summary
- Print to PDF from PowerPoint for the web.
- Open the PDF and choose Print.
- Select multiple pages per sheet.
- Or use the desktop app’s Handouts layout.
Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He is an IT specialist with over 20 years of experience, from a university help desk to small-business IT, IT management and his own consulting practice, and has written tech guides full time since 2020. Steps are checked against the current software on a real device or the maker’s official documentation. More about Kermit.