PowerPoint 2013 cannot edit a PDF as though it were a PowerPoint presentation, but you can place PDF content on a slide in several ways. The best method depends on whether you need a visible page image, a clickable PDF file, or editable content recreated from the PDF.
Insert a PDF as an object
- Save the PDF to your computer and close it if necessary.
- Open the PowerPoint slide where you want the file.
- Select Insert > Object.
- Choose Create from file.
- Browse to the PDF and select it.
- Choose whether to display it as an icon, then confirm the insertion.
During a presentation, the embedded or linked object may open in the system’s PDF application rather than displaying all PDF pages directly on the slide.
Use a screenshot for visible PDF content
If you want the audience to see a page, chart, or diagram without opening another program, capture the relevant PDF area as an image and insert that picture. Use sufficient resolution so text remains readable on the projected slide.
One PDF can contain many pages
Inserting the PDF as an object does not automatically turn each page into a separate PowerPoint slide. Export or capture pages individually if that is the presentation layout you need.
Respect document permissions and accessibility
Make sure you have permission to reproduce PDF content. Screenshots also turn text into an image, which reduces accessibility and editability; add explanatory slide text or alternative text when appropriate.
Office 2013 reached end of support in April 2023. PowerPoint 2013 can still perform these basic tasks, but a currently supported Microsoft 365 or Office release is preferable for security and modern PDF workflows.
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.